Plan for Matt Summers
by Matt Summers · 11/15/2004 (8:12 pm) · 56 comments
Work is progressing nicely on the Softimage XSI 4 DTS exporter. Right now I'm writing the helper tools that automate all of the setup involved in creating a DTS shape, but everything will still be able to be setup manually for people who like to understand whats going on under the hood. Here's screen capture of the work in progess version.
Some of the cool features I'm working on are a DTS setup validator that scans the scene and list problems before you even export (my selfish attempt at reduceing support) and auto collision shape generation similar to the auto bounds generation in some of the other DTS exporters. i.e. it will auto-magically create a collision box the volume of selected object(s). You'll also be able to export a .CFG file from the GUI as well, for those people out there that fear text editors.
Docs will be built right into the exporter UI so no one will be able to use the excuse that they couldn't find them. (you know who you are people) :)
Some of the cool features I'm working on are a DTS setup validator that scans the scene and list problems before you even export (my selfish attempt at reduceing support) and auto collision shape generation similar to the auto bounds generation in some of the other DTS exporters. i.e. it will auto-magically create a collision box the volume of selected object(s). You'll also be able to export a .CFG file from the GUI as well, for those people out there that fear text editors.
Docs will be built right into the exporter UI so no one will be able to use the excuse that they couldn't find them. (you know who you are people) :)
#2
11/15/2004 (9:20 pm)
Cool. I'll have to download the HL2 SDK when this is released. Is it going to be free, BTW?
#3
I'm the proud owner of a new license of XSI 4 Fnd. A Torque DTS exporter sounds plain cool!
Great Stuff... keep us posted
11/16/2004 (3:51 am)
Great!I'm the proud owner of a new license of XSI 4 Fnd. A Torque DTS exporter sounds plain cool!
Great Stuff... keep us posted
#4
bummed that there wasn't an exporter. I've bookmarked your plan and I am following the forum thread.
Keep up the good work. I am one of those Indies that feels XSI is a godsend for us.
11/29/2004 (3:05 pm)
Thanks Matt! I've been wanting to get XSI, and after becoming a licensee of Torque wasbummed that there wasn't an exporter. I've bookmarked your plan and I am following the forum thread.
Keep up the good work. I am one of those Indies that feels XSI is a godsend for us.
#5
11/30/2004 (12:44 pm)
Softimage will be the main tool used for our team with torque, no chance your going to be finished in a few months is there? :)
#6
How much of the exporter matrix features will be implemented?
http://www.alexswanson.com/torque/dts/
How will it deal with the Motion Mixer and the node-based surfacing systems that XSI has?
01/13/2005 (10:09 pm)
Hi, any updates on the XSI exporter project? How much of the exporter matrix features will be implemented?
http://www.alexswanson.com/torque/dts/
How will it deal with the Motion Mixer and the node-based surfacing systems that XSI has?
#7
The exporter will support the entire DTS feature set.
Animation is handled by dealing with the positions of objects, bones, nodes, etc at the time keyframe data is handed off to the exporter so it is very independent of what is driving the animation in XSI. This allow is you to use fcurves, the motion mixer and most of the animation tools in XSI to control your animation.
We are going for a minimalist approach with dealing with the XSI surfaceing system. The only things that are used by the exporter are the UV's and the textures applied to the surfaces. All of the other data is Torque specific and is handled through custom material properties that you can manage via the GUI for the exporter.
01/14/2005 (3:44 pm)
I'll be posting an update on the project sometime in the next few days. For your basic questions:The exporter will support the entire DTS feature set.
Animation is handled by dealing with the positions of objects, bones, nodes, etc at the time keyframe data is handed off to the exporter so it is very independent of what is driving the animation in XSI. This allow is you to use fcurves, the motion mixer and most of the animation tools in XSI to control your animation.
We are going for a minimalist approach with dealing with the XSI surfaceing system. The only things that are used by the exporter are the UV's and the textures applied to the surfaces. All of the other data is Torque specific and is handled through custom material properties that you can manage via the GUI for the exporter.
#8
01/14/2005 (7:35 pm)
Matt- rock on! Sounds like a good design.
#9
Also have you thought about a "custom display host" for XSI-Torque? Apparently it's possible to run a game engine right in the XSI program. There is a neat demo reel showing that on the softimage website.
01/15/2005 (10:58 am)
Matt- are you switching from truespace/gamespace to XSI? I was wondering what the fate of the TS exporter will be and if it will be patched to work with TS 7 if/when TS 7 ever gets released.Also have you thought about a "custom display host" for XSI-Torque? Apparently it's possible to run a game engine right in the XSI program. There is a neat demo reel showing that on the softimage website.
#10
01/28/2005 (8:57 am)
Any news on the progress report?
#11
01/28/2005 (11:49 am)
I'll try to have in up this weekend. My stupid "real job" keeps taking up too much time. If anyone wants to pay my bills I can quit and get this done faster :o)
#12
As I mentioned in email, I would be happy to contribute $ if you put up a paypal donations button. Or if you make the exporter commercial, that would be cool too. Just look at Torque ShowTool Pro it's like $35.
03/08/2005 (10:41 pm)
So Matt, is the Softimage XSI 4 DTS exporter still under development?As I mentioned in email, I would be happy to contribute $ if you put up a paypal donations button. Or if you make the exporter commercial, that would be cool too. Just look at Torque ShowTool Pro it's like $35.
#13
If this tool-project comes to completion...
Will this Softimage XSI 4 DTS exporter for Torque enables us to also export Levels/Maps to the Torque Engine... Or is that all another story/format/etc..
Thanks
03/09/2005 (1:35 am)
Hi Mat...If this tool-project comes to completion...
Will this Softimage XSI 4 DTS exporter for Torque enables us to also export Levels/Maps to the Torque Engine... Or is that all another story/format/etc..
Thanks
#14
03/10/2005 (5:45 am)
I don't know what Matt's working on, but I'm pretty sure it would have to be a separate product. The levels/maps are in different formats than .dts for models as you know. Also there is a different workflow because before exporting the levels have to be validated to make sure they have a legitimate structure that can be turned into a map object, i.e. no concave surfaces, and other geometry issues.
#15
Yes, the XSI DTS exporter is still in development. We have several projects that we are currently working on XSI is just one of them. I expect to be able to say more about it in the next few weeks. Bare with me...
Tiziano: the XSI DTS exporter tool is for exporting players, objects, weapons and vechicles from XSI. There are no plans at the moment to write level building tools for XSI. If you havent already take a look at the Torque Constructor thats in the works.
03/10/2005 (9:22 am)
Hello all,Yes, the XSI DTS exporter is still in development. We have several projects that we are currently working on XSI is just one of them. I expect to be able to say more about it in the next few weeks. Bare with me...
Tiziano: the XSI DTS exporter tool is for exporting players, objects, weapons and vechicles from XSI. There are no plans at the moment to write level building tools for XSI. If you havent already take a look at the Torque Constructor thats in the works.
#16
03/11/2005 (9:05 pm)
Matt- fantastic! I look forward to seeing your exporter. Torque Constructor sounds very useful too
#17
It was funny the other day when I posted here... then went to check the DelD mapping apps... then came back to GG pages and saw Torque Constructor news... just on time:) even if of course we don't know when Contructor will be ready.
I hope you can get time to finish off your XSI DTS tool very soon:) I guess will support animations?... as XSI is probably the only App without one to use with Torque:)
Thank you for your efforts, remember, you don't need to sleep and eat... you only need to see this tool completed... ermm well... just trying my jedi powers! :)
03/12/2005 (1:32 am)
Yes Matt thanks for the update...It was funny the other day when I posted here... then went to check the DelD mapping apps... then came back to GG pages and saw Torque Constructor news... just on time:) even if of course we don't know when Contructor will be ready.
I hope you can get time to finish off your XSI DTS tool very soon:) I guess will support animations?... as XSI is probably the only App without one to use with Torque:)
Thank you for your efforts, remember, you don't need to sleep and eat... you only need to see this tool completed... ermm well... just trying my jedi powers! :)
#18
03/12/2005 (6:55 pm)
Matt- is it safe to assume the XSI exporter will support standard chains and IK, but not the XSI spine/hips/chest type of objects?
#19
See the training DVDs and the XSI docs for more information on Shadow Rigs. They basically let you create a simple rig that has animation mapped to it from a more complex rig. All of the controlers, up vectors and other tools are used to control the complex rig and then the actual animation of the complex rig is mapped to a simple box rig that you use for your DTS export.
03/12/2005 (9:21 pm)
You can use the advanced character tools in XSI for animation but the rigs are way to complex to be exported and used with Torque. Instead you can remap the animation from the compex rig to a Shadow Rig and use the animated shadow rig for export to DTS.See the training DVDs and the XSI docs for more information on Shadow Rigs. They basically let you create a simple rig that has animation mapped to it from a more complex rig. All of the controlers, up vectors and other tools are used to control the complex rig and then the actual animation of the complex rig is mapped to a simple box rig that you use for your DTS export.
#20
03/12/2005 (9:35 pm)
Alright! That sounds excellent I will check out Shadow Rigs. Thanks -Alex 
Torque 3D Owner dsfsd
I've been playing around with XSI a little in my spare time. Half-Life 2 & all....
:-)