Visual3D.NET Game Engine

Infobox Software | name = Visual3D.NET
developer = [http://www.visual3d.net Realmware Corporation]
latest_release_version = Beta 2.3
latest_release_date = July 28, 2008
operating_system = Microsoft Windows, Xbox360
platform = PC, Xbox360
genre = Game Engine
license = Commercial and Student
website = [http://www.visual3d.net Visual3D.NET]

Visual3D.NET is an All-in-One Game Engine and Toolset written in C#/.NET for XNA on the to run on Microsoft Windows and Xbox360.

Overview

"Visual3D.NET" is the commercial successor to the open-source RealmForge Game Engine with roots going back to the OGRE Engine 3D open-source engine. Visual3D.NET is the flagship product of Realmware Corporation, based in Champaign, Illinois, and incorporated in February of 2006.

As of July 2008, "Visual3D.NET" has been employed for multiple private business projects and by the US Department of Defense for military simulation and training. Also in 2008, "Visual3D.NET" has begun to permeate education and Indie sectors as a part of the recent XNA trends.

"Visual3D.NET" is one of many new [http://www.ziggyware.com/weblinks.php?cat_id=10 XNA Game Engines] recently created in response to the release of Microsoft XNA in 2006. [ [http://www.ziggyware.com/weblinks.php?cat_id=10 ZiggyWare XNA Game Engine List] ]

Microsoft XNA Migration Trends

In August 2006, [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/aug06/08-13XNAGameStudioPR.mspx Microsoft's GameFest keynote speech] first declared the viability of .NET for gaming, with the first public release of XNA and Game Studio products, which would open up the Xbox360 and PC for game development by Indies and students. [ [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/aug06/08-13XNAGameStudioPR.mspx Microsoft Invites World to Create Its Own Xbox 360 Console Games for the First Time] ] [cite web| title = Microsoft to Enable User-Created XBox360 Games | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10458]

This announcement set into motion the rise of many new XNA-based game engines (e.g. TorqueX). A comprehensive list of XNA-based engines is maintained at the [http://www.ziggyware.com/weblinks.php?cat_id=10 ZiggyWare XNA Game Engine List] , and a .NET-based engine list is maintained at the [http://www.thezbuffer.com/categories/engines.aspx Z-Buffer .NET Game Engine List] .

Microsoft's XNA initiative is a part of the larger trend for gaming technology migrating from traditional C++ to higher level managed languages, such as Java, C#, and VB.NET, which is a continuation of the historic trends for the migration of software development from lower level languages such Assembly and 'C' to higher level languages such as C++.

References

ee also

* [http://www.visual3d.net/game-engine Visual3D.NET Website]
* Microsoft XNA
* Microsoft .NET
* RealmForge
* [http://www.thezbuffer.com/categories/engines.aspx Z-Buffer .NET Game Engine List]