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Java 3D API

Has anyone tried using the Java 3D API ([url="http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/index.html"]http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/index.html[/url])? It supports OpenGL and appears to be able to import Lightwave .lws files.

I'm starting to play around with it, and would like to hear if anyone has any experience with it.

I realize that it will never be as optimized as C/C++ compiled on a native platform, but the API seems to handle most of the graphics grunt work (culling, etc.) while allowing the developer to focus on the modeling and movement dynamics.

Please provide comments with more than "java sucks" or "java rocks" [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

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bobo
<*>
B5:ITF

Comments

  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Java sucks.


    Sorry, couldn't resist. What sort of graphics is this aimed at? I'm asuming realtime, but it could be a renderer, given that it can import .lws files.

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    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    ...[i]groan[/i]...

    Anyway, it's intended for real time. Also found out that it supports DirextX as well as OpenGL. A Linux port is already available.

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Sounds good. But what exactly is it? Is it a separate API or is it a wrapper for DirectX and OpenGL?

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    Separate API that works with J2SE. Defines classes to create a scene graph positioned in a virtual universe. One or more viewing platforms can be placed/moved iwith in the univers, and behaviours can be attached to translational objects within scene graph.

    As a quick example, I created a sphere attached to a cylinder to represent B5. I rotated both objects as a single entity to align with the universe's X-Axis. I will next attempt to add a rotational object to start it spinning.

    The final results can be viewed as applets with the Java browser plug-in.

    Check out the [url="http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/demos/"]demo site[/url] for some screen shots of what's capable.

    Here's an example from an astronomy applet:
    [url="http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/demos/images/ncsa1_156.jpg"] [img]http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/demos/images/ncsa1_156.jpg[/img] [/url]

    and here's one for a collaborative 3-d virtual environment:
    [url="http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/demos/images/3dvwJet_156.gif"] [img]http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/demos/images/3dvwJet_156.gif[/img] [/url]


    [This message has been edited by bobo (edited 09-07-2001).]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    So it could potentially be used to create games?

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    Ding! Ding! Ding! Biggles wins the prize!

    Check out a quick sample of the [url="http://sites.netscape.net/kwkconnection/Babylon5.java"]code[/url]. It doesn't take much to create a simple structure, such as this:
    [img]http://sites.netscape.net/kwkconnection/babylon5applet.gif[/img] . Granted, its [i]very[/i] simple, but the advantages of having a cross-platform development language with built-in internet comm. support has always seemed like a natural to me. And don't even get me started on the [url="http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/index.html"]Web Start[/url] potential!


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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    You do still have the problem of interpreter overhead though. Although computers are getting faster and faster, this would limit any games made to running well on only more recent machines where the interpreter overhead is not as large a chunk of the processor time.

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • MundaneMundane Elite Ranger
    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FÒR THAT CODE [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]

    I've had java on school..but want to learn more...that was what I needed [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    Biggles,
    I noticed in one of the other threads that you're working on your own graphics engine. Have to say, I don't have the experience to get to that level (yet), but I'd love to see how you work this out. PLEASE, keep notes on not only what works, but what doesn't, and why! Like you pointed out, there isn't much info about this type of thing out there on the net, an danything you contribute would help.

    As your designing it, are you thinking of an object-oriented application interface, or more procedural?

    RE: the Java interpreter. I have to say that with the systems becoming faster, and the Java JIT compilers improving performance on the client side, the interpreter is becoming much less of a concern. Will Java ever lead the industry in speed-intense applications? No. Does being first or the fastest always matter? No.

    BTW, I appreciate the discussion. I didn't expect many to respond.

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    MUNDANE,

    Glad it helped. I'll be interested in seeing what you can do with it! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I'm not just working on a graphics engine, but an entire game engine. The graphics engine is just where I started because it's the part I'm most interested in and also the best place to start as far as I can tell. And don't worry, I have a workbook which I write everything in.

    ------------------
    [b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • MundaneMundane Elite Ranger
    [quote]Originally posted by bobo:
    [b]MUNDANE,

    Glad it helped. I'll be interested in seeing what you can do with it! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]

    [/b][/quote]


    [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
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