Community Project: Operation Tien

[J-Dude]

Hmm? How so...?

 

[Andreyesf]

hey J-DUDE you are from DBZHOOD i know you so you can help them you are a good 3D ANIMATOR o YEAH operation tien 43% DONE

 

[J-Dude]

Dunno how I'd help them...I assume the model is already done and rigged. I'm pretty good with character animation, but I know nothing of the HL engine, code or making PS sprites.

 

[Ravendust]

The models completed, skinned and rigged, no code or sprites necessary, just seperate animations need to be done. Andy and Rayne are working through the list, if you have experience animating characters then maybe you could give them a hand?

 

[Basslover722]

I agree if i knew how to animate i would but i guess i shouldn't keep you guys from slowing you down.

 

[Andy011]

Dunno how I'd help them...I assume the model is already done and rigged. I'm pretty good with character animation, but I know nothing of the HL engine, code or making PS sprites.

For the half-life engine, we use MilkShape3D. This is kind of a primitive program, comparing to others, but then again, that might as well help u get to learn it easier . For example, you can't scale joints or whatnot. When you're done with a frame, u press Ctrl+K. Always before starting an animation turn the ANIM button ON. I guess you know the rest... rotating and moving joints... If u want to see how it turned out, open the .ms3d file sent to you, import the animation over that and test it.

Oh and something VERY important too: THE PELVIS MUST ALWAYS BE ON THE CENTER OF THE GRID IN EACH ANIMATION.

Your help would be appreciated.

Here's the ms3d with the skins and all that: http://rapidshare.de/files/14444899/Tien.rar.html

And here's Milkshape : www.milkshape3d.com

 

[J-Dude]

I'd be honored to animate certain sequences (I assume you want them in .bip format?). I of course will need the proper skeleton size and all, assuming its a biped. If you have any audio you want matched to techniques or what-have-you, I'll probably need them so I can sync them with the animation. From there it gets fun! I'll probably check out some clips from episodes to see how he moves and what techniques (if you want me to do any) implement what motions. I'll be sure to avoid moving the biped itself so there are no position keys that will muck things up.

 

[Adaptus]

:3 I just want to say that, as an ESF player who's anxiously awaiting Tien's release for 1.3, I really appreciate you wanting to help animate Tien, J-Dude. The project can use all the help it can get.

 

[J-Dude]

Hmm...Milkshape eh? Well, as long as the principles are the same I should do okay. I only ever known 3DSMax is all. Oh, and I'm not especially good at just doing things at random. You'll need to specifically assign me something and tell me what you want or I might not understand. That's just me, I always need the specifics.

 

[J-Dude]

Okay...0_o...this program is really retarded...who DESIGNED this...? Talk about user un-friendly...could someone explain how I even SELECT an object with this disaster of multimedia proportions...?

 

[Andy011]

Okay...0_o...this program is really retarded...who DESIGNED this...? Talk about user un-friendly...could someone explain how I even SELECT an object with this disaster of multimedia proportions...?

This might help... http://www.planetfortress.com/tf2models/tuto.htm

 

[J-Dude]

Jeez 0_0...this is worst than I figured...I see how the selection and such works now but...by GOD...could they try and make it ANY more complicated...? I've never heard of a 3D program that is so woefully basic...GMax is better to use than this...

It seems to me like their is no click/drag functions here, no spinners, no labor-saving options...it even looks like you have to enter in coordinates and exact angles of rotation by HAND...how does ANYONE work like this???

I'm sorry, but if this program is THAT basic to where making a sphere twirl around and pretend to bounce would be a 20 minute excursion, then I simply cannot help you. If there is a way to export to 3DS Max or GMax to where I can edit and export it back to your desired formats, I'll be fine, but the way things look, I simple CAN'T work under those conditions. If this is what most noobs to 3D are considering a beginners free program, then they're being grossly illusioned towards a lie. NO program out there that's worth using is so massively basic. This is the sort of thing I USED to believe 3D Animation was about: having to move and tweak and spend hours over every-little-detail with a program nobody but people who know Visual Basic can effectively use...it just aint worth it.

I'm sorry to say that, but I am personally shocked and dismayed to see such an appalling program forcing such woe onto people.

 

[Skiwan]

http://forum.esforces.com/showpost.php?p=751277&postcount=4

works with max 8 too ^^

if only I knew how to animate....

 

[J-Dude]

Ah! Good! Perfect! Can't wait to try this out with a pros' program...oh yeah...3DSMax rocks!

Only question, what folder do I paste those into (don't wanna mess up Max)?

 

[Andy011]

I believe the instructions are in the .rar file. There should be a readme.

 

[donnierisk]

YEAH! Another animator, this is going great guys, if only I could animate, I confuse myself when typing my own posts, now imgagine how it will be when I read tutorials. I even tried a modeling tutorial, I got to the part where you create a face, and that's it....I really want to learn how to animate though.

 

[J-Dude]

Well, I'll see as soon as I can, I have a good feeling that it bvelongs in the stdplugins directory, but again, I can't be sure yet. In the meantime, give me an assingment for an animation! I can't do anything if I don't know what you need/want. From there I can help. Just tell me what it is, and if its supposed to loop or not.

 

[Skiwan]

look at the first post in this thread, anything except the coloured ones are free

 

[J-Dude]

Okay, I'm no genius, but this importer/exporter doesn't allow me to import any of the files in that were in that Tien thing. I'm guessing I need the proper skeleton to create the animations you require, so if you know where to get the file for the skeleton, I can begin from there, but as of now, none of that is implemented...unless I can already export the skeleton by using Milkshape to the proper .smd file...I'll check...gotta shower. Graduation tonight !

 

[Skiwan]

Go into milkshape and open the file of tien, export as smd and then open it in max =] this'll be your reference smd, you must load before any animation files just remember when exporting in max, export the sequences. Im not too sure, but you might have to import the smd's you complete in milkshape and export them otherwise it wont work in half life, because the smd importer/exporter is a half life 2 version, and it tries to save with vertex weighting... I cant remember exactly. You're probably better off talking to an animator :x