I have been learning 3D programming for the last few months and have studied just about every tutorial I could get my hands on. However, I have found that there are two types of tutorials: 1) 3D techniques such as drawing polygons, lighting, etc. and 2) Scene rendering (basically engine design). Well I can do number 1 pretty well (the basics anyway) but when it comes to engine design I seem to be missing something. I don''t have a data set to work with or any solid idea how to store one in memory and manipulate it. Either I''ve been overlooking the obvious or there are very few tutorials covering this subject. So my question is: How is the data stored on disk (the map file) and how is it stored in memory? (Generally...kind of broad question). I have heard/read that arrays are not good to use for this purpose but really I don''t see a way to store all those polygons without an array. Could someone please help me out here? Thanks, GE Yes, everyone is out to get you!

basically the way you want to store the polygon info. depends on what your engine is capable of doing. you would have to be a lot more specific. the best way is stub test all the different methods of storing file data and see which works best for you.

also: where do you live in canada? i live in Toronto.

Could you name a few of these methods so I can look them up? I just need some place to start looking and then branch out from there. Are you talking about things like Octrees and BSP trees? Do you know of any site that walks throught the impementation of any of these methods?

btw: I live in Vancouver....where it rains 99.9% of the time. But at least you don''t have to shovel it!

quote: Original post by Damon Clavuis

I have heard/read that arrays are not good to use for this purpose but really I don't see a way to store all those polygons without an array.

Yes arrays suck since they can't change their size during execution. Linked lists are a better way to store your polygons.

Vectors are cool too. (the linked list/arrays hybrids, not the 3D ones )



Edited by - Prosper/LOADED on June 6, 2000 4:34:26 AM