3d stuff

If i was to make a simple 3D GTA style game, like even 1 mission game to try, what would i use for it?

would i need to use Visual Studio C++ 2004 Express Edition, + directx SDK ?

also whats OpenGL?

boy.Racer.88 !

OpenGL is a 3D graphics API.

It's very tough to make a GTA style game, even for 1 level. I don't think anybody here on this forum has ever done something like that.

I have :)

I released a 3D first person shooter game when I was just getting out of high school (I don't have it anymore though, sadly)


I would check the game programming links sticky at the top of the thread to answer your most basic questions.

I stand corrected. :D

A pity you don't have your 3D game anymore. Make a new one. :)

Ok i get ya.

Well for me to make a shooter game, a 3D one what software will i need?

i know a bit about C ++ so im going to go with that language as my uncle is a pro at it so i can learn more of him.

I have Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition, what other stuff shall i download and do u have links for it?

lthanks, et me know ASAP, Reece.

Boy.Racer.88 !

If your uncle is a pro I don't see why you need our help.

What, exactly, is your goal? If you're trying to write an engine, chances are you aren't going to be able to develop a very sophisticated game. This is what my game was like: a bunch of hovertanks that would find their way through a quake3 BSP and shoot at the enemy upon site...simple deathmatch, with very basic physics (sphere collision detection)...and that's it. Sure it was a 'game' but it certainly wasn't as fully featured as anything else out there.

If you just want to make a game or build levels for the sake of making a game, I'd suggest you look into mod programming, the sdks for various games, or look into the various level editors for building maps for pre-existing games (www.qeradiant.com, look for the worldcraft editor).

You can find the SDK for virtually every game online. An SDK is a software development kit which releases the source for the game, but hides the source code of the engine, which allows you to program your own game from a very fundamental level utilizing the pre-existing engine.

Making a GTA clone would be tough simply because the scope of the game world is so vast. I'm not saying it's impossible because overall the graphics engine is not up to par with something like Quake 4, FEAR, or anything remotely close to those.

You would need a lot of car models, a huge city 3D model, textures for all of those, sounds and music (MP3 rips) - probably using the Miles Sound Library which is not cheap, some type of AI scripting to track the missions, some type of pathfinding (although not advanced) for chases, etc, etc.

If you look on the title screen of GTA3 or GTA:Vice City you will notice it uses the Miles Sound Library. This thing already supports MP3 decompression and playback which eases the pain of purchasing rights to the spec and creating your own. But Miles is not cheap. Google it and you will see.

An option to play MP3's legally is to use DirectShow and pass it the handle of your window for the game. It's not as robust as Miles but it's a heck of a lot cheaper.

But if you are just starting out in DirectX, my advice would be to purchase a book from www.amazon.com. For recommendations on books I would go to www.gamedev.net and click on their books link. They have a great section that pertains to books and which ones are good and not so good. As well www.gamasutra.com is a great place. www.flipcode.com was a great place and some of the articles are still available, but the site has, sadly, been shut down.

Look into a pre-made 3D engine, such as Irrlicht, or Ogre, to spare yourself the pain of learning C++, a graphics API, and a sound library at the same time. As far as sound goes, there are a lot of free and open-source libraries out there such as FMod or Audiere that are very easy to use.

I second the suggestion bubba made to look at gamedev.net, flipcode.com, and gamasutra...they are excellent sites. Gamesutra you have to register for (it's easy) and gamedev you have to register for to post on their forums (I'm registered and I post there regularly). Their book section typically includes responses from people that have bought the book, and can give slightly more detailed information than just a mindless advertisement meant to convince you to buy the book (they often give negative but fair feedback).

You really need to establish what you want to do, because programming a game engine is quite different from *just* programming a game, which is different from using game tools to build a game (or game content).

Yeah, www.gamedev.net also has a lot of tutorials that are small, but help. Really, you need plenty of books, but the tutorials answer small questions and give you an idea of what you need to do.