3D website

I've tried CG forums and web3D forums without any luck with replies, so
i'll try newsgroups.

I'm a beginner in web design, and graphics. I'm in the process of learning a
lot though, and hefty goals aren't new to me. I have the time and patience
to learn what i need in order to make this happen.

My question is, is it possible to build a website that is completely 3D? For
example, i want 3D objects to become links, and several aspects of the site
would be animated. Probably nothing 2D, except for photos.. almost like an
interface you would see in a video game that runs completely in realtime,
but a website. I would like to model and animate everything by hand, from
scratch.

I have looked into web3D technologies like Viewpoint, X3D, Shockwave3D etc..
Shockwave seems too simplistic in it's capabilities with reguards to
geometry and such. Viewpoint and X3D seem interesting, but i can't get an
answer from people as to whether they would serve my ideas.

Would i be able to use something like X3D to do this? Would there be
limitations on animation possibilities? Will i need to learn opengl and
direct3d programming? Even if i don't reach certain people with my site, for
example people without directx/opengl compliant video cards, im willing to
sacrifice that for the sake of experimentation and learning for the future.

Is this possible with any web3D technology(like X3D), and what would i need
to learn in order to make it happen?
_________________
http://plazma.freespaces.com

The capability existed since about 1994, in the form of VRML. In the end
it's a matter of need. Most people go on web sites for information, not for
pretty 3D graphics. For the same reason Windows isn't a built to look like a
3D room, web sites are not designed for 3D.

BTW, someone once made a Quake 3 Shockwave tech demo, so the capability is
definitely there.

--
"War is the continuation of politics by other means.
It can therefore be said that politics is war without
bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."


"mike" wrote in message
...
I've tried CG forums and web3D forums without any luck with replies, so
i'll try newsgroups.

I'm a beginner in web design, and graphics. I'm in the process of learning
a lot though, and hefty goals aren't new to me. I have the time and
patience to learn what i need in order to make this happen.

My question is, is it possible to build a website that is completely 3D?
For example, i want 3D objects to become links, and several aspects of the
site would be animated. Probably nothing 2D, except for photos.. almost
like an interface you would see in a video game that runs completely in
realtime, but a website. I would like to model and animate everything by
hand, from scratch.

I have looked into web3D technologies like Viewpoint, X3D, Shockwave3D
etc.. Shockwave seems too simplistic in it's capabilities with reguards to
geometry and such. Viewpoint and X3D seem interesting, but i can't get an
answer from people as to whether they would serve my ideas.

Would i be able to use something like X3D to do this? Would there be
limitations on animation possibilities? Will i need to learn opengl and
direct3d programming? Even if i don't reach certain people with my site,
for example people without directx/opengl compliant video cards, im
willing to sacrifice that for the sake of experimentation and learning for
the future.

Is this possible with any web3D technology(like X3D), and what would i
need to learn in order to make it happen?
_________________
http://plazma.freespaces.com