Free Software

[Atrocities]

Here is a site that any one who is into making art work might want to consider. The software is free for the most part and is good for making space and star fields images.

http://www.diardsoftware.com/

[Will]

"free for the most part"... free as in beer (gratis) or free as in speech (libre)? Sometimes I hate English... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Looks like it's shareware, so it's more like "free as in beer, but you need to bring your own cup, and the keg has mostly suds...".

[Atrocities]

It is useful software that might come in handy for artists and such who do work on sci-fi images.

[zircher]

DoGA CGA L1 (free)/ L2 (shareware, $20) / L3 (shareware, $40 or $20 upgrade from L2)

DoGA CGA is a modelling and animation studio intended for beginners. It advances as a series of lessons; L2 builds on L1 and L3 builds on L2.

Pros: DoGA CGA is dirt simple to use but is capable of some very nice models, especially those involving mechanical details such as ships, fighters, tanks, and mecha. Each version of DoGA CGA is a free download. You only have to register L2 or L3 if you want to make AVI movies or render sequential bitmaps. The DoGA series uses a parts bin metaphor, so it is not a true modeller. Hundreds of additional parts can be downloaded to expand the library. Each lesson comes with several programs, a parts assembler, a motion editor, L2 adds a multi-jointed model builder, and L3 adds an action/pose editor. All versions of DoGA CGA can export VRML, DXF, DirectX X format. The DoGA series is great for people that can design, but are weak at low level polygon editors. The render engine in the parts assembler or the motion editor (for those that need more lighting and camera control) can make images at any size and is really good for SE IV ship sets.

Cons: DoGA uses an external key frame animation system. So, it does not export animation to X. Its animation format is plain text, but I don't know of any conversion tool (yet.) The early version of DoGA CGA have very limited colors, textures, and UV texture support. L3 breaks that barrier and allows you to import custom models, textures, and backgrounds. It also has a stand alone program to re-map texture coordinates. One big 'gotcha' with L3 is that the help files are not translated to English. So, you really need to try L2 before hand. Since DoGA works with primitives (parts) instead of meshes, it is not ideal for making .X models for real time games. Fortunately, there is a solution for that. Keep on reading...

Home page:
http://www.doga.co.jp/english

Being the DoGA fan that I am, I have made a nice (if home grown) translation of the DoGA L3 Part Assembler help file. And, I've posted a number of tutorials and support files (more textures, parts, backgrounds, etc.)
http://zircher.iwarp.com/doga/

-----------------------------------------------------

Metasequoia LE (free) [I use version 2.1, but 2.3b is now has an 'LE' version as well.]

At some point, you'll want to create your own parts for DoGA L2 or L3. When you become that DoGA power user, the best modelling program to learn is Metasequoia. It knows about the SUF files that DoGA uses and I happen to think that it is easier to use than Milkshape 3D.

Pros: A wide variety of tools in an easy to understand layout. Has support for a good number of formats including DirectX X files. Metasequoia LE is a fully functional polygon editor. This also means that if you want to make game models you can take models designed in DoGA CGA and tweak the vertices to create well behaved meshes for SE: Star Fury and probably SE V as well.

Cons: Metasequoia has no animation capabilities. Due to cultural/financial differences, you can not register the more advanced versions of Metasequoia.

Download:
http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html

Like Metasequoia? A friend of mine pointed out this cool animation tool for Metasequoia.

http://www.cyberdelia.net/english/tools/cyberdelia.html
--
TAZ (your neighborhood unofficial English speaking DoGA guru)


Don't read Japanese? Neither do I, but here is a helpful tip for you Metasequoia LE users:

Go to here: http://babelfish.altavista.com/

In the 'Translate a Web page' section select Japanese to English and plug in this URL: http://www.fire-on-the-suns.com/meta/help

Gotta love the web.

I plan to add the MetaLE 2.3b help files to my FOTS site in the near future so you can use web translation for those help files as well.

[NullAshton]

Go to http://blender.org for free 3D software. It's fairly easy to learn the basics in that program. You don't have to piece together models that other people have made.

[Phoenix-D]

Or wings3d, which is also free and IMO easier to use.

[zircher]

I've never been a fan of Blender's user interface, but that just my personal tastes. I know that there are lots of people that love it. Anyway, I don't want to get into a bash-fest on utilities. I did want to mention that there are now export scripts that will allow you to save Blender models in .X format which is an important feature for SE modders of Star Fury and most likely SE V.
--
TAZ

[NullAshton]

I've heard of wings 3D, but never saw it in action. Could you give me a link to the software?

[TurinTurambar]

Hi TAZ!

Didn't know you frequented this forum. Thanks from me and many others for all the support work you do on DoGA.

Turin

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. I was hoping that David Gervais would post some good free software sites and links. He is after all the Avatar King. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[kerensky]

Wings 3D is a fairly simple program to use but lacks the texturing capabilities of other programs. link (http://www.wings3d.com/)

[Phoenix-D]

kerensky said:
Wings 3D is a fairly simple program to use but lacks the texturing capabilities of other programs. link (http://www.wings3d.com/)



Which is why you get lithunrwap. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Also free but no longer updated..I imagine by the time it gets too out of date Wings will have decent texture support.

[CovertJaguar]

You could always try gmax (http://www4.discreet.com/gmax/), its free.

It can be made to export to X-File (http://www.turbosquid.com/MessageBoard/index.cfm/FuseAction/ShowThread/TID/13746).

[Raging Deadstar]

Hey thanks Atrocities. I'll check that program out, looks very interesting to say the least. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[zircher]

Ugh, going through the hoops to get GMAX files into .X format is almost not worth the effort. Also, the methods that I know of (via FS Export or via Milkshape3D) are not free. Care to enlighten me? FYI, if it involves warez, don't bother.
--
TAZ

[CovertJaguar]

Did you look at my link? For making GMAX export to X-Files? Third post down on the Turbo Squid forums?


Going through all those steps just to produce an X file seem like the hard way.

Really all you need is the plugin MakeModelEXP.dle and MDLCommander which will compile to MDL format and allow you to save the X file while doing so right out of Gmax without having to jump through all those hoops listed in the second reply.

You will find the MakeModelEXP.dle at this link http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulator/fs2004_downloads_sdk.asp#makemdl
in the SDK.

MDLCommander can be found here:
http://hometown.aol.de/_ht_a/docmoriarty3/fs2002/en/mdlcommander_dl.html

Keep life simple.

FSEdge

www.FSAlpha.com (http://www.FSAlpha.com)

[zircher]

Ah, I have been mis-informed. I was told by another person that you had to have the Flight Sim 2004 CD. How nice of Microsoft to provide the SDK as a seperate download. :-)
--
TAZ