Question to the modelers...

[Hakken]

well...for awhile i've been wanting to learn how to even make a model for a game, either it be a weapon or player model and i wondered where everyone gets there programs to use them for, so yea..umm if anyone could me help or a little head start on how to even starting doing a model that'd be great

[Shinobi]

well be ready for a steep learning curve that eventually becomes really really easy

first you need to get a copy of max, maya or xsi,, they all have free versions and HL2 comes with a free copy of XSI specifically for HL2

once you have them, open them and then open the help menu,, there's tons of tutorials for the total beginner,, it'll be hard at first but if you stick to it (and fail a bunch of times) you'll be able to get something in,,,

after you can make models and animations you can learn how to get them in HL2 by looking at the refernce docs in the HL2 sdk menu

also if you want video tutorials you can go to www.3dbuzz.com

[Hakken]

wow thank you, yea next year im going into a graphics design course so having some of this kind of stuff will help me out

[gYmBaG]

yeah, graphic design is fun, although, it wont help you with 3d modeling, nor will 3d modeling help you with graphic design, but both of them are still kick ass and fun once you get good at them

[Hakken]

well not really graphics design..but bleh lol i wanna go to that internation academy of design and technology next year.

[Shinobi]

I dunno, I believe lots of indirectly related classes like that will help with modelling,, life drawing, drafting, etc...


grapihc design could help with the texturing process,, you do color theory and photoshop in that class right?

[Modest Genius]

milkshape works fine for modelling too, although its obviously not as good as the professional programs

[Mystrick]

I've milkshaped all of my models. I doubt I still have pictures that I could upload to show you. Remember though, modeling at the start is a bitch, it gets easier though. I don't know, might have been ms3d.

[gYmBaG]

yeah everyone says modeling is hard to start out with , and even i noticed it, and it started to get easyer, but i didnt have anymore time for it and i stopped :(

[Lusty_Muffins]

It's hard at first but becomes an addiction when you get the basics down. It's probably the most fun you can have legally.

[Modest Genius]

i was never any good at modeling

compiling and hackjobbing mind, that i could do

[Mystrick]

Hackj0rbing I was great at, but I lost interest when I had to go through millions of new steps so the bones don't get fucked over.

I.E:

Ammobox:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Mystrick/ammobox.jpg

M14:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Mystrick/m14.jpg

(not to hijack thread)

But if you just keep up with modeling, do one step at a time, you'll do fine. Start out small, then work your way from there.

[gYmBaG]

yeah ive always wanted to take a hot m16 model and add all these little gadgets like a scope and flashlight and whatnot, but i gave up before i had a chance to do that :(

[Hakken]

do u think it would be smart to have some model work and maybe work on a mod before u go to apply for a company?

[Lusty_Muffins]

do u think it would be smart to have some model work and maybe work on a mod before u go to apply for a company?

It would be more than smart. It would probably be required. Applying as a modeller for a company would normally require you to supply several examples of your work.

[Hakken]

uhhh just a quick question..lol which program should i get?

[Lusty_Muffins]

uhhh just a quick question..lol which program should i get?

I myself use 3ds Max 6.0 and I like it but I'm starting to kinda lean towards XSI right now.

I'd say check out all the sites for all the major CGA programs and see if they have demos for them. Play with them all and choose for yourself.

3ds Max had a free equivalent called gMax. You could try that out and see how it flows with ya.

Also, don't underestimate the cheaper CGA programs like Milkshape. Often they'll have just as many features but an ugly GUI.

[Hakken]

Hmmmm maybe i'll go with XSI or 3dsMax..just not sure really where to find these for download tho

[Lusty_Muffins]

Yeah these programs are quite pricey. I'd stick with the free versions (XSI's free version = XSI EXP for Half-Life 2) until you know you're ready to commit upwards of $300 for one of these programs.

[Hakken]

lol i think i'll go with XSI for now from HL2..how do i get it anyways

[Lusty_Muffins]

lol. I looked at the Softimage site and couldn't find it but I KNOW I got it somehow from the HL2 SDK. I think there was a link in one of the reference guides or something like that.

Also, you might wanna check out gmax, as well. It's practically identical to 3dsmax but it doesn't have rednering, which sucks, but it's a good learning program.

[Hakken]

Hmmm can anyone fine me a download?

[overlord_steveO]

i have wanted to try modelling too, but sadly, ADD and no help keeps me from doing it. seriously, i have yet to find a fucking useful Tutorial. and i mean one for COMPLETE and UTTER noobs. like ones who want to start learning from the VERY beginning. :|

EDIT: also, i cant find a fucking THING in this SDK that says anything about creating models.... :|

[Lusty_Muffins]

You didn't look hard enough :p

http://www.fileshack.com/file.x?fid=6024

[overlord_steveO]

i never do D:

EDIT: also, i couldnt find a button on the Source SDK for modelling... :|therefore, i have no XSI.

[gYmBaG]

how much do some of these programs cost? isnt milkshape free? but then again its not so good i guess i dunno im not a modeler :(

[Lusty_Muffins]

Milkshape's an alright program to have. I think it costs around $20 or so. 3ds max, XSI, Maya, Lightwave....All of these will run upwards of $300 dollars.


PS - I wanna be a comissioned officer :(

[Shinobi]

it's worth the 300 for max if you want to use the most widely used program in games as a very complete set of tools (after you get the free texporter addon)

[Lusty_Muffins]

it's worth the 300 for max if you want to use the most widely used program in games as a very complete set of tools (after you get the free texporter addon)

QFT.

[whuh?]

wait you people 'buy' these programs?

[gYmBaG]

yes, you "buy" them, nothings free in this world

[whuh?]

wow, Ill remember that when I feel like shelling out 500 bucks for lightwave.

[overlord_steveO]

i sure as hell dont. 2 reasons.

1). i dont have a credit card.

2). i dont know how to use them :/

[Shinobi]

I still dont know what QFT means,,, and yeah for a while I was making a lot of money in construction, aparently more than what I knew what to do with

but if it makes you feel any better a certain representative from a certain 3d company said that they really dont have qualms with people using their software if it's to train themselves,,,,

but yeah, just look for deals, 3dsmax 7 was going for 100 canadian a while ago at student sale

[Lusty_Muffins]

I still dont know what QFT means,,,

QFT = Quoted For Truth :)

And 100 bucks canadian?! That's a mighty fine deal.

[Modest Genius]

i have wanted to try modelling too, but sadly, ADD and no help keeps me from doing it. seriously, i have yet to find a fucking useful Tutorial. and i mean one for COMPLETE and UTTER noobs. like ones who want to start learning from the VERY beginning. :|i learnt modeling from three sources: blackpanthers converting tutorial, picking up bits from the models forum and #fa-skins (not asking, just noticing), and experimentation

just because you cant find a tutorial, doesnt mean you cant learn it. dont expect to be babied through everything in life

[Lord Kelvin]

When I first tried out modelling I had Ms3D, but then it expired before I had a chance to complete my learning (I'm too cheap to buy software online, even if it's $20). So I have gMax now, even though I have yet to install it on my Dell. Now I've gotten sidetracked looking at articles on the Valve Developers Community webpage :p. They have stuff about how to use faceposer for SDK, mapping and modding, and all sorts of cool stuff :).

[Shinobi]

again www.3dbuzz.com

[overlord_steveO]

i learnt modeling from three sources: blackpanthers converting tutorial, picking up bits from the models forum and #fa-skins (not asking, just noticing), and experimentation

just because you cant find a tutorial, doesnt mean you cant learn it. dont expect to be babied through everything in life


any idea of where i could find this tut?

[Modest Genius]

i think its in the FA FAQ in the firearms forum here. if not, ive got it in a text file on my other computer somewhere

EDIT: http://forums.worldatwarmod.com/showpost.php?p=6046&postcount=26

[overlord_steveO]

thanks Modest, but one problem, i dont have Milkshape because my edition expired :/.

[gYmBaG]

oh that sucks :(

[overlord_steveO]

ok my Milkshape works now, but now ive got another problem. i cant extract the v_awp.mdl because it says "file contains no physical data to write". thats what happens when i click the model and when i try to extract it. i was following BP's guide and this is why i cant progress any further. i found the v_awp.mdl by opening up the counter-strike.gcf file. i couldnt seem to find it anywhere else.