3D Game Development
Principles for 3D game systems.
1. Rendering Pipeline
Stages
Optimization Principles
2. Shader Principles
Shader Types
When to Write Custom Shaders
- Special effects (water, fire, portals)
- Stylized rendering (toon, sketch)
- Performance optimization
- Unique visual identity
3. 3D Physics
Collision Shapes
Principles
- Simple colliders, complex visuals
- Layer-based filtering
- Raycasting for line-of-sight
4. Camera Systems
Camera Types
Camera Feel
- Smooth following (lerp)
- Collision avoidance
- Look-ahead for movement
- FOV changes for speed
5. Lighting
Light Types
Performance Consideration
- Real-time shadows are expensive
- Bake when possible
- Shadow cascades for large worlds
6. Level of Detail (LOD)
LOD Strategy
7. Anti-Patterns
Remember: 3D is about illusion. Create the impression of detail, not the detail itself.
