dim3

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Dimension 3
Developed by Klink! Software
Latest release 2.2 / 2007
OS Mac OS X (creation and deployment); Microsoft Windows and Linux (deployment only)[1]
Genre Game engine
License Freeware[2]
Website Klink! Software
Video games Portal

dim3, also known as Dimension 3, is a freeware open-source 3D game engine for Mac OS X,[2] created by Brian Barnes.[3] It has been chosen as a staff pick for OS X development software by Apple.[4] and featured as one of their "hot game building tools."[5] dim3 has an entry in DevMaster's 3D engines database.[6]

dim3 uses OpenGL for rendering, OpenAL for audio, JavaScript for scripting (using Mozilla's SpiderMonkey implementation), XML for data and Simple DirectMedia Layer for resolution switching and input.

Contents

[edit] Components

Editor
Editor
Animator
Animator
Demo Game screenshot
Demo Game screenshot

[edit] Engine

The engine is the deployment application that runs games created in dim3. Games (or "projects", in dim3 language) are cross-platform and only require the proper engine to run on the proper platform.

The engine runs on Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and can be compiled to run on Linux.

[edit] Editor

The editor is an application that creates maps for a dim3 project. Maps are a collection of geometry that makes up a world or level. Maps can also contain information about weather, effects, particles, and scripts needed to run the game. The editor only runs on Mac OS X.

[edit] Animator

The animator is used add animations and effects to models used with dim3. Animator is used to add bones, then setup the poses for thoses bones, and finally the animations between the poses. Animator uses a skeletal animation system. The animator only runs on Mac OS X.

[edit] Server

The server is an application used to host network games on a local network or the internet. It can run with a light UI or headless. dim3 uses a client-to-client with negotiating server network model. The server runs on Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and can be compiled to run on Linux.

[edit] Data folder

The data folder is the game or project. It contains all the maps, models, artwork, sounds and scripts required to create a game in dim3. Each game is self-contained in up to 3 data folders, though only one is actually needed.

[edit] Demo Game

A demonstration "game" is included in the package. Whilst not a game in itself, it shows off aspects of the engine and scripting and includes examples for inexperienced users.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Klink! Software. OS Downloads.
  2. ^ a b Klink! Software. License.
  3. ^ Satterthwaite, Mark (2004-09-24). Dim3: The making of a game engine. InsideMacGames. Retrieved on 2007-11-06. “Brian had a notion that since Mac gamers were doing such great stuff with obsolescent engines designed only for FPS or strategy games, what would they be able to do with an engine designed to cater to their every whim? So he has endeavored to make Dim3 as versatile and flexible as possible while still remaining true to his other fundamental principle: it has to be free to use. From the outset Dim3 has been aimed not at the programmers but at the creatives and content creators who inhabit the Mac platform. So to take away the pain of creating a game with low-level C, it was decided to replace the scripting language with the much more approachable Javascript.”
  4. ^ Apple (2007-07-26). dim3 Download. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  5. ^ Cook, Brad (2007-07-26). Game Building Tools. Inside Mac Games. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  6. ^ DevMaster (2007-07-26). dim3. DevMaster. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.

[edit] External links