XNA 3D Primer

This Wrox Blox will guide you through the world of 3D programming and give you solid knowledge and a foundation in game programming using Microsoft’s XNA Framework. You will learn the fundamentals from 3D mathematics to model animation, including all the subjects needed to start developing 3D games, such as how to position objects in 3D space, handle collision detection, control the game camera, and understand the basics of shaders — special programs that execute on the graphics processor. Also covered are how to extend the XNA Content Pipeline to read and use model skeletal animation, and also load and play back timeline animation data created in 3D modeling tools. 3D concepts and systems can seem like a foreign language when you’re a beginner. And not knowing the lingo can make it hard to know what terms to search for to solve a problem. This Wrox Blox will give you all the tools you need to build your own 3D game.

Table of Contents

Who Is This Book For? 1

3D Overview 2

Basic 3D Math 4

Right-Hand Rule 4

Working with Matrices 5

Identity, Scale, Rotate, Orbit, Translate (ISROT) 6

Working with Vectors 7

Unit Vectors 10

Working with Quaternions 12

Controlling the Camera 13

Basic Camera 13

Follow Camera 19

ViewPorts 20

BoundingFrustum 22

3D Models 23

Modeling Programs and Formats 23

Loading a Model 24

Collision Detection 27

Skeletal Animations 29

Extending the Content Pipeline 29

Manipulating Bones at Run Time 31

Using Model Animations 36

About Michael C. Neel 39

Usage Rights for Wiley Wrox Blox

Any Wrox Blox you purchase from this site will come with certain restrictions that allow Wiley to protect the copyrights of its products. After you purchase and download this title, you:

• Are entitled to three downloads
• Are entitled to make a backup copy of the file for your own use
• Are entitled to print the Wrox Blox for your own use
• Are entitled to make annotations and comments in the Wrox Blox file for your own use
• May not lend, sell or give the Wrox Blox to another user
• May not place the Wrox Blox file on a network or any file sharing service for use by anyone other than yourself or allow anyone other than yourself to access it
• May not copy the Wrox Blox file other than as allowed above
• May not copy, redistribute, or modify any portion of the Wrox Blox contents in any way without prior permission from Wiley

If you have any questions about these restrictions, you may contact Customer Care at (877) 762-2974 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday). If you have any issues related to Technical Support, please contact us at 800-762-2974 (United States only) or 317-572-3994 (International) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday).This Wrox Blox will guide you through the world of 3D programming and give you solid knowledge and a foundation in game programming using Microsoft’s XNA Framework. You will learn the fundamentals from 3D mathematics to model animation, including all the subjects needed to start developing 3D games, such as how to position objects in 3D space, handle collision detection, control the game camera, and understand the basics of shaders — special programs that execute on the graphics processor. Also covered are how to extend the XNA Content Pipeline to read and use model skeletal animation, and also load and play back timeline animation data created in 3D modeling tools. 3D concepts and systems can seem like a foreign language when you’re a beginner. And not knowing the lingo can make it hard to know what terms to search for to solve a problem. This Wrox Blox will give you all the tools you need to build your own 3D game.

Table of Contents

Who Is This Book For? 1

3D Overview 2

Basic 3D Math 4

Right-Hand Rule 4

Working with Matrices 5

Identity, Scale, Rotate, Orbit, Translate (ISROT) 6

Working with Vectors 7

Unit Vectors 10

Working with Quaternions 12

Controlling the Camera 13

Basic Camera 13

Follow Camera 19

ViewPorts 20

BoundingFrustum 22

3D Models 23

Modeling Programs and Formats 23

Loading a Model 24

Collision Detection 27

Skeletal Animations 29

Extending the Content Pipeline 29

Manipulating Bones at Run Time 31

Using Model Animations 36

About Michael C. Neel 39

Usage Rights for Wiley Wrox Blox

Any Wrox Blox you purchase from this site will come with certain restrictions that allow Wiley to protect the copyrights of its products. After you purchase and download this title, you:

• Are entitled to three downloads
• Are entitled to make a backup copy of the file for your own use
• Are entitled to print the Wrox Blox for your own use
• Are entitled to make annotations and comments in the Wrox Blox file for your own use
• May not lend, sell or give the Wrox Blox to another user
• May not place the Wrox Blox file on a network or any file sharing service for use by anyone other than yourself or allow anyone other than yourself to access it
• May not copy the Wrox Blox file other than as allowed above
• May not copy, redistribute, or modify any portion of the Wrox Blox contents in any way without prior permission from Wiley

If you have any questions about these restrictions, you may contact Customer Care at (877) 762-2974 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday). If you have any issues related to Technical Support, please contact us at 800-762-2974 (United States only) or 317-572-3994 (International) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday).