During the past 5 years, 3D graphics has moved from advanced and expensive 3D simulators to desktop computers and games. Today it is necessary for your game or your graphical application to have advanced 3D graphics if you want your application to sell.
Another breakthrough is the Linux Operating system that is getting better and more popular amongst professional software developers.
Unfortunately the APIs available today are either platform dependent just like Micro$oft DirectX or SGIs Cosmo3D, or they target large companies that are willing to pay a lot of money for customized APIs.
With these aspects in mind, the Gizmo3D API project was started in mid 1997.
The following statements are the fundamental principles in the Gizmo3D project.
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A platform independent API that runs on at least Linux, Irix, Mac OS X and Win32
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Possible to run on BeOS, Xbox and PS2
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High performance 3D functionality equal or better than Fahrenheit, Performer or other today existing scene graph APIs.
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Fully featured to give game or simulator programmers what they need to make a great 3D application
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Free for non-commercial use. Use it for free in education. A small symbolic license fee for commercial-use
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A platform with capabilities to add features and algorithms for future usage
Now Gizmo3D is a full time project, part of the Saab Training System’s product suite GizmoSDK since 2003. It is used in a number of large Vis-Sim software applications in both the military and the gaming industry. It is used by customers like Saab, CAE, Pixxim, SPARTA etc. so the project has grown since the start 1997 from a one man project to a full time project.
Documentation for Gizmo3D
generated at Wed Feb 20 11:54:28 2008 by Saab Training Systems AB, ¸ (c) 2003-and beyond