XSI discussion
by Morrie · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 04/10/2006 (4:40 pm) · 10 replies
Just curious if anyone has used the XSI exporters, or if there has been any news of lately on it.
#2
I think we've been waiting for it since last year. I'm a XSI user for about 2 years and currently switching to Blender, I just can't keep up paying hundreds of dollars for major upgrades (3.x -> 4.x -> 5.x).
Blender is free, the exporter is doing just fine. It might be difficult to learn blender from XSI as Blender has different workflow. My recommendation is to memorise the hot keys. There are good Blender Tutorials for exporting to DTS in Torque Developer Network.
Regards,
Broken_sword
04/10/2006 (8:30 pm)
Hi,I think we've been waiting for it since last year. I'm a XSI user for about 2 years and currently switching to Blender, I just can't keep up paying hundreds of dollars for major upgrades (3.x -> 4.x -> 5.x).
Blender is free, the exporter is doing just fine. It might be difficult to learn blender from XSI as Blender has different workflow. My recommendation is to memorise the hot keys. There are good Blender Tutorials for exporting to DTS in Torque Developer Network.
Regards,
Broken_sword
#3
I have not upgraded to 5.0, still with 4.2.
I love XSI but not sure I should upgrade so I'm taking my time. 5.0 is worth its price tag and much more but I think you either buy essentials or think twice before buying the whole thing over again every 12 months.
4.2 is good enough for me right now but yes, not directly compatible with Torque.
Sadly Torque suffers from lack of multi format support which is insane for an Indie engine. Not .x not Dotxsi, no fbx no collada. Seriously limiting epsecially considering other engines from free to same range do.
04/11/2006 (12:08 am)
Hi Broken SwordI have not upgraded to 5.0, still with 4.2.
I love XSI but not sure I should upgrade so I'm taking my time. 5.0 is worth its price tag and much more but I think you either buy essentials or think twice before buying the whole thing over again every 12 months.
4.2 is good enough for me right now but yes, not directly compatible with Torque.
Sadly Torque suffers from lack of multi format support which is insane for an Indie engine. Not .x not Dotxsi, no fbx no collada. Seriously limiting epsecially considering other engines from free to same range do.
#4
I do realise your concern as I was once in your position. I'm happy with 4.0 right now, but with ever changing industries.... I need to find a job that would give me at least AUD$3,000.00 dollars to keep up with it. I was asking for 4.2 from my authorised XSI dealer but they refused to give me an upgrade without some cash on hand.
Yep, Torque is lacking multi-format-support. I guess it's their trademark .DTS.
OGRE has great exporter support for XSI 4.x and 5.x.
We'll try to look at the bright side. We are indies, and by having constrains actually push us more to go forward. I mean , if things were so easily done, no sweat required, then we wouldn't have learnt anything. :)
Let's see, because I was unable to use XSI -> Torque and I had to learn Blender. Now I know Blender lots more; you can model, animate, render, post-processing, it is a game engine itself with Cg support. I think, It's great to be able to use 2 3D programs.
This is how I currently work.................... XSI -> .obj -> Blender -> .dts -> Torque
this is what I am looking in the future.... Blender -> .dts -> Torque
I love XSI because of it's user interface and really increases our productivity. XSI has an apparent workflows, It's great. I love blender because it's free, but the user interface is somewhat confusing, so I only memorise the hotkeys to get things done.
Whatever you wish to do I wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Broken_Sword
04/11/2006 (12:49 am)
Hi Hokuto,I do realise your concern as I was once in your position. I'm happy with 4.0 right now, but with ever changing industries.... I need to find a job that would give me at least AUD$3,000.00 dollars to keep up with it. I was asking for 4.2 from my authorised XSI dealer but they refused to give me an upgrade without some cash on hand.
Yep, Torque is lacking multi-format-support. I guess it's their trademark .DTS.
OGRE has great exporter support for XSI 4.x and 5.x.
We'll try to look at the bright side. We are indies, and by having constrains actually push us more to go forward. I mean , if things were so easily done, no sweat required, then we wouldn't have learnt anything. :)
Let's see, because I was unable to use XSI -> Torque and I had to learn Blender. Now I know Blender lots more; you can model, animate, render, post-processing, it is a game engine itself with Cg support. I think, It's great to be able to use 2 3D programs.
This is how I currently work.................... XSI -> .obj -> Blender -> .dts -> Torque
this is what I am looking in the future.... Blender -> .dts -> Torque
I love XSI because of it's user interface and really increases our productivity. XSI has an apparent workflows, It's great. I love blender because it's free, but the user interface is somewhat confusing, so I only memorise the hotkeys to get things done.
Whatever you wish to do I wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Broken_Sword
#5
04/11/2006 (7:47 am)
I emailed Matt Summers last night. also emailed him a couple of months ago, but didn't get a response. don't know if I will this time. I saw the XSI exporter link coming soon in 2004 when I started school, so now its the middle of 2006 and I've bought the XSI 5.0 hoping it would be out I've learned it, have all my models ready to drop in for my final project. Now XSI is going to release a new version and I don't know wether to get it or not because the XSI EXPORTERS are not out yet. I'm pretty shure I'm going to have to start all my work over in blender. last I heard it was in beta, but I was hoping to get an update before I started 7 months of work all over.
#6
Are they?
@Broken Sword
Are you sure you can't just donwload 4.2 from XSI? I think that's what I did.. If I remember well I had 4.0 then downloaded 4.2 from Softimage site.
Yes XSI to Blender to Torque is something I shuold look into as well
04/11/2006 (11:38 am)
@ Maurice "Now XSI is going to release a new version and I don't know wether to get it or not!"Are they?
@Broken Sword
Are you sure you can't just donwload 4.2 from XSI? I think that's what I did.. If I remember well I had 4.0 then downloaded 4.2 from Softimage site.
Yes XSI to Blender to Torque is something I shuold look into as well
#7
04/11/2006 (11:56 am)
Milkshape can import and export .FBX files now, including meshes, skeletons, and animations. Since one can export .FBX from XSI using the plugin from Alias (Autodesk), it might be possible to exports animations to Milkshape now, to export to DTS/DSQ. I haven't tried it yet though, so I don't know how well it works.
#8
04/11/2006 (4:17 pm)
Totally wrong forum. This should be in the exporter general discussion. XSI is a tool not a game concept.
#9
Exporting .Fbx files from XSI to Milkshape is working well; Milkshape loads the shapes, textures, skeletons, and animations. The bones show up, but they're not attached to the vertices. Right now, it looks good enough to allow you to transfer your work to blender, only losing the envelope.
04/11/2006 (5:34 pm)
I agree. Just a quick note since this involved a class project. If Maurice wants to continue discussing this, I'm sure he'll create a new topic in the right forum. ;)Exporting .Fbx files from XSI to Milkshape is working well; Milkshape loads the shapes, textures, skeletons, and animations. The bones show up, but they're not attached to the vertices. Right now, it looks good enough to allow you to transfer your work to blender, only losing the envelope.
#10
04/11/2006 (6:21 pm)
I just wanted to make it clear. Yes I'm still in school, but I'm also in the process with another team and we are attemping to make a first person shooter. since I forked out $10,000 to get us started I would like to say it is not a school project. Also wanted so say thanks for the information. 
Torque 3D Owner Hokuto