3 replies to this topic

[sulvor]

So Im not sure if this is the right area / Section but here goes.

Hello, So I have searched for ages and ages looking for an Easy to use Engine / Toolkit, that will allow me to port over my 3D work into an Engine that has little Coding required, Pretty much I dont want anything Greatly Fancy, I just want an easy to use Art Pipeline (I use my high lvl Modeller) and an engine that will render my work at roughly the quality I model it at.

I dont particularly want any of this Fancy FPS MMO etc etc. I want an engine that has a program or something that will load and show my models / Scenes and perhaps allow me to add (program) in things like day/night system or things like this, so that I can use it kind of like a screensaver / Portfolio. At this stage no interaction, just a tool to show of my protfolio that people can Admire, (The Camera moves around and isnt interactive (require input).

So:
1. Easy Art Pipeline (I dont want to code it in), The models just need to either run their animation (Smoke from a Chimney etc, swaying trees, swaying grass, that I can put into a scene, setup like a camera run and it shows off my Work ).
2. Easy of Use for something Lacking in Coding (I guess the ability to add camera Paths / Place Models easily on a Made Terrain).

3. Ability to update / change the models I do easily, Ability to add sound effects to the Models I do (Clanking windows, Wind near trees etc), aswell as play music compilations I do.

4. Here is something similar to what I mean and want to achieve.
http://www.3planesof.../watermill.html

5. Ability to perhaps later make it into a screensaver etc.

Now I have looked at a Few Different Engines (Infact nearly all 3D Engines on the Database) But I am having a Tough time making a Decision, as well they all have so many Bells and whistles, Which I dont particularly Need, just ease of putting in Models etc. Now Obviously I would Like to one day Extend on the ScreenSaver Idea / Running camera idea, and perhaps make it a little interactive, EG, you can Control a Character to "explore" the environment, Maybe have "minimal" chatter with other Characters within the Scene.
>> But that isn't a major thing at this Time, I just want someway of Portraying Scenes / Model Ideas, and My Talent / Improvements over time.

Ones I liked the look of, C4 Looks Interesting, As does TrueVision3D but Requires Programming, Torque Doesnt require a great deal of Programming for what I want to achieve, but From what I hear has a Horrible Art Pipeline... See this is the biggest most important thing in what I am looking for, Ease of putting in many (hundreds / Thousands) of Models I produce. (but not necessarily Display them all at once (Maybe just key items that relate to a scene I am working on) - Something with like a WorldBuilder I guess. (I am using this to also Increase my Knowledge of Low Poly Modelling).

So Any Ideas / Help I can get portaining to an Easy to use Engine / Toolkit that allows easy model importing and texture assignment as well as placement in a scene within the engine.

p.s Sorry for the long Post, but I had trouble conveying exactly what I wanted out of the engine... Will reread and try to cut down if I can.
Regards,
Sulvor

[Frank Skilton]

I would take a closer look at C4. A lot can be done via its world editor and visual scripting system (interactive objects, light switches, user interface panels, creating effects and placing sounds etc) that does not require programming knowledge. It also has extensive material settings and other rendering goodness to ensure that your models look their best.

There are always people on the forums willing to help out with simple programming tasks if the need ever arises, just ask.

[zebeste]

But, before you buy it, make sure to download the demo because it gives you full access to the art pipeline and tools such as the world editor, and you can save your worlds and load them in the demo game to see how they look. This way, you can try the art pipeline before you buy and see if it works for you. And, as Frank said, you will likely be able to find someone on there to help with simpler programming tasks like you want. And if you have any questions regarding the art pipeline, don't be afraid to ask on the forums.

[Nae'blis]

I haven't used it in a while, But Irrlicht was always good and pretty easy to get into - their world/scene editor was coming along nicely a while back, so I'm sure it's good by now. The forums and tutorials on the official site were always very helpful too. It likely won't be free of any coding, but it shouldn't require much work to get a camera, movement controls, import some models and have basic collision, etc.