So i'm looking to get into modelling. Vehicles, Weapons, and possibly eventually maps. Or the other way around, I just don't know yet.

The only problem is the following. Modeling programs.
I've tried Blender and Gmax, both of which i failed horribly at. The only program i've ever effectively used is Sketchup, in which i'm pretty good.

The difficulty is, to the extent of my knowledge, Sketchup solely outputs SKP files, and i know there is no way i could use that for modeling. When i was dabbling around for modelling for a railroad simulator (Before problems concerning game registration and soforth ensued) i stumbled upon a way to convert SKP Files, though it was a bit shaky. I'll have to find that again, because it might work, but the problem stands.

If anyone knows of a method of converting SKP files to ANYTHING more generally used, it would help greatly. If i can get it out of an SKP Format, chances are I can get it to the right format.

While on the subject, can anyone tell me exactly what format(s) Halo CE Uses for modeling? Or tool? Geurilla, Sapien, whichever one it is?

You use 3ds max (the full version of gmax) to model for halo. Then you export from 3ds max into a .jms file, that you can compile with tool into a .gbxmodel file.

3DS Max is expensive. And I also said i have difficulty working with that.

However, I found a way to convert it to various other files. Apparantley, it works like this;

>> Model something in Sketchup
>> Export it to Google Earth (I think he specified version four)
>> The .KMZ File is actually just a .ZIP. Save it as such and open it up.
>> Inside there is a .DAE File which contains the actual model. Pull this out.
>> Use something called FBX Converter to convert from .DAE to .FBX
>> From a .FBX, it can be converted to several other formats, including .3DS

Heres the link if anyone else is interested
http://forums.devshed.com/game-development-141/converting-sketchup-models-to-3dst-519710.html

I don't know if this will benefit anyone else, but it benefits me. I've never held respect for Status Quo, so as long as i can do things my way, i'm happy.

have fun fixing errors

Until you've tried it, don't tell me it won't work.

try wings3d. its free and fast, works just like sketch up(to a point) and exports to most 3d formats. wings3d.com.....i use it all that im especially at school, cause pc's at school can barely handle max2010....lol

I use 3ds max 2010 its awesome I also got connections extension for it to so I can import skp :D

Well I stumbled over Sketchup as it was used for several projects in my Computer Applications class at school. Its free, which is necessary for me. What i particularly enjoy is how simple the controls are. It almost lays out like a 3D Paint.Net for me.

I got somewhere in blender, but not good, and when i tried to use Gmax, it was even worse. Anything else costs hundreds and is just as difficult for me. While i know that i can more than use Sketchup for a 3D model, i think it lacks abilities like placement of nodes and so on so forth. I'm prepared to utilize Gmax for some things, as long as its not for principle modeling.

I'd also be thrilled if I could use Sketchup's painting system in replacement of typical UV mapping. Granted, Sketchup mostly uses Solid Colors and Crappy Textures, but its easy to create an improved pallette.

I'm pretty bloody sure i'm the first one to try this. Perhaps i can put my limited Batch scripting skills to work to simplify the process of ripping sketchup files apart, or at least prying out the files from the Zip archive and dropping them in my hand. Not that i have problems with navigating folders, but automation is always good.

I just started useing 3ds 2010 and oyea baby, esp love the graphite tools. Worth every dime

ya max2010 is great, but to the guy who is using sketchup, try wings3d, trust me its easy,fast, and streamlined(works almost like sketchup) with no extra conversion or plugins needed :P

You should be able to use all programs... there isn't hundreds of ways to model. They all do more or less the same thing..

Sketchup = Boxes...

Learn to use Gmax, don't use any other crap like sketchup. And by converting file types you get errors, which you can't fix.. so I doubt it will work.

Here are your options:
- Learn to use Gmax
- Buy 3ds max
- get 3ds max through other ways which I will not say on here.

I heard you like flirting with the number one cardinal rule of the forum.

READ THE RULES:
http://forum.halomaps.org/index.cfm%3Fpage=topic&topicID=2979

Cardinal Rules: Violating these rules will get you banned:

1. Do NOT discuss or promote the use of illegally obtained versions of any company's games or software. Anything illegal, even borderline, will be deleted. Any post discussing or suggesting the hacking of any company's software will result in an immediate banning. Any post discussing or suggesting the theft of any software, commercial or otherwise, from any company will result in an immediate banning. Posting links to hacked stolen or cracked software will get you banned. "Jokes" about hacking or stealing may get you banned.

It is not allowed in these forums. There is no argument and no excuse. It is not allowed period.

I'm actually not so sure he was discussing illegal materials. He said the Pirates at the Bay have something, he never perse implyed anything illegal. Torrents have ligitimate things a plenty, its about knowing where to look.

But whatever. I think I found a way around my converting problems, but i will check out your wings thing. If its any good, it might be even better.

I didn't see Anonymous_2009's mention of that. Yes, they always have something, but in that light, yes, it is discussion of said materials.

Can we clear our tounges. Or, Keyboards of this matter?

Anyway, i got Wings 3D, but i can't figure out the bloody camera controls. How the hell do I rotate around things?

Also, is there a way to open or save other formats, or convert? All it seems to support are wings files...
Edited by FoxtrotZero on Jan 25, 2010 at 11:17 PM

Context is everyting. He quoted a post indicating that you needed 3DS MAX and then offered a vague reference to a place that has both legal and illegal content. While not being specific enough to be banned he came close or "flirted" with it.

Like i said, i missed where the exact mention of illegal content was the first time around.

More importantly are the ligitimate problems i am having. Can anyone help with those?

I'm not famaliar with wings3d, but I'm sure if you google around there are probably various importers and the like for it that you can use to open various other formats ( .obj, .3ds, etc)

But he did not give a link, or even mention the website name. Although he may have given the two words which make up the website address does not say that he was talking about that.

He could of easily been on about some people at a bay where he lives.

Damnit, man, yes, thats what I was getting at, but now i want ligitimate information.

Stop talking about THE most known torrenting site that exists before the thread gets shut down, man!

And we all know he wasn't. There is no argument and no excuse. It is not allowed period.

From the Wings 3D website:
http://www.wings3d.com/
Export Formats
Nendo (NDO)
3D Studio (3DS)
Wavefront (OBJ)
Lightwave/Modo
VRML (WRL)
Renderware (RWX)
FBX (on Windows and Mac OS X)
Yafray
Povray
Kerkythea
Collada

Edited by Dennis on Jan 26, 2010 at 04:17 PM

Yes. But, in the matter of a fact, he did not mention the website. But in the matter of opinion he was referencing to it.

I'm not arguing with you, just explaining.

No, he got banned for grossly spamming another thread.

Look, now i'm sort of upset.

Stop threadjacking about something thats against the rules. Will someone please tell me the camera controls because the documentation has told me just about everything else.

Stop complaining and read Page 50 of the user manual

EDIT |CAMERA MODE
Wings provides users with the ability to set their own camera options so that you can
work the way you like, rather than having to work in some predetermined manner. There are five camera options to choose from; Mirai®, Nendo®, Maya®, 3ds max®, and Blender. Additionally, there are options for setting up the scroll wheel for quick zooming with a user selected zoom factor. You can also set the field of view and the depth of the near and far clipping planes.....

in a comparison is wings 3d better then gmax?

Very much so. The only problem with wings is exporting but when you're ready to export in wings, just use gmax :P