Collision detection is one of the most important parts of the game. Essentially, any game is a set of rules for the behavior/interaction of objects in the event of a collision. For example, a shell and a tank: when they meet, the shell disappears, the tank explodes, and so on. So how can you tell […]
Wanted to call this chapter “Game Concept” or “Game Scenario”, but that would be too premature. There is no clear concept or script in my head yet. Although the visual concept and general direction are more or less settled down. When thinking about a future game, it's important to decide not only what you WANT […]
We now have a graphics engine capable of generating and displaying 3D models. However, it uses its own model format (XML files). Of course, it would be great to use other (standard) 3D formats as well, that can be downloaded from the Internet. After some research I settled on GLTF/GLB (GL Transfer Format, GLB is […]
Cross-platform graphics engine, GameDev, 3D, C++, Android, Windows, OpenGL ES, Visual Studio, Android Studio Well, it's a big topic. I'd even say HUGE. Here we'll need to decide how to build and render our scene/models, where we'll get our 3D models from, how we'll load, unpack and control them, which and how many shaders we […]
The idea is the same as in previous chapter - to place the data files within the reach of the executable. However, in Android's case we are dealing NOT with the "executable", but with APK. Besides, we have to deliver data files not just to different folder, but to different device. We can do that […]
Now, having a cross-platform solution, we can start thinking about our Graphics Engine. However, the first question will be not about graphics, but how we gonna handle data files (like shaders, models, textures and so on)? For example, currently our triangle model (verts array) and 2 shaders (1 vertex and 1 fragment) are hardcoded in […]
Android Studio, C++, OpenGL ES, cross-platform Now we will try to run TheApp spinning triangle sample on Android. For this we'll need: Didn't find how to add classes/files outside of cpp folder in Android Studio, so let's do it manually. 1. In Windows File Explorer create a new folder C:/CPP/p_android 2. In a text editor […]
Visual Studio, C++, OpenGL ES, cross-platform In the previous 2 chapters, we have successfully "married" Android and C++, Windows and OpenGL ES. Now, having 2 C++/GLES projects for 2 different platforms, let's see what is common and what is not. The difference actually looks frightening, seems like nothing matches... Except C++ and GL syntax, which […]
Visual Studio, Windows, C++, OpenGL ES, GLFW, GLAD Using OpenGL ES on the PC is less straight forward than on Android. The reason is that GL ES is intended for mobile devices, NOT for desktops. Fortunately, solutions exist. OpenGL producers strongly advise to use a window toolkit (GLFW) and an OpenGL loading libraries (GLAD). Well, […]
Android Studio, Native Activity, Game Activity, C++, OpenGL ES Default Android languages are Java and Kotlin. In order to use C++ we'll need so called NativeActivity. Start Android Studio. Pick New Project. Scroll down, select Game Activity (C++) which is a direct descendant of NativeActivity and shares a similar architecture. It's a Jetpack library designed […]