Making a 3D game...

[Lode 1003]

Because it''s almost summer vacation, I plan to try to make a 3D game during the vacation. This may sound crazy, but can I at least try? I love challenges I think the first thing I need is a 3D engine, that I also want to make myself. I plan to use OpenGL. Does OpenGL also support keyboard and mouse input? If not I think I''ll use SDL because I''ve got experience with that. Or is there a better alternative than SDL? I''ve got no experience in OpenGL, so are there some good tutorials on how to make a simple 3D engine in it, or open source examples? After I got this 3D engine I think I''ll need some sort of file format for maps, and the ability to make them. Are there any standards for this? And then the hardest part I think: modeling. Maybe I''ll just use 2D sprites for this, like Wolf3D, but what do you think. Is there free and easy software to make 3D models? Animated models, even... What file format should these have? Well, please reply, even if I never get into making the game, then at least I''ve got a general idea in how this happens, because I''m interested Thanks.

[JinJo 100]

NeHe has the best tutorials on the net for openGL, the links at gamedevs hosted sites.

[CaptainJester 523]

NeHe has 37 OpenGL tutorials and 7 OpenGL game tutorials. It is a good place to start. If you are working full time on this, you should be able to go through the tutorials fairly quickly.

OpenGL is a graphics only API. You can use Win32 API or DirectInput for input. Both are pretty easy to use.

I don''t think there is really a standard. Quake uses multiple maps for a single level, one for objects, one for lighting, one for sound. It depends how complex you are going to get. You can even invent your own file format.

MilkShape3D is a good modeler. It only costs $20US. A free one is Maya. Some people swear by it, but I don''t like it. I think it doesn''t like Windows to much.

If you goto Wotsit, it lists a very large number of file format specs. A couple that are used in 3D games are .md3 or .x

One note, NeHe''s tutorials use keyboard input using the Windows API. This should help with your input problems.

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Make it work.
Make it fast.

"Commmmpuuuuterrrr.." --Scotty Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home

[ZealousElixir 256]

Me == Resource.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to IM me at ''zealouselixir'' or email me at the address below.

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ZE.

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[Lode 1003]

Cool ZealousElixir, I''ll remember it for when I start (right after my exams)

CaptainJester: is Maya free??????????

[Metal Typhoon 122]

quote:

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Original post by Lode
Cool ZealousElixir, I''ll remember it for when I start (right after my exams)

CaptainJester: is Maya free??????????

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free trial i think... if you are not selling the game, just use truspace 5 or 3d studio max for modeling.

[arabacus 122]

If you''re talking about the Maya learning edition it doesn''t save in real formats, so it would be better to go with milkshape or 3dsmax or openfx.

[Rickwi22 212]

3DS Max? isnt that a whole bunch of money?

[Shannon Barber 1682]

I believe Autodesk has given up the futile SPA crusade, and actually has a free personal edition of 3D Max available now.

Drunken Hyena has some good tutorials for Direct3D, modeled after the NeHe ones.

Magmai Kai Holmlor

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[ZealousElixir 256]

Magmai: FYI, I believe wxWindows is now located at http://wxwindows.sourceforge.net/

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