Introduction
In recent years, 3D voxel engines have become increasingly popular among game developers. They offer a unique approach to building 3D environments that allow for more freedom and creativity compared to traditional polygon-based engines.
What is a Voxel Engine?
A voxel engine is a type of 3D rendering technology that uses small cubes or “voxels” to create 3D environments. These voxels can be manipulated and placed by the user, allowing for more creative freedom in building 3D worlds. Voxel engines have been used in a variety of applications, including games, virtual reality experiences, and architectural visualization.
Why Use a Voxel Engine?
There are several reasons why game developers may choose to use a voxel engine:
- Flexibility: Voxel engines allow for more creative freedom when building 3D environments, as users can manipulate individual voxels to create unique shapes and structures.
- Performance: Voxel engines are often faster than traditional polygon-based engines, as they require less memory and processing power to render complex 3D scenes.
- Accessibility: Voxel engines are often easier to use for beginners, as they provide a more intuitive and visual way of building 3D environments.
Building Your Own 3D Voxel Engine in Unity
Now that we have established the benefits of using a voxel engine, let’s dive into how to build your own in Unity.
Step 1: Understanding the Basics
The first step in building your own 3D voxel engine is to understand the basic principles of how it works. This includes understanding the concept of voxels and how they are used to create 3D environments. Additionally, you will need to have a basic understanding of Unity and its features, as well as programming concepts such as variables, functions, and loops.
Step 2: Creating the Voxel World
The next step is to create the voxel world in which your game will take place. This involves creating a grid of voxels that make up the terrain of your world, as well as defining the rules for how these voxels can be manipulated by the player. You may want to consider using Unity’s Terrain system to help with this process.
Step 3: Implementing User Input
Once you have created the voxel world, you will need to implement user input in order for players to interact with it. This can include allowing players to place and remove voxels, as well as defining rules for how these actions affect the gameplay. You may want to consider using Unity’s Input System to handle user input.
Step 4: Adding Physics
To add a sense of realism to your voxel world, you will need to implement physics. This includes adding gravity, collisions, and other physical properties to the voxels in your world. You may want to consider using Unity’s Physics system to handle these tasks.
Step 5: Creating the Gameplay
Finally, you will need to create the gameplay for your voxel engine. This can include defining objectives, creating enemies, and implementing other game mechanics that will keep players engaged with the game.
Case Studies
Let’s take a look at some real-life examples of how others have built their own 3D voxel engines in Unity.
Voxel Tycoon
Voxel Tycoon is an open-source 3D voxel engine that was developed by a group of indie game developers. It uses a combination of voxels and polygons to create 3D environments, and allows for a wide range of creative freedom when building worlds. The engine includes a number of features, including terrain generation, user input, physics, and more.
World Machine
World Machine is a tool for creating and editing 3D terrains using voxels. It can be used in conjunction with Unity to create complex