Everything You Need to Know About 3D Modeling for Gaming

3D technology is now used in many aspects of marketing and content production. It’s a process of creating graphics and other images to represent three-dimensional objects. This is done to scrutinize the details of the object through computer programs. 3D objects can also be animated and enhanced with special effects. 

Software like cyber-fox.net is used to create 3D models. These models are specifically for architecture, movies, advertising, and video gaming.

The Start of 3D Modeling in Gaming

3D modeling can be traced to the experimentation of a game developer called “Maze War” back in 1974. Compared to 2D games where characters can only move left and right, in Maze War, the players can also move backward and forward and could even shoot in all directions. 

The 1980s saw the rise of pseudo-3D games. It was the era when developers strived for dimensional characters but lacked the tools to do so. These efforts resulted in 3D illusions through physical projections, creating quasi-3D creations.

Other games followed suit, including racing games and First Person View (FPV) Shooters.

2D vs. 3D Games

2D games are also referred to as flat games and only use two axes to create character movements and other motions. On the other hand, 3D games can be considered improved 2D, with volume and depth. 

Some of the main differences between the two are:

Movement

Flat games are linear and can only move left, right, up, and down. 3D games offer freedom to the players, with their characters able to explore the gaming world created by the developer. 

Controls

One of the advantages of 2D games is their easy-to-learn controls. These games have simple mechanics to match. In contrast, because 3D games offer more options, their rules are also more complex and complicated, sometimes even discouraging newbies from continuing playing.  

Environment

2D games focus on the characters and how to make the game enjoyable, generally leaving the game’s setting as mere background. On the flip side, 3D games also put forward bemusing gameplay, but they don’t waste the chance to use the technology to give the players a rich visual experience through elaborate landscapes.

Missions

Goals in 2D games are simple and obvious. Meanwhile, with the many possibilities in 3D games, game objectives can be complex and difficult. These give the players more challenges, thereby encouraging them to play more. 

Why 3D Games are Sought After

Here are some reasons why 3D games are popular:

Realistic

Perhaps one of the top reasons 3D games are favored is due to their ability to offer realistic environments to their players. The illusion for graphically-pleasing gameplay is alluring with its capacity to create lines matched with the appropriate depth and volume.

Versatile

3D games provide freedom of exploration to their users through various media and genres. They are also generally more engaging because the characters can interact with their environment and the game world itself. Users can even discover miscellaneous articles and hidden features.

Of High-Quality

With continuous technological development comes more detailed games and more spellbinding and enhanced graphics. These details make the games more attractive and appealing. 

How 3D Game Graphics Work

Have you ever wondered how these games trick you into thinking you have a whole world on the other side of your computer screen? How do these games manage to deceive your eyes when you know your screen is just a flat surface?

 

3D objects are known for their height, width, and depth. They are essentially 2D pictures with more information in their creation. To understand how they work, here are some essential components of 3D graphics:

Quads

All 3D models come from squares and triangles, often referred to as “quads.” These quads can be used to create any object imaginable. The more shapes an object has, the more detailed it will be. 

3D Coordinates

Models made with triangles and squares are drawn following 3D coordinates. These coordinates keep track of the shapes for definition and send the information to a computer. 

X, Y, Z Axes

These axes pertain to the object’s length, width, and height.

Vertices

The shapes created in a 3D render have many different points at their edges. There are usually four points that define the form. These are the vertices or the points where the lines intersect.

Coordinate Systems

Because objects in the game world can’t overlap, model coordinates exist. These model coordinates are different from world coordinates. By multiplying matrices, objects in the model coordinate can be transferred to the world coordinates.

Camera View

Matrices are used to rotate the view in relation to the object. You have two options for a camera view: either you turn the camera relative to the world, like what we do in real life, or rotate the world relative to the camera. 

In gaming, there is no camera. Instead, it is the players’ window to the game world. It’s what the programmer wants the users to see. 

Pixels

Every pixel in any 3D object you see contains exactly one color. Individual pixels change colors in each game frame to give the illusion of depth and movement.

Perspective Projection

Also called 3D projection, this technique is used to cheat the eyes into thinking that a drawing, mapped on a flat surface, is 3D. It utilizes visual perspective and analysis of aspects, so the viewer perceives the image as having width, height, and length.

Rasterization

Because objects have complex curves and shapes, this process approximates the objects into a grid, fitting their parts to assign pixel colors to each section. 

Conclusion

There are many processes involved in 3D gaming. Starting with the creation of the simplest object in the gaming world, where many components are already demanded and used, to the games’ plot, mechanics, and other aspects that make it a complete product.