Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: NeoHunter on May 06, 2001, 10:48:00 am
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I have a few questions regarding creating models for FreeSpace 2 that need answering. Now, I don't want answers like "Yes" or "No" I want explainations too if required.
1.) Can models made in 3D Studio Max be used in FreeSpace 2? If so, how?
2.) Can UVW Mapping be used on my model?
3.) How do I define how big the engine glow is on a fighter?
4.) Do capital ships need engine glows to be defined or does FreeSpace 2 do that for me?
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence (//"http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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I can only answer the first question, but the answer is yes. You still have to have either truespace or 3D Eploration to open the max file and save it as a cob file. Texturing might be the sticky wicket, you might have to retexture the model, i'm not sure about that.
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You can do the UVW map under max, then you export it as a 3ds file. TS can use them. You'll have to apply the rtextures again, but the UVW map will be keptThe engine glow is defined under FSMM2 by its radius (yep, believe me (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif) ) There's a tutorial from Bobboau somewhere for FSMM2 I think. And you still have to define engine glows by yourself in FSMM2, even for capships
-but engine glows are theeasier thing to put on a model, I think, so you don't really need to worry (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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venom2506
Member of the Robotech mod for FS2 ("http://robotechlan.com/freespace2/")
and of Hidden Terror, the Shivan campaign ("http://shivancampaign.homestead.com/index.html")
and My own page ("http://www.geocities.com/venom250681/Venom2506.html")
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1.) Can models made in 3D Studio Max be used in FreeSpace 2? If so, how?
Yes, TS will access 3ds files.
2.) Can UVW Mapping be used on my model?
Not sure on this one, but I think so, as long as it looks correct in TS save it as a cob and go for it.
3.) How do I define how big the engine glow is on a fighter?
radius, try different sizes to see how each looks on the model.
4.) Do capital ships need engine glows to be defined or does FreeSpace 2 do that for me?
You have to,..FS2 defines,...squat for you (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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Warlock
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Originally posted by NeoHunter:
I have a few questions regarding creating models for FreeSpace 2 that need answering.
- I have a few questions regarding creating models for FS2 that I would like answered.
Originally posted by NeoHunter:
Now, I don't want answers like "Yes" or "No", I want explainations too if required.
- I'd like to not have answers like "Yes" or "No", I'd like explanations too if you can.
Politeness is A-1! (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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Thanks a lot, Setekh. I'll remember the politeness part next time. (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
More questions incoming!
5.) Are the turrets seperate sub-objects from the ship?
6.) If not, how do you tell FreeSpace 2 that these are rotatable?
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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They are separate objects from the ship. You can find a great thread with all kinds of turret making info here: http://vbb.volition-inc.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000372.html ("http://vbb.volition-inc.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000372.html")
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Thanks, Morris.
6.) Must the main part of the ship be one single object? When I ask this, I meant the ship without the turrets.
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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It doesn't HAVE to be, but its generally a good idea if it is.
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Depends what you mean, in fact. If you mean a single object with multiple different parts, you can without any pb (for exemple the object Hull is composed of 4 different "elements"). If you use multiple objects (hull1, hull2 and hull3) for the main object, well, ask Bobboau, he will say: make it out of one subobject (that means: naaaaah!!!! no way!).
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venom2506
Member of the Robotech mod for FS2 ("http://robotechlan.com/freespace2/")
and of Hidden Terror, the Shivan campaign ("http://shivancampaign.homestead.com/index.html")
and My own page ("http://www.geocities.com/venom250681/Venom2506.html")
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So, what you're saying is that I could have a capital ship which is made of maybe a sphere, a rectangle and maybe a triangle?
Because trying to make ship out of one object is very difficult for me.
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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Yes, but with the caveat that your model will be much more stable/better/etc if you make it out of one subject.
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But why? Does FS2 care, or just the conversion software?
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Sushi- the OTHER white meat!
Accelerate your game-Velocity Mod ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/velocity.htm")
Sushi's Freespace Zone ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/index.htm")-Future home of loads of cool stuff.
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probably both..... but mainly because the polys/etc connect up better.
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FS2 doesn't have a problem with something that is made up of unconnected objects. Why should it care if the objects are a microscopic distance apart?
All I can think of is that modifying the mesh might be easier.
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Sushi- the OTHER white meat!
Accelerate your game-Velocity Mod ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/velocity.htm")
Sushi's Freespace Zone ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/index.htm")-Future home of loads of cool stuff.
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Remember Bobboau's call? Make it out of one sub-object?
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I think FS2 is just *****y about intersecting faces, which frequently happen if you make ships out of multiple subobjects.
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I'll buy that...but if they don't intersect and float .000001 units apart, why does it matter? WHY must we make it out of one subobject?
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Sushi- the OTHER white meat!
Accelerate your game-Velocity Mod ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/velocity.htm")
Sushi's Freespace Zone ("http://sushicw.homestead.com/files/freespace/index.htm")-Future home of loads of cool stuff.
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Because it's so INCREDIBLY easy to make it intersect on accident. It's usually easier to make it out of one subobject.
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Wow. Looks like everybody supports Dark's theory or whatever that's called....
What about making a ship out of several objects then merging them into one complete object?
Also, how do we tell FreeSpace 2 what the debris of the capital ship should be?
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)
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homeworld:cataclysm support "multipart" ships...but i have a feeling some alteration of the game code would be needed for that kind of effect.
the only model animation FS2 seems to support are a couple of rotating arms and moving gun turrets.
secondly, you model chunks of the ship and add them in to the heirarchy as debris (don't ask me how....havent managed to get a model into fs2 yet!)
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Based on what i know (so far);
1/Yep (see other replies)
2/" " "
3/Yes (see FSMM2), you can also add the thruster flames using a seperate sub-object (thrusterxx) tiled with a map named thruster01 (i.e), which kinda 'links' to the thruster01.ani. I've yet to try this myself, though, but I think there was a thread on it a while ago.
4/ ditto (NB: FSMM2 sometims crashes when adding fuel chunks - I'd do it first)
5/Yep (glued as child). Depending on the type of turret, you have to glue a local light as sibling to either the base (1 part Turret), or the barrel (2 part) to create it on a seperate level on the heirarchy. there's a tutorial on this somewhere, again check the FS2 Modding board for it
6/..see above
6(b)/Not sure - but maybe you could try using Blender ( http://www.blender.nl ("http://www.blender.nl") ) to create the hull object dxf.
NB: I don't know if you're aware of these things, but ;
-you have to create the shield mesh yourself (either importing from another pof or using segletuchs autogen)
- you'll probably need to do all the LODs, especially for a complex model (not sure on exactly how - I've asked in another thread).
Hope this is useful (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/smile.gif)
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Maybe I should stick to making cargo containers?? Hehehe (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/ubb/noncgi/biggrin.gif)
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...and one day, Man will journey farther and faster into Space. - My thoughts
GTD Excellence ("http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/excellence") Webmaster
NeoHunter< [b][email protected][/b] >
Not to mention a FREDder! :)