Peter,
The problem with "planning to buy a book" is that there are virtually no
books on Java 3D currently published. Also since it is changing so
rapidly it's tough for hard copy documentation to keep up with Java 3D.
Sun seems to indicate that 1.3 will largely fix the problems with
transparent objects. I'm not sure when 1.3 will ship (considering they
haven't started on it yet) but I'm guessing nine months to a year. Can
you wait that long?
Yes, if all users upgrade to GeForce level cards the performance and a
lot of the OpenGL driver issues will disappear. I'm not sure when we'll
have 50% market penetration for this type of video card though. Again,
in about a year this should be a minor issue.
First Person Shooters don't interest me so I haven't specifically
investigated them but yes garbage collection would be one main reason
why Java 3D might not be ideal for such an application. I believe a FPS
could be done in Java 3D but I'm not sure everyone would be satisfied
with the result. As has just been discussed the timing accuracy on
Win9x (the primary gaming platform) is very weak. Creating a MMORPG
(Everquest like) world I'm able to tolerate a lot of little things that
might bother others. I don't need killer perfect, beautiful animations
(although they'd be nice). And a hesitation now and then doesn't bother
me (EQ has regular very long "zone times").
- John Wright
Starfire Research
Peter Schuller wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> > the geometries and textures eat up memory like crazy. I'd say memory is
> > more of a limitation than performance. And Java 3D 1.2.1 gained about a
> > 50% frame rate increase over Java 3D 1.2 so Sun's doing a fine job at
> > advancing the technology.
>
> Wow. I didn't know such huge performance increases were currently being done.
>
> > Other issues:
> > 1) weak documentation
>
> I'm planning on getting a book (which is probably a good idea; although
> Sun's tutorial is fairly good in coverage).
>
> > 2) transparent objects are troublesome
>
> I've noticed (from the discussions on the list in the past). I expect this
> to get fixed eventually though; so that's somewhat of a non-issue.
>
> > 3) Performance very dependent upon video card (ie GeForce cards do
> > great, but a Voodoo 3 is weak)
>
> Also something I'd expect to get better; so a non-issue here too (eventuall).
>
> > Java 3D might not hold up for the kind of performance a first person
> > shooter would desire, but it does hold up for a slower paced more
> > interesting world (like Everquest).
>
> Any specific reasons for this? Due to bad frame rates in general, or are you
> thinking of GC pauses?
>
> Thanks for all the feedback!
>
> --
> / Peter Schuller, InfiDyne Technologies HB
>
> PGP userID: 0x5584BD98 or 'Peter Schuller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>'
> Key retrival: Send an E-Mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://scode.infidyne.com
>
> ===========================================================================
> To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body
> of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
===========================================================================
To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body
of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
