Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 3d_tools [2025/06/15 16:35] – added release years and operating systems ribose
+++ 3d_tools [2026/03/25 19:16] (current) – [Game Engines] added link to wareware forum topic ribose
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 </note>
-===== Tools =====
+====== Free/Abandonware/Open Source ======
+===== Modeling Tools =====
   * **[[https://www.winworldpc.net/product/3d-studio/4|3D Studio]]** (1992-1994) DOS
     * the original 3D modeling program for DOS - still good for low poly work!
-  * **[[https://www.blockbench.net/|Blockbench]]** (2018-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Web
-    * modern open-source low poly editor that does minecraft-style models!
-  * **[[https://archive.org/details/bryce-5-5-free-setup|Bryce 5]]** (2005) Windows
-    * only outputs 2D images I think, but the images are very cool 3D renders of weird spaces
-    * The newest version is 7.1 from 2010 and you can still buy it - often on sale for around 4 euro [[https://www.daz3d.com/bryce-7-pro|from DAZ]]
-    * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9580B6A57092DEDB|Getting started videos]] on YouTube
-  * **[[https://archive.org/details/POSER3|Poser 3]]** (1998) Windows 95/98/NT, Power Macintosh
-    * for making early 00s game characters
-    * this one is still actively developed and you can get v13 as of writing - its kinda expensive though! If you look on eBay/Amazon you can get older copies like 11 much cheaper!
   * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2378-macrenderman-1|MacRenderMan]]** (1994) Classic Mac
     * its the software made by Pixar for their very early films and if you want to make a pre-toystory style animation this would be the real deal!
-  * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/43290-blobsculptor-1-1|BlobSculptor]]** (1997) Classic Mac
-    * a lil program for old mac that allows you to crate blob creatures!
-  * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2451-tree-pro-4-0|Tree Pro 4.0]]** (1995) Classic Mac
-    * makes trees!
-  * **[[https://archive.org/details/sculptris_2010|Sculptris]]** (2010)
-    * made by the same people who made ZBrus
-  * **[[https://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/summary_plantstudio.html|Plant Studio]]** (1997) Windows
-    * an older program that lets you design and evolve plants
-  * **[[https://kenney.itch.io/assetforge|Asset Forge]]** (2017-) Windows, Linux, MacOS
-    * newer, and it's a bit like kit bashing, but in 3d
   * **[[https://archive.org/details/3d-grafik-studio-caligari-truespace-2|Cilgari/MS Truespace]]** (1994) Windows
     * modeling, animation, rendering
-  * **[[https://www.anim8or.com/|Anim8or]]** (1999-2017) Windows
+  * **[[blender|Blender]]** (1994-) Windows, Linux, MacOS
-    * good for making old 90's cheap goofy CGI looking characters
+    * probably the most powerful free and open source computer graphics software
   * **[[https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/strata-vision3d-40|StrataVision 3D]]** (1995) Classic Mac
     * the program [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst|Myst]] was made with
     * Guide: [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=4459.0|Making Myst-ish worlds on your site]]
+  * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/43290-blobsculptor-1-1|BlobSculptor]]** (1997) Classic Mac
+    * a lil program for old mac that allows you to create blob creatures!
+  * **[[https://archive.org/details/POSER3|Poser 3]]** (1998) Windows 95/98/NT, Power Macintosh
+    * for making early 00s game characters
+    * this one is still actively developed and you can get v13 as of writing - its kinda expensive though! If you look on eBay/Amazon you can get older copies like 11 much cheaper!
+  * **[[https://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/teddy/teddy/teddy.html|Teddy]]** (1999) Web (requires Java)
+    * 3D drawing applet
+  * **[[https://www.anim8or.com/|Anim8or]]** (1999-2017) Windows
+    * good for making old 90's cheap goofy CGI looking characters
+  * **[[https://archive.org/details/bryce-5-5-free-setup|Bryce 5]]** (2005) Windows
+    * only outputs 2D images I think, but the images are very cool 3D renders of weird spaces
+    * The newest version is 7.1 from 2010 and you can still buy it - often on sale for around 4 euro [[https://www.daz3d.com/bryce-7-pro|from DAZ]]
+    * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9580B6A57092DEDB|Getting started videos]] on YouTube
   * **[[https://www.sweethome3d.com/|Sweet Home 3D]]** (2006) Windows
     * for interior design
+  * **[[https://archive.org/details/sculptris_2010|Sculptris]]** (2010)
+    * made by the same people who made ZBrush
+  * **[[https://www.blockbench.net/|Blockbench]]** (2018-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Web
+    * modern open-source low poly editor that does minecraft-style models!
-==== Landscapes ====
+==== Plants & Landscapes ====
-  * **[[https://www.world-machine.com|World Machine]]** (2005-) Windows
-    * this ones still updated but its been around for years - generates 3D landscapes! (Free version is fine)
   * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/49777-landsculptor3d-|LandSculptor3D]]** (1995) Classic Mac
     * a lil landscape maker made by a student, useful for small landscapes!
+  * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2451-tree-pro-4-0|Tree Pro 4.0]]** (1995) Classic Mac
+    * makes trees!
+  * **[[https://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/summary_plantstudio.html|Plant Studio]]** (1997) Windows, MacOS
+    * design and evolve plants
+  * **[[https://archive.org/details/VueDEsprit4|Vue d'Espirit 4]]** (2004) Windows, MacOS
+    * natual scenery generator
+  * **[[https://www.world-machine.com|World Machine]]** (2005-) Windows
+    * this ones still updated but its been around for years - generates 3D landscapes! (Free version is fine)
   * **[[https://www.vertexmeadow.xyz/|Vertex Meadow]]** (2015-2018) Web
     * tool that turns 2D .png files into explorable 3D environments
-===== Engines =====
+===== Web-specific Engines/Libraries/Code =====
-  * **[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5.0|MelonEngine]]** (2021) JavaScript
+  * **[[x3d|X3D]]** (1997-)
-    * mini [[Three.js]] game engine
+  * **[[three.js|Three.js]]** (2010-)
-  * **[[https://aurysystem.github.io/bitsy-forks/bitsy-color-3d/|Bitsy Color 3D]]** (2021) Web
+    * **[[https://aframe.io/|A-Frame]]** (2015-)
-    *  fork of the tiny adventure game engine [[https://bitsy.org|bitsy]] that adds more colors and a 3D scene editor
+    * **[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5.0|MelonEngine]]** (2020)
+  * **[[https://modelviewer.dev/|<model-viewer>]]** (2018-)
+===== Game Engines =====
+  * **[[https://www.raylib.com|raylib]]** (2014-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS, Web, Switch, N64, Dreamcast, PS1
+    * only for programmers - but is very indie and very powerful with support for retro exports
   * **[[https://godotengine.org/|Godot]]** (2014-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, Web
     * probably the most powerful free, open-source game engine
+    * the worlds can't be exported, so they're stuck in the sok-worlds ecosystem
+  * **[[https://aurysystem.github.io/bitsy-forks/bitsy-color-3d/|Bitsy Color 3D]]** (2021) Web
+    *  fork of the tiny adventure game engine [[https://bitsy.org|bitsy]] that adds more colors and a 3D scene editor
+  * **[[https://eldiron.com/|Eldiron]]** (2024-) Windows, Linux, MacOS
+    * 2D & 3D retro RPG engine
+  * **[[https://wareware.rip/|wareware]]** (2025-) Web
+    * block-based adventure maker
+    * [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5413|Discuss wareware on the forum!]]
+  * **[[https://akuma-kira.itch.io/bap|Bapalon]]** (2025) Windows
+    * 3D room creation tool inspired by the obscure Japanese art-game SOUP
 ==== Level Editors ====
@@ Line 68: / Line 90: @@
   * [[https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Hammer_Editor|Valve Hammer Editor (Source Engine)]]
+====== Costs Money :$ ======
+===== Modeling Tools =====
+  * **[[https://crocotile3d.com/|Crocotile 3D]]** (2015) Windows, Mac [30 USD]
+    * 3d modeling software based on using tilemaps. Useful for creating PSX-like 3d environments.
+  * **[[https://kenney.itch.io/assetforge|Asset Forge]]** (2017-) Windows, Linux, Mac [20 USD]
+    * newer, and it's a bit like kit bashing, but in 3D
+  * **[[https://picocad.net/|picoCAD]]** (2021) [6 USD] & **picoCAD2** (2026) Windows, Mac [15 USD]
+    * low-poly modeling, texturing, and animation
+===== Game Engines =====
+  * **[[https://sokpop.itch.io/sok-worlds|sok-worlds]]** (2020) Windows, MacOS [3 USD]
+    * make and explore 3d collage worlds