dyadica.net » 3d

Caligari have Released trueSpace 7.6 for Free

admin — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:38:24 +0000

With my ongoing conversion to OSX I am now in need of a new 3D solution that will enable me to develop for both Unity3D and XNA (still cannot leave the MS grip), thus my initial thoughts are of Blender.

However whilst browsing some XNA resources I discovered that the guys over at Caligari have Released trueSpace 7.6 for Free download. All you have to do is register for an account, then download the software.

trueSpace7.6 is a fully-featured 3D authoring package that will let you model, texture, light, animate and render 3D content. As well as traditional images and movies, you can also make 3D content for online shared spaces, and for Virtual Earth.

An entirely re-written X format exporter lets you save your trueSpace creations to load into game engines such as XNA to develop games for Windows or the Xbox 360.

A real-time scene with several lighting set-ups (by Marcel Barthel).

trueSpace also supports import from a wide variety of formats, letting you take existing objects and use them in Virtual Earth.

Most of you probaby already know that Caligari was snatched up by Microsoft’s Virtual Earth team (keep an eye on their blog here — good hints and tips on modeling with trueSpace as well as how to integrate with Virtual Earth).

So it all looks good eh, but there is still the OSX issue, however as both Blender and trueSpace are free why not try both.

Blender also has an FBX Export and looking at the features breakdown caters for trueSpace. With this in mind its time for a play to see which is the best option, however I have a feeling that a combinational approach will prove to be the optimum solution for my needs.

Coming from years of using max at work, i reckon my evaluation of each is going to be… er fun. I just wish discreet / autodesk kept plasma going, I loved that package.

Dolphins Blast from the Past

admin — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:12:23 +0000

Sorting out my archives today and found one of the very first animations (over 10 years old) that I ever did. A few years later it gave birth to one of my first Shockwave 3D games I too… ahh the memories.

Looking at it now there are more than a few issues (hey was a newbi back then) mainly environmental however still has a special place in my heart (am still chuffed with the pace of the animation flow, think fluke/tosh/otto) if only I could find the source files…

I’m thinking unity3d online aquatic adventures ahoy….ah new project…

Unity 2.1 Released

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:41:52 +0000

Unity has evolved to be the perfect MMO and virtual world client, both in the browser and stand-alone. Stream in limitless landscapes as your users travel your universe, customize characters, and load infinite locations and virtual items on demand.

Fig 1: unity tropical paradise demo

When Funcom, makers of Anarchy Online and Age of Conan, decide to use Unity for their upcoming browser based MMO project, you know it has to be good.

SOURCE: unity3d.com

Coupled with the capabilities for wii development unity3D is a must have for indi and pro game developers alike.

Paradox: actionscript architect

admin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:04:02 +0000

Paradox is developed by the same guy who did 3d pathfinding in as3. Developed in the flash format Paradox seems to be a high quality 3d engine full of promise.

To Jump straight to the demos click on the images, controls e, s, d and f keys + mouse and click.

For full details check out the following: animasinteractive.com , actionscriptarchitect.com

I must remember to keep an eye on this one.

I Care Project Screenshots

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:24:08 +0000

Here are a few screenshots from the I Care Project which is currently taking up most of my time. Lighting still needs to be addressed and I am hoping to do a bit of texture baking to achieve some nice effects.

3D Pathfinding in AS3

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:24:24 +0000

Of interest to me at the moment especially as Im developing similar in lingo.

actionscriptarchitect.com
drawk.wordpress.com