3D graphic/game engine, basics questions

[cholasimmons]

im familiar with C# and java, and on the web side im good with HTML and PHP.
but for C++ i was wondering...

fine you have plenty of codes including the IF, ELSE and WHILE statements,
but when it comes to displaying stuff in a 3D environment (game engine),
who/what decides what 3D formats you can import, the engine or the code? as in do you have to import separate files to support that format for THAT particular engine?

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i have the ideas, i have the equipment, i have the theories, NOW i have C++!! :)

[hamsterman]

You have to find yourself some kind of library to do graphics. Amongst available choices is OpenGL (which is cross platform, but you'd have to do a lot of stuff, like loading models, yourself if you use it), DirectX (which is Windows only, but has some comfortable functions (I'm not suggesting that it is better than OpenGL though)) and some higher level library like Ogre3D (which is probably the best choice, as it provides a lot of useful functionality and is probably cross platform).

[JimNewbie]

hamsterman.

Irrlich is another free to use open source C++ based 3d game engine. Their website is here
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/
What is your opinion about Irrlicht?

[hamsterman]

@JimNewbie,
I've never tried it. I haven't tried Ogre3D either. It's just an engine I've heard of. There are probably plenty of similar ones. I myself prefer the OpenGL/DirectX way.

[JimNewbie]

Ok. Thanks.