Rendering and texturing 3D Cubes

As odd as it sounds, sometimes in a 2D game you simply just want to add some simple 3D graphics. Whether you are creating a cool 2D/3D hybrid or a simple 3D game with a 2D HUD, 3D graphics are no easy thing to produce. The complexities of a third dimension often conflict with 2D programming paradigms.

For the sake of simplicity, this recipe will show you how to create a simple colored cube and a simple textured cube. The uses of simple geometry are varied even when making a 2D game. However, more examples including shaders and 3D models are beyond the scope of this book.