Question about 3d model formats
Hello, I am planning on making a space game with a graphics capability similar to Homeworld. I was wondering if anyone knows what model format they used in Homeworld or what format would be the most efficient for use in a space game. (Read nothing too fancy.)
Currently we are considering .Md2 .Md3 or .3ds. Is there a format better suited to such a project? Is this the rigth forum to be posting to?
EDIT: Also the models level of polygon detail would have to be scaleable depending on distance from the camera. This might be another fish altogether but does md2 etc support this?
-Thanks from a n00b.
[edited by - Critical_Waste on March 23, 2003 5:42:18 PM]
The model doesn''t have to support that, you just have 2-3 models, one with high, another with medium, and another with low polygons, and then you replace them as you zoom in/out, etc.
MD2 is a good format, it is simple, there are lot of tools that can create/manipulate MD2s, etc.
And your ship don''t need to have legs, head, etc. that move independently (I guess), so MD2 would be my choice, if I would be you.
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MD2 is a good format, it is simple, there are lot of tools that can create/manipulate MD2s, etc.
And your ship don''t need to have legs, head, etc. that move independently (I guess), so MD2 would be my choice, if I would be you.
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Raduprv
Thanks for the fast reply. I figured .md2 was the format needed. So there is no "speed difference" between Md2 and say a .3ds model?
Looks like Milkshake and .md2 then. Heck I am not shooting for anything fancy just something better than "cubes in space." Thanks.
Thanks for the fast reply. I figured .md2 was the format needed. So there is no "speed difference" between Md2 and say a .3ds model?
Looks like Milkshake and .md2 then. Heck I am not shooting for anything fancy just something better than "cubes in space." Thanks.
You don''t want to use a 3ds model (for this game of yours). 3ds format is bulky, has a lot of stuff you don''t need, it is difficult to import animation, etc.
MD2 is VERY simple, and very fast (that is, it is fast to load and decode).
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MD2 is VERY simple, and very fast (that is, it is fast to load and decode).
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Thanks once again. Milkshake3d should be fine for modeling low poly space ships right? Just asking to be sure.
I don''t know MS3d too well, I guess you should ask your artist, unles you want to make the ships by yourself.
BTW, ther eis a small problem with MD2s. They have only oen texture, so if you want big ships, like, say, a Start Destroyer, you need to use a 512x512 texture, or bigger. And this doesn''t work on some old video cards (up to Voodoo 3).
Besides for that, there should eb no problems (unless you want your ships to have gun towers that move independently from eachother).
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BTW, ther eis a small problem with MD2s. They have only oen texture, so if you want big ships, like, say, a Start Destroyer, you need to use a 512x512 texture, or bigger. And this doesn''t work on some old video cards (up to Voodoo 3).
Besides for that, there should eb no problems (unless you want your ships to have gun towers that move independently from eachother).
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Not too sure yet about having moving parts to the models. Homeworld''s models didn''t have moving parts (at least I don''t think so). Does .md2 support multiable textures for one model? I was thinking of having some form of crude damage maps applied to the ships.
No we do not have a 3d graphics guy yet. Its way too early to even consider extesive 3d graphics. Sorry to be asking so many dumb questions.
Yeah I would like to have support for geforce2 and above. I think in a year everyone will have at least something along those lines.
No we do not have a 3d graphics guy yet. Its way too early to even consider extesive 3d graphics. Sorry to be asking so many dumb questions.
Yeah I would like to have support for geforce2 and above. I think in a year everyone will have at least something along those lines.
MD2 format doesn''t support more than one texture, like I said.
But you can have damage skins, like Q2 does. That is, have 2 skins: a skin with the undamaged ship, and a skin with some random damage on it.
And no, like I said, MD2 doesn''t support level of detail either, but just build different models, with different levels of detail, and interchange them, depending on the distance to the ship.
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But you can have damage skins, like Q2 does. That is, have 2 skins: a skin with the undamaged ship, and a skin with some random damage on it.
And no, like I said, MD2 doesn''t support level of detail either, but just build different models, with different levels of detail, and interchange them, depending on the distance to the ship.
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