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3 Dimensional Chat / Choice of modeller has me at my wits end...

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=PRoF=
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Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Posted: 27th Mar 2009 18:49
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Hi guys,

I'm sure this question has been asked hundreds of times, and I've read through a fair chunk of them but to no avail.

I'm after a modeller (free or not, I don't mind at this stage), which can import, animate and export DirectX .x models.

I've tried several different ones, and even tho truespace and blender both say they can do it; I have been unable to manage to get them to import an animated .x (I've been testing with the SWAT guy from the DarkMatter Model Pack).

Can any one offer any advice? plz?

Without Music or Love the world would be a very empty place... Thank god I still have music.. --'-<@
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Strelok
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Posted: 27th Mar 2009 18:56 Edited at: 27th Mar 2009 18:57
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fragmotion , all what you need.
EDIT : ops , sorry I thought you was looking for a model program


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tatts
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Location: Ontario,Canada
Posted: 27th Mar 2009 19:40 Edited at: 27th Mar 2009 19:45
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fragmotion will import animated direct x models. I remember importing an fpsc model into it and played the animation through it. you can also export the model to milkshape from fragmotion and still keep the animations intact.

(Edit) to clear things up too, Truespace does NOT import animations. infact it has a hard time importing an x file at times. The exports work great but importing sucks for direct X. Your better off importing .obj files but even still, it will not import the animations.
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=PRoF=
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Posted: 28th Mar 2009 15:02
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Thanks guys.

I guess I was being too hopeful wanting one program to do it all.

I've had a quick look at fragmotion and it seems to do what I need (assuming it can edit animations and add animations to nonanimated models)

I have a couple of other programs I can make models in, but not animate them.

Thanks again

Without Music or Love the world would be a very empty place... Thank god I still have music.. --'-<@
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JLMoondog
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Posted: 28th Mar 2009 15:07
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What do you mean you can't import animated X models in truespace? I have no trouble doing so.

Kuuhaku Kyuushuu!
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=144785&b=5
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Image All
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Posted: 28th Mar 2009 18:36
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The only program I've ever needed was Softimage|XSI Mod Tool. I don't know about importing animated .X files (I've never tried it) but it can model, animate, and export .X files that are perfectly compatible with DBP.


Remember those old guys? They made epic renders, I think one of them was called DaVinci, and all they used was MS Paint. Sometimes it's just skill....
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=PRoF=
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Posted: 28th Mar 2009 19:32
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@Josh Mooney:
I couldn't get it to import the SWAT Guy (Altho that was before I changed the texture file from .dds to .bmp which I had to do also to get Fragmotion to load it)

@Image All:
Importing .x is quite important to me; I've looked at the software u suggested but I don't think the licencing with it is what I'm after; and I don't really want to sign up to the XNA premium creators club thing just to use the professional version.
I don't mind paying for software, but annual membership seems like a waste of money to me as I'm a DBPro coder, lol

Without Music or Love the world would be a very empty place... Thank god I still have music.. --'-<@
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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 29th Mar 2009 04:32
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You rarely ever need to import .x models. What do you need to import .x for?

"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Isaac Newton
-Degrees: Computer Animation-
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tatts
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Posted: 29th Mar 2009 08:38
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@ josh
well your right, TS will import an X from the darkmatter. However i was'nt able to a get a model from fpsc to work. My ts came up with an error saying the the animations were not supported.

@ sid
I think he just wants to add to the animations on one of the dark matter models.
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JLMoondog
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Posted: 29th Mar 2009 10:01
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hmm..that's strange with the animations. I've never encountered an error like that before. Maybe it has something to do with how the dark matter models were made/animated. I've imported .x models before with animation and they still worked. I don't have darkmatter so I can't actually check this out for myself. Maybe if I win some TGC points from the competition I'll buy myself one and see for myself

Kuuhaku Kyuushuu!
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=144785&b=5
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=PRoF=
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Posted: 29th Mar 2009 18:17
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@Sid:
I just happen to use .x files a lot, plus it seems a handy format that most modellers can export to; even tho few seem to be able to import it.

I usually use .x's in my games in the beginning as well, as kinda placeholders without multi texture effects and stuff; until I convert them to .dbo's nearer completing the project.

@Tatts:
Maybe I was doing something wrong in TS, I'll try doing it again after I've changed the .dds texture to a .bmp; I've not had it long and I'm still a long way from mastering how it works.

Without Music or Love the world would be a very empty place... Thank god I still have music.. --'-<@
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JLMoondog
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Posted: 30th Mar 2009 10:14
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I'll agree TS has a learning curve. Good luck with it though.

Kuuhaku Kyuushuu!
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=144785&b=5
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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 30th Mar 2009 17:39
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Quote: "I just happen to use .x files a lot, plus it seems a handy format that most modellers can export to; even tho few seem to be able to import it."


Without a doubt .x is a popular file format, but it's rare that it needs to be imported. Although someone up top said you were adding on to an animation, which would make sense there.

Most of the time people work in the file format of their favorite modeler, like .max, and then export and update their existing files from there. The file format of the modeling application saves a lot more than just saving out as a .x and then reopening it when you want to resume work. That's what I was hoping you weren't doing and why I made the comment It's like opening a layered image file in photoshop and continuing work, versus opening a .jpg and having to re-put everything in layers again.

I also asked about .x because some people try and pirate models from games.

Anyway, I'm headed to the beach

"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Isaac Newton
-Degrees: Computer Animation-
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tatts
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Posted: 31st Mar 2009 01:48 Edited at: 31st Mar 2009 02:00
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Quote: "I'll agree TS has a learning curve. Good luck with it though."


Not as much of a learning curve as you would think. You know you can set the icons to menus in Workspace. I have been exploring workspace like crazy over the last two weeks. I can personally say that as far as I am concerned. Truespace 7.6 NOT the model side which is TS 6.6 but workspace 7.6 is probably the best program for darkbasic pro you'll ever get..(By far the most compatible as a stand alone) BLENDER is good but no way in my opinion can even compare to what TS 7.6 is all about.

TS 7.6 is completely game oriented. The main thing about 7.6 is that it is super stable/ very easy to use, the manual is very well documented, plus there are videos that go with it. Not to mention that Mr.bones from the TS site is filling YOUTUBE with tons of videos that explains ALL aspects of truespace and more.... if you have Fragmotion but don't know how to use it, I would HIGHLY suggest people go and look. He posted a very good tutorial for it.

Truespace is far under rated, take the time too learn it and I would almost guarenty that you'd be coming back and telling me that i was right.. I am thinking about writing tutorials for it if people are interested. Believe me my last two weeks have been well worth it. I no longer use TS 6.6 (model side)

EDIT Sorry I thought i'd add something else. Not only I no longer use TS 6.6 but I also won't be using Deled / 3dws / Mapscape / Character fx / fragmotion.... TS 7.6 is truly the perfect all in one editor and I will stand by that. Did I mention DBPro loves multi textured X files from TS 7.6 and that you can walk/run/jump and actually explore your worlds in first person with ts 7.6, yes i has collision while your walking around so can actually interact with your world.
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JLMoondog
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Posted: 31st Mar 2009 02:56
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I'll agree TS 7.6 is great all around, and is very underrated. I bought 6.6 when it was first released and used it up until I found out that TS 7.6 was going to be free. Blew my mind.

What I meant by learning curve was just learning how to navigate the program(there's no universal modeling program format, so your always stuck learning to navigate a program before being able to use it). Modeling is easy, it comes with one of the best UV editors I've ever used. It can create normal maps, do poly reduction, and animation is easy. It also has it's own physics engine which works really well, and you can see results in only a few seconds. The workspace view uses DX rendering, you can even add bloom and other DX effects to your objects to see what they would look like in-game.

Haha, I sound like a dang commercial.

Kuuhaku Kyuushuu!
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=144785&b=5
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tatts
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Posted: 31st Mar 2009 03:35
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Quote: "Haha, I sound like a dang commercial."


lol yeah I probably do too. I have used gamespace for 3 yrs and never had so much fun with an editor before. Fun is not something I have ever said about a editor before. usually it is hard work and can become a pain in the ...

But sinse I have really endulged myself into the workspace, I have reallized it is the best editor i've ever seen. It really starting to make me think about what Microsoft is up too. Something tells me that they might have some really good plan for this software and maybe that is why they have it up for grabs.. is to get the community to see what this software is capable of... Personally with a few more things added. I think this software is well capable of giving to big boys a run for their money, You just never know.
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JLMoondog
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Posted: 31st Mar 2009 19:19
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Before Truespace I was using gamespace I purchased that the first week it came out.

I'm hoping there will be an update to TS soon. I'm still trying to find a decent(free) external renderer to use with it as well. I'm wondering what you use if any?

Kuuhaku Kyuushuu!
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=144785&b=5
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tatts
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Posted: 31st Mar 2009 19:43 Edited at: 31st Mar 2009 19:47
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I actually don't bother with the renderers. I'm more into modeling objects to play with them in a game engine like DBPro, not really so much as just art. but I do know that most people from the TS site use these..... kerkythea / yaf(a)ray / lightworks (modelside) and couple others...

When I do, Do any rendering, chances are most pics i take will be from the workspace view. The reason is that, if i show people pics, I would like them to see what it would look like in a game engine rather than just a fancy render. Besides, Most real good renderers take a very long time to render out a quality pic. one of the members form the TS site recently rendered out a pic that took over 3 days for the final outcome. good thing he had two pc's. I think he used the yafaray renderer. however the quality is something amazing if you are willing to wait.

(edit) And as far as an update.. who knows when that will be. Getting info out of caligari about updates is like trying to get water from a rock. They are always hush hush about it until the release date. But now that Microsoft owns it.. maybe we'll start seeing update's a little more frequint, I am curious though about what MS is up to and if they plan to sell the next version of TS or if they are just going to keep it as freeware.
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JimB
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Posted: 1st Apr 2009 23:17 Edited at: 1st Apr 2009 23:20
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Quote: "I'm still trying to find a decent(free) external renderer to use with it as well. I'm wondering what you use if any?"


You should search the TS forums and you will find threads like this one
http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showthread.php?t=3960

I purchased gameSpace before it came out,I pre ordered it
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Alucard94
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Posted: 1st Apr 2009 23:20
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I'm surprised no one here mentioned Cinema 4D, I had to learn it for an internship a few weeks ago and it is quite the bit of software, I recommend it to the fullest.


Alucard94, the member of the future of the past.
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tatts
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Posted: 2nd Apr 2009 00:21
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I was just looking on the maxis site. the cinema 4 D looks really good, But the price for it is crazy. I did'nt see the actual full price for it anywhere, just a phone number for that and upgrade prices.. to upgrade C4D 11 from 10 is 395.00 alone. from 9 it was like 900. around i think it was, so im not sure i'd want to see the actual price anyway.

Very nice but also very steap in price.
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