PlaneShift

Gameplay => Wish list => Topic started by: Monketh on June 12, 2003, 03:41:12 am

Title: Map editor + contest
Post by: Monketh on June 12, 2003, 03:41:12 am
Ok, if you need a huge world (I know it\'s a demo but one town isn\'t enough) you could distribute a simple map editor.  Then take map submissions and add the best ones.

Just an idea...
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Post by: Kuiper7986 on June 12, 2003, 03:45:54 am
hmm I would be interested in that.
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Post by: elminster on June 12, 2003, 03:07:16 pm
Me too!
As Crystal Space doesn\'t have it\'s own map editor for at least 3 years, I finally would like to use one :)

To be serious:
Sadly, to make a map editor FOR Planeshift would require quite a few months of programming, and it still wouldn\'t be perfect. You don\'t want PS programmers to put effort into that instead of making the game, do you?

Instead, a better idea would be to tell WHAT editor to use, then accept files from it\'s format (Maya, 3DSMAX, or something else).

--
Greetings,
E.
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Post by: Skain on June 12, 2003, 04:02:57 pm
ive got a few model programs and i have yet to figure it out which one to use, im going to try \'aquiring\' some of the more proffesional ones tonight, so i too would love to know what program :D
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Post by: Niber on June 12, 2003, 11:04:04 pm
Level design is a very important area for a MMORPG so I think it\'s better to let the all-mighty grafic team do that  :]
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Post by: Solaire on June 12, 2003, 11:41:17 pm
Yep. I don\'t know wether 3ds max is useful for level design, really have no idea. could be, just haven\'t used it for that purpose. isn\'t more of a thing to render extremely nice images and animations ? Oh, if anyone knows some good tutorials for 3dsmax, post them plz, i could realy use some help. (I\'m using 3ds max 2)
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Post by: Niber on June 13, 2003, 11:13:28 pm
Solaire: 3dsmax is the best for game-models and levels (maya is good too). It is used by almost every game-developer in the world.

But Planeshift is mostly done in Maya. Some think that Maya is better than 3dsmax. It\'s not the app that does the image\\model\\level, its the artist.. But Maya and 3dsmax are the main apps for games.

http://www.3dbuzz.com is THE worlds best place to learn 3d. It has free videos just like a real lesson.

[End of OT]
\\Niber
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Post by: Solaire on June 14, 2003, 01:22:47 pm
Thanx, and sorry for the stupid remark *blushes*. It\'s just i always surf the net looking for sites on 3ds max, and i always end up in cg galleries. So i thought max was mainly used for creating renderings and animations. Thanx for the site, it is really helpful for me, being a complete noob and all  8)
Title: modeling
Post by: 9rin on June 14, 2003, 06:09:09 pm
you may want to check out Wings 3D.
it is an opensource modeler originally based on nendo. but now it is entirely it\'s own program.
it is intuitive and fast. there are not hundreds of menus to search through to find cryptic commands, there are fantastic edge tools, and polygon tools that would put max or maya to shame(not so much 3dsm5 coz they have some new poly tools) and of course, it costs nothing!

something to note however, this is strictly an app for modeling at the moment. BUT it does export to all the major formats. SO! if there is something like animation, or some sort of scripting that you wish to do, then you can always use another program ;)

i always reccomend this program, not just to beginners, to long time experts as well, because the potential increase in your speed is incredible. a simple interface and powerfull tools go a long way :)

wings is always under development, and the creator is always on the boards, taking suggestions and keeping people up on what is happening.

for a while, i was using wings for all my planeshift models, and then using maya to do the UV mapping.  
recently, wings made some changes to their UV tools (which are still a very early version, they will be much more powerfull in 1.0) and now i do all my planeshift work within wings. well... not textures ;) i use photoshop for that ;)

if you wish to see some of the work i have done in wings, here it is :)

http://www.vftf.com/wings/troll1.jpg
http://www.vftf.com/wings/chani/girl7.jpg
http://www.vftf.com/wings/fairy/fairy2.jpg

these are just a couple examples, there are more here.
http://www.vftf.com/wings/

i also have all the models for anyone to download here.
http://www.vftf.com/wings/models/

almost forgot a link to the site!
http://www.wings3d.com
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Post by: Skain on June 14, 2003, 08:08:01 pm
nice program, thanx for the link :D, itll give me something to play with soon as my exams are out way :D

edit: just like to say this program is great, the easiest program to learn ive ever come across, cant thank enough for the link
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Post by: kyp14 on June 19, 2003, 03:26:34 pm
I suggested this when I first joined the forums i wanted them to do a mapping contest becasue i\'m a quake 3 map and i\'ve actually been designing a PS themed Q3 map another this I also think i read somwhere although i coulb be wrong thatCS has the ability to convert  .maps (q3 radiants format) into crystal space format so maybe you might want to try using q3 radiant to design PS maps just a suggestion
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Post by: Drilixer on July 17, 2003, 01:57:52 am
um... *shudders* how much does Maya cost?
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Post by: Drilixer on July 17, 2003, 02:08:32 am
another new to 3d art question: what is rendering?
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Post by: en3r0 on July 17, 2003, 02:17:13 am
ive herd about $7000..? im not sure
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Post by: Drilixer on July 17, 2003, 02:33:33 am
*sigh* yeah thats what i heard too, rofl
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Post by: Drilixer on July 17, 2003, 03:08:33 am
hey!!! I can make 3d wine glasses now!!
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Post by: en3r0 on July 17, 2003, 04:56:06 am
the mentioned above is the easiest to use, another good free 1 is Blender

http://www.blender.org

but very confusing with tons of buttons..

God Bless,
-Jag
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Post by: Iamthom on July 17, 2003, 04:58:41 am
no it cost $1999 for maya complete and$ 2999 for maya floating

3ds max cost $3500

im working on a model in 3d studio max right now, im not great nor will my models look anything like the dudes above me (the guy with the fairy and the girl, thier great!) but im trying
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Post by: Iamthom on July 17, 2003, 05:01:08 am
yea blender is confusing.....very confusing, um theres is one called 3d game studio, very very cool i might add, you can make 3d games to show off on the site or buy a commercial license to sell them, it includes a 3d model editor and then the main program where you put it all together, models, levels, and the programming to creat a game. it has a 30 day trial which aint bad, you should try it out =)

p.s. just do a search for 3d game studio..... i forget the link
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Post by: kronon on September 18, 2003, 04:22:25 pm
Get bussy!
 
Okey I wanted to make some maps but I couldn\'t find any answers. So I checked the game files and found out that we use crystal space files for our maps.
Crystal space has (at least for gentoo linux) tools to transform map files of various games into crystal space models etc.

So this way any one can make maps for planeshift and we can get an contest (Y).

Btw. crystal space can also convert some model files:)

now I only have to install one of the games

List of files from named editors supported for conversion
- Quake
- HalfLife
- QuarK
- WorldCraft
- Maya
- Milkshape
- 3DS

This the list Ii got from crystal space.
I hope you have at least one of these games/editors
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Post by: Moogie on September 18, 2003, 04:30:55 pm
[Edited: nm]

[Re-edited: Ok, at first I was going to ask how you would do a contest regarding creating maps, if you can\'t even use them in PS? Which, I guarantee, you won\'t be able to do. If you do, I\'ll give you a ruby. :P]
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Post by: hook on September 18, 2003, 06:31:39 pm
i agree with moogie here

oh, and blender really is a great 3d tool!!! ...it\'s REALLY logical when you get used to it ...it\'s really really REALLY worth a try ...get an account on a blender community forum (like elysiun.com), read the online docs and tutorials and blend away!!! :D
i think i\'m in love!!!

not convienced? check out this (http://www.elysiun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14664&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0) render ...on the first one in the thread there\'s NO postproduction!!
it\'s not my work (wish it was!!), but the guy did it in 5 hours :D
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Post by: elscouta on September 18, 2003, 06:44:22 pm
8-O

Really nice render!

Are you sure the author did it in 5 hours? If it\'s true, it is probably as skilled as Blender is a good 3D render.

/me types ./blenderpublisher in his console to try to do the same thing ;-)

8-O
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Post by: leach117 on September 18, 2003, 07:41:00 pm
This is a great idea. We could have a contest and the winner could have there map submitted to PS and they could alter it to what they need it to be and it could take a lot of work from the volunteer PS staff and volunteer mapmakers in a sense could really help get the game out sooner than if just the PS staff ahd to do all the designing and work. Great idea and i support it 100%
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Post by: Grakrim on September 18, 2003, 07:55:19 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Mogura
[Re-edited: Ok, at first I was going to ask how you would do a contest regarding creating maps, if you can\'t even use them in PS? Which, I guarantee, you won\'t be able to do. If you do, I\'ll give you a ruby. :P]

Well, technically you could use them (as the recent discovery of the \"Podium\" proves), although it could definatly be considered cheating.

I definatly don\'t support cheating, but here\'s how I see it would work: Create a map with plenty of portals into Hydlaa at various places, then just create a portal(s) from Hydlaa into your new map.  Then you just hop into the portal and you could jump from one side of the city to another.  I don\'t know if PS has implemented any sort of countermeasures against this activity, but based on my primitive understanding of Crystal Space, it would work.

A little OT, but a valid point, nonetheless.
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Post by: kronon on September 18, 2003, 08:10:00 pm
Okey first thing. You can make maps (at least if crystal space is far enough with all the converting tools, which I think is).
2nd I can \"play\" ps maps in crystalspace.
3th Some dev sead that they use crystalspace (cs) maps for the game (I can confirm this)
4th maps you make are only usable with cs\'s walktest tool.
5th maps you make are usable if dev\'s integrate them into the server/project
6th yes you can use maya and stuff to make the map but you convert it with the same tool you can convert the other maps.

So to sum things up
You can make maps but the game doesn\'t use them. But you can take a look at the map with walktest locate in the bin dir of cs. If some one want\'s to please mod it so that we can jump with it and post the code, cause space makes some kind of strange bomb. I\'m called Kronon in-game so you can give me the ruby over there :)
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Post by: Drilixer on September 18, 2003, 11:41:22 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Grakrim
I definatly don\'t support cheating, but here\'s how I see it would work: Create a map with plenty of portals into Hydlaa at various places, then just create a portal(s) from Hydlaa into your new map.  Then you just hop into the portal and you could jump from one side of the city to another.  I don\'t know if PS has implemented any sort of countermeasures against this activity, but based on my primitive understanding of Crystal Space, it would work.


tiny problem with your theory :)  if you were to design a map for Planeshift you would have to use a 3D program such as Maya or 3DSmax.  These are 3D programs not programming tools.  You could not just \'make\' portals. :P  It isn\'t as simple as going in Maya and selecting a \'portal\' sprite.  ;)

So if you would like to try making maps and actually think you have A- some skill with it or B- very good luck and the ability to handle rejection then go ahead and submit some 3D models/textures/environments.  Be aware though that we wouldnt want you to make entire cities - unless you are very good.  You stand a better chance if you make something feasable like a building or cart - something feasible. For technical stuff such as acceptable polycount etc etc you will have to sepak to the 3D devs though - specifically Boonet if he has time.  Don\'t expect him to guide you through modeling or to do it for you though :P
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Post by: Grakrim on September 19, 2003, 12:22:21 am
Quote
Originally posted by Drilixer
tiny problem with your theory :)  if you were to design a map for Planeshift you would have to use a 3D program such as Maya or 3DSmax.  These are 3D programs not programming tools.  You could not just \'make\' portals. :P  It isn\'t as simple as going in Maya and selecting a \'portal\' sprite.  ;)

I over simplified, sorry.

I know that establishing a portal is far more difficult than that, involving some intensive XML editing.  But, if you\'re going to cheat, you might as well go all out.  Although, doesn\'t the CS documentation recommend using Worldcraft (I don\'t remember, I only really skimmed over that section) as a map editor?

Other than that minor problem, is my theory sound?

[edit]
P.S.: Hey, what\'s Podium for, anyway?
[/edit]
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Post by: hook on September 19, 2003, 08:16:29 am
Quote
Originally posted by elscouta
8-O

Really nice render!

Are you sure the author did it in 5 hours? If it\'s true, it is probably as skilled as Blender is a good 3D render.

/me types ./blenderpublisher in his console to try to do the same thing ;-)

8-O


he did ...it was one of 24-hour challanges we have at elysiun.com (a blender community)
...so, i hope this render can ditch the \"blender\'s free and small so it\'s crap\" idea that most tend to have ...there\'s some excelelnt work that was done in blender ...it mostly depends on the author, but the tool does take a part in it :D ...and a tool where you can give ideas on what you want to see in the next release (and how), is IMO way nicer to use then a costly closed app.
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Post by: boonet on September 19, 2003, 12:57:13 pm
Quote
tiny problem with your theory  if you were to design a map for Planeshift you would have to use a 3D program such as Maya or 3DSmax. These are 3D programs not programming tools. You could not just \'make\' portals.  It isn\'t as simple as going in Maya and selecting a \'portal\' sprite.  


This is obviously false  :)  In fact, you do select a polygon and turn it into a portal. No programming required.
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Post by: Fourmyle on October 08, 2003, 05:24:02 pm
Quote
Originally posted by en3r0
the mentioned above is the easiest to use, another good free 1 is Blender

http://www.blender.org

but very confusing with tons of buttons..

God Bless,
-Jag


I\'ve tried Blender3D and I also agree that it\'s confusing. However if you go hangout in the #blenderchat channel on irc.freenode.net, there are lots of helpful people there. There are also tutorials online, and I think even a coupla books that have been published. Google for those appropriately.

Oh and the site you really want for Blender is http://www.blender3d.org
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Post by: Altharion on October 08, 2003, 09:03:17 pm
can you use hammer and then convert the file and then convert it again for PS use since i am pretty good ith VHE now  :D
Title: why take exact levels?
Post by: Kixie on October 12, 2003, 12:49:42 am
I dont know who said anything about exact copies of the submited levels. I mean why dont they have instead of a compition, just have daily submisions for ideas. This would be an easier way for the developers to get ideas on the cities people want. lets say jimmy wants to see something put into a game. he designs a city with the wanted ideas in them, submits the developers check it out see good ideas, thank jimmy (maybe with some sort of reward) and try to use the ideas they find suitable in the up coming update.

but who cares what i think anyway

(i like cheese)