Will Java 3D be a good choice for this game. Screen Shots inside.

Question

My company is deciding what 3D engine to use for a game we are currently designing. It needs to look as good as a game called Mech Commander 2 Here are some screenshots:
http://www.microsoft.com/brasil/games/mechcommander2/screenshots/06.jpg
http://aok.heavengames.com/pics/fanstock/mechc2_5.jpg
http://www.s2.com.br/s2arquivos/361/Imagens/318Image.JPG
Will Java3D be enough for a turn based strategy game with graphics along these lines?? We have looked into the Chrome2 engine and several others but they are very expensive, so that is why we are interested in using Java3D since its free, and our expertise is Java.

Answer 1

Java 3D would be able to replicate those scenes except for the shadows. You would need to find a way to do that yourself. Another part in your decision will be if Java 3D will be able to handle your polygon count and frame rate expectations. That is a tough question to answer without giving it a try. You will also need to consider how to integrate collision detection, collision response, sound, music, user interaction, camera control and a game menu system (all not part of Java 3D). There are Java solutions for many of those.
The buildings, mechs, fence and trees look like they are done with a 3D modeler. Java 3D has several loaders available to to that.
The smoke, flames, etc can done with a particle system like ours (www.indietechnologies.com) or you can build it yourself.
The fog can be done in Java 3D.
There are terrain implementations outside of Java 3D (www.j3d.org) that could provlde variable LOD and you can create the scorch marks, etc on the terrain with multitexturing (part of Java 3D).
There are other options to consider like the JOGL, LWGL, jMonkeyEngine, Xith3D, Agency9 and few others. Some use a scene graph approach, others are more closer to the metal. Have a look at www.javagaming.org.
Mike