I want to do interactive achitecture visualisation and network enabled 3D games. I would like to use Java as a programming language but am prepared to learn C++. Crucial to me are: - Graphics quality, features and performance - Network features and performance Nice to have would be: - Easy distribution ( eg. browser plugin ) - Special features ( physics engine, non photorealistic rendering ) Things I have heard about and found interesting so far are: - Unreal Engine - 3D GameStudio ( looks a little semi-professional ) - Wild Tangent ( missing a lot of features ) Please give me some suggestion and some pros and cons! Thanks in advance Andreas Thölke

step1: learn c++

"The human mind is limited only by the bounds which we impose upon ourselves." -iNfuSeD

check out OGRE or the Nebula device. Both are open source freeware engines. While they are both C++ based, they are both multi-platform, and have reasonably good documentation (especially OGRE).

OGRE also has a python version of the engine, though apparently it is lagging behind the C++ version, but if you know Java it won''t be too much of a stretch to learn C++. The greatest strength in my mind about OGRE is its flexibility, however, I do not believe there is any networked capability but you''ll have to go through the API docs to be certain.

The Nebula Device does have a network class built in if I remember correctly, so perhaps this may be more up your alley. It is a professionally designed engine, and is the basis for the engine used in the game "Project Nomads"

http://ogre.sourceforge.net
http://www.radonlabs.de

Or try CrystalSpace. It''s really cross-platform and it supports software and hardware rendering.