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    Maelstrom New Horizons


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Modifying ships...

<!--quoteo(post=218802:date=Oct 24 2007, 04:14 PM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 24 2007, 04:14 PM) [snapback]218802[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Do you mean "import" or "export"? As far as I know it is supposed to be an "export" plugin only.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I know. This one says export.
I was under the impression (might be wrong) that the 4.5 one did both, and that is what I'd want.

I figure, the more intermediate steps one has to take with other programs, the more likely it is that data embedded in the model, that POTC uses, will get lost, causing all these glitches.

But what do I know? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" /> I'm really only a skinner. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
I know why Petros wants maya to be able to import .gm too: then you don't have to make gm to obj with GM Viewer/Inez TOOL witch makes the ship model a bit screwed
(e.g. wrong or no texture data and makes the ship model out of grid) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Btw im pissed <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerbz.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":nerbz" border="0" alt="nerbz.gif" /> i exported ship model with that plugin i even enabled it
and all i get from it is just a empty ERROR.TXT! YARRGH!!! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/boom.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":boom" border="0" alt="boom.gif" />
 
It´s ok to be pissed sometimes - saying it is even better! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=218809:date=Oct 24 2007, 10:42 PM:name=Petros)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petros @ Oct 24 2007, 10:42 PM) [snapback]218809[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I was under the impression (might be wrong) that the 4.5 one did both, and that is what I'd want.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I don't recall hearing that, but I might be wrong as well. We'll never know for sure until somebody tracks down Maya 4.5. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/modding.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":modding" border="0" alt="modding.gif" />

<!--quoteo(post=218809:date=Oct 24 2007, 10:42 PM:name=Petros)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petros @ Oct 24 2007, 10:42 PM) [snapback]218809[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I figure, the more intermediate steps one has to take with other programs, the more likely it is that data embedded in the model, that POTC uses, will get lost, causing all these glitches.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->That is true. The more steps, the more risks for trouble. Still if a 100% direct conversion is impossible, it might be required to use multiple steps. I recall from the time when I modeled for Virtual Sailor I had to export to 3DS first and then convert to the game's X file format with another conversion program and that used to work fine. Most of the times, that is. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
 
well is 3ds easy to use for modeling potc ships? or is it just as complex? cuz until we find an easy way to export back to gm i wash my hands of maya. maya has lots of potential but if you have to export the files in 5 different forms to get it back to the original we might as well forget about maya. cause the error that cylon 13 got was basically the same thing that happened to me. with the exception that the entire program shit out on me and i couldn't recover my file.

just a second thought.. what if we write a program or file that we could perhaps add to maya to get it to save in gm format? kinda like how the game interface was changed. i mean if we can make a quick save for the game then we should be able to manipulate the "export as" for maya.

anyways just a thought. i'd probably end in disaster but then again you never know.
 
There's a difference between modifying a game which has a simple to change code and writing a new plugin for a commercially available 3D modeling program.

Kazeite's Black Pearl was made in 3D Studio MAX and exported using the Tool. This caused two problems: 1) The lighting is reversed and 2) The collision detection of the ship was not correct. Problem 2 was subsequently fixed by the Russians when they added a cabin to Kazeite's Pearl. Kazeite could then take the corrected collision detection and stick it back into his own Pearl versions. This proves that some of the Russians are capable of doing what we want to do. Unfortunately the Russians aren't exactly helpful. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />
 
alright, i understand that the 3ds caused lighting problems but how do we know maya won't do the same thing? no one's actually tested a file from maya or at least i haven't.
 
<!--quoteo(post=218950:date=Oct 25 2007, 07:16 PM:name=bassman7)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bassman7 @ Oct 25 2007, 07:16 PM) [snapback]218950[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->alright, i understand that the 3ds caused lighting problems but how do we know maya won't do the same thing? no one's actually tested a file from maya or at least i haven't.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

From what I understand, the reversed lighting problems are actually caused by Inez Diaz' TOOL, not Maya or 3ds. The output from a correctly configured version of Maya and a correctly configured 3d model actually has the proper lighting and collision data. This comes from a couple of former 3d modelers here (Inzane & Capt Augaust who have actually created ships in Maya and exported successfully) and some of the Russian SliB modelers (who seem to be the experts). We just don't have anyone here currently who has done the Maya GM export succesfully.

kevin
 
That is completely true. The Russian modders even fixed the reversed lighting issue on their modification of Kazeite's Black Pearl, but then it was reintroduced when Kazeite made a new version of his own ship using 3DS MAX.
 
is there a possiblitly of just finding a converter like you'd use to change video formats. Hopefully there's a free one out there. Speaking of such does anyone know of a good free converter for movies. preferibly one that converts files that can be burned by the divx pro program.
 
its not hard to find maya 4.5. it hard to find maya 4.5 for free. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/modding.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":modding" border="0" alt="modding.gif" />
 
??? i meant an independent converter that might be used to turn ma or mb files to gm. kinda of like what avs or avi (i can't remember the actual name of it) does for movies. i know finding a free one would be difficult but, there's got to be a program out there that will do what we're looking for.
 
GM is not a conventional and common format, so finding a converter is unlikely. As far as I know, the game developers at Akella used Maya + plugin to create everything in PotC and AoP theirselves.
 
I'm a bit confused but what i understand from Kevin is that we should use a different converter/exporter/importer instead of Inez Diaz tool. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
 
If we are to fix the lighting issue: yes. Unfortunately there only is two ways as far as anyone's aware: Maya or Inez Dias Tool.
 
Another way how to get maya working with .gm is: Someone buys full version of maya 4.5 and uploads it to PA FTP. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wp" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" />
 
I'm not stopping you. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

So Maya 5 + plugin doesn't work right, does it? That's the only thing we do have on the FTP. AGH! If only we could contact those Russians so that they could help. It wouldn't HURT them to provide us with information, would it? It's not like we're trying to compete. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" />
 
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