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Engine Details

3DSTATE 3D Engine

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3DSTATE 3D Developer Studio includes direct support for the following compilers: Microsoft Visual C++, Microsoft Visual C# .NET, Borland C++ Builder, Borland Delphi, Microsoft Visual Basic, and Microsoft Visual Basic .NET. To minimize download time, you can download a 3D Developer Studio that includes support only to your specific compiler. Currently used by more than 70,000 people. Among the companies using 3DSTATEs's technology, you will find brands such as Borland, Motorola, the BBC, Computer Associates, and IBM.

Author

3DSTATE

Graphics API

DirectX

Operating Systems

Windows, Xbox

Programming Language

C/C++, C#, Delphi, Visual Basic 6, VB.NET

Status

Productive/Stable

Documentation

Yes

Features

	General Features	Plug-in Architecture:
	Built-in Editors
	Physics	Basic Physics, Collision Detection:
	Lighting	Per-vertex, Per-pixel, Lightmapping, Radiosity, Gloss maps:
	Shadows	Shadow Mapping, Projected planar, Shadow Volume:
	Texturing	Multi-texturing, Bumpmapping, Mipmapping, Volumetric, Projected:
	Shaders	Vertex, Pixel, High Level:
	Scene Management	BSP, PVS:
	Animation	Keyframe Animation, Skeletal Animation, Morphing, Animation Blending:
	Meshes	Mesh Loading, Skinning:
	Special Effects	Environment Mapping, Billboarding, Sky, Water, Fog, Mirror:
	Terrain	Rendering:
	Networking System	Peer-to-Peer, Master Server:
	Sound & Video	3D Sound, Streaming Sound:
	Rendering	Fixed-function, Stereo Rendering, Render-to-Texture, Fonts:

Features:

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Stability:

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Date Added

Wed, 14 Dec 2005

Last Updated

Never

There are currently 5 reviews for this engine

License Name	Price	Source Code	Comments
Other/Custom	Free	No	Free for non-commercial use
Other/Custom	$899.00	No	Commercial Package

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Member Reviews

NOTE: The ratings and reviews below reflect the opinions of their respective authors and as such, do not reflect the opinions of DevMaster.net or its staff. The reviews are not moderated and some are completely inaccurate. Therefore, most reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. If you find any inaccurate or inappropriate reviews, let us know by stating in detail why you think the review should be removed and any links/documents that support your contention.

Powerful and offers free use for non-commercial

Posted by: Heyaxe at Jan 1, 2006

This is a really amazing engine to work with, i am currently using this to create a fps game. The graphics are very adavance from that of even a commercial engine. It also comes with a world builder than you can then use in the sdk, i use the sdk within delphi as it is very fast to use.

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experiences with 3DState using Visual C# Express for .Net 2.0

Posted by: pjerrotluna at Dec 31, 2006

I have experienced the following with 3DState in a two hours time boxed working session:

Easy to download.
It has been easy to download and install the SDK. I got a registration key easily. The homepage makes the impression, that more bread is prepared than can be baked in the small owen. I am not wether I have donwloaded all the packages I need. There is not all-in-one kit for a beginner.

Many samples with source code
It is very well documented and there a lot of samples showing how to do things. I look forward to investigate and learn more.

Annoying text in upper left corner.
Samples works and has an anoying "Student version. Commercial versions are illegal" text in the upper left corner.

Out of date sample and project in the programming guide.
Program sample helloworld in "Getting Started with 3DState" is completely out of date. The solution provided are all .Net 1.X. The HelloWorld source project was converted with out problems by Visual C# Express.

Potential for memory-leaks.
3DState.cs source file including all DLL's uses a rater nasty compiler and project option called "unsafe code". In C# unsafe option, means direct access to memory using pointers as in C and C++. I do not look forward to find the memory-leaks.

Not an object oriented API.
The use of the API seems not to be object oriented and do not use the facilities of .Net.
Here is an example from HelloWorld:

uint obj = _3D.STATE_object_get_object_using_name("the_cube");
_3D.STATE_object_rotate_x( obj, 0.1, _3D.spaceFlags.WORLD_SPACE);

A handler is obtained to an 3D object called the_cube. The API function rotate is called to rotate the 3D object. It is not a property on the 3D object or method! I would certainly write a facade offering a 3D object model.

Anti-aliasing.
Samples shows anti-aliasing and details are often missing.

Performance in samples are OK.

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Nice 3D engine - 3dstate

Posted by: spidi at Sep 24, 2006

I can't afford to buy it, but the student commercial use is enough to learn a lot of things about it.
It really has a lot of features regarding the 3d construction, cameras, physics, but it has some limited 3d functions as any other 3d engine, and also a poor optimized file format.
However is still my favourite ;)

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Dissapointment

Posted by: cristims at Apr 28, 2007

I recently try this engine.

The downloads worked fine, all installed fast and they are ready to go in no time.

I worked my way through the samples and start a simple test demo for myself.

And there it was... a Quake 1 engine nothing less, nothing more. The tools are obsolete, most of them don't work and links to others are lost for ever ...

The lighting system is old. The camera FOV is horrible, and the "pixel shader" support... well is text based ...

And that is all. No script tools, no complex visual editors, no configurable pannels, no up-to-date tools, no mesh skinning tools, no ...no...no...

Features? Nothing new here... all is old and refitted.

Ease of use? Yes, is relative easy to use it. But without proper tools and editors, without even a particle generator, and with lots of old tools his "ease" will become a nightmare in couple of days.

Stability. 1 of 3 demos doesn't work! 1 of 3 demos (that work) have great issues with my video card (standard GF FX card). And 3 demos needed Ctrl-Alt-Del and A LOT of patience to exit. They freeze my computer for minutes. Also the loading time for even the most simple Quake level is HUGE! Over 1 minute for 2 rooms, and 2 "monsters".... So Performace is more than poor.

Support. NO SUPPORT! The help file and some read me and that's all. No forum, no wiki, no other form of support! The student version is almost undocumented. How you supose to learn (free of charge) something if you need to buy a book to do so? No forum, no wiki, no user tutorials, no video tutorials.....

Conclusion:

Is a poor engine for "students" only. Even for them is obsolete, who wants to invest time in such an engine when more powerfull engines (even free ones) are in great demand.

And the "lincence" version. Be serious. For 900$ better buy other solutions. Check LawMaker Game Engine or Game Studio for a change.

Disclaimer: this is only my humble opinion and express my experience with this engine. While this may offend some or praise other please read other reviews too for a better understanding of this product. Also, please check for yourself the product.

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I do not recommend 3DSTATE

Posted by: wknecht at Dec 26, 2007

First, let me say that I'm far from being a 3D guru, so feel free to give this review as little credence as you feel is due. I'm merely a Ph.D. with a minor in Comp Sci who used 3DSTATE to program a fairly simple rotating display of translucent cubes, for use in a collision avoidance device for aircraft.

That said, I cannot recommend the 3DSTATE engine, primarily for several reasons. First, the .wld file format used by 3DSTATE appears obsolete, and does not seem to be recognized by other programs. Second, there is essentially little or no support. Their Web site is mostly circa-early 2000s, and seems to offer nothing that wasn't there several years ago. Third, although the company was happy to take my money for the "commercial" license, when I shied away from the nominal $900 price they suddenly offered it to me for $500. This should've tipped me off, but I already had too much code written via their free version to want to invest time rewriting it all. So, now I've gone even farther down what appears to be a dead-end road. All my code will eventually have to be rewritten, sad to say.

Finally, the one time I did try to contact the company, some support guy named "Jonathan" actually insulted me. To quote, he told me "We continue to support our small clients (even companies that include one CEO, no employes (sic) and write impolite emails)." This, after I simply brought up the fact that their Web site had pages that hadn't been updated since 2003.

Bottom line: Caveat emptor.

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