DirectX vs. the Win API
I am trying to build a game in 3-D that will be graphicly intensive, but do not know if I should use plain windows graphics functions or instead use the Direct3-D library. I have heard conflicting opinions on whether DirectX is worth it, so I am looking for more opinions from you!!!
Thanks!
I wrote a basic 3d editor in GDI once, hey it was a Uni. project! Anyway the conventional wisdom is that you do NOT under any circumstances ever use GDI to do anything more than the most basic of graphics, GDI+ maybe, but as you want to use 3d lets forget that for the moment. For 3d you really have to go for a 3d API such as Direct3D (or graphics or whatever it is going to be called now.) but there are other options out there. You basically have two choices OpenGL or DirectX. There are always discussions on this all over Gamedev so I''d advise going and having a quick look around the message boards.
for the record I actually like Direct3D, not that I have ever used OpenGL (probably because I know I''ll prefer it if I ever try...).
for the record I actually like Direct3D, not that I have ever used OpenGL (probably because I know I''ll prefer it if I ever try...).
directx is definately worth it, it is infinitely faster and better than gdi.
you''ll probably want to start with gdi first, but dont stick with it, learn directx..
you''ll probably want to start with gdi first, but dont stick with it, learn directx..
GDI is very (no.. VERY) slow stuff... I hope you go ahead and learn D3D...
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Denis "Mr.Snow" Kozhukhov
CEO & Lead programmer
Choco Snow Creation
dkcscPortal
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Denis "Mr.Snow" Kozhukhov
CEO & Lead programmer
Choco Snow Creation
dkcscPortal
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oh, and if you dont know much about GDI or DX, then dont start with D3D....start with Directdraw..
DirectX... or rather, Direct3D is your choice. Don''t even consider the GDI. D3D was made for what you are doing in mind.
An alternative is OpenGL
Be wary of asking opinions of which is better as it may sometimes lead to flames and rather cold answers. A better way would be to play with both and see which suits your style better.
The choice is yours.
An alternative is OpenGL
Be wary of asking opinions of which is better as it may sometimes lead to flames and rather cold answers. A better way would be to play with both and see which suits your style better.
The choice is yours.
Thanks a lot everybody, I got a lot of responses in a short time on this and it really helped.
I wasn''t really looking for a flame war like Jeranon alluded to, but rather some support from other developers who have used DX and think it is useful and efficient.
I bought a book on 3-D that cleared a lot of things up for me yesterday, and better explained the true purpose of DX. I will definately be coding some DirectDraw and who knows maybe some D3D soon.
thanks everyone!
I wasn''t really looking for a flame war like Jeranon alluded to, but rather some support from other developers who have used DX and think it is useful and efficient.
I bought a book on 3-D that cleared a lot of things up for me yesterday, and better explained the true purpose of DX. I will definately be coding some DirectDraw and who knows maybe some D3D soon.
thanks everyone!
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