3D website

I've tried CG forums and web3D forums without any luck with replies, so
i'll try newsgroups.

I'm a beginner in web design, and graphics. I'm in the process of learning a
lot though, and hefty goals aren't new to me. I have the time and patience
to learn what i need in order to make this happen.

My question is, is it possible to build a website that is completely 3D? For
example, i want 3D objects to become links, and several aspects of the site
would be animated. Probably nothing 2D, except for photos.. almost like an
interface you would see in a video game that runs completely in realtime,
but a website. I would like to model and animate everything by hand, from
scratch.

I have looked into web3D technologies like Viewpoint, X3D, Shockwave3D etc..
Shockwave seems too simplistic in it's capabilities with reguards to
geometry and such. Viewpoint and X3D seem interesting, but i can't get an
answer from people as to whether they would serve my ideas.

Would i be able to use something like X3D to do this? Would there be
limitations on animation possibilities? Will i need to learn opengl and
direct3d programming? Even if i don't reach certain people with my site, for
example people without directx/opengl compliant video cards, im willing to
sacrifice that for the sake of experimentation and learning for the future.

Is this possible with any web3D technology(like X3D), and what would i need
to learn in order to make it happen?
_________________
http://plazma.freespaces.com

Gazing into my crystal ball I observed "mike" <sonofzeus26@hotmail.com>
writing in news:k_XEe.128$9C.13@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com:

> I've tried CG forums and web3D forums without any luck with replies,
> so
> i'll try newsgroups.
>
> I'm a beginner in web design, and graphics. I'm in the process of
> learning a lot though, and hefty goals aren't new to me. I have the
> time and patience to learn what i need in order to make this happen.
>
> My question is, is it possible to build a website that is completely
> 3D? For example, i want 3D objects to become links, and several aspects
> of the site would be animated. Probably nothing 2D, except for photos..
> almost like an interface you would see in a video game that runs
> completely in realtime, but a website. I would like to model and
> animate everything by hand, from scratch.
>
> I have looked into web3D technologies like Viewpoint, X3D, Shockwave3D
> etc.. Shockwave seems too simplistic in it's capabilities with reguards
> to geometry and such. Viewpoint and X3D seem interesting, but i can't
> get an answer from people as to whether they would serve my ideas.
>
> Would i be able to use something like X3D to do this? Would there be
> limitations on animation possibilities? Will i need to learn opengl and
> direct3d programming? Even if i don't reach certain people with my
> site, for example people without directx/opengl compliant video cards,
> im willing to sacrifice that for the sake of experimentation and
> learning for the future.
>
> Is this possible with any web3D technology(like X3D), and what would i
> need to learn in order to make it happen?
> _________________
> http://plazma.freespaces.com
>
>
>

What you want to do sounds really fun and interesting, but as the saying
goes, "Not ready for prime time". Some of the considerations:

1. Plugins. A lot of people don't even have or want a Flash plugin, and
running 3D would require something else entirely.

2. Getting people used to the interface. People who are web savey still
have issues with odd link colors and links with no decoration.

3. Getting people to download a browser that is capable of rendering 3D.

However, there is a consortium working on standards for 3D at
<http://www.web3d.org/>. You might want to look at that site, and some of
the sites they are linking to to get some ideas. Good luck with it.

--
Adrienne Boswell
http://www.cavalcade-of-coding.info
Please respond to the group so others can share

>
> My question is, is it possible to build a website that is completely 3D? For

YES!

>
> I have looked into web3D technologies like Viewpoint, X3D, Shockwave3D etc..

The most popular plug-in is Shockwave:
http://www.macromedia.com/software/p...ockwaveplayer/


> Would there be
> limitations on animation possibilities?

Shockwave has many limitations, but is a good 3D engine. Don't expect a
Half life 2 or Doom 3 engine, but it's enough complete.

>Will i need to learn opengl and
> direct3d programming?

NO, you have to learn LINGO or JAVASCRIPT to work with Macromedia
Director and export to Shockwave.

Yakichan