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3D collision detection: library or no?

Started by makuto Dec 5, 2012 at 11:38 PM 4 replies 1.6k views
Original Post
makuto
makuto
I've just been playing around with OpenGL and came to the problem of 3D collision detection. I have implemented SAT and AABB collision detection with some 2D games, but 3D seems to be quite a bit different. I suppose I could use SAT with a Z axis, but in 3D that seems to be very taxing even with simplified collision meshes.

If I should implement it in order to learn something, can you point me in the right direction?

If I should ignore it for now and just get a physics engine, which one would you recommend (Bullet, ODE, etc.)?
ApochPiQ
ApochPiQ
I'd strongly recommend starting with a library. I've used Bullet in the past and it isn't too bad; but it's been ages since I touched any of the other alternatives so others would probably have more up-to-date opinions on them.
Jarwulf
Jarwulf
Most people seem to eventually end up using physics engines to handle collision detection in 3d games. PhysX is a good option but changes quickly. Also beware of small 3rd party wrappers. The port of PhysX I was using for an Ogre project died when the one man team holding it together decided he had enough and quit.
Cornstalks
Cornstalks

I'm thinking the Open Dynamics Engine or Bullet would be the best for me. What do you guys think?

I've never used either (so take this with a huge grain of salt), but most of the stuff I've read online has been in favor of Bullet. I haven't heard of anything wrong with ODE, but the majority I've read about seem to prefer Bullet (haven't read why; googling may be revealing). I will say, though, that if you can implement realtime Voronoi fracturing in your game, I will pay good money just for a test drive...

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