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How 3D 'people'/detailed objects are made.

Hi all,
I'm kind of new to game dev, esp. 3D graphics.

What I want to know is: How do programmers making a multiplayer game, for example, import/create a detailed 3D object, such as a person, or car?? For example; on the excellent PS2 game, Gran Turismo 3, how would they have created the cars? Or created the people/cars, etc.. in Driver (another PS2), for example??

Do they make the people in a program, such as, 3D studio max / Maya / ... , then some how imported the animation, and cut out the character from the background, and added it to the scenario?? But then you hav the problem of the other player (ie, it's a multiplayer game) having to see the character from another angle. :o\

I have some other ideas, but they're very unclear. Could someone enlighten me please??

Thanks very much,
[r.D]

...Do they completely code each person somehow??? :o\ I'm sooo confused! =0

davebytes

Yes, programmers work with artists as a combined team to create games. These days, it is difficult for a single programmer to create the level or content large companies are doing without additional art help.

Almost every 3D object is created using some modeling tool. Max, Maya, etc. Depending on the company, some have their own custom tools as well for building out worlds, effects, etc. -- UnrealEd is a good example.

Then, the usual approach is a combination of an exporter from Max/Maya that writes the file to a better 'known' format, and strips out things you don't need, plus then code to 'import' the data into your game's specific organization of data structures.

Sometimes a driver in the car is a separate object, 'placed' within the car at a specific 'connection point' -- making it seem like it's properly in the car. Other times, the driver is PART of the car itself, 'welded' to it. In cases where a character gets out of the car and walks around, it is a separate object... ;) It is created in its entirety, like the cars.

Animations are an orthogonal issue. Animations, in theory, can be applied to any give geometry -- depends how you set it up.

-d

DrWarezz

ASKER

Thanks Dave.
I'm just getting in to 3D game programming/development.
I've learnt Java previously, and have just a few months of experience in C++ (quite a small amount).
Not only am I inspired to make games, but I have some GREAT ideas, typically for a Massively Multiplayer Game. I don't have any experience with programming 3D graphics in C++. However, I've order quite a few books online, and it's just a case of waiting for them to arrive.
At the moment though, I'm just researching certain things (such as this question).

So, I could make a character/object in ..max, then export it in, for example, some ASCII format. Then somehow code my program to import it?
How difficult would you rate that? Because, for a large online/networked game, then all the users must load the right character (I don't see an issue here), but loading it to 'face' the right direction, etc.. That doesn't seem easy.
Am I WAY over thinking this? Will it all make sense once I do some good reading? :o\

Thanks!
[r.D]

Oh yea, I'm trying to figure out how to make a MASSIVELY multipler game (for over the internet). I'm just a student, and have spent all the money (the little I had) on two 3D related books. Could you recommend a site on some sort of free help? ie; tutorials?? :o\ I just can't think up a very good method to transfer data between (well, up to hundreds of different people) at once!! Without killing a machine! lol :o\ Any recommendations?? Ta.

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davebytes

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DrWarezz

ASKER

Okay, thanks very much Dave!
:o)

[r.D]