quote:Original post by Yartrebo
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dont try getting things from conosle games. they use special formats for everything, but unlike pc games that tend to have tools for use, consoels dont. models could also be encrypted, use hardware optimized textures stored in an alien format, file system may not be readable by cd drive, files could be hidden instead a wad/zip style file system that is non standard, model could be split up in a million ways and stored in pieces all over the place, animation could vastly change things depending on skelatal, frame based, delta frame based, etc. ie there are way too many varibles in try to decphier console game models if you can even access all the data on the disk (pcs cant read game data session of a gdrom).
- A person



I disagree. Console models are NEVER encrypted and are in a common and simple format (Playstation GTE and GPU assembly ... well documented and easier than PC assembly). They do need a little processing to convert into usable form, but it''s the same procedure for pretty much every game, with only minor variations. Console models are also tiny, being saved in 16 bit fixed format, and usually very efficient use of textures. They''re also 100% quad + triangle meshes, which is pretty nice for my uses.

The trick is to have an emulator dump you the model. With the playstation, you can find the 3d-to-2d projection that the model underwent when being projected to the screen by hacking the GTE portion, and all the faces and textures (in screen coordinates) from the GPU portion (in the graphics plugin for most emulators). Those 2 can be used to reconstuct an original textured mesh (which can be easily animated with the skeleton system I''m using for my current project).

My particular tools were AdriPSX + the PEOPS GPU plugin (both open source).

The only way a game can prevent this is by not using software rendering (which is not particularly fast on a playstation), so I think it''s safe to assume that most games will fall to this trick. I''ve tested it with Chrono Cross and managed to get a well animated Serge model:
screenshot of Serge: (http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~bj92077/serge.jpg)
modeller + source + 2 dumped models: (http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~bj92077/modeller.zip)

The numpad is used to control the bones, INSERT, HOME, DEL, END, PGUP, PGDN constrol the position, and the arrow keys control rotation. Sorry the modeller is so hard to use, but it was never intended for release (just a tool to help me play around with 3d).

I the last 2 years i am work in a animation programs. Can i send a email for sharing experience?.. Modeller?.. not vesa found? (is for DOS? yuk!)



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"Cuando se es peon, la unica salida es la revolución"

Taking content out of a game and using it in another game or mod based on another game/engine wether it is freeware or not is plain illegal.

[edited by - StrangeFate on May 9, 2002 10:13:08 PM]

quote:Original post by Yartrebo
I don''t remember signing any EULA when I bought any of my Playstation games ... PC games might have them, but I''ve never seen one on a Playstation game.

You don''t have to sign or read an EULA. It''s all intellectual property.
As long as you use the stuff for yourself you sure won''t get any problems but as soon as it''s available to the public and it''s noticed you''ll have to drop it.

There have been enough mods janked by id software just for using single textures, skins or models from their games.
20th century Fox nailed an alien mod some years ago for simply using an alien model, although it was all self done. Same happened some months ago to a StarWars Q3 mod that had all original models.
Some model had to be taken down from Polycount already because it was based on an existing character (done from scratch tho) and the company holding the rights for the character didn''t like to see him running around in Q3.
Most companies won''t mind, it''s usually a homage when you do a model based on an existing character but if wanted, you could be forced to take even that stuff down.

Forget all that >1% and sales damage crap. It''s not about that, it''s just about copyrights, that stuff belongs to someone and that''s not you. In the sea of content on the net a lot of theft remains either unnoticed or tolerated, but it''s neither welcome or legal.

I''m since years in the industry and know how it works, have seen IP theft happening eversince and the always wrong alibis of clueless and missinformed rippers trying to backup their actions.


Mario V.
www.strangefate.net
www.digitalextremes.com

quote:Original post by Anonymous Poster
>>>
b)get someone to do it for me and email the model to me?
>>>

That would be illegal.

Not necesary, because if you take a models, we are game development, so have a models for study purpose is not strange.. in fact my project used a polycount project only for test purpose (not public).. and now i want to made this project more public, then i need to made some models.

For the legal stuff, remember, GAMES are not sold for you, LICENCES are sell for you!.. what''s the difference?.. you have the licence for play the game, not for modify, sell, take artist/programmer job... So, using a models from a game is illegal, but for study purpose (or for test), it''s not illegal.




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"Cuando se es peon, la unica salida es la revolución"