Panda3D

Panda3D is a free game engine, which was originally created by Disney VR and currently Disney, Carnegie Mellon University ( CMU) is being further developed and some volunteer programmers. The Panda3D engine is available for GNU / Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. It is optionally programmed via C or scripted using Python, allowing even beginners to create individual 3D programs.

Features

Panda3D dominated keyboard / mouse connection and a 3D display using OpenGL or DirectX in versions 8 and 9 Also included is an easy to use shader generator for many special effects such as normal mapping, HDR or motion blur. Optionally own shaders can be integrated. A surround sound can be generated in formats OpenAL, FMOD and Miles Sound System.

The engine provides detailed analysis and optimization tools, also can be carried out collision tests. Panda 3D has its own physics system, a complete integration of the Open Dynamics Engine and the unofficial support for Nvidia PhysX. The software has a so-called finite-state machine (also known as a finite state machine ). This is common for programming artificial intelligence. With the help of a virtual file system files can be integrated. The system supports this compression and encryption. Panda3D also includes an Exporter and conversion tools for many 3D modeling tools and many formats. The software is able to read and display of TrueType fonts and the graphical user interface ( DirectGUI ). The integration in wxWidgets applications is possible.

Panda3D is distributed as free software under the terms of the modified ( revised ) BSD license.

Panda3D uses the 3D format "Egg", which are created directly by the exporter from 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, etc., or can be converted from various formats later. The BAM format, which is recommended for delivery to end users, corresponds to the Egg format mostly, but is version-specific and contains, in contrast to the Egg- format binary data.

History

Panda3D was originally developed by Disney VR, which should create on behalf of Disney 3D exhibits for its theme parks. To enable this, the Panda3D engine was developed. In the meantime, however, it was highly developed and has with the original program barely resembled. Currently Panda3D is used in other VR theme park paths and used in the two online games " Toontown " and " Pirates of the Caribbean ". There are also other commercial and open products that are created by Panda3D / were using and can be distributed thanks to the liberal license without major restrictions.

Community

Panda3D has found many followers; in the forums are currently more than 4,000 registered users (as of August 2010). The fact that Panda3D is free, it is also suitable for hobbyists and on the forums a couple of open source projects can already be seen.

Future

Panda3D is in a steady progression process. There are some developers of Disney as well as by the CMU busy to add further features; Volunteers also always keep in the larger catchment development.