Need help finding a good UML schematics for a Java3D game. Or site related to a very good and complete Java3D game which provides a complete UML schematics of their code. Thanks.
You’re probably better off at j3d.org to be honest. There hasn’t been a lot of Java3D activity here in quite some time.
Most OO 3D games fit quite nicely into the MVC (model view controller) pattern. Check out the patterns book by the game of 4 for more details (or the many websites duplicating their work).
For multiplayer online games a slight addition may be to duplicate the data model between client and server.
Incidently, a good OO design for a 3D game should really apply no matter what API you’re using (java3d or JGL)
Kev
PS. Just realised, I can get a blatent plug for a UML editor I’m writing in here: http://www.newdawnsoftware.com/jose
As you mention it, seems part of my model here is MVC as well, namely actor-vehicle-motion. But that of course is only one facette of a game architecture, more a detail.
Maybe I could compose a package-diagram which wouldn’t be very helpful (3D-engine, network, database, motion, gui, game). Otherwise going into more detail would not lead to useful UML diagrams. Must do dozens of them…
I remenber, a couple of months ago, before the site reestructuration, there were dozens of links to game sites.
If there was any way to read the old forum I think I could find something.
Searching with google doesn’t come with anything. It appears that gamers avoid the all UML thing. ;D It’s a shame really.
Many game developers believe that UML, design, and reusability are a mistake and completely unnecessary - I don’t fall into that category, but I know at least 10 who do and are at major studios.
There is a way to read the old forums, look at the button on the top of every page with the words “Forum Archives”. I know it is easy to miss.
I suppose it depends on the type of Game you’re writing. If you see your game being short lived, just a quick fun thing, then UML is a bit of an overhead (although I find it hard to code without thinking in that direction).
However, for the majority of new games expansions and persistant online play are becoming increadibly important. When we’re talking about games like Ultima Online, Dark Age of Camelot or for that matter Cosm I’d think that UML design would be a really useful tool for producing sound, expandable software.
Kev
PS. I won’t plug my UML tool again, honest.
What, this one? ;D
http://www.newdawnsoftware.com/jose
Nice application. I’ve mailed you a few requests! 
Don’t mix up good design with the availability of UML diagrams!
IMHO UML diagrams help with local documentation, how a handful of classes act together. There a class diagramm and some sequence diagrams can bring light into complex protocols.
Use-Cases are pretty useless for games.
Agreed. Never really found a general use for Use Cases tbh, they work in very specific cases.
Please don’t mis-understand me, obivously the actual design is what is important and not the medium in which it is presented. That said however, I still believe that using UML can pick up design mistakes early on and most often leads to a more maliable (sp?) system.
I’m not a great fan of developers who use “its ok, I designed it in my head” lines.
Yeah, and that’s really the whole point of the design process - to catch stuff early enough in the process such that it becomes ‘too costly’ to change it later.