Are you a Java developer who wants to develop 3D games?

1. Download and install jME3
2. Create a jME3-based Java project: Using the jMonkeyEngine SDK, simply create a new BasicGame Project. (Recommended)
   Using any other IDE:
   1. Create a standard Java SE project.
   2. Place all JARs from the lib directory on the Classpath.
   3. Extend the base class com.jme3.app.SimpleApplication.
3. Read the tutorials and get answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The beginner tutorials demonstrate the most common use cases and explain basic concepts. We encourage you to run the samples and experiment with them. All example code is included in the jMonkeyEngine SDK: Simply create a new project from the JmeTests template.

• Make sure you are familiar with basic 3D game development concepts such as the scene graph.

1. Hello SimpleApplication – Initializing a SimpleApplication
2. Hello Node – Transforming Geometries and Nodes in the Scenegraph
3. Hello Assets – Loading 3-D models, scenes, and other assets.
4. Hello Loop – Triggering actions in the update loop
5. Hello Input – Responding to keyboard and mouse input
6. Hello Material – Setting Materials, Textures, Transparency
7. Hello Animation – Controlling animated models
8. Hello Picking – Shooting, pressing buttons, selecting, picking up items
9. Hello Collision – Making walls and floors solid
10. Hello Terrain – Creating hilly landscapes with textures
11. Hello Audio – Accompanying places and actions with 3D sound
12. Hello Effects – Creating particle effects such as fire, explosions, spells.
13. Hello Physics – Bouncing balls and falling bricks

See also: Trouble running the samples?

Now that you understood the basics, let's put it all toegther. The following intermediate articles help you to understand how to use these concepts in context.

jMonkeyEngine3 Concepts

• Best Practices
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• SimpleApplication
• AppSettings
• File Types
• Optimization

Maths Concepts

• jME3 Math for Dummies
• Short 3D math "cheat sheet"
• jME3 math overview

3D Graphics Concepts

• 3D Scene Graph for Dummies
• 3D Graphics Terminology

Learn from sample code in src/test and src/games!

Now that you understand the concepts, it's time to make the most of the jMonkeyEngine. Deep-dive into the API and learn about all options, including less commonly used advanced methods. Don't over-extend yourself, developing a good game requires time and dedication. One step at a time, champ! :)

Controlling Game Logic

• Update Loop
• Application States
• Custom Controls
• Multithreading

Managing Objects in the 3D Scene Graph

• Spatial: Node versus Geometry
• Mesh
  • Shape
  • 3D Models
  • Custom Meshes
• Asset Manager
• Saving and Loading Nodes (.J3O Files)
• Collision and Intersection

Animations and Scenes

• Animation
• Cinematics
• MotionPath
• Converting Blender Models to JME3 (.J3o files)
• Video Series: Creating models in Blender, OgreMax, 3dsMax
• Video: Creating and Exporting OgreXML Animations from Blender 2.61 to JME3
• Scene Workflow: Exporting OgreXML scenes from Blender to JME3
• Animation Workflow: Create Animated UV-Mapped OgreXML Models in Blender, and use them in JME3
• Video: Creating Worlds with Instances in Blender

Materials, Light, Shadow

• JME3 and Shaders
• Materials Overview
• .j3md Material Definitions
• .j3m Materials
• Light and Shadow
• Video: jME3 Material with Alpha Channel

Physics Integration

• Physics: Gravity, Collisions, Forces
• Multi-Threaded Physics
• Physics Listeners
• Hinges and Joints
• Walking Character
• Ragdoll
• Vehicles
• Video: Mesh Tool & Physics Editor

Audio and Video

• Audio: Playing Sounds
• Audio Environment Presets
• Video: Playing Clips
• Capture Screenshots
• Capture Audio/Video to a File

Effects

• Effects Overview
• Bloom and Glow
• Particle Emitters

Landscapes

• Sky
• Terrain (TerraMonkey)
• Endless Terrain (TerrainGrid)
• Terrain Collision
• Simple Water
• Post-Processor Water (SeaMonkey)

Multiplayer Networking

• Multiplayer Networking (SpiderMonkey)
• Headless Server
• Monkey Zone: Multi-Player Demo Code
• Open Game Finder

Camera

• Camera
• Making the Camera Follow a Character
• Remote-Controlling the Camera
• Multiple Camera Views

User Interaction

• Input Handling
• Combo Moves
• Mouse Picking: Click to Select

Graphical User Interface

• Nifty GUI - JME3 Integration Tutorial
• Nifty GUI - Best Practices
• Nifty GUI Scenarios (Load Screen etc)
• Head-Up Display (HUD)
• Localization
• Swing Canvas

Custom Rendering

• Forward Rendering process
• Render Buckets

Custom Tools

• Mercator Projection Tool (Marine Navigation)
• Visualizing Maps in JME3 (Marine Charts)

Logging and Debugging

• Logging
• Log Files
• Read Graphic Card Capabilites
• Debugging with Wireframes

Deployment

• Android
• Application Deployment (using jMonkeyEngine SDK)
• WebStart Deployment (without jMonkeyEngine SDK)

Every user can add here his own examples. Please, add your new pages and links here.

• JmeTests – The "official" sample project JmeTests.
• User Examples Project – The jME3 users examples project.
• ShaderBlow Project – The jME3 users shaders project.
• BookSamples – Some more jME3 code samples

The jMonkeyEngine SDK is our recommended game development environment.

• jMonkeyEngine SDK - the Comic
• SDK Documentation (All editors, plugins, etc)

Here are some videos of how the jMonkeyEngine SDK makes your development team's life easier:

• Video: Importing Models
• Video: Scene Composing
• Video: Dragging&Dropping Nodes
• Video: Working with Materials
• Video: WebStart Deployment
• Video: Custom Controls
• Read the SDK documentation for details.

• Use jMonkeyEngine 3 for free under the BSD License
• Software and hardware requirements
• All Supported Features
• Download jMonkeyEngine 3 SDK

jME3 is in development; if a tutorial doesn't work as expected, try using the latest daily build. If that doesn't "fix it" then:

• Report a Documentation Task
• Report a Bug
• Ask (and Answer!) Questions on the Forum