ToolBox now has dif, dts and dsq export
by David Mathews · in Torque Game Engine · 10/16/2005 (8:03 am) · 0 replies
In my continuing one man attempt to make an inexpensive platform that can be used to generate complete game art (as I work on my game, I keep stopping and adding tools. My game may never get finished at this rate!), I have just released a new version of ToolBox Pro that now has full DTS/DSQ animated model export and DIF level export (export to map and autocompile to dif with map2difplus). It can export large meshes in DTS (Tested to over 50K, that's too big for a game, but there is no longer an 11 K triangle limit) with multiple textures and multiple named animations. And even though the DTS format does not support discontinuous uvs (different uvs for the same point on different faces), we do, and add the extra elements so discontinuous texturing comes out correct.
And ToolBox optionally exports to a new version of DTS that supports animated morphs. The engine update is available as a free TGE 1.3 patch here at Garage Games.
We have also added a Progressive mesh system which lets you both lower the poly count of a model and make automatic LOD models by just specifying the number of faces you want for each LOD level (or you can select manual models). Our progressive mesh is unique as not only does it preserve texturing as it reduces, but the model stays fully animated at any level. No re-rigging or reanimating LOD models. (The GG guys are helping us finish out LOD output - right now, all the models are exported, but they are still linked to deltail level 0. all other features are currently finished.)
ToolBox of course, reads and writes (the only app that does) Poser files.
For levels, we export to map and dif with support for all special Torque block and light types, and have true game level type uvs built in, so you can see what the texturing will actually look like in the game.
For more info, you can download the full ToolBox manual from the ToolBox page of my website.
www.GreenbriarStudio.com/3D
David
And ToolBox optionally exports to a new version of DTS that supports animated morphs. The engine update is available as a free TGE 1.3 patch here at Garage Games.
We have also added a Progressive mesh system which lets you both lower the poly count of a model and make automatic LOD models by just specifying the number of faces you want for each LOD level (or you can select manual models). Our progressive mesh is unique as not only does it preserve texturing as it reduces, but the model stays fully animated at any level. No re-rigging or reanimating LOD models. (The GG guys are helping us finish out LOD output - right now, all the models are exported, but they are still linked to deltail level 0. all other features are currently finished.)
ToolBox of course, reads and writes (the only app that does) Poser files.
For levels, we export to map and dif with support for all special Torque block and light types, and have true game level type uvs built in, so you can see what the texturing will actually look like in the game.
For more info, you can download the full ToolBox manual from the ToolBox page of my website.
www.GreenbriarStudio.com/3D
David
