I'm looking to enhance my webpage with a dice roller that doesn't just randomly generate a result with a click. I want it to **simulate** the rolling action using 3D dice! I know Three.js could help me animate the dice, but I'm unsure how to either get the result from an actual physics-based roll or how to take a random number and animate the dice to show that result. Any recommendations?
4 Answers
You can definitely use Three.js to animate the dice. What you can do is use a random number generator alongside the animation. For example, swap the textures of the dice during the roll to make sure the right face lands up. You could also explore using Rapier JS, which is designed for deterministic physics. While animating it to look realistic might be easier, reverse simulations might not be necessary. Just play around with the textures to create the illusion you want!
Blurring the faces during the animation before swapping textures can also add a nice effect. It definitely helps in achieving a smooth look!
You should also look at this site: https://fantasticdice.games/. It appears to offer some great examples of what you're aiming to create!
Definitely check out dice.js! It combines Three.js and Cannon.js to provide realistic 3D dice rolls with proper physics. The results are based on where the dice finally rests, which adds a layer of realism you might really enjoy. Oh, and if you’re into modern physics engines, don't forget to look at Rapier.js!
I looked for dice.js but couldn't find it. Do you have the link for it?
Check out this GitHub project: https://github.com/MajorVictory/3DDiceRoller. It seems pretty helpful for creating 3D dice rolls, and it could save you a lot of time in development!
Yeah, you wouldn't need to reverse the simulation. Just roll it forward, observe which face is up, and change the texture accordingly. Just make sure you have everything recorded so you can play it back smoothly.