Topic: Can this be used ?

[OlBuzzard]

One of my vendors I do business with regularly found out I like SFC and how the community has a modeling forum .... and that many volunteer their free time to building models.


Well ...  to make a long story short ... they gave me a copy of "Autodesk Inventor Series" that they normally sell free of charge.  I haven't started messin' with it yet ..  but was curious if there were any possibilities of this being used ??

[Wicked Zombie]

As long as it creates 3d objects and at least exports to a workable format it should be fine. Applying textures and handling hardpoints might be out of the question, depending on what the program is capable of. You would undoubtedly need a way to convert it to .mod, which means at some point you would have to use 3ds Max or Milkshape. Depending on the format that it supports, you also might need a file converter that could resave the file in another format for 3ds/Ms3d to read.

The biggest issue with these varying programs is that you still need one of the above two to get a ship into .mod. Beyond that, it's just a matter of learning how to build/texture the model.

[OlBuzzard]

Thanks WZ....

Converting the data into usable formats is what I was concerned about.  It sounds like finding the conversion info might be an interesting challange. 

Still  ....  it might be worth a shot to start learning the techniques envolved in modeling if nothing else to have a starting place.

thanks

[Sandman3D]

.... 

Still  ....  it might be worth a shot to start learning the techniques envolved in modeling if nothing else to have a starting place.

thanks

For that, why not just get gmax? Or, get Milkshape...it's only 20-25 bucks(?) and you'll be able to apply textures and export...then you can ask someone to hp/dp it for you, or release without to be more customizable.

[OlBuzzard]

.... 

Still  ....  it might be worth a shot to start learning the techniques envolved in modeling if nothing else to have a starting place.

thanks

For that, why not just get gmax? Or, get Milkshape...it's only 20-25 bucks(?) and you'll be able to apply textures and export...then you can ask someone to hp/dp it for you, or release without to be more customizable.

I've tried Milkshape ...  it's ok but has a few limitations.  Also it is shareware only ..  and I guess I'm still too old fashion to give out my credit card number to someone I dont know anything about over the internet.  ( I know ...  kinda out of place for this day and age..   but it's unlikely I will change my mind over this for now).

Is G-max also share ware ...  or is something you can purchase at a local software store like "Best Buy" ?

[Sochin]

To use it to its full potential you are going to need a lot of ram and a quick processor, we use it at work and its ram hungry. Hey Buzz if my drive hadnt crashed yesterday I could of sent you the Longbow to look at.

[OlBuzzard]

Actually bud I'm currently at 512 ram and a 2.3 ghz processor.  Though they are a little over a year old ...  they should still work fine.  I have considered adding another 512 ram chip.  My graphics card is also about 12 - 14 mos old ..  and at the time was the #2 card Invidia had on the market ( interpreted ... it's a dinosaur by now)

I have already used Milkshapes trial package deal ....  but as mentioned above the charge card thingy is the only way to get it.

I was thinking that if the other program was something I could get a Best Buy I'd stop there on the way home this evening.

[Sandman3D]

Gmax is a free d/l, built on the Max 4 engine...only thing is, you can't export to .mod format, but you can get the Quake 3 plugin and export a model as .md3, then convert it. But, you can get an idea of how to model, and if you find someone willing to convert for you, you can build models. Also there is a free program called Anim8or, that you can export to 3ds.

http://www.discreet.com for Gmax.
http://www.anim8or.com for Anim8or

[OlBuzzard]

Thanks bud !