Shark 3D

Shark 3D
Original author(s) Spinor
Developer(s) Spinor
Initial release February 2000
Written in C++, Python
Available in English
Type 3D computer graphics, game engine
Website spinor.com

Shark 3D is an engine developed by Spinor for creating and viewing interactive 3D scenes. It is mainly used for developing video games and things similar to game engines, producing films and TV series, as well as creating broadcast graphics and developing 3D applications.

Workflow

Animations are created by playing a scene as in video games within a virtual map.

An animator can record different characters and objects in different tracks to make their scene. For example, the animator can first play as one virtual actor and then play as another, while replaying the first one. A character or vehicle controlled live can physically interact with previously recorded characters and objects using the physics engine.

Reception

Usage

Screenshot from the engine

Companies Funcom, Ravensburger Digital, Marc Weigert, Siemens, and ARD/ZDF/Pro 7/Disney Junior have or are currently using the program. In 2012, it was the second most used real-time 3D engine in Europe after Unity.

Awards

Awards given to products made with Shark 3D:

  • Norwegian video game studio Funcom's PC and Xbox adventure video game Dreamfall: The Longest Journey was GameSpy's "Editor's choice" of the year 2006
  • Media award "Der weiße Elefant" for the "innovative production" using Shark 3D of "D.I.E. – Detektive im Einsatz" running on Super RTL
  • Lara-Award for the game Windchaser

Third-party plugins

See also