May 2009 - Hands On Milkshape

You can't be creating 3D games (in DarkBASIC or any other package) without using a 3D package. And one of the easiest is Chumbalumsoft's Milkshape by Mete Ciragan. It's one of the simplest 3D packages around, but you'll be amazed at just how much it can do. Better still, if you're a complete novice at 3D modelling, you'll be an expert in this package after a few weeks - not the years it might take with some other packages. You can download a FREE copy of Milkshape from the ChumbalumSoft website. The full package costs only $35.00.

The Hands On Milkshape book will be available from August 2009 (priced 21.50GBP). It's about 300 pages in length and, as usual, it is full of Activities to get you experienced in using the software (and the solutions are there too).

The book contains the following chapters:

  • Background Concepts - 3D Space and Modelling
  • The Milkshape Interface
  • Basic Constructs and Operations
  • Primitives
  • Reshaping Meshes
  • Extrusion
  • Additional Tools
  • Groups
  • Creating Models
  • Texturing
  • Animation
  • Using Your Models in Other Application

If you'd like a sneek preview of the book, you can download a PDF copy of Chapter 3 by clicking on the book cover image above. The 3D models needed to work through the activities in Chapter 3 are in here.

The chapter covers the very first steps in creating and manipulating vertices and faces. The PDF file shows the pages in full colour, but the book itself will be in black and white.

Your comments, please. We'd really like to get your comments on what you think of chapter 3. Anything that should be added or changed? Any errors? Any of the descriptions unclear? There's still time to make some changes! Email your comments to comments@digital-skills.co.uk. Please title your email Milkshape.




April 2009

This month sees the last part of the Ludo game and some suggestions on additional features you might want to add to the program. Find the material in the New Text section of the DarkBASIC pages.

Next month I'll be putting up a PDF chapter from the forthcoming Hands on Milkshape book.




March 2009

Oh dear! This was meant to be the February installment.

This month it's part 3 of the Ludo game gives the Level 1 routines. The final part will appear next month.

As usual, you'll find the material in the New Text section of the DarkBASIC pages.




January 2009 - Happy New Year

This month we've added the second stage of the Ludo game started last month.

As usual, you'll find the material in the New Text section of the DarkBASIC pages.


December 2008 - Merry Christmas

I've been spending so much time working on Hands on Milkshape that I've been neglecting the website, so to make amends I've added the first installment of a new DarkBASIC Pro game. It's the classic game of Ludo and it makes use of some of the earlier stuff I've covered here such as updatedable records and the slider control.

You'll find the material in the New Text section of the DarkBASIC pages.