How To Design 3D Games With Web Technology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Are you an aspiring game developer looking to create captivating 3D games using web technology? Look no further, as this comprehensive guide will take you through the process from start to finish. Whether you have prior programming experience or are just getting started, this step-by-step tutorial will equip you with the knowledge and skills to design impressive 3D games that will wow your audience.

Understanding Web Technology for 3D Game Design

Before diving into the nitty-gritty details of game design, it's important to understand the web technology that powers it all. Web technology refers to a combination of programming languages, frameworks, and software tools that enable the creation of interactive websites and applications.

One of the most popular web technologies for game development is Three.js. Three.js is an open-source JavaScript library that provides a simple and efficient way to create 3D graphics in web browsers. It abstracts away complex low-level APIs, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.

HOW TO DESIGN 3D GAMES WITH WEB TECHNOLOGY - BOOK 01: Three.js – HTML5 and WebGL

by Jordi Josa(Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5957 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	207 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In addition to Three.js, knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is crucial for building web-based 3D games. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) gives structure to web pages, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) allows for styling and layout, and JavaScript adds interactivity and logic.

Step 1: Planning Your Game

Every successful game starts with a solid plan. Before diving into development, take the time to brainstorm and outline the core elements of your game, including the storyline, characters, levels, and gameplay mechanics.

Consider what type of game you want to create, whether it's a puzzle game, first-person shooter, or open-world adventure. Define the target audience and establish the unique selling points that will make your game stand out.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Development Environment

Once you have a clear vision for your game, it's time to set up your development environment. Start by installing a code editor that supports HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, such as Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom.

Next, download the latest version of Three.js from the official website and link it in your HTML file using the <script> tag. This will allow you to leverage the powerful features of Three.js in your game development process.

Step 3: Creating a Scene

In Three.js, a scene is where all the action happens. It acts as a container that holds all the 3D objects, lights, and cameras. To create a scene, start by defining the necessary variables and setting up the basic structure of your web page using HTML.

Once you have the structure in place, use JavaScript to initialize the scene, set up the camera, and add lights. Take advantage of the different camera types available in Three.js, such as perspective camera or orthographic camera, to achieve the desired effect.

Step 4: Adding 3D Objects

With the scene set up, it's time to add 3D objects to your game. Three.js provides a wide range of geometries and materials to choose from, including cubes, spheres, cones, and more.

To add a 3D object, create a new instance of the desired geometry and material, and combine them using a mesh. Position the object in the scene by setting its coordinates, and adjust its rotation and scale as needed.

Step 5: Implementing Interactivity

No game is complete without interactivity. With Three.js, you can easily add user interaction to your 3D game using event listeners and raycasting.

Event listeners allow you to detect and respond to user actions, such as clicks or keyboard inputs. By attaching event listeners to specific elements or objects in your scene, you can create interactive gameplay mechanics.

Raycasting, on the other hand, allows you to cast a virtual ray into the scene and check for intersections with objects. This can be useful for implementing collision detection or object picking.

Step 6: Adding Textures and Effects

To enhance the visual appeal of your 3D game, you can apply textures and effects to your objects. Three.js supports the loading of various image formats, such as JPEG or PNG, as textures.

Apply a texture to an object by creating a material with the texture image. You can also experiment with different shading techniques, such as phong shading or lambert shading, to achieve different visual effects.

Step 7: Testing and Optimization

Once you have implemented all the desired features in your game, it's time to test and optimize it. Check for any bugs or glitches and make sure the game runs smoothly on different devices and browsers.

Optimize the performance of your game by reducing the number of polygons, using smaller texture sizes, and implementing efficient rendering techniques. Remember to also optimize for mobile devices, as they have limited resources compared to desktop computers.

Step 8: Publishing and Sharing Your Game

After thoroughly testing your game and ensuring it meets your quality standards, it's time to publish and share it with the world. There are various platforms available for hosting and distributing web-based games, such as itch.io or Kongregate.

Consider creating a captivating trailer or gameplay video to showcase your game and attract potential players. Share your game on social media and game development communities to gain feedback and exposure.

Designing 3D games with web technology can be an exciting and rewarding experience. By following these step-by-step instructions, you'll be well on your way to creating stunning 3D games that will leave a lasting impression on your audience. So, roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity, and start designing the next big web-based 3D game!

HOW TO DESIGN 3D GAMES WITH WEB TECHNOLOGY - BOOK 01: Three.js – HTML5 and WebGL

by Jordi Josa(Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5957 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	207 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Over the year’s web browsers have been incorporating new technologies, changing from simple page viewers with plain text and some images to platforms that allow us to create three-dimensional games.

The revolution began with improved CSS styles and continued with the addition of relational and documental databases and the ability to create applications that work in offline mode without internet connection. Progress continued with the incorporation of audiovisual technologies, the possibility of watching movies, native audio management, including speech recognition and speech synthesis for reading texts. Finally, the incorporation of 3D technology (WebGL) with hardware acceleration, motion detection and virtual reality technology, have meant that the WEB programming is as every bit as good as other platforms and traditional languages.

Therefore, I decided to start a collection of books that allows us to explore these developments and become true experts. To distinguish the collection from other books on the market I’ve focused on teaching how to perform a role-playing game in first person, merely as an excuse to gradually introduce WEB technologies.

What does the first book of the collection cover?

The book is aimed at those who want to explore how to create 3D animation, either to add visual elements to their web pages, as well as those who want to try their luck in game design. In it we’ll learn how to:

•Use the Three.js library to create and animate a basic scene.

•To prepare the development environment and solve the main problems we encounter.

•To use geometries and materials offered by the default library.

•To create advanced textures and transparencies.

•To illuminate the scene and create shadows.

•To load objects made with third party platforms and animate them using different techniques.

•To use the keyboard, mouse and even body movement to control the camera.

Finally, we’ll create our first game location. A beautiful medieval village with its castle and cemetery, full of villagers walking about and doing daily chores and a thick forest full of dangerous monsters.

What is the game like?

The game spans from the creation of 3D scenes to the management of music and sound effects, artificial intelligence, character animation and monsters, saving the current game, subsequently recovering it and finally packaging.

What prior knowledge is needed?

This book is suitable for anyone with basic knowledge of JavaScript and HTML. No knowledge of advanced mathematics or WebGL are needed.