Another new user checking in and saying hello (Blitz3D seems to be selling well these days). I've been reading these forums for about 6 months now an finally took the plunge and bought Blitz3D. I found the code archives invaluable in deciding that Blitz3D was the one for me.
Intially, I'm looking to develop an engine to be used for realtime architectural visualisations (basically a FPS framework, without the shooting) which I can then drop buildings etc into to allow a user/client to walkthrough "their" property before it's built. Speed of application development is the key here and Blitz ticked all the boxes. As I researched this I realised that I could practically build the application in its entirety by utilising the code archives. Result. I'm not one for following tutorials or asking questions, I prefer to study working code and disect it.
Not having to worry about coding for a mass market and aged hardware allows me to concentrate on the presentation of the design rather than endless optimising and all the problems that entails. Having said that, the ability to deliver a Blitz3D application through a web interface (OSA Kit) is appealing for future development and directions, I've a couple of game ideas bubbling around my head.
In addition to Blitz3D I've purchased Gile[s] for lightmapping, SpriteCandy for information overlays and BlitzTree for adding spice to landscapes. Building and prop modelling will be handled by AutoCAD for 2D, SketchUp for 3D and animating, character modelling, UV mapping etc will be handled by the jewel in the crown that is Blender (I love Blender) exporting as DirectX into Fragmotion for conversion to the .b3d format. I intend to write some tutorials on interfacing with Blender for animated model export as there seems to be a need for it. It does work (very well in fact) but it has it's "quirks". Stay tuned for an update on this. Texture creation will be handled by Photoshop v6 (I obtained an old licence from work) though maybe I should utilise the Gimp in keeping with my "low cost" set-up.
So there you have it, I'm away to trawl through the code archives again to see what else I can learn/steal. I hope I can be of some use to a community I've learned so much from.
Intially, I'm looking to develop an engine to be used for realtime architectural visualisations (basically a FPS framework, without the shooting) which I can then drop buildings etc into to allow a user/client to walkthrough "their" property before it's built. Speed of application development is the key here and Blitz ticked all the boxes. As I researched this I realised that I could practically build the application in its entirety by utilising the code archives. Result. I'm not one for following tutorials or asking questions, I prefer to study working code and disect it.
Not having to worry about coding for a mass market and aged hardware allows me to concentrate on the presentation of the design rather than endless optimising and all the problems that entails. Having said that, the ability to deliver a Blitz3D application through a web interface (OSA Kit) is appealing for future development and directions, I've a couple of game ideas bubbling around my head.
In addition to Blitz3D I've purchased Gile[s] for lightmapping, SpriteCandy for information overlays and BlitzTree for adding spice to landscapes. Building and prop modelling will be handled by AutoCAD for 2D, SketchUp for 3D and animating, character modelling, UV mapping etc will be handled by the jewel in the crown that is Blender (I love Blender) exporting as DirectX into Fragmotion for conversion to the .b3d format. I intend to write some tutorials on interfacing with Blender for animated model export as there seems to be a need for it. It does work (very well in fact) but it has it's "quirks". Stay tuned for an update on this. Texture creation will be handled by Photoshop v6 (I obtained an old licence from work) though maybe I should utilise the Gimp in keeping with my "low cost" set-up.
So there you have it, I'm away to trawl through the code archives again to see what else I can learn/steal. I hope I can be of some use to a community I've learned so much from.