Hello everyone,

I would like to generate realistic 3D images using a rendering engine to reproduce outdoor environments. Here is my list of the most specific constraints :
- Linux and Windows support
- Moving clouds generation
- Terrain generation with mountains and holes
- Basic vegetation generation or importation
- Water and waves generation
- Particles generation (to simulate smoke)
- Objects importation (car, buildings)
- Camera view control through HMI interface (arrows or joystick)

I also need to retrieve the image matrix at anytime for network interfacing with another computer.

The project may be subject to changes during the next 10 years. I'm looking for a sustainable and mature engine with enough documentation and a large community to make sure my software will easily be improved in next years by my successors, and that it will still be competitive.

Choosing a 3D engine from scratch is not so easy. The most attractive engines I found for the moment are Ogre, Irrlicht and Unity 3D. Torque 3D seems very interesting since it switched into MIT license but the Linux support seems to be quite unstable...

I hope that your experienced opinions will help me in this choice.

I can buy a license if an proprietary engine has many more benefits than others for my application.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated !