3D RAD DOCUMENTATION - Resources to help you learn how to
make 3d games quickly! Free 3D game making made easy!



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In 3D Rad, you make games by combining 'intelligent' components (called Objects) and setting relationship parameters for them.

To get started with 3D Rad - free 3D game maker - after you have read this overview and followed this introductory tutorial, make sure you then follow the importing tutorial from the beginning. If you do not know how to make your own 3d models, watch this video instead.

Then, the best thing to do is examining all the demo projects, by making sure that, for each object in the project, you have read at least once the related help file.

To run a demo project, run 3D Rad, press Ctrl+O, choose a demo project to open and press the Space Bar to launch it. For a description of each project, please see the following table.


SAMPLE PROJECTS,
TUTORIALS, ARTICLES
SOURCE DEMO PROJECT
To open a project,
launch 3D Rad,
press [Ctrl]+[O]
GETTING STARTED
3D Rad overview | editor functions | hotkey list
-
Your first interactive project: tutorial
SimpleProject
Getting help on specific object's usage: video tutorial
-
NO modeling required! Making interactive projects with any 3d model from the Google 3D Warehouse: recommended technique
-
Understanding event-objects.
Custom game logic without coding: article
-
Compiling projects to stand-alone executables or applets embedded into a web-page at your website
-
IMPORTING, USING CUSTOM 3D MODELS
The official tutorial about importing, rendering and enabling physics for your own 3d models.
-
WORKING WITH ANIMATED 3D MODELS (SKINMESH OBJECT)
SkinMesh object overview: video
-
Interactive/AI characters from your animated models: video tutorial
-
Walking character, using various controls configurations.
CharacterDemo
CharacterNoMouseDemo
CharacterJoystickDemo
Adjusting walking character speed
CharacterVariableSpeedDemo
Animation blending. Switching between different animation sequences (e.g. from walking to sitting down) smoothly
AnimationControls
SkinMeshOneLoopDemo
SkinMeshDemo
Frame-by-frame animation. 3D animation as a sequence of different static models
SkinMeshFrameAnimationDemo
Making a walking character (or a spaceship or anything else) follow a pre-defined path
SkinMeshPathDemo
Making animated characters carry objects, lights, particle emitters (e.g. torches) and trail sources
SkinMeshBoneDemo
SkinMeshBoneLightDemo
SkinMeshBoneParticlesDemo
SkinMeshBoneTrailDemo
Controlling individual bones of animated characters, while the pre-defined animation plays
SkinMeshBoneControlDemo
Making fists, kicks of an animated character interact with the environment (per-bone collision detection, physics)
SkinMeshBoneRigidBodyDemo
SkinMeshBoneControlRigidBodyDemo
CAMERAS, VIEW MODES
1St person, 3rd person and fixed view modes: article
-
Switchable view modes, simple demo project
SwitchableViews
Controlling camera orientation with the mouse
ControllingCameraOrientationWithMouse
Controlling camera zoom with the mouse wheel
ControllingCameraZoomWithMouseWheel
Making the camera follow a pre-defined path
CameraPath
Implementing split-screen games
SplitScreen
RENDERING, VISUAL EFFECTS
Simulating water with dynamic environment mapping, camera filters (post-processing) and other tricks
WaterDemo
UnderwaterDemo
UnderwaterCameraFilter
Imposters! Populating your scene with hundreds of thousands of polygons and multiple particle effects and lots of rigid-bodies with minimal performance loss, implementing explosion forces, creating/destroying volume triggers run-time and more!
SkinMeshImposters
RigidBodyImposters
SpriteImposters
ParticleImposters
GForceImposters
EOLImpostersDemo
EOCImpostersDemo
Imposters without scripting!
ImposterObjectDemo
ImposterMeshMapDemo
ImposterObjectRBDemo
Determining if an imposter is visible
SkinMeshImpostersVisible
Implementing virtual monitors and similar (rendering camera ouput to texture)
CameraTextureDemo
Managing Level Of Detail (LOD) for the SkinMesh object
LOD_demo
Lens flare effects with occlusion test!
LensFlareDemo
Rendering glass
GlassDemo
Bloom effect
BloomDemo
Explosions, shock waves
ExplosionParticlesDonut
ExplosionParticles
Implementing a flashlight effect
FlashlightDemo
Adding trails to any moving object: video
-
Drawing 3d lines by using ready to use script functions
ImposterLines
Dynamically stretching a SkinMesh from one object to another
SkinmeshStretch
Setting up natural environments: video
-
Animated clouds and snow: example
-
2D GRAPHICS, GUI, HUD
GUIs without coding!
GUIWindowDemo
Implementing generic game menus, the basics
BasicGameMenu
Letting the user click & select with mouse buttons (icons, sprites) on a menu or 3d objects in a scene
ClickableButton
MouseOverSkinMesh
MouseOverSprite
Letting the user input some text
InputText
Playing short video clips (cutscenes etc) with the Sprite object
SpriteAnimation
Rotary-dial based speedometer, simple demo project
Speedometer
Heading indicator, simple demo project
HeadingIndicator
HeadingIndicatorCam1StPerson
Scrolling text horizontally, vertically
TextScrollingH
TextScrollingV
Animating sprites by using scripts
SpriteScriptAnimation
Saving screenshots from your scripts
ScreenshotDemo
PHYSICS
Implementing a marbles track with Google SketchUp: video
-
Achieving collapsible structures by linking objects with breakable joints
JointFixedDemo
Implementing rag-dolls: resources
-
Implementing skinned rag-dolls: resources
-
Working with joints and springs, simple example
JointDemo
SkinmeshStretchTrueSpring
Setting initial velocity and spin
InitialVelocityDemo
Making things get blown away by wind
WindDemo
Making a wheeled vehicle sail with an airfoil and some wind: notes
LandSailorDemo
Implementing paddles and similar objects that interact with the environment but aren't affected by it
PaddleDemo
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Map-free, zero coding path finding: article
PathFinderDemo
Classic path finding, A-Star algorithm: resources
-
Character A.I., target chasing: plug-in
-
GENERIC GAME DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES
Remapping default keyboard controls, enabling gamepads/joysticks/steering-wheels: article
-
Creating multi-level projects: article
-
Path object editor, creating complex paths
directly on terrain: resources
-
Goal arrow, to help the player reach a location: plug-in
-
Formatted timer, minutes, seconds and milliseconds in 00:00:000 format: plug-in
-
Updating score on collisions
ScoreDemo
Triggering events when two objects are no longer in contact
NoContactSensor
Intercepting EventOnInput keys from a script
InputKeyScript
Activating force-feedback devices on collisions
ForceFeedbackOnContact
Managing game stats (lives, health etc) without using a script
CounterObjectTest
Translating, rotating, scaling objects run-time
TransformDemo
Showing/hiding objects and/or animation sets run-time
SwitchObjectDemo
SwitchAnimSetDemo
Additional resources from the community
-
WEAPONS
A basis for scan-based weapons (for bullets, lasers etc)
ScannerDemo
EventOnObjectIdDemo
Shooting projectiles from a moving vehicle
ProjectileDemo
Shooting projectiles from an animated character hand
SkinMeshBoneProjectilesDemo
Hiding projectiles when they hit a target.
ProjectileHideOnContact
Hiding/showing specific objects when projectiles are shot or expire.
ProjectileObjectInternalParams
Attaching particle and trail emitters to projectiles.
ProjctileParticles
ProjctileParticleTrail
Targeting system: plug-in
-
FPS GAMES
View-locked 3d props, like a carried gun in a FPS game
ViewLockedSkinmesh
Making a door open/close when a character approaches/leaves: discussion
DoorDemo
DRIVING SIMULATION, RACING GAMES
Realistic driving simulation in a box: article
CarSimulation
PCarDemo
PCarScriptedDemo
Using your own car models with Car Physics Layouts: video tutorial
-
Setting up a racing game: video tutorial
-
Adding A.I. cars to your projects: video tutorial | video
-
AI racing demo. Race against car-physics layouts controlled by the CarAI object
SUVRace
AI cars targeting other objects
CarAITarget
CarAITargetFleeSwitch
Wheeled vehicles stability tips: article
WheeledVehicle
Preventing wheels from drifting when the vehicle is still on a sloping terrain
WheeledVehicleScripted
Speedometer/tachometer (HUD): plug-in
-
Hand-brake simulation for the Car object: plug-in
-
Not-rolling wheel props (like exposed sports car brakes) and replacements (like snowmobile-like skis): plug-in
-
Implementing dust from car wheels
WheelDustDemo
Setting up a rear-view mirror
RearViewMirror
Road system, snapping road pieces together: video tutorial
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FLIGHT SIMULATION
Flight simulation: video
AircraftDemo
Arcadish flight gameplay
AircraftDemo_autobalance
Detecting Above Ground Level
AircraftAGL
Starting a level with an aircraft already in flight
AircraftVelocityDemo
Simulating an helicopter: resources
-
Adding wind to your flight simulation
WindAircraftDemo
BOAT SIMULATION
Creating realistic boats with the Buoy object.
BoatDemo
RTS GAMES
Implementing a C&C Unit: resources
-
SPACE GAMES
Solar system resources: video
SolarSystem
MULTIPLAYER GAMES
Creating multiplayer games: article
NetBallArenaMenu
NetBallArenaServer
NetBallArenaClient
Sending textual strings from the server to remotely connected client PCs
NetworkStringClient
NetworkStringServer
Updating your 3d world with data from a remote server
WebDownloadDemo
SOUND EFFECTS
Attaching 3d sound emitters to moving objects: video tutorial
-
IN-GAME ADVERTISEMENT
Clickable advertisement units in your games that lead to user-defined URLs: article
ClickableAdUnit
SCRIPTING
Get started with the introductory mini tutorials.
-
Function usage examples.

Please see the Script object help file for details.

NOTE: these projects are in the Script_Functions_Usage_Examples subfolder.
i3DLocationToScreen
iDLLCall
iFileStringReadWriteTest
iFloatTendTo
oPrint
iObjectLocationSet
iObjectPicked
iObjectScan
iStringFind
iStringMid
iSpherePicked
iSphereSegmentIntersect
iScreenRay
iStringReplace
iStringStr
iStringUCase
iStringVal
Writing your own render shaders for the SkinMesh object and post-process shaders for the CamChase object: tutorial.
ShaderDemo
PostProcessShader
PostProcessStacked
PUBLICATIONS
Entry Level 3D Race Car Game Creation using 3D RAD
by HobbyPress, available as printed booklet and e-book
-
Entry Level 3D Action Shooter Game Creation using 3DRAD
by HobbyPress, available as printed booklet and e-book
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A comprehensive list of user-created tools, documentation pages, tutorials and resources: index
-


Object help files are installed on your computer along with the software.
For your convenience they are also below. Click an icon to open the document.


Airfoil AnimationControls Ball Buoy Cam1StPerson CamChase Car CarAI Character ConfigureControls
Counter EventOnContact EventOnInput EventOnLocation EventOnObjectId EventOnProximity EventOnValue EventTimer ExitFade Fog
Force ForceFeedback G-Force Group GUIWindow HighwayConstructionKit Imposter Joint Particles Path
PathFinder PCar PointLight Projectile RaceTracker RigidBody Rock Scanner Script SkinMesh
SkyBox SoundEffect SoundSource Spring Sprite Switch Terrain TextPrint Trail Transform
Tree ValueLabel ValueLabelBar ValuePrint Velocity Waypoint Wheel Wind


I hope these resources helped you learn how to make 3d games quickly! Free 3D game making made easy!