Geometric representations of objects in 3 dimensions. 3D-meshes are made up of a collection of triangles or other polygons, forming volumes and surfaces. They are commonly used for visual representations on computer screens.
15
votes
6answers
3k views
Algorithm for creating spheres?
Does anyone have an algorithm for creating a sphere proceduraly with la amount of latitude lines, lo amount of longitude lines, and a radius of r? I need it to work with Unity, so the vertex positions ...
15
votes
1answer
392 views
Algorithm to simplify building/structural meshes
I am looking for an algorithm to simplify the meshes of buildings or similar structures.
EDIT: I had made a comment that Hoppe's algorithm tends to make meshes more and more spherical with ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
What happened to COLLADA?
A few years back it was looking like COLLADA was going to be quite a big thing, maybe at last a fairly standardized format for getting 3D assets from a DCC package into the tools pipeline of a game. ...
12
votes
4answers
5k views
How to load 3D models into Java?
Using LWJGL what is the easiest way to load a 3D model to be drawn on screen?
I know LWJGL doesn't have built in loading support so I am looking for a small library that would help to load ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Procedural Mesh: UV mapping
I made a procedural mesh and now I want to apply a texture to it. The problem is, I cannot get it to stick the way I want it to.
The idea is to have the texture painted only once over the whole ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
Optimizing a mesh for voxel cube landscapes
Playing around with creating minecraftish/lego world landscapes in Unity 3D (procedurally generated voxel landscapes with cubes), I'm finding that the meshes created for these landscapes take up a LOT ...
9
votes
2answers
626 views
Do any 3d engines natively import Google Sketchup models
Google Sketchup is about the only 3d cad program I can use, because I suck. Do any 3d engines natively import Sketchup models? Are there any major caveats when doing so?
8
votes
1answer
157 views
How to dynamically animate a part of a 3d model towards something
I'm curious about how this sort of animation is typically done code-wise.
A few examples:
A character picks something up - only hand is animated towards the target
...
7
votes
0answers
168 views
Path Finding for an Arena based map in 3D using NavMesh
I have a 3D arena map (consider a small island surrounded by water on all sides) for a multiplayer Tank fight game.
The moveable areas are marked using a Navigation Mesh made by the Arena designer.
...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Modelling photo-realistic grass in realtime
I see a number of tutorials on how to create good looking grasses when creating 3D renders but can't think how to model it for realtime/use in a game's scenery.
Sure simple models with alpha cutouts ...
6
votes
3answers
324 views
Why doesn't light continuous on my model?
I created a basic textured cube model with Blender to practice modeling, and then I imported it into Unity. After I put up some lighting it looks pretty ugly. The light is not continuous on a row of ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
How to export 3D models that consist of several parts (eg. turret on a tank)?
What are the standard alternatives for the mechanics of attaching turrets and such to 3D models for use in-game? I don't mean the logic, but rather the graphics aspects.
My naive approach is to ...
6
votes
1answer
484 views
How to create art assets for a 3d avatar editor
I am currently prototyping an idea for an iPhone game. I'd like to create an avatar editor inside the game so that the player can create a 3d avatar face and modify certain features (using slider ...
6
votes
1answer
438 views
Animating a 3D model with XNA
How do I animate a biped model from 3ds max using XNA framework or not necessarily the biped model, it could be any 3D model but how can I code the animation?
5
votes
4answers
350 views
Where can I find free or buy “next-gen” 3D Assets?
Usually I buy 3D Assets from sites like turbosquid.com or similar.
My problem is that I have lately implemented glow, normal maps, specular (and specular power) maps and reflection maps and I can't ...
5
votes
5answers
402 views
Identifying mesh format from initial bytes
I have a file containing mesh data whose blocks seem to start with DWORDS like:
0x1 0x1 0x3100026f 0x1 0x30000112
or
0x1 0x1 0x310007b2 0x1 0x30000112
or
0x10000006 0x3 0x310001f6 0x310001f6 ...
5
votes
1answer
98 views
How can I render an .stl file in XNA or Monogame?
How should I go about rendering a .stl file as a 3d model in XNA? The .stl file contains a bunch of triangles that add up to a solid mesh. I have already figured out how to read the contained data. ...
5
votes
3answers
267 views
Drawing the same mesh or drawing the same material?
I was wondering. Suppose I have a 1000 grass meshes. They all have the same material, but I create them separately, because they look slightly different, because they have different heights.
Does my ...
5
votes
2answers
626 views
Where should I go looking for low-polygon 3D assets?
The biggest problem for me as a game programmer (who isn't also an artist) is getting good quality 3D models. I have checked out some of the 3D model market places like The 3D Studio and Top 3D Models ...
5
votes
2answers
857 views
How does an AAA graphical workflow look like?
So this is how I understand it:
An artist models the thing in Zbrush or Mudbox. It now has 10+ million polygon. He exports it in Zbrush as a normal map + low poly model. (this works?)
The model now ...
5
votes
1answer
772 views
3DS Max equivalent to vertex weight painting
I'm working in 3ds max on models for an Iphone game project and finding that using the Physique modifier is to general for rigging. When working with so few vertices I want to be able to directly tell ...
5
votes
1answer
155 views
What is a simple deformer in which vertices deform linearly with control points?
In my project I want to deform a complex mesh, using a simpler 'proxy' mesh.
In effect, each vertex of the proxy/collision mesh will be a control point/bone, which should deform the vertices of the ...
5
votes
0answers
115 views
UDK or Unity Dynamic Runtime Mesh Boolean subtraction (or alternative)
I'm new to 3D game dev and was wondering if anyone could help me out.
I'm planning to use UDK and would like to have deformable items in the world.
So a projectile strikes a target, and a dent or ...
4
votes
4answers
817 views
Custom mesh format - yea or nay?
In the process of writing my game prototype, I have found the OBJ format to be insufficient for my needs - it does not support any sort of animation, it doesn't support triangle strips (I'm targeting ...
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Are models on 3D warehouse free of copyright? [closed]
Are models on sketchup's 3D warehouse free to use for personal or commercial work? I haven't been able to find copyright information on the site.
4
votes
1answer
167 views
What uses are there for multiple UV maps on a model?
I'm trying to think of some reasons why there might be more than one UV map on a mesh. Usually I just unwrap the model, and the same UV map works for both the diffuse color texture, the bump map ...
4
votes
2answers
202 views
Displaying (3D) objects' name above them
The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind has a rather interesting way to display each focused objects' name. It's all a bit fuzzy in my memory right now, but the most important part I remember perfectly: the ...
4
votes
1answer
481 views
Finding if a point is inside of a mesh (Point-in-polyhedron)
How can I find if a point (Vector3) is inside of a mesh? Would this work for both concave and convex objects? I read somewhere that if you raycast in both directions of every axis (X, -X, Y, -Y, Z, ...
4
votes
1answer
417 views
Best methodology to prepare 3d models for avatar customization?
I know preparing mount points and the like. But what's the best way to prevent Z fighting with customizations close to moving parts like elbows and knees?
4
votes
1answer
240 views
Game Asset Size Over Time
The size (in bytes) of games have been growing over time. There are probably many factors contributing to this: trailer/cut scene videos being bundled with the game, more and higher-quality audio, ...
3
votes
3answers
693 views
Textureing subdivided Icosahedron in XNA, seam problem
*Look below for the updated source code*
I have started to to make some different types of objects and create them by code in XNA. Right now I have finished the code for creating a Icosahedron. And ...
3
votes
1answer
207 views
Are there established conventions for naming “directions” (width,height) in 3D?
I want to create a 3D game world where the players can modify the environment. I would like to bring it to the point where a power-user could even create "game objects" inside the application using ...
3
votes
1answer
487 views
How to merge two objects in Blender
What I've Done
I created a Cube object with Subdivision Surface modifier in order
to model a spehere.
I created a cuboid object looking like a angled, longish baton.
What I Want to Do
I want to ...
3
votes
1answer
964 views
how large should a map be in blender
I'm learning blender and am wondering what size(blender units) I should be making my characters and maps. should i consider 1 blender unit as 1 inch, foot, meter or does it not not matter?
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Why do some .obj files have no newlines?
I'm working on a game engine and just started with mesh loading. I started with the format .obj. I ran into this problem:
The guide I'm following gave me a couple of .obj files to try and they all ...
3
votes
2answers
355 views
What is a decent polygon count for minimal spherical objects?
I am creating a model pack for a game and I am having a hard time deciding how many sides I should start with for the low poly props made from cylinders and spheres.
Take an apple for example. I want ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Should I use different object types for different kind of 3D meshes?
well...
I'm building the animation system of my game engine (the skeletal and skinned animation stuff), and I came to a point where I added so much functionality in the frame and node structures ...
3
votes
1answer
590 views
How can I see the height of an object within Blender?
I'm fairly new to Blender. I know there is the "Transform" section in the Object menu of the Properties tab, which contains Location/Rotation/Scale of a selected object. What I'd like to know is if ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
3D meshes for WPF (XAML)?
I'm trying to make a WPF-3D game. WPF uses XAML.
I'm trying to find free 3D assets from the internet. :-)
What format of 3D models I should be looking for, direct XAML or 3D Studio format or what?
I ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Stitching meshes together
I have a voxel engine that generates a mesh per chunk and now I want my meshes to be 1 mesh, but if I create them as a single mesh I kind of lose the benefit of chunking the data in the first place.
...
3
votes
3answers
548 views
DirectX 9 - model rendering from .obj files issues
Well I can clearly tell that what rendered is close to what I wanted, but there seems to be a few problems.
The .obj files contained values like "f", "v", "vt".
Image Of Problem: ...
3
votes
1answer
377 views
Strange mesh import problem with Assimp and OpenGL
Using the assimp library for importing 3D data into an OpenGL application. I get some strange problems regarding indexing of the vertices:
If I use the following code for importing vertex indices:
...
3
votes
2answers
819 views
Static Meshes vs 3D models
What is the difference between static meshes and regular 3D models. I am very new to game development, and I am using UDK (Unreal Development Kit).
3
votes
2answers
5k views
Move the location of the XYZ pivot point on a mesh in UDK
When working with any mesh, you get an XYZ point somewhere on it. If you just want to move the mesh in any direction, it doesn't matter where this point is located.
However, I want to rotate a door. ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
XNA 3d model mesh.draw() throws TextureCoordinate0 is missing error
I've downloaded a bunch of 3d models from turbosquid.com. The majority of the one's I've downloaded are simply .fbx files. When I load the model into my game and run it, the following error is thrown ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
How to approach skinning a snake made of cubes and is it right method for snake 3d game
I'm making a 3d snake game clone for studies and prettly much got everything to work, I have a 3d ground object surrounded by walls, and a snake head piece (cube). when you start the game 2 additional ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Loading and drawing materials using Lib3ds
Hey all, i'm currently using Lib3ds to load models into my C++/OpenGL project. So far, i've been follow the model loading tutorial found here.
The tutorial gives a good example of how to draw the ...
3
votes
1answer
256 views
Procedural mesh generation from raytracer
I'm interested in applying the following technique:
Define game objects using a object definition DSL similar to what you would use for a raytracer (e.g. POVRay)
Use a specialised raytracer to ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
C/C++ code to generate texture coordinates for a curved surface
I have a triangular mesh of a surface curved in two directions, e.g. a sphere. It is therefore not possible to roll this surface flat (essentially specifying a mapping to U,V texture coordinates) ...
2
votes
2answers
337 views
Is there a standard way to store 3D meshes to easily communicate between libraries?
In a 3D game lots of different systems need to know about geometry data, however the only way they seem to be able to agree to on in representing it by an array of triangles.
Can anyone recommend a ...
