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Using Excel As a 3D Graphics Engine

Posted by kdawson on from the right-tool-for-the-job dept.

simoniker writes "Obviously whimsical but slightly mind-blowing — an Eastern European coder has published video and the Excel tables to get full 3D wireframe running in Microsoft Excel. He even has solid polygonal graphics running. This isn't an Easter Egg by the Excel creators. Rather, he's using formulas to output the graphics, using two different methods, and showing all the variables on-screen in real time as the 3D is created."

3 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. Explains the flight simulator in Excel 97? by TheCycoONE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So that's it, Excel is actually a 3d programming environment. The Excel 97 flight simulator then was a demo. http://www.eeggs.com/items/718.html

  2. Re:One can only ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The central thesis appears towards the end of the article. The idea is that something like Excel represents a different coding paradigm that hasn't been seriously considered, where you basically lay out what your stuff is supposed to do, i.e. declare it instead of coding it sequentially. By doing this, you increase comprehension of what's going on, b/c it's easier to visualize the algorithm (at least for 3d manipulations) by viewing the tables, instead of trying to decipher a sequential piece of code. It's basically advocating using a declarative programming paradigm (like Prolog) for games, except using a comical venue to show it.

    Tim Sweeney's POPL talk had some similar ideas too.

  3. I did this years ago by robvangelder · · Score: 5, Interesting

    3D graphics in Excel: http://vangelder.orcon.net.nz/excel/convex3d.html
    Fractal Generated Landscpare Excel: http://vangelder.orcon.net.nz/excel/terrain.html