Building Interactive Worlds in 3D
Virtual Sets and Pre-visualization for Games, Film & the Web

In Building Interactive Worlds in 3D readers will find turnkey tutorials that detail all the steps required to build simulations and interactions, utilize virtual cameras, virtual actors (with self-determined behaviors), and real-time physics including gravity, collision, and topography. With the free software demos included, 3D artists and developers can learn to build a fully functioning prototype. The book is dynamic enough to give both those with a programming background as well as those who are just getting their feet wet challenging and engaging tutorials in virtual set design, using Virtools. Other software discussed is: Lightwave, and Maya. The book is constructed so that, depending on your project and design needs, you can read the text or interviews independently and/or use the book as reference for individual tutorials on a project-by-project basis. Each tutorial is followed by a short interview with a 3D graphics professional in order to provide insight and additional advice on particular interactive 3D techniques-from user, designer, artist, and producer perspectives.

1 A Short History of Computer Simulations; 2 3D Basic Kit; 3 Adding Interactivity; 4 Animation Basics; 5 Interactive Lighting; 6 Virtual Cameras; 7 3D Sound; 8 User Interface and Input Devices; 9 Following a Terrain with a Remote Controlled Car; 10 Communication Environments; 11 Advanced Interactive 3D Characters; 12 Artificial Intelligence and Gameplay for Virtual Sets; 13 Multi-User and Database.

Professional Practice & Development

Professor at New York University in the graduate studies department of Interactive Telecommunications; consultant; award-winning 3D artist.

Coming at the process of making interactive worlds from a non-gaming viewpoint proves to be a refreshing break...Provided is a version of the Virtools pre-visualisation package, which is used to set up the interaction between objects, cameras and players. And this is where Gauthier comes into his own with paticularly thought-provoking chapters on issues such as camera set-up and pathfinding.' - Edge magazine