So i have recently been playing around with SFML and i was wondering, just how much would it take to create a graphics engine and would it be possible to do as a beginer.
if it is possible would someone kindly explain to me how it can be made and what kin of resources i would need.
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Creating a graphics engine
Started by Reusablesnail, Dec 15 2011 04:44 PM
7 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 15 December 2011 - 09:55 PM
just a shit load of self taught knowledge that you get over time 
i dunno, look up tutorials and ask specific questions and you get answers on the way in your big mission. hehe
i dunno, look up tutorials and ask specific questions and you get answers on the way in your big mission. hehe
you used to be able to fit a game on a disk, then you used to be able to fit a game on a cd, then you used to be able to fit a game on a dvd, now you can barely fit one on your harddrive.
#3
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Posted 16 December 2011 - 09:48 AM
This is one of those questions like "I'm new to games coding and want to write a MMORPG......"
The simple answer is "ARE YOU MAD?",
Writing a graphics engine from scratch is a hell of a lot of work, even for someone who knows exactly what they are doing. For a beginner, it's a massive undertaking.
If you want to do it as a learning exercise, fine go ahead. You will learn a hell of a lot. You will need a couple of years locked in your bedroom eating flat food, but if you survive it, you will be a useful coder.
The simple answer is "ARE YOU MAD?",
Writing a graphics engine from scratch is a hell of a lot of work, even for someone who knows exactly what they are doing. For a beginner, it's a massive undertaking.
If you want to do it as a learning exercise, fine go ahead. You will learn a hell of a lot. You will need a couple of years locked in your bedroom eating flat food, but if you survive it, you will be a useful coder.
#4
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Posted 16 December 2011 - 01:40 PM
I understand it may be hard to do, but i enjoy giving myself a challege.
What would be the first main things to look for when creating one?
I've thought about that but then i realised that would take one person almost a lifetime to create as most mmo's have massive teams working on single parts, so i soon scrapped that idea.
What would be the first main things to look for when creating one?
Stainless, on 16 December 2011 - 09:48 AM, said:
This is one of those questions like "I'm new to games coding and want to write a MMORPG......"
I've thought about that but then i realised that would take one person almost a lifetime to create as most mmo's have massive teams working on single parts, so i soon scrapped that idea.
#5
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Posted 19 December 2011 - 03:28 PM
Reusablesnail, on 15 December 2011 - 04:44 PM, said:
how much would it take to create a graphics engine
Depends on what your end goal is: passable familiarity? a decent 2D engine others would maybe use? a decent 3D engine others would definitely want to use? compete with the the next idTech or CryEngine engine?
I would recommend you pick up Game Engine Architecture to, at a minimum, see if you want to go down this road.
Hyperbole is, like, the absolute best, most wonderful thing ever! However, you'd be an idiot to not think dogmatism is always bad.
#6
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Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:31 PM
Creating a (very) basic 3D engine is indeed a huge undertaking, but it isn't quite as scary as some make it out to be. First, the book Game Engine Architecture an an EXCELLENT recommendation. My copy is starting to get worn from all the reading!
I would also recommend carefully studying the source code of the Ambrose3D engine to get an idea of how all the pieces of an engine can fit together, and reading Learning Modern 3D Graphics Programming to understand the rendering portion in particular.
Finally, I have to say the PowerVR SDK has proven invaluable for everything from rendering effects (its primary purpose) to vector libraries to texture and mesh loaders and animation libraries. It also has a ton of game engine specific classes such as resource managers in the Extras/Game Engine directory. It's just a good all-round support for filling out a game engine.
After that, you should actually have a pretty good basis to get started on some (simplistic) 3D games.
I would also recommend carefully studying the source code of the Ambrose3D engine to get an idea of how all the pieces of an engine can fit together, and reading Learning Modern 3D Graphics Programming to understand the rendering portion in particular.
Finally, I have to say the PowerVR SDK has proven invaluable for everything from rendering effects (its primary purpose) to vector libraries to texture and mesh loaders and animation libraries. It also has a ton of game engine specific classes such as resource managers in the Extras/Game Engine directory. It's just a good all-round support for filling out a game engine.
After that, you should actually have a pretty good basis to get started on some (simplistic) 3D games.
#7
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Posted 14 March 2012 - 11:46 PM
Stainless, on 16 December 2011 - 09:48 AM, said:
Writing a graphics engine from scratch is a hell of a lot of work, even for someone who knows exactly what they are doing. For a beginner, it's a massive undertaking.
... of course I knew what I've been doing all the time, at least I hope (triangle has 4 points right? 
)) - so actually it might not take that much loads of hard work.... anyway I've been for quite some time working on graphics engines and I can say one thing - it will take a lot of time to learn the basics, and even more to be good at it. It isn't easy, it will teach you tons of good things, but if you want make games - never cross the path of "I'll write a graphics engine from scratch" - you probably won't ever make games then
My blog about game development (and not just game development) - http://gameprogramme...y.blogspot.com/
If you don't know how to speed up application, go "roarrrrrr!", hit the compiler with the club and use -O3 :D
If you don't know how to speed up application, go "roarrrrrr!", hit the compiler with the club and use -O3 :D
#8
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Posted 03 April 2012 - 02:13 PM
I wrote a ray-tracing application for my B.Eng.
Sorry, but if you're a beginner, you will just fail horribly and get depressed if you try writing a 3d graphics engine. If you're new to all this, why not take a look at some 2d libraries at first, (pygame.com for example is very simple and easy to learn). It will give you some understanding of the task ahead.
Other than that, best of luck on your chosen path!
Sorry, but if you're a beginner, you will just fail horribly and get depressed if you try writing a 3d graphics engine. If you're new to all this, why not take a look at some 2d libraries at first, (pygame.com for example is very simple and easy to learn). It will give you some understanding of the task ahead.
Other than that, best of luck on your chosen path!
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