LightWave DTS Exporter v06-07-04 Released

I've just released an update to the LightWave DTS Exporter over at Gnometech. You may grab the Windows and OSX versions from the Product page. Here's what's new:

Ground Transforms in DSQ Files
Bring on the lifelike death animations! :o) In Torque ground transforms are required for standard character death animation sequences to play correctly. They represent how the character travels (ie: staggers) prior to finally dropping to the ground. The LightWave DTS Exporter has had the ability to export a simple ground transform since the introduction of the BraveTree Tank Pack. However it was limited to animation sequences within the DTS file.

With v06-07-04 of the LightWave DTS Exporter it is now possible to include a simple ground transform within DSQ files. If you're making use of the wonderful DrewFX Skeleton Pack then you'll want to make sure you're using this version or later of the exporter. And if you're a LightWave user then you've got to get this pack. It is a great example of setting up the full suite of character animation sequences within LightWave. It also provides you access to Andy to ask your questions instead of growing cobwebs waiting for me to respond. :o)


DrewFX Skeleton Pack's skeleton seems to have fallen down. Poor skeleton. Note that he is conforming to the terrain.

As a refresher, here's how you set up the simple ground transform. Choose your animation sequence under the exporter plug-in's Animation tab and select the Ground tab at the bottom.



Check the Use simple ground transformation check box and enter in the final distance travelled by the character. In the example above the character staggered back half a metre over the course of the animation. It is also perfectly valid to leave everything at zero to indicate the character doesn't move.

NOTE: Ground transformations may be used for more than just death sequences. It is however the more common use.

Animation Sequence Priority
A new Priority text edit field has been added to the Animation tab and a new column displaying its value has been added to the Animation Sequences list box. The Priority animation sequence property is used in the Torque Game Engine to determine who should control a node when there is a conflict -- the higher priority sequence takes control.



It is rare that you'd ever need to make use of this but I have been asked about it every so often. I was originally going to leave it for the Professional version of the LightWave exporter but work on it keeps getting pushed out due to other commitments. So enjoy!


Gnometech Site Forums
In other news: I've become aware of a problem with the forums over at my Gnometech site. Specifically it had to do with sending out email notifications. This both affected new user registration as well as new post notifications. This also meant that I didn't know when people were posting as I relied on this notification.

I believe that this has been corrected. Yay! Unfortunately it means that if you're waiting for a new user registration email to activate your account you'll need to go back and reregister. Head over here to do so.


That about covers it for today.

- LightWave Dave