Yes, but BB3D is complete. BMax is just another language which can do nothing special. You need a sound library, you need a graphics library. BB3D is just "ready to use". ;) That's the difference.
Yes, it is a complete system based soley on and around DirectX 3D,2D,play and sound V7. If its complete then why this thread? why not just use it as it is? No, Blitz3D -was- complete, its missing lots of things that people keep crying out for (eg. shaders) that are either difficult or cannot be added BECAUSE its so "special".
My point all along has been; when the in house engine comes out bmax will be much more blitz3Dish and 'complete' as you put it.
And C++ isn't soo bad. If you don't want to use pointers, well, just don't use them
Yes i know, im using it, however you do need to learn and use pointer operators if you want to do anything remotely interesting at all. Anyway, you have to use pointers in all languages, even b3d (a 'handle' is an 'indirect mem pointer', so is a stored array location or user-type-object reference, its just b3d's engine handles the low level pointers for you.)