What is the best platform/language for a 3D game in a web browser?

Question

I have enjoyed making 2D games in various langues (actionscript 3.0, java, python, others) but now I'm ready to move into 3D and to really get me amped up while learning 3D development I'm going to attempt to make a 3D multiplayer game (I already have server written in python).

I'm looking for a platform that will run a 3D game well in the browser on low end computers with low end internet.

What first came to mind was try Java or use flash/silver light with a 3D framework but I wanted to ask the good people of stackoverflow since performance is a big part of my needs and also good documentation is a plus since I'm just starting 3D development. (the programming language does not matter)

Answer 1

I would go for JOGL.

Performance will not be an issue when going for Java. Not as long as you handle the graphics properly (such as by using JOGL). Have a look at https://jogl-demos.dev.java.net/applettest.html

Answer 2

Powerful 3D games can be created with Adobe Schockwave, for example on site: http://www.shockwave.com/

Answer 3

Definitely http://unity3d.com. Cross-platform.., web, iphone, wii.., and more coming soon.

It is so easy to learn (relatively), and so fun to work with!

It is free, or you could choose the Pro version with more advance features (profiling, etc..)

Answer 4

Depending on how risky you want to go and when you want to release, you might want to look at the WebGL approach.

Current Chrome and Firefox pre-releases support it and I have a feeling that the Chrome Frame will support it too in a future release, which would mean that you can even use it in Internet Explorer and other browsers.

Since pretty much all other alternatives require some plugin as well, I don't think that's a major drawback.

Answer 5

I can recommend two approaches:

Coding your own plug-in, like Quakelive.

Using HTML Canvas.

That itself, open a plethora of options, there are SEVERAL ways to use Canvas, the mentioned WebGL by Mr. Sauer is one way, currently there are some people making a Quake II port to WebGL, using HTML Canvas. Other options are code yourself your own engine that use Canvas, search for some other software-based canvas engines, or attempt to use custom extensions (like the moz-3D context for Canvas...)

Flash, Unity, Silverlight, Shockwave, all them have a major flaw: They are completly closed, commonly after a plug-in update several games break, or you find some strange bugs that are never fixed, etc...

But Flash has a good amount of sites that support it, as a business decision, for now at least, is a good idea.