What are the basics of 3d gaming.

[shunt]

I am very interested in the gaming scene, however, i have no idea where to begin.

How do you create characters, map scenes etc.

I was also under the impression that VB was no good when it comes to games. How true is this?

Where can i get a really easy start to programming games?

[DarkMoose]

it's definately very possible to make good games with VB. Some people will say otherwise, and with good reason. C++ is probably a little better because of it's speed, but if you really know what you are doing with VB, you can accomplish anything. I prefer VB because it's a lot easier and it's a good language to start with, and then move onto C++ later on

http://www.gamedev.net

You could try looking around there for somewhere to start.

[pjvdg]

VB is great!! (maybe with a little help by using c++ dll's)
see what vb can do: http://www.revolution3d.de, or look at my game project: http://edev.blogspot.com

I don't think your ready to write your own engine(neither am I), so I suggest you get one like morfit(http://Www.morfit3d.com)
or that revolution3d(url above). (Morfit is allot faster and has equal graphical capabilities, just take a look at my project).

[shunt]

I have always heard of these gaming "engines". What is the purpose of these engines?

[plenderj]

Imagine a game whereby you hardcode all your levels and creatures and players etc. into the application.
It would make it very difficult to expand it etc.

If you were to seperate the program into an engine, and into the data, then you just have to update the data bits and pieces with new players etc.

The engine on the other hand just takes the data and the levels and what not and draws them and controls the user input and what not.

[shunt]

Great, so the engine puts the pieces together.

What about things like mapping surfaces. How do you specify when one object is resting against another. Better yet, how do you define a point in space? Is this all done mathematically using vectors?

[coder_2001]

lots of math and lots of work....