Articles on Graphics and Multimedia
A Practical Implementation of a 3-D Game Engine
Creating a 3-D game engine is not a trivial task as gamers often demand for high quality output with top notch performance in games. In this article, we show you how various real-time rendering algorithms can be applied to implement a practical 3-D game engine. We explore the general architecture of a 3-D engine and discuss the role of a scene graph in a 3-D engine. We will look at scene graph from the software engineering perspective. In particular, we show you the way to design a scene graph that is object-oriented and portable across different rendering engine. Then, we explain the algorithms that we apply to speed up the performance of our 3-D engine. We optimize the 3-D engine on the scene graph and object geometry levels. The algorithms that we propose are expected to perform reasonably well for both static and dynamic scenes. Finally, we give you a brief preview on the possibility of parallel processing in scene graph to create a 3-D engine with multiprocessing capability.
An Efficient and Lightweight Resource and Asset Manager for Games Development
The rapid increase of complexity in today’s games has made managing game resources and assets become a major challenge to game developers. This article presents a lightweight resource and asset manager that can be used to manage the resources in most games effectively. We show you how a centralized resource manager is built and used to increase the reusability of game resources. This resource manager is then used by the asset manager to create various game assets. We propose a specification that describes 3-D object (one type of game asset) that is constructed from the resource manager. We extend the specification further to allow game developers to configure the 3-D object flexibly to suit various needs. Finally, we give a few thoughts on how the asset manager can be extended further for creation of other game assets through the resource manager.
Sun Crusher: The Great War (Gameplay Trailer)
After much anticipation, the demo of Sun Crusher: The Great War is released. This is a unique blend of third person action and real-time strategy game by Bad Nose Entertainment, where you take a role of a prisoner trapped in a prison armor designed to hold rather than protect, you are sentenced to indefinite service to the Corporation’s military service.
Sun Crusher: The Great War (Teaser Trailer)
After months of planning and design, finally I am able to show you the first look into Sun Crusher: The Great War. This is Bad Nose Entertainment’s upcoming exciting sci-fi action game, which is a unique blend of third person action and real-time strategy game. In Sun Crusher, players take a role of a prisoner trapped in a prison armor designed to hold rather than protect, you are sentenced to indefinite service to the Corporation’s military service. Engage in the Sun Crusher’s unforgiving universe as you, a mobile weapon of destruction in the employ of the Corporation wage war against rival forces and ultimately will you attain freedom from the very prison that binds your very soul. Follow story driven missions and embark on espionage within massive interstellar warships to planetary battles and unravel the very corruption of the Corporation. Players must utilize a mix of stealth and tactical decisions and mastery of state-of-the-art weaponry and occasionally brute force to complete missions.
Jungle Bash
This is a casual arcade that we are developing in Bad Nose Entertainment. You play the role as a reputable hotshot bounty hunter, being sent off to the woods for the hunt. Being the last defender of your bunny clan, prepare to defend the very future of your kind from existence! We had decided to release this playable demo online for free. Challenge your best friends to get the highest score. Only the best bounty hunter will survive in this exciting Jungle Bash.
Courseware for Hidden Line/Surface Removal
When object are defined as surfaces filled by color or shading patterns, hidden-line/ surface removal techniques are used to take out any back surfaces that are hidden by visible surfaces. Removing hidden surfaces is generally a complicated and time-consuming process, but it provides a highly realistic method for displaying objects. Added realism is attained by combining hidden-surface removal with perspective projections.
This courseware will provide you an interactive way to experiment with the three typical (and the most well known) hidden line/surface removal algorithm. They are Painter’s, Z-Buffer, and Depth Coherence (Warnock’s Area Subdivision) algorithm. While experimenting, you will see the results for different algorithms. You will also learn the pros and cons among each different algorithm. The project documentation will provide you the details of the courseware implementation.
TCCS JukeBox
TCCS JukeBox is a Windows based multimedia file player. Unlike Media Player which came along with every Windows operating system, TCCS JukeBox is capable to play a collection of multimedia files. It just like a real jukebox. It can even play them in various methods that you preferred. TCCS JukeBox is capable to support all Windows multimedia files, including MIDI, WAV, CD Audio, MP3, MOD, AVI, etc. Now, you can enjoy listening to your favourite collection of songs while you are working on your computer.