From my side this project is currently on hold, there have been rumors with HoS they ship full model editor and that is why I don't hurry with this so much. I'm all into it though real life dictates current events: getting job, mastering job tasks blah blah blah :D If things get stable I return.
Also Blender kinda fast evolves, APIs getting out so fast, I'm no pro, just a guy who likes Blizzard Activision games, 3d modeling in general and tinkering with it all.
That is even better, still you can send me the files anyway. If you decide to download educational copy and get some files corrupt tell me, I can upload valid files for you.
Upload your Blender files to Internet, then send to me download link via personal mail (PM). I will look into the issue and hopefully send you back 3ds Max versions.
It's something like: "My Starcraft 1 runs fine on Windows 95, but I got Windows 7 anyway to *huh* get these extra "features"." Did it changed your Starcraft 1? I am also using student version of 3ds Max 2010, the opportunity is great (PS I am a student).
OM*G, I got 3ds Max 2010 working! This time kudos to: MS Windows :O! Windows 7 Event Viewer pinpointed error location. It was file called mscorwks.dll which was actually missing from my Windows\System32 folder. Additionally .NET framework 4 (beta) was required to install.
Not to mention how happy I am currently, no words! It gives much needed push to right direction with our goal. Still loads of work waits ahead.
Maybe reply is better than no reply at all. I have legally aquired 3ds max license through their student program (if you are a student in your local school then you are legit to download their software as long as you have official student status [or something like that]). Anyway I have downloaded 2x 3.3 GB of data from their site (2x 24h hours download time, my connection ~). To find out Windows 7 and 3ds Max 2010 is not compatible?!
I had blue dream filling all the Toxicated script with debug messages about data manipulation which would make recreation of Toxicated scripts in Python easy.
I got legit Windows 7, legit 3ds Max 2010 and they do not get along. My dirty fix to this would be to buy new HDD, install legit Windows XP on it (I can get it by school and Windows partnership) and try my luck on that set (needing new usb stick to transfer my precious software [3ds].
My time to summer start is planned and there isn't much room for script development. To my suprise there is EASY way to download and install LEGALY Autodesk 3d Max on your pc IF you are a student (in ANY school around the world), currently registering and starting 3ds max download is as easy as is making a new email address.
Additionally 3ds Max can be registered as a 30 days trial (if you are desperate trial install + OS format after trial should give you hint)
I write once more the idea I had. Maybe some bright mind does it before me:
1. Download Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 (install as trial)
2. Stack Toxicated code full of debug messages to see how script works on test m3 file (bunker.m3 would be good)
3. Dump all [variable data] gotten data to file and upload for others to see
4. Rebuild similar script in free to use environment (I thoguht Python + Blender 3d program).
And custom format makes transfering same model material to another environment harder. Firm spends $$$ and workhours to create content, they do not want to see that content in homebrew games next day after their product release.
Though I think universal format to m3 is legal while m3 to universal format has its issues. By the way some people like me are seldomly working on porting 3ds Max maxscript (mxs) script to another format, it takes time and with few project members it is mostly hobby.
EDIT: Blender importer script does exist (for Blender 2.59?), it can convert m3 to blend file. Though there is not blender file to m3 converter aka exporter.
If I remember correctly it comes with Blender vanilla, it needs to be enabled from add-ons in Blender IO menu.
EDIT 09.09.11
I decided to post about progress once in a month. Again knowledge is freely available at https://github.com/InDesign/M3TOX3D It requires people who want to do something with that knowledge.
EDIT END
Was busy with real life work, going to look into m3 format in upcoming days. Importing mxs structs into python class (python way doing structs) seems pretty strait forward, that means quicker copy-paste of written functions and less manual conversion from one language to another.
Hex file comparison, have not never tried it. That is how they found m3 file format in first place: by automatically parsing all m3 hex files and extracting patterns out of it.
Exciting is that could we be the ones who make those modeling tools available to public.
My current goal is to reproduce Toxicated mxs script way of reading tags in m3 file. My really first baby steps in mxs <> python conversion: read 33DM from
Bunker.m3 file with my script (kudos to Toxicated and Muraj).
What I did can be done in two ways - - - with 2 lines (or even 1 line) of code or like I did (lots of lines). By doing I learn and that is what it is all about.
Codepad paste: http://codepad.org/ThZK6is4
I can only suggest others to post their progress too, then it is bit more fun and alive.
0
From my side this project is currently on hold, there have been rumors with HoS they ship full model editor and that is why I don't hurry with this so much. I'm all into it though real life dictates current events: getting job, mastering job tasks blah blah blah :D If things get stable I return. Also Blender kinda fast evolves, APIs getting out so fast, I'm no pro, just a guy who likes Blizzard Activision games, 3d modeling in general and tinkering with it all.
0
That's really great what you are doing there, nice work!
0
That is even better, still you can send me the files anyway. If you decide to download educational copy and get some files corrupt tell me, I can upload valid files for you.
0
Upload your Blender files to Internet, then send to me download link via personal mail (PM). I will look into the issue and hopefully send you back 3ds Max versions.
0
It's something like: "My Starcraft 1 runs fine on Windows 95, but I got Windows 7 anyway to *huh* get these extra "features"." Did it changed your Starcraft 1? I am also using student version of 3ds Max 2010, the opportunity is great (PS I am a student).
0
You have 3500$ software, for that money you can get best support ever: Autodesk 3ds Max Services & Support: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=6837309&linkID=9241175 or (which I currently use): http://download.autodesk.com/us/3dsmax/2012help/index.html
Or dig around page where are all the links I posted: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=9861583&linkID=10809867 manuals, docs and tuts for all the 3ds Max family starting from 2008 release.
0
OM*G, I got 3ds Max 2010 working! This time kudos to: MS Windows :O! Windows 7 Event Viewer pinpointed error location. It was file called mscorwks.dll which was actually missing from my Windows\System32 folder. Additionally .NET framework 4 (beta) was required to install. Not to mention how happy I am currently, no words! It gives much needed push to right direction with our goal. Still loads of work waits ahead.
0
It looks really well done.
0
I managed to install 3ds Max 2010, but now it does not want to start. Are you really into it?
0
Then it might be issue with my odd computer, lately it acts strangely.
0
Maybe reply is better than no reply at all. I have legally aquired 3ds max license through their student program (if you are a student in your local school then you are legit to download their software as long as you have official student status [or something like that]). Anyway I have downloaded 2x 3.3 GB of data from their site (2x 24h hours download time, my connection ~). To find out Windows 7 and 3ds Max 2010 is not compatible?! I had blue dream filling all the Toxicated script with debug messages about data manipulation which would make recreation of Toxicated scripts in Python easy. I got legit Windows 7, legit 3ds Max 2010 and they do not get along. My dirty fix to this would be to buy new HDD, install legit Windows XP on it (I can get it by school and Windows partnership) and try my luck on that set (needing new usb stick to transfer my precious software [3ds]. My time to summer start is planned and there isn't much room for script development. To my suprise there is EASY way to download and install LEGALY Autodesk 3d Max on your pc IF you are a student (in ANY school around the world), currently registering and starting 3ds max download is as easy as is making a new email address. Additionally 3ds Max can be registered as a 30 days trial (if you are desperate trial install + OS format after trial should give you hint) I write once more the idea I had. Maybe some bright mind does it before me: 1. Download Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 (install as trial) 2. Stack Toxicated code full of debug messages to see how script works on test m3 file (bunker.m3 would be good) 3. Dump all [variable data] gotten data to file and upload for others to see 4. Rebuild similar script in free to use environment (I thoguht Python + Blender 3d program).
0
And custom format makes transfering same model material to another environment harder. Firm spends $$$ and workhours to create content, they do not want to see that content in homebrew games next day after their product release. Though I think universal format to m3 is legal while m3 to universal format has its issues. By the way some people like me are seldomly working on porting 3ds Max maxscript (mxs) script to another format, it takes time and with few project members it is mostly hobby.
EDIT: Blender importer script does exist (for Blender 2.59?), it can convert m3 to blend file. Though there is not blender file to m3 converter aka exporter. If I remember correctly it comes with Blender vanilla, it needs to be enabled from add-ons in Blender IO menu.
0
So you understand how to extract useful bits out of m3 binary file? I am going for mxs to python port but I do lack testing environment.
0
EDIT 09.09.11 I decided to post about progress once in a month. Again knowledge is freely available at https://github.com/InDesign/M3TOX3D It requires people who want to do something with that knowledge. EDIT END
Was busy with real life work, going to look into m3 format in upcoming days. Importing mxs structs into python class (python way doing structs) seems pretty strait forward, that means quicker copy-paste of written functions and less manual conversion from one language to another. Hex file comparison, have not never tried it. That is how they found m3 file format in first place: by automatically parsing all m3 hex files and extracting patterns out of it. Exciting is that could we be the ones who make those modeling tools available to public.
0
My current goal is to reproduce Toxicated mxs script way of reading tags in m3 file. My really first baby steps in mxs <> python conversion: read 33DM from Bunker.m3 file with my script (kudos to Toxicated and Muraj). What I did can be done in two ways - - - with 2 lines (or even 1 line) of code or like I did (lots of lines). By doing I learn and that is what it is all about. Codepad paste: http://codepad.org/ThZK6is4 I can only suggest others to post their progress too, then it is bit more fun and alive.