3D Biblical World

foozball3000

foozball3000

Executive Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Messages
5,928
Reaction score
1,738
Location
Kyalami
The idea is simple... it's a dynamic 3D map that shows you what's going on (and where) while you browse through the Bible. I started building it in Blender 3D's gaming engine... but I don't think that Blender can cut it, so for the moment the whole project is on hold until I find a better engine to build it on.

Any ideas?

(Please keep any religious comments to yourself... it's not a debate thread, it's a programming thread)

Update:
I've decided (With a friends help) to call it "Road to Yerushaláyim"
Here's the SourceForge link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/roadtojerusalem/
I'm still reading (a lot), to find a good Open Source license.
Here's a sample concept screenshot: https://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=397792
 
Last edited:
Why not try XNA? You can build the models / maps in Blender and export them to the Direct 3D model format (the exact format escapes me now). You can then stream the models into view as necessary...
 
i would suggest building in on web based tech. so person loads web page. currently... flash is it i suppose. use Papervision 3D engine and export Blender meshes to COLADA files. But this is all a whole bunch of work. ; )
 
"it's a dynamic 3D map that shows you what's going on (and where) while you browse through the Bible."

Can you elaborate? A dynamic map?

Depends what you want to do, and what you already know and are willing to learn.

At the high level you have "game makers". If they suit your project, then use them as they do most things for you. Minimal scripting.
After that, you have a "game engine". If that can accomplish your purpose then you can use it, but you will have to learn how the engine works.
Then there are 3D engines. These are more flexible, because very little is assumed. Of course you will need to learn how to use the engine, and spend a lot of time re-inventing the wheel, depending on how low level the engine is.

XNA is quite a low level 3D engine, higher than directx, but it takes little for granted.

What languages do you know?
 
Last edited:
stricken said:
i would suggest building in on web based tech. so person loads web page. currently... flash is it i suppose. use Papervision 3D engine and export Blender meshes to COLADA files. But this is all a whole bunch of work. ; )
Click to expand...

I'm not too keen on the Web App idea. Most SA users don't have a lot of bandwith to spend like crazy. For a PC application, a gaming engine seems to be more suited.

FarligOpptreden said:
Yup. You can code in C#, so it should be familiar. ;)
Click to expand...

Cool stuff. I'm downloading version 3 as we speak (I don't have VS 2010 that's needed for version 4)
 
HumanoidTyphoon said:
XNA is quite low level.

You can try one of the higher level game engines, or the slightly lower but more flexible 3D engines.

"it's a dynamic 3D map that shows you what's going on (and where) while you browse through the Bible."

Can you elaborate? A dynamic map?
Click to expand...

Visualize a mix of Google Earth and something like the Medieval Game Series. Basic 3D models to indicate events and locations on a 3D map with a textbox of sorts to display scripture. So, for example if you read "David ran from Jerusalem to wherever" the map will show both locations and some sort of arrow between the two locations. Then you're free to pan, zoom, read up interesting facts...

idea: Perhaps I should render some example screenshots.

Edit: Do you have a higher level game engine in mind? The part that I have to keep in mind is that the majority of users won't own gamin PCs...
 
Last edited:
foozball3000 said:
Relevant languages: C#, VB and basic Python
Click to expand...

I am using a 3D engine that is a slightly higher level than XNA, also for .Net, it is called True Vision 3D.

You should probably look into getting DEM satellite data for the region you will need.
You can convert the data into a heightmap and use it to create the landscape.
When the user zooms you will want to show a more detailed version of the elevation data and textures. As the user zooms out, you should replace the textures with less detailed textures to free up memory, and you should average out the elevation data at specific intervals based on the zoom, so that it significantly drops elevation detail as the user zooms out.
 
HumanoidTyphoon said:
I am using a 3D engine that is a slightly higher level than XNA, also for .Net, it is called True Vision 3D.

You should probably look into getting DEM satellite data for the region you will need.
You can convert the data into a heightmap and use it to create the landscape.
When the user zooms you will want to show a more detailed version of the elevation data and textures. As the user zooms out, you should replace the textures with less detailed textures to free up memory, and you should average out the elevation data at specific intervals based on the zoom, so that it significantly drops elevation detail as the user zooms out.
Click to expand...

Checking out True Vision now..
One of the guys on the BlenderArtist forums helped me out with the maps. You can access Google's raw maps. They're stored in various layers. But because they're massive, I haven't made the effort to download them.
For now, because I'm still mostly doing research, I'd like to see what I can dig up about how Photosynth works. Microsoft demo'd it on TED and one of the topics was that the size of a bitmap shouldn't affect ram or loading speeds, as only a certain amount of pixels can be displayed. If it's possible to get my hands on that kind of tech for the textures, it's worth looking into. Otherwise, and probably the route to go is what you mentioned.

I'm curious, how do you do your project planning (For something like this)? It's still a long way before the software that allows me to brainstorm and stick a project plan together at the same time is working. (Another of my projects)

Edit: It's $150 for TrueVision 3D...
 
Last edited:
HumanoidTyphoon said:
Yeah that is true, you can use it for free, but if you want to release something you will have to buy a license, which removes the watermark.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying for good software. It's just that my cash-flow is quite tight at the moment.
 
SoftDux-Rudi said:
this sounds like a really, really interesting project. Do you need any beta testers (not yet, I suppose)?
Click to expand...

Testers will be awesome. Keep an eye on this thread and If all goes well, I'll post the link to SourceForge soon (In my world, soon is about two months away). But I'm still a loooooooooooooooooong way from having an Alpha version.
 
This is a very ambitious project.... I had a similar idea a long time ago. I think the main thing that stopped me, was this question: Is it going to leave any room for interpretation, and what if your (the creator's) interpretation is wrong?
 
xera said:
This is a very ambitious project.... I had a similar idea a long time ago. I think the main thing that stopped me, was this question: Is it going to leave any room for interpretation, and what if your (the creator's) interpretation is wrong?
Click to expand...

I've thought about that too. And the best approach for things that has to be guessed or assumed is to reference it, as in "According to the something study, this is the location".. Hopefully as the data accumulates, the user will be able to choose what version of interpretation he is comfortable with
 
I need a good name for this app... (The grossly overused word "3D" must not be in the title/name)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X