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*** UPDATED: 31st MAY 2006 ***

UPDATES: Added "Middleman" and "MDLCommander" 3D Converter thanks to BearCDP!
UPDATES: Added "3DWin" 3D Converter thanks to Lukas W!
UPDATES: Added "Camstudio 2.00" Screen/Game Recording program thanks to Halo Man!
UPDATES: Added "FREE PACKS BY SCRAGGLE!" thanks to Jessticular for the links (check at the bottom of the post)!
UPDATES: REMOVED "Twilight" IDE as the link is broken ... if someone can help, it'll be awesome .

Greetings!

The purpose of this post is to help beginner programmers to make their work easy and helpful with the tools I use for programming my games. Now, let's get to the point.

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MOST USED TOOLS
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Well, I'm going to name them here, you can find them in the links down here if you search for them in the list, shouldn't be hard


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3D MODELERS
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I personally use 3D Studio MAX R3, wich is very good for 3D modeling and rendered animations. Of course, isn't very cheap, so I recommend using GMax, Milkshape 3D, Anima8or, Wings 3D, DeleD, 3D Canvas (there's a trial version available), Caligari GameSpace (from The Game Creators (TGC), must purchase, can download trial version) and DoGa. Most of them are free and easy to use . Also I'll put here links to some 3D modellers that I've found in my search for 3D modellers. Some can be free, others must be purchased...



Provided by Lukas W.

Design Worskop Lite (free) - http://www.artifice.com/free/dw_lite.html

Provided by Capn Golly

Silo (Non-free, 109$) - http://www.nevercenter.com/


Provided by Halo Man

4D Blue (Free) - http://www.4dblue.com/




Original list
Carrara 3 (moderately priced) - http://www.eovia.com/home.jsp

GMax - http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/

MilkShape 3D - http://www.milkshape3d.com/

Anima8or - http://www.anim8or.com/

Wings 3D - http://www.wings3d.com/

DeleD - http://www.delgine.com/

3D Canvas - http://www.3dcanvas.co.uk/

Caligari GameSpace - http://www.caligari.com/gamespace/

DoGa - http://www.doga.co.jp/english/index.html

3DOM (a 3D object modeller) - http://threedom.sourceforge.net/

AC3D (must buy, trial version available) - http://www.ac3d.org/

Aztec 3D modeller - http://aztec.sourceforge.net/aztec.php?page=download

Behemot (not sure if it's good...to download, click "graphic editor" hyperlink) - http://www.behemot.com/

Blender 3D (it's very powerful...but it has a LOT of buttons...) - http://www.blender3d.org/

Breeze Designer - http://www.imagos.fl.net.au/

Calimax Modeller (can be used with PovRay) - http://www.calimaxmodeller.org/index.php

Character FX (must purchase. Trial version available) - http://www.insanesoftware.de/

Draw3D (free) - http://members.optusnet.com.au/~draw3d/

EasyModel (must purchase, trial version available) - http://www.jthesing.com/easymodel/easymain.htm

Giram (PovRay oriented) - http://www.giram.org/

harmaPatch - http://www.geocities.com/hamapatch/program/index.html

HexaSuper2 (somewhat like a anime-manga modeller) - http://www.shusaku.co.jp/hexa/

Innovation 3D - http://innovation3d.sourceforge.net/

3D Matrix (must purchase, trial version available) - http://www.digitalscores.com/JCSoftware/

JTEdit (some people have talked about it here) - http://www.jtgame.com/jtedit/jteditmain.html

K-3D (freeware, looks nice ) - http://k3d.sourceforge.net/new/

Materialize 3D (must purchase, trial version available. Price 29.95$) - http://www.indotek.com/material.php?ad=material_html

Maya Personal Learning Edition - http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml

Metasequoia (must purchase, trial version and a lite demo available, but I believe it's in japanese...) - http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html

Mike's Lego Cad ( lol ) - http://www.lm-software.com/mlcad/

Moray (free modeller for Pov-Ray 3.x) - http://www.stmuc.com/moray/

Pov-Ray - http://www.povray.org/

RayShade (for creating raytraced images...) - http://www-graphics.stanford.edu/~cek/rayshade/

SCED - http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/graphics/sced/

Spatch (a patchs modeller) - http://www.geocities.com/getspatch/index.html

TreeMaker (generates random trees and exports to DXF, FREE!) - http://www.treemaker.nl/

Tree Generator (not sure if it's free...but it's really good) - http://membres.lycos.fr/treegenerator/

TrueForm 3D - http://www.trueform3d.co.uk/

Z Tools (modeller) - http://www.ztools.50megs.com/

* Here are 3 modellers (I can't put the links directly because the site is under construction) - http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/4500/index.htm

* Here are useful tools for 3D modelling (3 tools in the same page, freeware) - http://www.armanisoft.ch/webdesign/FrmDownloads.html
[/quote]


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3D MODEL VIEWERS AND CONVERTERS
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I use the shareware version of Quick 3D Professional. Also I use it for converting some MD2, OBJ, LWO, MDL and more file types to 3DS, X and much more, just download the program. And I use the MED model editor that comes with the demo version of 3D GameStudio. You just have to install it, copy all the files that start with "MED" and a "MFC42.DLL" that comes with the installed files. After that you can safely uninstall 3D GameStudio and have that 3D editor working. I've used it for modifying my QUAKE (yeah, MS-DOS QUAKE, it still lives...) and to converting some MD2, MDL and X files to 3DS.



Original list
Quick 3D (both professional and normal version) - http://www.quick3d.com

3D GameStudio's MDL Editor - http://www.conitec.com/a4info


SunXi 2D / 3D viewer - http://perso.wanadoo.fr/sunxi/

[/quote]

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3D LEVEL EDITORS
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Well, you have 3 options, or Cartography Shop (sold on the DarkBASIC site), or DeleD (free and easy to use, currently (13 Apr 2004) doesn't have lightmapping features, but will surely have them soon), or your own levels exported to X format (or 3DS if you have the full versions of DBC or DBPro). For DBC and DBPro you will surely need Nuclear Glory's Collision DLL for detecting polygon-perfect collisions with your 3D scenery.





Original list
Cartography Shop - http://cartographyshop.thegamecreators.com/

DeleD - http://www.delgine.com

Nuclear Glory's Collision DLL - http://www.nuclearglory.com/
[/quote]

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LIGHTMAPPERS
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3D MATRIX / TERRAIN EDITORS
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I don't use any 3D matrix editor, but if you're searching for these, here are some links:



Provided by Hamish McHaggis

MultiScape - http://www.dbforums.co.uk/~hamish


Provided by Red Eye, requested by Hamish McHaggis.

MapTrix - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=32172&b=8&p=0

Provided by Lukas W.

Terragen - http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/

Genesis II and Landscape Explorer - http://www.geomantics.com/demo.html

Original list
MatEdit - http://www.matedit.com/

MagicWorld - http://www.btinternet.com/~mrtricks/magicworld.htm

GeoScape 3D - http://geoscape.thegamecreators.com/
[/quote]

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MAP EDITORS
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BSP MAP EDITORS
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The BSP format was created by Id Software for his outstanding game QUAKE, and that is now modified and used by Half-Life from Sierra and Valve. These maps can be created with WorldCraft (aka Hammer Editor).





Original list
WorldCraft - http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?go=hammer
[/quote]

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EXPLOSION GENERATORS
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I have only found 2 generators. ExGen and an Alpha Explosion Generator from a BlitzBASIC user. Both of them are very good, and it's very good to mention that ExGen has been created with DBPro , so that's an example of what you can do with DBPro .



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PARTICLE SYSTEMS
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GAME PHYSICS
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GUI-RELATED STUFF
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Been wondering how to make your own windows, buttons and such, in an interactive way without so much coding? check here!



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2D GRAPHIC / TILE EDITORS, ICON EDITORS
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I use Paint Shop Pro v6.01 for editing my models textures and making some nice text effects. You can download a trial version from Jasc Software. Also free programs are always available, like The Gimp (both Linux and Windows). I haven't found any other free program .



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FONTS
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Need any font generators and such? here ya go!



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TEXTURE CREATORS / EDITORS
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[/quote]

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TEXTURE UNWRAPPERS
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[/quote]

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MUSIC / SOUND EDITORS
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Personally I'm full of shareware programs...I use Cool Edit and GoldWave. Both of them are very goond and provide a bunch of effects that you can add to the sounds .



Provided by =ChrisB=

Adobe Audition (Non-Free) - http://www.adobe.com/products/audition/main.html



Original list
Cool Edit - http://www.adobe.com/special/products/audition/syntrillium.html

GoldWave - http://www.goldwave.com/
[/quote]

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IDE'S
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For DBC i'm using DarkEDIT and for DBP the internal editor, but of course you can use other IDE's like BlueIDE and Twilight



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WEB EDITORS
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'cause games need great sites...


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VIDEO CAPTURE
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Gotta show the real look 'n feel!


[/quote]

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TUTORIALS
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Here are some tutorials I've found by navigatin through the web and these forums .


[/quote]

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REFERENCES, BLUEPRINTS, ETC
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RESOURCES
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Here are free stuff... so enjoy!



Free Game Textures - http://www.vb3d.com/Textures.html

Mayang's Free Textures (high res) - http://www.mayang.com/textures/

Texture Archive - http://www.grsites.com/textures/

Absolutecross Free Textures - http://www.absolutecross.com/graphics/textures/

Sound Effect Archive - http://www.grsites.com/sounds/

Sound Search Engine - http://www.findsounds.com/

Bitmap font archive(300+ free bitmap fonts) - http://cgi.algonet.se/htbin/cgiwrap?user=guld1&script=fonts.pl

Font Archive - http://www.grsites.com/fonts/

Font Empire - http://www.themeworld.com/fonts/index.shtml

Da Font - http://www.dafont.com/en/

1001 Free Fonts - http://www.1001freefonts.com/

Menu Buttons (free buttons!) - http://www.flamingtext.com/buttons/

Bitmap Tilesets/animated sprite collection (LOTS of 2D stuff) - http://www.reinerstileset.4players.de:1059/englisch.htm

Skybox Textures (TONS of free skyboxes!) - http://www.scentednectar.com/skyboxes/

Provided by Jessticular (Or rather, Scraggle! )

Bitmap Font Pack ... FREE to a good home! - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=74431&b=4

Bitmap Font Pack 2 ... FREE to a good home! - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=74430&b=4

Nebulae Pack ... FREE to a good home! - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=75223&b=4

Star/Suns Pack ... FREE to a good home! - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=75225&b=4

Planets Pack ... FREE to a good home! - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=75227&b=4

[/quote]



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BROKEN LINKS
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Here are the broken links I've found, so if you're bored and want to help, try to go hunting for this stuff?



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Well, I hope this post will be useful for anyone who is searching for useful tools for his programming needs.

See ya later!

How to get .x out of .gmax..?

froggermon posted this a couple of months back;



If you can make any sense of it, then go for it

Jess.

I've been looking all over for a copy of the exporter that comes with MSFS2002, but it looks like you need to actually fork out the bucks.....although $20 is a friendlier cost than $3000. I've also found that if you get Tempest, or any other good md3 exporter for gmax you can then use 3d Exploration, or Deep Exploration, or Quick3d to convert it to .x. Unfortunately though it doesn't always save textures, never saves animation, and you usually have to fix a couple things in another program like TrueSpace 3d Canvas (ie:model gets flipped upside down, limbs sticking out at odd angles).

[edit]
Poked around a bit and found it(HALELUJAH!!!!!!).

MiddleMan, which will do something along the lines of converting a .gmax file to a MSFS2002 .mdl file. http://thegreatptmd.tripod.com/

MdlCommander, which will convert to .mdl to a .x
http://hometown.aol.de/_ht_a/docmoriarty3/fs2002/en/mdlcommander_dl.html

And I don't know if you need this, but the MSFS mod guru posted the link so I will as well, it's the MSFS gamepack for gmax. http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulator/fs2004_downloads_sdk.asp#gmax
[/edit]

Alrighty, this thread's growing quite large now... It's time to trim it back a little.

I've removed all the posts ( as you can see ), but I don't want people's contributions to go unnoticed, so;

Props go to ( and the number of items they added ):


Again, cheers to those people, and I appologise if you wanted to keep your posts, but to be honest, the thread really did need a good clean out to try and keep it nice and simple

Jess.

Here's some graphical stuff available for you when/if you need it:

Bitmap Font Pack ... FREE to a good home!

Bitmap Font Pack 2 ... FREE to a good home!

Nebulae Pack ... FREE to a good home!

Star/Suns Pack ... FREE to a good home!

Planets Pack ... FREE to a good home!

Each and every one is by Scraggle, which is just amazing in itself, but not only that, all the work is quality!

Cheers,
Jess.

3D Object Viewer/Converter
supported file formats: http://www.tb-software.com/format_info.html
download: http://www.tb-software.com/download.html
costs: 29 EURO
demo restrictions: cannot save/export

been on the lookout for a good .x to .3ds converter for a long time now, i found this but too bad you have to buy it, it's probably the best i've found so far, ah well..

isn't MSFS2002 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 cause if so they have 2004 now lol

Video Capture - CamStudio 2.00

CamStudio 2.00 is a free video capture tool that can capture some or all parts of the screen, and saves to a .avi or .swf (Flash)files. You can change the video quality to minimize the file size.

Version 2.00 available Here

I did a google search of the forum and the only link I find to http://blueide.sourceforge.net/ is here. When I download the most recent version from there and run it, it tries to access Windows XP word, and then locks up and closes. Is it a virus? Whats going on with that? Can someone else check it out please, and tell me if I have a virus, or if its just something in that code?

I think its relevant to this thread, since you are the only place linking to that location, and you don't want to be linking to a potential virus.

--
I noticed you link to a website that is no longer there.

Click on the link, and the domain has expired, bought up by an ad company it seems.

Both links were listed in a tutorial I downloaded once upon a time and decided to look through today.

Ah, yes, the Twilight site was removed long, long ago...

I remember the IDE itself being hosted somewhere else, but where, I couldn't tell you...

Maybe someone has a link to it hidden somewhere?
Try a google search of;

and you shoud get something, Hopefully

Updated

@Wolf: Well... BlueIDE isn't working here, looks like it needs some custom OCX controls - I shall give it a try later, as I have stuff to do. However, I've updated the list. Check it out!

MapTrix - http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=32172&b=8&p=0

Broken link

How would you be able to use ODE and Tokamak Game Physics since i've looked on their sites but they don't mention using those engines in DBC or P