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Where is a good place to start with learning how to program custom coordinate systems in a 3d environment?

Are there any good books on he topic of gaming coordinate systems? I would like to build a real life data structure based on techniques used for game programming.

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What is wrong with the Cartesian Co-ordinate system or the Polar Co-ordinate system? What causes you to want a different one? – Robert Massaioli Mar 23 '11 at 2:02
X Y and Z? I don't really know what you are asking. – AttackingHobo Mar 23 '11 at 2:03
Yes, "custom coordinate system" sounds strange. The most "custom" I've ever done was for a 2d game where the coordinates got mirrored and re-mirrored at one point with parallax scaling and stuff; it wasn't necessary, but I was in a hurry, and it ended up complicating things overmuch.. =) – Jari Komppa Mar 23 '11 at 6:19
I am confused on where the object is placed in the beginning? what coordinates will an object have? I am trying to create a coordinate system for a robot and using its movement, I want to calculate its current position. – alJaree Mar 23 '11 at 10:44
You do not want to create a coordinate system. You want to use one, yes, but not create your own. – The Communist Duck Mar 23 '11 at 20:48

3 Answers

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Books about Game Engine development usually have chapters/sections on coordinate systems:

Game Coding Complete (Chapter 13)
Game Engine Architecture (Chapter 4)
3D Game Engine Design (Chapter 2)

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Also see http://blog.wolfire.com/2009/07/linear-algebra-for-game-developers-part-1/ . It's about the math used in coordinate systems for games. Has explanations for creating user coordinate systems and matrix transformations.

It should be helpful

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I can greatly recommend this book. It covers 3D coordinate systems in great detail (and is not a pain to read).

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Thanks. My issue is that I will be creating a coordinate system for a physical object which wouldnt need camera angle control etc. I will be mapping the objects movement using data from the accelerometer. How or where would the object start in this coordinate system, and how is it managed? – alJaree Mar 23 '11 at 17:19

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