Image-based 3d environment emulator

A method for providing a virtual 3D environment, the method comprising:

• storing a plurality of 3D objects and a plurality of sets of 2D images, each set of 2D images corresponding to a substantially 360° view at a given position in a 3D space, each 2D image in the set of 2D images corresponding to a view at a viewing angle at the given position in the 3D space;
• creating the 3D space with a 3D engine and displaying the 3D objects in the 3D space;
• loading a 2D image from a selected one of the plurality of sets of 2D images and projecting a camera view of the 3D engine onto the 2D image such that the 2D image and the 3D objects are blended together to form an initial view in the virtual 3D environment;
• receiving navigation instructions;
• determining in real time a new 2D image corresponding to a desired viewing position and a desired viewing angle in accordance with the navigation instructions;
• determining if the 3D objects require modification and instructing the 3D engine accordingly;
• and
• loading the new 2D image such that the new 2D image and the 3D objects are blended together to form a subsequent view in the virtual 3D environment.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable code for providing a virtual 3D environment, the computer executable code comprising instructions for:

• accessing a storage medium comprising a plurality of 3D objects and at least one 2D image from a plurality of sets of 2D images, each set of 2D images corresponding to a substantially 360° view at a given position in a 3D space, each 2D image in the set of 2D images corresponding to a view at a viewing angle at the given position in the 3D space;
• creating the 3D space with a 3D engine and displaying the 3D objects in the 3D space;
• loading a 2D image and projecting a camera view of the 3D engine onto the 2D image such that the 2D image and the 3D objects are blended together to form an initial view in the virtual 3D environment;
• receiving navigation instructions;
• determining in real time a new 2D image corresponding to a desired viewing position and a desired viewing angle in accordance with the navigation instructions;
• determining if the 3D objects require modification and instructing the 3D engine accordingly;
• and
• loading the new 2D image such that the new 2D image and the 3D objects are blended together to form a subsequent view in the virtual 3D environment.