Four realms of 3D Programming

 

Four realms of 3D Programming

I haven't been here for a long time, and I have been trying to write something. Unfortunately, I don't have time to write it. Yesterday I suddenly thought of something and wanted to write it down.
Let's talk about the four realms of 3D programming. Because of my personal experience and limited knowledge, and the rush of time, please forgive me and correct me.
Phase 1: Beginner stage.
At this stage, we are familiar with the basic principles of 3D graphics and the use of basic APIs.
In particular, we need to have a very clear understanding of the principles of matrices for spatial transformations.
The ability to use simple resources for a simple demo is basically achieved.
This stage is relatively simple. Basically everyone can achieve it, and the learning method is very simple, that is, reading books, watching demos, and writingCode.
The time period is about one year.

 

Stage 2: Advanced Stage
After the first stage, the average person will take two steps. One type of person chooses to directly learn the engine and develop the game. Another person will choose to learn scenario management and advanced rendering first.
This varies depending on everyone's goals and hobbies.
After the demo is completed, you will think about how to make the effect better, so you learned a lot about advanced rendering, such as shadows, normal maps, HDR, reflection and refraction.
After a lot of results, I found that the efficiency was low, so I wrote some scenario management solutions.
This stage is basically achieved when Scenario Management and some advanced effects can be achieved.
Most 3D Projects in ChinaProgramIn this phase.
At this stage, it is difficult and perseverance is required to achieve self-learning. It would be much easier if you work in the company, have guidance, and have testing resources.
The bottleneck at this stage is that it has not experienced very complex scenarios and effects, and its 3D knowledge is isolated. However, it has already laid a good foundation.
At this stage, we should be familiar with an engine.
The time period varies a lot from 1 to 2 years.

Stage 3: 3D Maturity
When I learned well in the second stage, I felt like a master. Some people began to design and develop their own 3D engines.
When we find that our own Scenario Management and rendering are both good, the efficiency is still unsatisfactory.
When the effects are complex and each frame needs to be rendered multiple times, we can see that we have done a lot of repetitive things and occupied a lot of repetitive resources and bandwidth.
At this time, we will calm down and think about how to design the scenario system and logic to achieve the highest efficiency without repeated computing.
Measure the test taker's knowledge about hardware resource management methods and solve the problem of improper resource occupation and Random Bandwidth waste based on their own needs.
Familiar with the hardware, thoroughly understand the features of the graphics card assembly line, and make full use of the features of the assembly line for optimization. At this time, I am very familiar with dx/OPGL APIs, even an enumeration parameter understands the meaning behind it. I am also very familiar with the debug of graphics, and the general rendering problem is quickly solved.
At this time, we should know how to build different scenario systems based on different game types. Even if we design wow and crysis, we can also know how to design the material system and the effect framework.
This stage is the most difficult and happy stage.
The growth is extremely different, and the environment should be crucial.
In fact, most engines are not fully efficient.
A period of more than one year is not capped, and many people cannot reach this level. If a person is smart, has a good foundation, and has a good environment, one year is enough.
A feature in this phase, the image is already very simple, and I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Stage 4: Talent stage
The third and fourth stages may have no obvious line between them. But it must be a bit different.
In the third stage, we still spend a lot of time learning and exploring. In the fourth stage, we are looking for solutions.
Focus more on creation. Maybe he thinks there is no engine on the market that satisfies him very much, at least it is difficult to find an engine suitable for China's national conditions.
Maybe he will build an engine with a bunch of younger siblings, maybe playing games.
At this stage, technology is no longer the only target, and there are many other aspects that he will pay attention.
Because his goal is to let the whole society recognize his value, it is not enough to understand that only technology is enough.
I am not very clear about the features of this phase and cannot generalize it. I have seen only a few people in China reach or surpass this stage.

See what stage you are in.
I will try again later. I will go to work first.

Supplement:
The second and third stages are clearly defined.
To transition from the second stage to the third stage, you must write the engine or modify the engine to achieve your desired purpose.
In essence, the second stage is to learn various technologies, and the third stage is integration. Like in martial arts, the second stage is a bit like training tricks in the restaurant. The third stage is to practice with real people outside.
The third stage will give you a lot of epiphany, a good environment, a lot of experts around you, a good foundation of yourself, a high understanding, a year can be achieved.