DirectX vs. OpenGL, which is better for game programming in Visual Basic?

[Sarasbaby]

I am currently working on an online role-playing game in Visual Basic. I have the server and client set up, and now need to figure out graphics. I have looked at DirectX and OpenGL, and was wondering what people would recommend for working in Visual Basic? Which is easiest and more user-friendly?

I have not worked in either before, but am a rapid-learner and up to the challenge. I am currently experimenting with the DirectX SDK Development Kit and I understand most stuff. Also, is there a free mesh editor available online?

Thank you very much for any advice you can offer.

- Matt.

[Manish Malik]

DirectX / OpenGL ?

Both have pros and cons, each has its own fan-following. While DirectX has lots of docs on MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com) itself, OpenGL has great community support and lots of docs/links are at opengl site (http://opengl.org).

Recently, DirectX has started to gain edge ( read here (http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article1775.asp)), and after reading this (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/07/10/007213&mode=thread&tid=109), you well may think again about using OpenGL.

As for personal opinion, I recommend DirectX.

http://www.artofillusion.org/ has a good free Mesh Editor (and its a lot more than a mesh editor anyway).

[Sarasbaby]

Thank you much for the links and information you supplied. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I have spent the last 8 hours learning more about 3d game programming. Now that I have a few of the tools I will need, I need to look into implementing my plans in Visual Basic. I do have Visual C++ 6.0, but prefer Visual Basic 6.0.

Do you have any suggestions as far as where to go from here? I would like to develop a first-person perspective game, but more of a 3D overlooking view would be ok too. I believe I would need to create the "maps" and then associate various modeled objects according to what is on the maps? The objects would be modeled in a 3d modeling program such as the one you gave me a link to I would assume. The game engine itself would then look at the maps and model objects accordingly? I did read somewhere that the surrounding environment moves and not the character you are controlling. I realize this is a big task, but it will be a fun learning experience as well.

Thanks for any additional advice anyone can offer from here. I sincerely appreciate it.

- Matt.