Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

3D World Studio / 3D World Studio and gmax - you have no excuse not to use meshes

Author
Message
JoshK
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Jun 2003
Location:
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 20:06 Edited at: 29th Sep 2005 20:20
Link
This preliminary tutorial explains how to set up gmax to make map meshes for 3D World Studio. The .md3 mesh loader is not finished yet, but will be soon. I am testing with gmax, and everything looks good so far. I actually prefer gmax over 3ds max, because it starts up so much faster, and isn't bloated with a million useless features:
http://www.leadwerks.com/index.php?page=gmax.htm

WindowsXP Media Center Edition, Pentium 4 2.53 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, GEForce4 MX 440
Back to top
Profile PM
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:05
Link
Yes Gmax is good free modeler for games.

Repair link "Tempest Game Pack" is same "Download gmax"
in http://www.leadwerks.com/index.php?page=gmax.htm

download:
MD3(QUAKE3 MODEL) Export\Import plugin for GMAX.

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:08
Link
download:
Wavefront .OBJ Model Importer v1.1 for gmax

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:10
Link
Download:
This MaxScript imports Nendo .ndo files.
Nendo is a very easy to use box modeling program. You can find out more about
Nendo, and download a demo version, from http://www.izware.com

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:13
Link
Download:
Quake2 .MD2 Model Importer v1.0 for gmax

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:13
Link
Download:
Autocad .DXF Model Importer v1.0 for gmax

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:15
Link
Download:
Autodesk .3DS Model Importer v1.1 for gmax

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:21
Link
you can export from gmax with panda exporter i think

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:32
Link
GmaxSLGab: NEW! This script is a simple binary that will grab the full text buffer from the maxscript listener and save it to a file of your choosing. Use it along with YaFray to render and export ( yes , I said render!) your gmax scenes.

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:34 Edited at: 29th Sep 2005 21:35
Link
YaFray:
[href]http://www.davidhsmith.net/downloaditems/YafRay%200.0.6-2%20setup.exe [/href]

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:36
Link
Download the gmax render kit containing both programs, the maxscript and the tutorials by pressing here:
http://www.davidhsmith.net/downloaditems/gmaxrender.zip

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 21:37
Link
.md3 exporter : Unzip this and put it in the stdplugs folder ( C:\gmax\stdplugs) inside gmax to enable .md3 export from gmax. This little script is the key to using gmax to model for games that don't directly support gmax, so it's a must have!

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 22:01
Link
Interesing
It looks like Gmax can export to .x format! I was Google searching for 'Gmax exporters' and came across this link:

http://www.geocities.jp/yuuchankellyy/gmaxe.html

It's a tutorial that tells you how to export .x files from Gmax. The setup is a bit complex, but once done, the export process is extemely simple.

So far, I've only tested it with a simple static model, and *touch wood*, it seems to work (loaded up nicely in Panda ).

I'll try testing it with textures, bones and animation next. But as I'm still only in the learning phase with Gmax, it may take a little while . I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 22:06
Link
Oh I nearly forgot. I had a go at polishing up the installation instructions for the Gmax .X exporter. For some reason my links don't want to work today, so somebody else will need to put them in (or just use them from the original tutorial). Here ya go:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How To Export .X Files From Gmax

Installation.

There are several plug-ins required to export .X files from gmax:

1. First download the ‘Gmax gamepack SDK’ found at this link :FlightSimulator exporter plugin. Size is about 15Mb. Although only 3 files are actually needed, they are not available as separate downloads, so unfortunately you’ll need to download the whole thing.

2. Next, download programs 'MDLCommander' and 'Middleman'.

3. After download, you’ll see that the 'fs2004_sdk-gmax-setup' is an exe. If you install it in the default gmax directory, you’ll end up with a lot of extra stuff that you don’t need. So create a new folder somewhere on your hard drive and install it there.

4. When done, open the folder, go to gamepacks > fs2004 > plugins. And copy all 3 files: 'FSModelExp.dle', 'makemdl.exe' and 'makemdl.parts.xml' to your main ../gmax/plugins folder.

5. You need to rename two of the files. Right click on 'makemdl.exe' and rename it to to 'mkmdl.exe'. Then right click on 'makemdl.parts.xml' and rename it to 'mkmdl.parts.xml' (without the quotes).

6. Next, unzip 'MDLCommander.zip'. Then copy 'mdlcommander.exe' to your main ../gmax/plugins folder. This file also needs to be renamed. Right click on 'mdlcommander.exe' and rename it to 'makem.exe'.

7. Finally, unzip 'Middleman13beta3.zip'. Then copy 'makemdl.exe' to your main ../gmax/plugins folder. That’s it, you’re done!

Using.

To convert your gmax model to .X format. Go to ‘File > Export’ and select ‘Flightsim Aircraft Object (.MDL) from the file type dropdown. Type in a filename and click Save. The Middleman dialog window should now appear. Click the ‘Options’ tab and check ‘SaveXFile’ (this saves the x file) and ‘nocompile’ (this tells mdlcommander to only create an .X file not mdl/bgl). Then click the GO button.

After a few seconds the dialog will close and your newly exported .X model should be in the directory where you saved it to.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
JoshK
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Jun 2003
Location:
Posted: 29th Sep 2005 22:15 Edited at: 29th Sep 2005 22:15
Link
The panda .x exporter does not work.

I recommend using MD3. The instructions I provided are sufficient for exporting an .md3 file. I know it is legal to use exported .md3 files for whatever you want. I am not sure about some of the other workarounds.

The gmax .md3 exporter does not export normals correctly. I will need to auto-generate them when the plugin loads them.

WindowsXP Media Center Edition, Pentium 4 2.53 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, GEForce4 MX 440
Back to top
Profile PM
Rodan
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jul 2004
Location: SLC, UT
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 19:44
Link
Isn't it illegal to use gmax for creating meshes for anything other than gmax registered games.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
JoshK
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Jun 2003
Location:
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 20:03 Edited at: 30th Sep 2005 20:04
Link
This forum thread seems to sum things up. The Discreet guy comes on, makes a vague statement. On page 3, he specifies that it is okay to create and export an .md3 file:
http://www.turbosquid.com/Forum/Index.cfm/stgAct/PostList/intThreadID/8525

I have personally asked id Software if the .md3 file format was proprietery, and was told that none of their file formats were.

WindowsXP Media Center Edition, Pentium 4 2.53 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, GEForce4 MX 440
Back to top
Profile PM
Rodan
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jul 2004
Location: SLC, UT
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 20:26
Link
Wow that's awesome. I just read the thread. I guess that means no more having to pay $3500 just to use the basic tools. Thanks for sharing this!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Megaton Cat
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Aug 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 20:40
Link
Using meshes is such a scary field. I'll stick with working on my primitives.


The future is here, and I can't afford it.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
JoshK
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Jun 2003
Location:
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 20:46 Edited at: 30th Sep 2005 20:53
Link
I actually prefer gmax over 3ds max. It only includes the tools I need, and doesn't take 2 minutes to start up.

You should take a look at some of the gmax tutorials. I have done whole mapping in 3ds max, and it sucks, but max is great for building single objects.

WindowsXP Media Center Edition, Pentium 4 2.53 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, GEForce4 MX 440
Back to top
Profile PM
Rodan
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jul 2004
Location: SLC, UT
Posted: 30th Sep 2005 20:54
Link
Yes gmax is really really easy to use. Especially the extrude features and box modeling (or whatever it's called) is extremely simple. You'll be creating great looking meshes in no-time
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 2nd Oct 2005 12:13
Link
Here is order Panda Directx Exporter
http://www.andytather.co.uk/Panda/directxmax_downloads.aspx

AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
FXTC
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2004
Location: CzechRepublic
Posted: 2nd Oct 2005 12:38
Link
Free version trueSpace 1.0

The full commercial version of a the superb 3D rendering package from Caligari

Download:
ftp://ftp.futurenet.co.uk/pub/pcplus/truspace/disk1.exe
ftp://ftp.futurenet.co.uk/pub/pcplus/truspace/disk2.exe
ftp://ftp.futurenet.co.uk/pub/pcplus/truspace/disk3.exe


AMD 2,4 512MB RAM,2x200GB hdd,GforceFX5700GT128MB
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Advancement Games
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Jan 2005
Location:
Posted: 2nd Oct 2005 18:42
Link
I will try this out. Thank you very much for the link. I am not good with modeling, but I think that I will start to try it here.

C. Nom De Plum
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-16 15:02:08
Your offset time is: 2025-05-16 15:02:08