3D models

AppWizard
July 1, 2025
The evolution of RPG visuals began in the late '90s with titles like Fallout, which featured clay heads and marked a shift from sprites to 3D models. Tim Cain, co-creator of Fallout, discussed the creation of these visuals, noting that while the game used sprites, the graphics were made with advanced 3D modeling software. He expressed concern over the fate of the original source art files, which were backed up on DAT tape but may have been lost due to the tape's limited lifespan. Cain also highlighted challenges in preserving historic games like Fallout due to corporate ownership, emphasizing the broader issue of gaming history preservation. He voiced frustration over companies losing important assets and the responsibility they have to maintain these cultural artifacts.
AppWizard
June 25, 2025
A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess, utilizes 3D voxel art to create its unique visual style, moving away from photorealistic graphics. The production involved a collaboration with Disguise, led by Dan Lemmon, and features a cast including Jason Momoa and Jack Black. Talia Finlayson, a Senior Unreal Artist at Disguise, emphasized the integration of the Virtual Art Department (VAD) throughout production, allowing for real-time live-compositing of the Minecraft world using Simulcam. Set designs were created in Rhinoceros 3D and transformed into interactive environments with Unreal Engine, incorporating assets from talented artists and the game itself. Flexibility was crucial, enabling rapid iteration based on feedback, with adjustments made to accommodate filming needs, such as removing a second story from a building. The design process considered practical aspects like camera movements and stunt choreography, ensuring cohesion with the Minecraft aesthetic. The use of Simulcam allowed for the merging of physical and virtual environments, enhancing production efficiency and creativity.
AppWizard
June 3, 2025
Minecraft has evolved over 15 years from a basic game to a complex platform that allows players to craft advanced tools, including a compass that can guide them to specific locations. Chaosgoo has created a DIY compass that replicates the in-game compass in real life, allowing users to set destinations via a companion app. The compass uses a custom printed circuit board (PCB) featuring an ESP32-C3-MINI microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a USB connector, a lithium battery charger, and a digital compass. It includes 42 individually addressable RGB LEDs and a light diffuser that creates a voxel-like appearance for the compass needle. The device is designed for 3D printing and is portable. Documentation for building the compass is primarily in Chinese, but resources are available on MakerWorld, OSHW Hub, and GitHub.
AppWizard
June 2, 2025
X-Wing is a classic space combat game that allows players to pilot an X-Wing, appealing to fans of the Star Wars saga. The game faces challenges on modern systems, as the Special Edition requires a joystick, while the Classic and Collector's CD-ROM editions can be played with a mouse and keyboard but suffer from performance issues, including inconsistent framerates and outdated graphics. The X-Wing Virtual Machine (XWVM) is a mod that revitalizes the game by enabling it to run within the Unity engine, providing smooth gameplay at modern resolutions and adjustable settings, and eliminating the need for a joystick. When paired with the HD asset pack, it enhances 3D models for spaceships, cockpits, and planets. Players can acquire X-Wing through platforms like Steam or GOG and install XWVM by downloading the core mod and unpacking the HD assets into the appropriate directory.
AppWizard
May 1, 2025
Zaida Luthey-Schulten and her team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed CraftCells, a project that transforms 3D cell data into interactive objects in Minecraft. This initiative originated from Luthey-Schulten's research on cellular life, where her team created software to segment cells into a grid for studying reactions in specific regions. Inspired by a conference remark about the resemblance of their software to Minecraft's blocky objects, they began converting imaging data into schematic files for the game. Players can download CraftCells from GitHub, allowing them to explore various cellular structures, including bacterial and yeast cells, and experience a rollercoaster ride along a DNA strand. The team plans to collaborate with science educators for feedback on enhancing the platform and aims to incorporate dynamic elements to illustrate cellular processes and expand the variety of cell types available.
Winsage
April 2, 2025
FreeCAD is a free computer-aided design (CAD) software that offers a comprehensive suite of features comparable to expensive alternatives. It has a parametric modeling engine that allows users to make seamless adjustments to design parameters, ensuring changes are automatically reflected throughout the design. The software includes multiple workbenches for different design phases, such as the Sketcher for 2D geometry and the Part and Design workbenches for solid modeling. FreeCAD also features Computer Numerical Control (CNC) capabilities for converting 3D models into G-code and provides Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools for stress testing designs. Advanced users can utilize Python scripting for automation and customize their experience with industry-specific plugins. FreeCAD supports various file formats, including STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.
AppWizard
February 11, 2025
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed CraftCells, a project that allows users to explore 3D models of biological cells within Minecraft. The project includes models of a yeast cell, healthy and cancerous epithelial cells, and a minimally viable bacterial cell. Users can interact with these models using modified Minecraft tools, including a rollercoaster ride inside a bacterial cell. The 3D representations help illustrate differences between healthy and cancerous cells, such as the elongated shape and enlarged nucleoli of cancer cells. The researchers published an article on CraftCells as an educational tool and made the Minecraft files available on GitHub for public access.
BetaBeacon
February 3, 2025
Animus - Stand Alone is an RPG and action game being developed by TENBIRDS. The game is set in a dark and spooky world where the player's goal is to escape dangerous locations by defeating groups of enemies and bosses. The game features highly detailed 3D models, monsters, and cool effects. The character in the game has the ability to heal, block hits, move sharply, and combine two types of attacks.
AppWizard
December 28, 2024
Mobile technology is increasingly important in architecture, providing architects with applications that enhance design capabilities, streamline project management, and facilitate collaboration. Key Android apps for architects include: - AutoCAD Mobile: Allows viewing, creating, and editing DWG files on mobile devices, enabling real-time adjustments to designs. - SketchUp Viewer: Offers augmented reality features for presenting 3D models in the field, improving client interactions. - Sketchbook: A digital drawing tool for quick concept sketches, supporting easy sharing of ideas. - Construction Master Pro Calculator: Simplifies complex calculations for accurate measurements and layout dimensions. - RoomScan Pro: Uses augmented reality for quick room measurements and floor plan creation. - BIMx: Provides an interactive 3D model interface for exploring Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects. - MagicPlan: Allows creation of detailed floor plans and project management directly from mobile devices. - Timely: A time-tracking app that logs productivity across projects and helps create project-specific timelines. These applications enhance architectural workflows and promote collaboration in a mobile environment.
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