====== 3D Tools & Engines ======

This page is a list of resources to help you build your own [[3d_worlds|3D Worlds]]! Priority goes to obscure older/abandonware and open source software :^)

<note>
**Discussion happening on the forum:**\\
[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=2925|Talk about 3D tools]]!\\
[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=961|Talk about game engines]]!\\
<wrap lo>If there's a specific tool you love, [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?action=post;board=39.0|start a topic]] about it!</wrap>
</note>

===== 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.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://archive.org/details/3d-grafik-studio-caligari-truespace-2|Cilgari/MS Truespace]]** (1994) Windows
    * modeling, animation, rendering
  * **[[blender|Blender]]** (1994-) Windows, Linux, MacOS
    * 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://kenney.itch.io/assetforge|Asset Forge]]** (2017-) Windows, Linux, MacOS
    * newer, and it's a bit like kit bashing, but in 3d
  * **[[https://www.blockbench.net/|Blockbench]]** (2018-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Web
    * modern open-source low poly editor that does minecraft-style models!

==== Plants & Landscapes ====

  * **[[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

===== Web-specific Engines/Libraries/Code =====

  * **[[x3d|X3D]]** (1997-)
  * **[[three.js|Three.js]]** (2010-)
    * **[[https://aframe.io/|A-Frame]]** (2015-)
    * **[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5.0|MelonEngine]]** (2021)
  * **[[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
  * **[[https://sokpop.itch.io/sok-worlds|sok-worlds]]** (2020) Windows, MacOS [3 USD]
    * make and explore 3d collage worlds
    * 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

==== Level Editors ====

  * [[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Choosing_a_level_editor|Doom Engine]]
  * [[https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Hammer_Editor|Valve Hammer Editor (Source Engine)]]