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silverlightflash3dunity-game-enginex3d

Comparing Flash, HTML, Silverlight, X3D and Unity 3d


I have to prepare a comparison between the following technologies to present it to my Project Manager, but I fell that I'm lost, so if any one can help I will be thankful

I want to compare between them in the following areas:

  • the support of online video streaming
  • the budget of using each one
  • Learning Time will be needed to learn the technology
  • Which one is the standard and will target a lot of users
  • The support if I found any problem
  • Bugs and security issues
  • connection to DB, SOA and web services
  • supporting of multi player

Solution

  • The support of online video streaming

    Some of the X3D viewers support video streaming (and some even 3D streaming, for things such as augmented reality).


    Which one is the standard and will target a lot of users

    X3D is a standardized format, such as JPEG with multiple companies being able to manipulate such data and is even officially recommended by HTML5 specs whereas Unity ties you to a single company. Even if most X3D viewers are plugin-based like Flash, there exists also native implementations such as X3DOM to display/interact with X3D files for any browser that supports WebGL.


    Connection to DB, SOA and web services

    I would usually recommend using a webservice for interfacing with a DB, and yes, X3D can interact with webservices (XML, JSON). There is even a standard binary format that is fast to transfer and parse large contents faster.


    Supporting of multi player

    Some X3D-supporting providers offer a multiusers service, such as Bitmanagement's BS Collaborate server, but I've seen people using Darkstar/RedDwarf to make multiusers 3D environments as well.