Hey people! I''m attempting to write a versatile engine similar to mario 64, which is more geared to outdoor secenery but can do indoor scenery just fine. I''m not quite sure how to go about it though.... The first problem is creting the worlds, i''ve written a very basic Quake Brush style editor similar to thread (so you position objects in 3d, not using a 2d grid interface), but I dont really like the results....Would 3Dstudio Max be the best option???? Secondly, do I use Octrees or BSP''s??? Octrees would be simpler to implement right??? And smaller??? But I''d have to use the Z buffer whilst with BSP, I would only have to use it for objects right???? Any ideas on occlusion culling using Octrees??? I.e. not drawing EVERY node if you are looking from a corner...I dont really want to use the Z buffer, but with octrees, I thinks it''s best ( I dont really want to go into having sub BSP''s in octree nodes etc ^_^ ). I dont really want to use BSP''s as I dont want too much static information, and out door levels would take up loads of memory, and I also find them a wee bit confusing ^_^, can I achive the same effect (fast rendering, depth sorting etc) with octrees? And thirdly, yes I''m a novice, but I''m starting a game programming degree in October ^_^, What exactly do portals do??? And would they be useful in this type of engine??? Thanks, hope someone can help, Dan Transformers Rulez!!

danielk : what you have against z buffer. It comes "for free" on most GPU''s

There are more worlds than the one that you hold in your hand...

I think you missed his point.. he doesnt want "???" rather he wants to see just "?" after each question.

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"When I have a problem on an Nvidia, I assume that it is my fault. With anyone else''s drivers, I assume it is their fault" - John Carmack