Starter Engine

[bdaunno]

Okay, I have been designing a game (entirely on paper, no coding yet) that will use elements of RPG and 3rd Person Shooter. The major concept behind it is that you will control a character who goes through these levels that have a LOT of moving scenery to them.

I would like to know a good starter engine (3d of course) that i could use to begin designing this. It is for my own personal use and not for commercialization so I'm sure there are free ones out there?

I am knowledgeable in
qbasic - programmed many 2d games in my younger days
visual basic - very knowledgable about api
c++ - know slight application programming ... not very intensive although i am willing to learn

i would like to know:
where i could find a free 3d engine similar to half-life, WoW, etc.
where i can learn about all its protocols and how to use them
what i need to get to do my own design (characters, maps, etc.)
later on sound construction

i'm assuming it's all object oriented programming and it can be done on one's own PC alone if he or she should put the time into it. if not, please inform me what i can and can't do on my pc. i bhave a high-end 1GB RAM 3.4GHz P4 pc. C++ is already installed.

thank you

[Bad Sector]

where i could find a free 3d engine similar to half-life, WoW, etc.

Here (http://www.devmaster.net/engines), it's only the first link in the header above this forum.

where i can learn about all its protocols and how to use them

Many engines carry documentation with them. Use the search Luke.

what i need to get to do my own design (characters, maps, etc.)

For characters you'll need some 3D software tool, such as Blender. For maps you'll need a map editor. Some engines have their own editors, some support popular map formats (like Quake3's format) and some use plain polygons for the world so you can use the same tool you use to make 3D models.

i'm assuming it's all object oriented programming and it can be done on one's own PC alone if he or she should put the time into it.

If you have enough will and time to spend more than 3 or 4 years of your life to learn what you need to learn and create everything is needed, then yes you can do it.

Your major problem will be willingness and time, not computer resources.

[MenDAKE]

Here (http://www.devmaster.net/engines), it's only the first link in the header above this forum.
Your major problem will be willingness and time, not computer resources.

Yep, that's the truth. I'm a pretty accomplished programmer, but I've been going at it for well over a year and still have a ways to go. It can be done, and it can be fun, but be prepared to run into some major obstacles and to get completely stuck on some of the most trivial things you never thought you could get stuck on.

But if your passion is to make games, it's well worth the ride.