HELP! DirectX needed, but little known....

To put it simply, I have written a 3D engine using vanilla VB commands and it turned out to be seriously slow, so the great BillSoo told me to use DirectX, but the problem is I know jack about it!

Don't abandon me just because I know so little, I am a quick learner I just need some basic pointers. I don't know WHERE to start, in fact I will have to buy a book! I know I need to use DirectDraw (if this is wrong please correct me) but the links I found elsewhere in this forum to DirectDraw tutorials were broken!

What I had made in basic VB was good but amazingly slow, so all I would need to change is the plotting technique. I want to draw pixel by pixel the the screen. HELP!

Thanks in advance for any help.

WOW! Merely one day after starting DirectX, I have already made my first app. The graphics are awesome, especially conidering the ease of programming. DirectX does most of the hard work for you, so all my 3D knowledge was not required.

For a long time I thought VB was not good for mainstream gaming, especially 3D, but DirectX proved me wrong. Believe me, I knew nothing about DirectX this time yesterday. If anyone wants to see what I managed to create just post here and I might upload it.

NB: The routine was Direct3D if you're interested ;)

I would like to see your app. Try attaching it to a post.

JDT

I'd like to see it to. Always been curious about Direct3D in VB.

I really would like to see what it does, because if 3d enviornment's aren't all that hard, I would be interesting in doing something like that, if you post it, please make it an EXE, because I don't have VB, and couldn't run it, thanx

i would like to see it also... i am starting my DX learning experiance and like to check out other peoples code.. and what are "vanilla vb commands".. i never heard of them.. if u want ta see what little i have been able to do just tell me.. i use DX8 n it doesnt seem that simple.. im thinkin of usin DX7 because it runs faster on my PC

"Vanilla VB commands" is just an expression for simple VB commands, ie. no API, no Direct X etc.

In North America, Vanilla Ice Cream is the most popular flavor so the phrase "Plain Vanilla" has become quite popular and is used to describe anything ordinary.



"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

I wold like to see your app to...

me 2

OK, it will require a little 'packaging' but I will do it....

Right, its bigger than 50k so heres a direct link. Its a full setup.exe you WILL NOT need VB to run it. It was programmed in VB 5. You WILL need DirectX 7 installed, the program will tell you if you dont have it images/icons/wink.gif. This is not a demo of a game in existence right now, more of a WIP. If you are interested in finding out more go to the game's website. ere ya go:

3DSetup.exe (http://www.btinternet.com/~crocketts/3dsetup.exe) size = 1.6 Mb

Here is the game's website:

http://www.projectck.4t.com

NOTES: 3D hardware acceleration required, 3D TnL hardware reccommended, min 64Mb RAM, 500MHz + (these specs are just a guess). EMail me with comments, suggestions, or criticisms. I have tried to make it as user-friendly as possible, but it may fail on your PC - I can offer no tech support.

Thankyou, enjoy

cheers, Squirm (shortypaul images/icons/wink.gif)

I am sorry I am not interested in exe files.

I do not think I am good in trying any exe program.
I can do better with the source code instead.

AnhMy_Tran

If you want I can post another project not compiled, do you want?

wooa woa woa - someone tried to make a 3D engine in native VB? people gave up doing that in plain C/ASM ages ago on the grounds it was crappy and slow... what possessed anyone to try it in VB???

SW renderers can never match the pure grunt of a hardware device. Even if they could, figure a pro-package like Ogl and Dx into the picture and you're wasting your time...

yes - i tried native VB, until i was directed to the true light of the messiah, more commonly known as DirectX. Hardware is definitely the way!

Not quite.

"Plain Vanilla" means not so much "ordinary" as it does "with no optional items".

A "Plain Vanilla" Lexus is not ordinary, but lacks the few options available.

As indicated though, A "Plain Vanilla" VB application uses only standard VB statements, no API calls or any other components not installed with VB.

Sorry about being so picky! It's one of my many failings.....

Helmar B. Herman, VP ProtoProducts