Flash
Lieutenant
Posts: 158
Registered: 2-16-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Designing a ship from scratch
So is there a program out there which will build these ship2_v.x files? I've done animation in 3DMax before. There has got to be something similar
out there.
|
|
|
Viper
Commander
Posts: 1397
Registered: 8-3-2011
Location: Behind you
Member Is Offline
|
|
Have you looked for an 3ds exporter for that file type? That's usually the way; design the model in a program like 3dsMax, then export it as a file
type the game can read.
|
|
|
skarb
Ensign
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-25-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Viper  | | Have you looked for an 3ds exporter for that file type? That's usually the way; design the model in a program like 3dsMax, then export it as a file
type the game can read. |
i've been using blender with no issues, the engine seems to accept models with larger poly counts as well. The .X export option is already in most
builds, also you can use the assimp plugin for importing .X
I'd really like to be able to replace the space station models, but there doesn't seem to be a way.
The only trouble I've had is with scaling, everything needs to be really tiny it seems.
|
|
|
Marvin
Super Moderator
Posts: 8348
Registered: 3-4-2009
Location: Fallon
Member Is Offline
Mood: I think ... I feel good about it.
|
|
 If you get it figured out, how about doing a tutorial? I've been wanting to
create some Flash Gordon space ships since Legends.
|
|
|
skarb
Ensign
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-25-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by Marvin | | If you get it figured out, how about doing a tutorial? I've been wanting to
create some Flash Gordon space ships since Legends. |
Blender works fine; heres the model from the last post in game
Theres loads of blender tutorials out there, anything else you would need to know is in the kit already
|
|
|
Maarschalk
Captain
Posts: 8923
Registered: 2-25-2009
Location: USA, Also check your six!
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always sunny!
|
|
That is very cool, very nice indeed......
Arvoch Alliance Stat:
Evochron Legends Stats:
Evochron Mercenary Stats:
Darkness is the absence of Light as Evil is the absence of Good |
|
|
skarb
Ensign
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-25-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks! But do you notice the messed up texture stretching on the other parts? That is because all components use the same texture files, so they
would all(every ship part) have to be custom made and mapped to the same texture file, otherwise you end up with one part that looks right and a bunch
of mangled looking pieces.
Also a few tips... It seems like the game doesn't like meshes that aren't closed, and when it comes to the frames it looks like everything must be
attached... No loose parts in the mesh or it crashes. Also, the game models are composed of tris, but I've had no problems using quads instead.
|
|
|
Mojo
Ensign
Posts: 14
Registered: 1-24-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you're using Blender, it may be useful to create ships using the free Blender shipyard, which you can find here:
http://www.blendernation.com/2011/09/14/model-download-shipyard-v0-...
As a part of a Blender file repository, it's released under the Creative Commons licence, which means as long as attribution is given and you're not
profiting from it (which you're not, it's a mod), you can freely use and distribute the models you make from it.
Since all the models in the various layers are made by the same artist and therefore fit the same general art design, it might work well for creating
civilian frames and their component parts -- it would add a lot of diversity while ensuring that every part "fits", both in terms of no actual gaps in
the polies, and generally making sure that each one looks as if it belongs with the others.
Would be nice to use, and then make more jet-styled fighter frames to give every ship type and class a unique visual appearance. Been experimenting
with it myself recently and enjoying the results.
| Quote: Originally posted by skarb | | Thanks! But do you notice the messed up texture stretching on the other parts? That is because all components use the same texture files, so they
would all(every ship part) have to be custom made and mapped to the same texture file, otherwise you end up with one part that looks right and a bunch
of mangled looking pieces. |
I was actually wondering about this. Is it possible to, for want of a better term, hack the UV map when creating a new model? Ie, jigger the model to
UV map to use hull2*.dds files for certain parts of the ship (eg, paint-colour options) while designating a separate, user-defined texture file for
unique parts of the ship?
I know that the actual interior cockpit can be done this way (as, for example, Max's cockpit demonstrates).
[Edited on 1-27-2012 by Mojo]
|
|
|
Viper
Commander
Posts: 1397
Registered: 8-3-2011
Location: Behind you
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by skarb | | Also a few tips... It seems like the game doesn't like meshes that aren't closed, and when it comes to the frames it looks like everything must be
attached... No loose parts in the mesh or it crashes. |
I found that out the hard way. This is when I stopped
working on getting my model in game lol, don't have the time for it. Just wanted to see if I could get it in game just like that.
You're free to have a go at my model if you want though, skarb. A long time ago I spent a lot of time on it and I just never came around to getting it
in a game.
It's pretty high-poly model though, close to 10.000 if I remember. I also have maps for the different sections and one or two (maybe even three)
different (HD) textures for it.
Just holler if you wanna spend some time on it, I'd love to see it in game! 
Edit:
Here's a couple of screenies of it:
Texture 1:
Texture 2:
There are more textures, but they have been specifically designed for the Admin / Server Police team on the server I was on at that time. This makes
them unsuitable for EM.
[Edited on 1-27-2012 by Viper]
|
|
|
Maarschalk
Captain
Posts: 8923
Registered: 2-25-2009
Location: USA, Also check your six!
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always sunny!
|
|
Wow Viper, that is very cool.....
Arvoch Alliance Stat:
Evochron Legends Stats:
Evochron Mercenary Stats:
Darkness is the absence of Light as Evil is the absence of Good |
|
|
skarb
Ensign
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-25-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by Viper | | Quote: Originally posted by skarb | | Also a few tips... It seems like the game doesn't like meshes that aren't closed, and when it comes to the frames it looks like everything must be
attached... No loose parts in the mesh or it crashes. |
I found that out the hard way. This is when I stopped
working on getting my model in game lol, don't have the time for it. Just wanted to see if I could get it in game just like that.
You're free to have a go at my model if you want though, skarb. A long time ago I spent a lot of time on it and I just never came around to getting it
in a game.
It's pretty high-poly model though, close to 10.000 if I remember. I also have maps for the different sections and one or two (maybe even three)
different (HD) textures for it.
Just holler if you wanna spend some time on it, I'd love to see it in game!
[Edited on 1-27-2012 by Viper] |
Yeah I bet I could get it in the game, probably have to cut it into pieces/components though. PM me a dl link and I will have a go at it once I get
done sorting through all the vanilla stuff I've extracted (finally got the actual UV maps out of the game! Check my new thread, you might get some use
out of it).
|
|
|
Viper
Commander
Posts: 1397
Registered: 8-3-2011
Location: Behind you
Member Is Offline
|
|
Awesome. Could you recommend a good free upload location please, I used to use MegaUpload, but I think they took that down didn't they.
The model is already grouped up in (again, if I remember correctly) 8 groups. But change whatever you like in order to get it in game. If you don't
mind, after you are successful, I would like to make it publicly available for those who like to play with it in game as well.
Thanks skarb!
|
|
|
Dagonet
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Posts: 57
Registered: 1-24-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
I recommend mediafire for uploading.
|
|
|
Mojo
Ensign
Posts: 14
Registered: 1-24-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
If you want a free upload site, I'd recommend dropbox. It's as easy as dropping folders or archives into a public folder on your computer and
distributing the public link. No mess, no hassle, one time setup.
|
|
|
Viper
Commander
Posts: 1397
Registered: 8-3-2011
Location: Behind you
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks for the recommendations. I have gone with MediaFire.
Here are the files:
Main model
UV Maps
B&W texture
Black&Orange texture
I noticed that I never made emissive maps or shader maps, so if anyone wants to have a go at those, feel free.
|
|
|
Dagonet
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Posts: 57
Registered: 1-24-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
Woohoo, I won Mojo! :p
Lets see what we have here, Viper
|
|
|
skarb
Ensign
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-25-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
here is something terribly handy, this is a blender file with ship parts galore, which you can use to build your own components. It is listed on
blendswap as an open copyright(CC0), so the author doesn't actually care if you pull stuff from it, distribute it, etc. Trust me when I say, this one
file is priceless even if you only use it for a baseline.
Everything I've tried from this file works just fine in the game (heck even the model I posted above is a modified part from this file). I guess I
was wrong about closed meshes, because even those seem to work fine. The only thing is the scale, you should import a kit ship file first for scale
reference... Because everything needs to be very tiny to work in the game.
Obviously this isn't blender specific, you can export these parts to pretty much any file format out there for use in whatever your preferred 3d app
is. I'd also highly recommend going to graphicall.org to get a build of blender that is a fit for your particular computer specs/os. Personally I
use blender for modelling and 3dcoat for texture and extra UV work, though I actually prefer blender over 3d coat for texture work (but having paid
for 3dcoat I feel I need to use it).
Anyhow here is a link to the actual file:
Shipyard Download
|
|
|
Maarschalk
Captain
Posts: 8923
Registered: 2-25-2009
Location: USA, Also check your six!
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always sunny!
|
|
Wow, another very cool thing.....
Arvoch Alliance Stat:
Evochron Legends Stats:
Evochron Mercenary Stats:
Darkness is the absence of Light as Evil is the absence of Good |
|
|
EN4CER
Lieutenant
Posts: 227
Registered: 7-24-2012
Location: Texas
Member Is Offline
|
|
Damn that ship looks cool Viper!!! The textures look really nice as well. I'm very surprised to see so few model mods to this game. I assumed that
would be one of the more popular mods.
|
|
|
Search
FAQ
Member List
Today's Posts
Stats
Board Rules
![[*]](images/iconic/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
