Intro to 3D.ppt

Graphics CNS 3540 Graphics in games None ASCII art (so called...) Images Bitmaps Vector 2D animation Video 3D animation 3D Graphics Commonly used libraries: OpenGL Microsoft DirectX /directx Many other libraries, wrappers, and game engines are built on one or both of these libraries. OpenGL vs. DirectX Open standard Provides interface to hardware acceleration Portable Widely used in commercial and non-commercial games No native image or 3D model file format GLUT Proprietary Provides interface to hardware acceleration Only on Microsoft platforms Widely used in commercial and non-commercial games Native .x 3D model format, loaders for common bitmap formats Windows API Direct Play, Direct X Audio, etc. Fun with 3D libraries... Both OpenGL and DirectX are complicated libraries and learning how to use them well is not easy. DirectX, in particular, has gone through major changes that obsolete many earlier books and web sites. Microsofts documentation can also change in confusing ways. Making a game with3D graphics Suppose that I want to make a 3D display for UV Bots (which I do...) How do I do that? Well look at how do that with some references to the books game engine and Irrlicht () Nine easy steps Find or make 3D models Initialize software and hardware Load models Add models to world Lights Camera Action Interaction This, that, and the other 1. Find or make 3D models Finding models Google (what else?) Call in favors from your artistic friends (you have lots of those, right?) Borrow them from other games (but only if its ethical) Making models Blender 3D Milkshape 3D Wings 3D Various commercial packages, most of which are very expensive 3D model formats Bad news: There are no standard formats for 3D model files that are comparable to JPEG or PNG. Worse news: Converting between 3D file formats is a pain and the model will probably not look the same after conversion. 3D model formats Text or binary? What documentation is available? Is a file f