Product Description
The second volume of the 3D Games series concentrates on the areas of advanced real-time rendering and animation. The computer games industry continues to consume techniques from off-line graphics as more and more powerful hardware facilitates this. With the launch of GeForce3 and X-box there is a massive leap forward in the techniques that can be implemented in real-time. The theory behind these techniques is addressed in the book, integrated with practical implementations using the accompanying FLY3D games engine. The game engine that accompanies the text (www.fly3d.com.br) is a second generation advanced engine that includes, for example, facial animation and full facilities for character animation. The book/CD package will appeal to students on computer games courses or on graphics courses with an emphasis on animation. It will also appeal to professional games developers and other games enthusiasts keen to understand the theory behind games development and create their own games.
From the Back Cover
The computer entertainment industry drives many of the advances in computing technology, and the second volume of 3D Games shows how to use advanced techniques in games technology and how these techniques can also be applied in other areas. The book concentrates on three main areas:
- generic processes - the build process, real-time processes and software design
- real-time rendering processes
- character animation
The treatment of these topics is built around a specific games system, Fly3D SDK 2.0 (included on the accompanying CD-ROM). By rooting as many as possible of the techniques described within the book in a practical games system, the book is able to balance theory and practice.
As well as proving invaluable for professionals in the games industry, the book can be used for courses in games programming and development, animation, advanced graphics, and multimedia.
The potential of games to embrace other applications within computing is strong, with the advent of techniques for high scene complexity at low processing costs. The Fly3D engine is not only a vehicle for game creation, but has already been used to develop 3D Internet applications, architectural walkthroughs for CAAD and generic 3D visualisation. Workers in these areas will find the techniques described and accompanying software extremely useful.
Alan Watt, based at the University of Sheffield, is the author of many successful books including 3D Computer Graphics, Advanced Animation and Rendering Techniques, The Computer Image and 3D Games Volume 1.
Fabio Policarpo is a software developer and founder of the company Paralelo Computaç©o based in Rio de Janeiro. He co-authored The Computer Image and 3D Games Volume I and currently works on new applications for real-time rendering and gaming technologies.
CD includes: Full Fly3D SDK including source code for engine, front-ends, plug-ins and utilities; Demo levels; Engine Guide and Reference Manual and tutorials.
http://www.fly3d.com.br for Fly3D SDK documentation, updates, new demos, FAQs and message board.
The included software runs on any Microsoft Windows computer system and requires a 3D video card with full OpenGL support. For making changes to the source code, Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 is required. For scene geometry creation, 3DStudio Max 3.x and 4.x plug-ins are included.
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