OpenGL vs Direct3D

[Red Hawk]

I'm curious about OpenGL and how it compares to Direct3D (specifically, the latest versions, OpenGL 4.0 and Direct3D 11). What can OpenGL do that Direct3D can't, and vice versa? Which, in your opinion, is the better API?

 

[Rifter]

Unfortunatly Open GL is dead or will die within a few years, i think due to the consols using direct 3D.

This makes me sad because i would prefer Open GL take over so i could game in linux for all games and ditch MS forever.

 

[Arkadrel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_OpenGL_and_Direct3D

^Above is a good read.

1 differnce:
Direct3D is microsoft's (so more or less windows only), and OpenGL is a Open standart (so runs on anything).

Both can make games look beautifull.


Rage: (newly made OpenGL game):

Battlefield3: (to compaire it too):

 

[(sic)Klown12]

Unfortunatly Open GL is dead or will die within a few years, i think due to the consols using direct 3D.

This makes me sad because i would prefer Open GL take over so i could game in linux for all games and ditch MS forever.

The only consoles to use D3D are Microsoft's. Both Sony and Nintendo use an API based off of OpenGL customized to their respective hardware.

 

[Modelworks]

OpenGL can run on any processor, that is something D3D cannot and will not ever do.

 

[(sic)Klown12]

As to the OP.

John Carmack, a long time OpenGL supporter, has said that D3D is now a better API. For the most part, both D3D have the same features, with the exception(from the article) being D3D's better use of multi-threading.
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2011/03/11/carmack-directx-better-opengl/1

 

[mosox]

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-should-use-OpenGL-and-not-DirectX

 

[nenforcer]

OpenGL ES in the mobile space is definitely growing faster and more pervasive than OpenGL on large PC or even console games.

OpenGL ain't going anywhere and will remain the only viable competitor to DirectX pretty much anywhere outside of Microsoft Windows, XBOX 360 and Windows Phone 7.

 

[Dribble]

OpenGL ES in the mobile space is definitely growing faster and more pervasive than OpenGL on large PC or even console games.

OpenGL ain't going anywhere and will remain the only viable competitor to DirectX pretty much anywhere outside of Microsoft Windows, XBOX 360 and Windows Phone 7.

+1

I used to think opengl was on it's way out being as everyone used windows and really direct x was just better supported (it's got MS behind it providing updates and tools where as gl has some committee that's both slow and doesn't have the money/motivation to provide strong tools).

However these days MS is out of fashion, and if you want to use apple/google based machines you need something else, hence the rise of all these *lite* versions of opengl for tablets/phones/web browsers.

 

[ViRGE]

+1

I used to think opengl was on it's way out being as everyone used windows and really direct x was just better supported (it's got MS behind it providing updates and tools where as gl has some committee that's both slow and doesn't have the money/motivation to provide strong tools).

However these days MS is out of fashion, and if you want to use apple/google based machines you need something else, hence the rise of all these *lite* versions of opengl for tablets/phones/web browsers.

The funny thing is that OpenGL ES is largely what game developers wanted anyhow.

OpenGL proper is an antiquated mess from when a "video card" was nothing more than a texture unit and a ROP; the internal structure of the API has not kept up with the times, and features just keep getting tacked on. This is because OpenGL and first and foremost used for professional applications (CAD, etc) before gamers came along. The professional faction won out, and so OpenGL proper was never modernized as was the plan with OpenGL 3.

OpenGL ES however doesn't have to deal with the cruft of that era. It's not a perfect API, but it's structured far closer to how modern GPUs work, which makes it far easier for modern game development.

The only consoles to use D3D are Microsoft's. Both Sony and Nintendo use an API based off of OpenGL customized to their respective hardware.

While it's possible to address both consoles with OpenGL, no one actually does so except on the errant $3 downloadable game. For high budget/high fidelity affairs, Nintendo and Sony's own APIs are preferred for performance reasons (less abstraction, better control of the bare hardware).

 

[Blitzvogel]

So is RAGE on Windows going to be OpenGL based? That would be pretty cool. As per comparison to BF3, it's not as good looking, but I don't look at it as an API issue, it's more or less a hardware one. iD is going for an experience that is similar across all platforms, while BF3 (with those PC pics there) is obviously going pro-PC hardware and will look much better than the console versions (hopefully).

 

[(sic)Klown12]

While it's possible to address both consoles with OpenGL, no one actually does so except on the errant $3 downloadable game. For high budget/high fidelity affairs, Nintendo and Sony's own APIs are preferred for performance reasons (less abstraction, better control of the bare hardware).

I always thought that PSGL(PS3) and GX(Wii) were based from OpenGL and just reconfigured for their particular hardware setups.

 

[WMD]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_OpenGL_and_Direct3D

^Above is a good read.

1 differnce:
Direct3D is microsoft's (so more or less windows only), and OpenGL is a Open standart (so runs on anything).

Both can make games look beautifull.


Rage: (newly made OpenGL game):


Battlefield3: (to compaire it too):

Rage is using DX9 for PC.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fe...ge_id_tech_6_doom_4_details_and_more?page=0,1

 

[Arkadrel]

Rage is using DX9 for PC.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fe...ge_id_tech_6_doom_4_details_and_more?page=0,1

->
Posted 07/15/2008
(that artical is so old,... you should find a newer one that states what API its useing, things change over time, esp early in a game development)

AFAIK there was another thread abit back, about OpenGL performance on Nvidia side not being so great, and a worried user because of Rage being on OpenGL.

I havnt fact checked but... sounded like the guy knew what he was talking about, so just assumed it was OpenGL.

 

[busydude]

So is RAGE on Windows going to be OpenGL based? That would be pretty cool. As per comparison to BF3, it's not as good looking, but I don't look at it as an API issue, it's more or less a hardware one. iD is going for an experience that is similar across all platforms, while BF3 (with those PC pics there) is obviously going pro-PC hardware and will look much better than the console versions (hopefully).

There is also a game called Brink; from the same studios which is based on OpenGL, and releasing next week.

 

[WMD]

->
Posted 07/15/2008
(that artical is so old,... you should find a newer one that states what API its useing, things change over time, esp early in a game development)

AFAIK there was another thread abit back, about OpenGL performance on Nvidia side not being so great, and a worried user because of Rage being on OpenGL.

I havnt fact checked but... sounded like the guy knew what he was talking about, so just assumed it was OpenGL.

Yes it is in 2008 but I can't find any newer articles confirming it to be OpenGL yet.

 

[Absolution75]

Game graphics are almost purely dependent on the assets the the artists and level designers make. Graphics API really doesn't have much to do with it at all actually.

Even when there are advances in the API, it takes a few years for developers to integrate those features.


From a programming standpoint though - DirectX wins on Windows and OpenGL on linux (by default).

 

[ViRGE]

Yes it is in 2008 but I can't find any newer articles confirming it to be OpenGL yet.

I don't know why this keeps coming up.

It's OpenGL.

 

[ViRGE]

I always thought that PSGL(PS3) and GX(Wii) were based from OpenGL and just reconfigured for their particular hardware setups.

PSGL is based on OpenGL (specifically OpenGL ES), however like I said before, almost no one uses it. LibGCM is the preferred API for most cases due to its low-level nature.

 

[MrWizzard]

I'm curious about OpenGL and how it compares to Direct3D (specifically, the latest versions, OpenGL 4.0 and Direct3D 11). What can OpenGL do that Direct3D can't, and vice versa? Which, in your opinion, is the better API?

I think Glide is better than both......heh

 

[Elixer]

I think Glide is better than both......heh

Glide was a subset of openGL


If you want something that is supported on multiple platforms, then it is much easier if you use openGL. If all you care about is windows, well, then DX is for you.

 

[Red Hawk]

PSGL is based on OpenGL (specifically OpenGL ES), however like I said before, almost no one uses it. LibGCM is the preferred API for most cases due to its low-level nature.

Unreal Engine 3 on PS3 is based on OpenGL, IIRC.

 

[Blitzvogel]

There is also a game called Brink; from the same studios which is based on OpenGL, and releasing next week.

I have Brink pre-ordered lol. I'm wondering if it will really be OpenGL on Windows though. I also know that Brink is using a heavily modified iDTech4 engine, so the ties to OpenGL are obviously there already.

 

[RobertPters77]

I have Brink pre-ordered lol. I'm wondering if it will really be OpenGL on Windows though. I also know that Brink is using a heavily modified iDTech4 engine, so the ties to OpenGL are obviously there already.

As do I. It's the first PC FPS game I've been excited about in a while.

 

[Rifter]

I think Glide is better than both......heh

I'll agree with this, VooDoo FTW