When I have time to spend, I like messing around with 3D creations, game making stuff. I think I have tried most of the contenders and it comes down to what you like in most cases. I say that because many of us just want to have some fun and never intend to publish a video game. This page is not meant to be definitive in any way except as it pertains to my own experience.
Game Makers: 3D RAD
There are dozens of Game Makers out there, but I have seen nothing at all that allows you to build, distribute, play, and comes with pre-made game modules you can both learn from and customize to suit your needs like 3D RAD. I know, Unity, Unreal and the list goes on and on. Yes, they do have game creation systems, but they do not allow you to publish unless or until you purchase an expensive license. So, you can go ahead and create something, but unless you intend to pony up some cash you cannot publish or share it.
3D RAD allows you to use it to create games and you can do whatever you wish with those games. Publish, sell, share, it’s your choice. It also comes with dozens of game examples that work. It is easy, with a little work, to customize those games, add your own 3D models, skins, pieces and make something fun and maybe even profitable. It is also completely free.
Game Examples and Abilities include:
- Auto Racing
- First Person Shooter
- Flight
- Menus
- Network Play
- Multi Player
- Sound FX
- More
For me the choice was clear over 10 years ago when I actually purchased 3D Rad. It is now completely free.
While this is great, there are some things that cause people to stumble. First, learning a system, any system, even if it has projects and pre-sets to show you how to do it is difficult. It is time consuming. I have found myself investing mass amounts of time in other game creators to learn them only to find that, in the end, I need a license, or I have to pay for content to use, something along those lines. 3D RAD has been free for quite some time. I know of no plans to take it back to a retail product. So, you shouldn’t get surprised down the line somewhere and find it suddenly has to be purchased, or you need to pay for a license to continue using it. So the time you invest is worthwhile in that respect.
3D RAD: Free version – Pro Version
3D RAD uses the direct X file format for the 3D models it uses. There is no modeler that was purpose built to model in the Direct X format. Yes, I have seen a few that claim to be able to do it, but I have tried them, and they don’t get the job done, they are buggy, or they are works in progress. If I ever see one that actually works and has the features, you need in a modeling program I’ll list here. And that doesn’t mean it has to be free. Some things I will list here are not free.
So, there are no Direct X specific modelers. However, there are Modelers that can do the job. You can go right to the top and spend the money for a top-of-the-line modeler, or you can search the internet and risk contaminated files to try to find something that will do the job. Or you can do what I do, search for open-source projects that work.
Why Open Source? I use Open-Source modelers because I don’t have to worry about virus infection if I download them directly from Source Forge, GitHub or the projects own website. That might seem excessively cautious but after getting infected files several times I just don’t try anything else. And some of those infections were serious enough to make me completely shut down, wipe the drive and reformat completely. Even the low infection stuff copies files to your browser or hard drive and then you have to spend time deleting them, if you can. Oh, and they offer, of course, to sell you some virus software that helpfully can take care of this adware infection. Why put yourself through it? Well, because, like me, you’re cheap and you still want to play. So, go the open-source route. Find a something that works, download it and you’re set.
Mentioned: Source Forge: http://sourceforge.net/ GitHub: https://github.com/
3D RAD does not include a module to skin or UV models.
It used to be easier, in the old days, before 3D RAD went to Direct X models, to skin or UV wrap or UV Unwrap models. It used 3DS models and it had a module built in, small, but effective, that allowed you to do that. Simple, but it worked great. Not any longer. Now you have to find a program that will do that. It also has to be a program that can work with various model formats you might be using, and one that has the ability to save to the Direct X format.
In the old days I used a freeware program called Lithunwrap. Google it, you’ll find it. I won’t link to it because it is not supported by the author any longer. It is also one of those files you’ll find on those sites with spy or adware, or those helpful download managers that also add spyware and ad bars without your permission. You may find it on a site that is free of that garbage. If so, grab it. It’s invaluable as a demonstrative tool.
3D RAD:
So, I looked at the shortcomings and then decided that I like it well enough to find some workarounds to help me to use it.
A Modeler was the first thing I needed.
OPEN FX:
Open FX is an open-source modeler that was abandoned several years ago and then bought back. It has its quirks, but overall, it is a solid modeler and very easy to learn and use.
It imports Direct X, 3DS, OBJ, LWO, DFX, and DAE. It does not export Direct X. You might ask, well, how does that help me to get Direct X into 3D RAD?
It exports DXF and 3DS both of which can then be faithfully converted to the Direct X format (With the included ASSIMP Library) and used in 3D RAD. I know, I have used it exactly that way. Get OFX: Free Version – Pro Version
You can find hundreds of thousands of models on the web that you can use. Some are royalty free; some are not. Many need a lot of work if you intend to use them in a video game where the poly count can be your enemy. You need something that looks good but has a low impact size wise. Most model downloads are not going to fit that bill. You will find yourself spending hours upon hours on the simplest model trying to reduce the size or change it to what you need.
The best thing to do is look at the models that are in 3D RAD already. Go ahead and open them in Ultimate Unwrap, save them to 3DS files and then open them in Open FX. Take a look at how they were constructed. In most cases you will see that most of the perceived detail comes from rendering, not the model itself. Once you realize that and see how simplistic the models that are used in video games actually are you will realize it is worth your time to make your own simplistic models. But, go ahead, download that truck or car and have some fun with it. I did, and it taught me that I would rather build my own most of the time. Take a look at the tutorials for 3D RAD and for Open FX . Learn those tools and you’ll be making what you want to make pretty quickly.
If you find anything on this page that is not as I said, or that has changed, please let me know about it. In the meantime, enjoy 3D Game Building!
I hope this helped. If you have something of use, you would like to list drop me a line at authordellsweet@gmail.com and if it’s good I’ll list it.
Home: https://www.radsandbox.com
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