Here's what I don't get...

NexusInteractive · Post by **NexusInteractive** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:52 pm

Hello there! I've been wanting to make a game for a long time. I found Irrlicht about a year ago but I never could learn C++. So, i picked it up again and decided to try it out again.

I've never understood the following though:

1. When making a level, how do I know what scale I use? When I make a simple flat ground in anim8or and load it in Irrlicht, it's real small and far away.

2. How do I know where to place objects in a level? Is it just hours of trial and error and editing the X, Y, and Z values over and over to get the exact result?

3. What's the best way to learn 3D design? I was never good at 3d design and I could never really use a modeller that well.

4. How do I know how big to make objects in a modeller? Is there a standard size that developers use or what?

These have been my main questions for a long time. I was thinking about getting a team together to help with the modeling and such, but I don't know that many people who do that.

Any explinations would be very helpful.

Cristian · Post by **Cristian** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:03 pm

I'm not that advanced, but I have made some games up to this point.
So here are my answers:

1. Set your own scale, and always work at that scale.

2. Make yourself a level editor and a basic textfile level format.
You can then make a class or function which reads out of the file and performs what is written there.

3. Try Maya (if you can afford it), modo 3d(costs less than Maya) or Wings3D (GPL, aka. free). They do not need as much experience as 3DStudioMax, in order to achieve at least decent models.

NexusInteractive · Post by **NexusInteractive** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:15 am

Thanks for the reply.

I don't have enough money for the first two products, but I will look at the third. And I have no experience in C++, so I guess i should read up alot more on it if I have to make a level editor...

kAd · Post by **kAd** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:08 am

for 3D modeler you can use blender it's awesome and free

NexusInteractive · Post by **NexusInteractive** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:37 pm

No thanks. I tried it before and it's just a bit too complicated... even Maya and 3D Studio Max looks esier than that...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:23 am

Milkshape3D is pretty cheap, and it's easy to get into - because it is almost 2D in the way you place vertices. Constructing complex shapes is a lot of work though, and animation is a bit difficult to edit.

And it's directly supported by Irr. (Except that Irrlicht mirrors the models - at least 0.8 does - but that's easy to work around)

NexusInteractive · Post by **NexusInteractive** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:34 pm

I'd rather not spend any money, but I'll look into it.