[Stunaep]

Why, oh why did Netter Digital decide to use Lightwave for B5 SFX. If they had used max, every B5 model made by the fans would be in Max format. Which I have. Instead they're in LW format. Which I don't. I do have a uber high-poly B5 mesh, with some 400 000 polygons, and maps with resolutions of 2000x3000 and above (made by an estonian, natch)

So, long story short, I've decided to move on to high-poly animating, so I'm looking for the following in 3ds format :

ISA Whitestar mesh
Jumpgate mesh
Jump vortex mesh/tutorial
Maps of the Epsilon nebula and planet
EA Starfury
Centauri or Drakh vessels.

Suggestions?

[DragonClaw]

Maybe because Lightwave is better than Max



Personal preference, but still... It shouldn't be hard to find max models of anything really. Can't you load .lwo files in max? Lightwave can load .3ds files(albeit the support does suck)

[Stunaep]

nope.

And I could switch to lightwave, but that would require

a) Getting lightwave
b) learning it.

I've spent two years getting to where I am in MAX. I don't want to spend another two years doing the same in LW

[vyper]

I too would love to find such models, but then again I'm a n00b at Max!

[Tiara]

http://www.ultradrive.com/b5_3d_index.htm

[vyper]

*hugs Tiara* Good linkage.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Stunaep
Why, oh why did Netter Digital decide to use Lightwave for B5 SFX. If they had used max, every B5 model made by the fans would be in Max format. Which I have. Instead they're in LW format. Which I don't.

Boy did you ask on the wrong forum

Babylon 5 had a very hard time getting off the ground. At the time B5 was made everyone used models for the effects stuff. The problem with models is that they cost a lot.

In the end they found an easier way to do everything. If everything could made by CGI then the cost per episode would be slashed dramatically. The next problem was that getting a PC to do the work was prohibitively expensive. The rendering wasn't to hard but getting the CGI onto video tape was more expensive.

The solution was to use the Amiga/Video toaster as a solution. With that the output was already in a format suitable for recording to video. Since the Video Toaster was made by Newtek and came with either Lightwave or its predecessor Lightrave bundled with it it wasn't hard to see why they picked LW as their startiing point.

Oh. BTW it wasn't Netter Digital who were to blame. They only took over later. Foundation Imaging were the ones who made the first models for B5.

If you want to blame someone blame Discreet for not having a version of 3DS Max available for the Amiga
 Then blame the fans of B5 for all using Lightwave since none of the models available on the net are the same ones used in the show (apparently the original models were all lost! )

[Deepblue]

Look for Diverse-3d.com. They have some sweet models.

[Stunaep]

To kara:that one I heard, but I figured that it'd have been logical for the fans to make models in the same package as FI/ND used. I mean, they could fairly well guess the techniques used, get the same effects more right etc.

and looking at the max/lw B5 models ration, exactly that happened

[karajorma]

Yeah but considering B5 would probably never have happened if they hadn't used the Amiga there wasn't really much of a choice.

Once the pilot was done and they went over to PCs there wasn't much point in changing since they had all the models in LW format already.

[Nico]

Originally posted by karajorma
(apparently the original models were all lost! )

arf. that's an excuse I've heard for a lot of shows, to explain why they won't sell CD sountradks, models or whatever. I'l always a lie. You really think the guys who made the original models don't have make backups? yeah

[01010]

I loved my Amiga.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Venom
arf. that's an excuse I've heard for a lot of shows, to explain why they won't sell CD sountradks, models or whatever. I'l always a lie. You really think the guys who made the original models don't have make backups? yeah

Personally I think that companies should release the CGI models they make to public as a matter of habit. I really can't see why they'd want to be protective of them. They know that the fans are going to make their own versions anyway and any render with a Shadow BattleCrab or Omega class destroyer is automatically a free advert for B5, so why not release them?

I mean do they really think that if they release them they might appear in an episode of Andromeda or Farscape?

[Tiara]

Earth Force 1

Drakh Shuttle, Drakh Fighter, Drakh Cruiser, Shadow Spitfire, Shadow Scout, Shadow Battlecrab, Thirdspace Fighter, Thirdspace Capitalship, Brakiri Avioki Cruiser, Narn Heavy Frazi Fighter, Narn ThNor Cruiser, Narn TLoth Assault Cruiser, Narn GQuan Cruiser, narn BinTak Dreadnought, Narn Defense Platform, Narn MilitaryBase, Raider Fighter, Centauri Sentri Fighter, Minbari Fighter, EA BreachingPod, Z'ha'Dum, ISA Advanced Whitestar, ISA Bluestar

You know, google is your friend

[Nico]

Originally posted by karajorma


Personally I think that companies should release the CGI models they make to public as a matter of habit. I really can't see why they'd want to be protective of them.

coz they cost a damn lot ( check any siet taht sells meshes. crappy meshes cost a lot, first grade meshes like the ones used in movies or series costs much more ). there' also copyright things, and other legal issues.

[karajorma]

If you made them it's your right to set the price on what they cost
I can understand why they wouldn't want to release anything generic that they might be able to use in another place. Effects are a good example of something I probably wouldn't release for free but as I said before what on Earth can you do with a shadow battlecrab mesh that isn't an advert for B5?

In comparison what are the B5 meshes doing at the moment to earn money for their creators or owners? If Foundation Imaging released them with a disclaimer that they must be credited every single image would be advertising for their company.  

Yeah I know about the legal issues but quite frankly I can't see why the people involved don't realise that highly recognisable models probably benifit all the parties involved more when they are out in the public domain than locking them up in a safe and never using them again.

[Shrike]

Yeah, there's a lot of B5 models out there in MAX format.  I have several that I just found from a simple search.

Of course, it's better to make your own.

[Nico]

Originally posted by karajorma
If you made them it's your right to set the price on what they cost
I can understand why they wouldn't want to release anything generic that they might be able to use in another place. Effects are a good example of something I probably wouldn't release for free but as I said before what on Earth can you do with a shadow battlecrab mesh that isn't an advert for B5?

In comparison what are the B5 meshes doing at the moment to earn money for their creators or owners? If Foundation Imaging released them with a disclaimer that they must be credited every single image would be advertising for their company.  

Yeah I know about the legal issues but quite frankly I can't see why the people involved don't realise that highly recognisable models probably benifit all the parties involved more when they are out in the public domain than locking them up in a safe and never using them again.

Coz that how it works
I can add a last reason, tho if you really want to question this more: some people just hate to share their stuff .

[karajorma]

Yep. That's the real reason I suspect.

[Stunaep]

Originally posted by Venom


arf. that's an excuse I've heard for a lot of shows, to explain why they won't sell CD sountradks, models or whatever. I'l always a lie. You really think the guys who made the original models don't have make backups? yeah

only, of course that wasn't never brought up as an excuse so not to release models/soundtracks whatever.

And it's not like the executive producer/writer of every other show posts regularly on the Internet.