[cy387_lk]

Hi , I'm new to the forums but not to the FS2_Open project. Lately I've got some free time and began to study modding tools, especially modeling/texturing part; so after reading all the stuff on FS Doc I've got some questions.

I'm working in Maya 6/6.5 and Photoshop. Yesterday I made something terrible... Since I found no direct free COB/SCN exporter for Maya 6/6.5 (the only tool that probably works is Polytrans for Maya plugin - that is not free), I began a series of conversions. From Maya to OBJ, then to COB (there are plenty of official packages that do OBJ2COB conversion), and finally I could open it with PCS.

What happened next is obvious, PCS has hung up with some loop as I understood after waiting for 10 min or so with 100% of CPU busy with the utility. The model was quite primitive (24-poly cube) with no texture or material (OBJ2COB took the material off).

It's not my first year with 3d, and I understand that any conversion partially kills a model, so more passes we have - "worse" model we would get at the end.

My question would be: you guys have tried many things here related to the project.  Did someone had any success in passing a Maya made model to FS_Open?

Just please don't tell me I have to do it with 3DS MAX or Lightwave, those who have worked with Maya a little would understand me...

[knn]

Maybe you could try using TrueSpace 3.2 to convert the model to cob. It`s free, and it works for me. You can also do some minor editing, plus you should get a free plugin to arange subobject hierarchy in a nice treeview window. I can`t remember the name of the plugin, I`ll try to find it.
And you should also try opening the pof with modelview, to see if the problem is in the conversion program or PCS

[cy387_lk]

And you should also try opening the pof with modelview, to see if the problem is in the conversion program or PCS

Yeah I wanted to do it this morning but had to go to job , will try this evening

Does Truespace have anything to do with Maya, or it accepts OBJ?

[karajorma]

This is more of a modding question so don't be surprised whent he forum colours change

I do vaguely remember other people mentioning Maya so it has been used before. How successful that was is another thing. If you have access to 3DS Max can you get the model into that program cause there is a plugin for Max 4-6 you could use.

Truespace is a modelling program. It's rather basic in comparison but it's free and the .cob format is actually a native format for it. If you want it there's a link to it in the modding section of my FAQ.

[knn]

Got it! Go to http://underworld.fortunecity.com/pacman/106/fs2mods/shipcreationguide/whatyoullneed.html
and download trueview. It makes your life much easier. You`ll also find a good tutorial there. Thx to Karajorma`s FAQ for the links

[cy387_lk]

Yeah, I meant exactly this... 3Ds MAX ******!
I'll take a look into Maya-3DS conversion, but it would be almost the same as I did, I mean in the place of OBJ to COB it would be MB to 3DS - not a big difference. Will try this variant anyway, tnx

Thanks knn  that will really make life easier, after I manage to get good enough COB files...

[karajorma]

The reason why I suggested MAX is cause from what you say it sounds like a one step convertion and since MAX can export a pof itself without needing to use PCS that means you only have one convertion that can screw up the model (as opposed to using TS where you have two).

[FireCrack]

Another maya-ite!

I'm not alone!

[knn]

Originally posted by karajorma
The reason why I suggested MAX is cause from what you say it sounds like a one step convertion and since MAX can export a pof itself without needing to use PCS that means you only have one convertion that can screw up the model (as opposed to using TS where you have two).

I dunno, i`d still use PCS just in case the POF exporter screws up stg, but I didn`t have a chance to use the exporter yet.

[cy387_lk]

Sounds interesting, didn't know it has internal POF convertor. I've got 3DS MAX 7, but I'll need time to try it since the CDs are not in my posession right now.

2FireCrack : Yeah, Maya rulez!  FS1/2 are great games, the engine is awesome and I'm actually surprised there are almost no "maya-ites" here, since the possibilities are great.

[Martinus]

Originally posted by cy387_lk
Sounds interesting, didn't know it has internal POF convertor. I've got 3DS MAX 7, but I'll need time to try it since the CDs are not in my posession right now.

2FireCrack : Yeah, Maya rulez!  FS1/2 are great games, the engine is awesome and I'm actually surprised there are almost no "maya-ites" here, since the possibilities are great.

[color=66ff00]Well let's just say that Maya (and 3DSMax) are unavailable to a lot of people given their pricetag.
[/color]

[karajorma]

Check the modding forum. The plugin is in a sticky thread at the top.

[FireCrack]

I wonder how hard it would be to make a maya plugin...

where can i find more info about the pof format?

[Martinus]

Originally posted by FireCrack
I wonder how hard it would be to make a maya plugin...

where can i find more info about the pof format?

[color=66ff00]Surely the entire thing's laid out in the code?
[/color]

[cy387_lk]

I wonder how hard it would be to make a maya plugin...

Do you know mel? Because that's the main thing you'll need to know if you are to make one.

About POF.... the only thing I coud tell right now - it didn't look binary to me...

It would be nice to post something here - http://www.highend3d.com/

[FireCrack]

i do not know mel

i do not know anything about BSP

I am still going to make an attempt though i cannot promise anything at all.

[karajorma]

This may help if you want to build a plugin.

[cy387_lk]

While I'll try mb->3ds plugin... Not all is perfect here as well, Mental Ray classes are too different for these two applications, even updated at the same time.

[FireCrack]

Wow, i am totaly lost, i have no idea on how to go about this.

[cy387_lk]

lol