Plan for Matt Summers
by Matt Summers · 10/05/2005 (12:28 am) · 45 comments
Now that I have the official ok to post some information about the projects we've been working on here at Dark Industries, I figured its about time to let you folks know that we are still around and still working hard on exporters and other projects.One of the projects we've been working on is the new 3DS Max 7 DTS exporter. This is a complete rewrite using the DTSSDK+ and includes a complete MaxScript utility that automates all of the DTS settings and features.
The Max 7 DTS utility is divided into separate managers that contain automation tools to help make the DTS setup process as easy as possible. The exporter UI is user resizeable with a built in minimize button that shrinks the UI to a tool bar size to free up screen space.
The UI can also be docked in any max view port and remembers its last size and screen location each time it is opened. There are also quick setup/quick export tools that let you literally export any simple object with one button click in the UI. We will be keeping the Max exporter up to date from this point on, and shortly after Max 8 comes out the exporter will be updated work with it.
Another long awaited update is on our progress with the XSI DTS exporter. The core exporter is feature complete and the exporter is compatible with both XSI 4.x and the newly released 5.0. I am now in the process of porting all of the automation tools from the new Max 7 exporter Utility to work with the Softimage XSI so that the feature set and work flow in both 3d apps will be as close as possible.
Shortly after IGC we will be releasing the beta of the free lite version of the XSI exporter, we are still working out what features will be available in the free version so I will post more information on that when it becomes available.
Also, upcoming builds of both the Max 8 and XSI 5 will be available in 64-bit versions. We are in the process of upgrading our operation systems and compilers to be able to support the 64-bit versions of these 3d tools as well the existing 32-bit versions.
Another project we've been working on is a complete website solution for Indie Game developers that has everything needed to create and edit a professional website for your game company. The website features a full content management system at allows you easily add any amount of content, news, forums, downloads, screen shots, blogs and many other features needed by game developers. I'll be posting more information about the Indy Game Sites CMS system in my next plan.
I finally got to take a vacation this year and a few weeks ago I got back from a road trip with my girl friend. We drove my Miata from Western Wisconsin to Yellow Stone National Park in Wyoming and back in about a week and a half and around 2500 miles round trip. Let me tell ya that is a long drive, but there is some amazing scenery along the way. Anyone who has never been there, go check it out, it is definitely worth the trip...
For anyone who is headed to IGC, Ill be there with the latest builds of both of the new exporters. If you flag me down and have any questions I'll be more than happy to answer them there.
#2
10/05/2005 (12:40 am)
Wow that Max 7 tool looks great. They are about to ship Max 8.. (grr)..
#3
:)
10/05/2005 (12:44 am)
Quote:shortly after Max 8 comes out the exporter will be updated work with it...
:)
#4
I'm on my second miata now. And cool about the max plugins :) about time they got an overhaul.
10/05/2005 (1:31 am)
hey nice car, I love taking mine out on the country routes. I'm on my second miata now. And cool about the max plugins :) about time they got an overhaul.
#5
10/05/2005 (6:14 am)
Can you script the exporter with max script so that no dialogs need to come up? 
#6
I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say (so if I'm out of line, feel free to remove this post and spank me or something =).
But, well... there's actually no need to really script anything. Once the model is set up properly (this can be done with either the above interface or manually, or with your own scripts if you want to) all you need to do to export it is to use the regular File->Export... menu. You can of course do the same from a script too (this works in the old exporter too by the way).
10/05/2005 (6:22 am)
Quote:Can you script the exporter with max script so that no dialogs need to come up?
I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say (so if I'm out of line, feel free to remove this post and spank me or something =).
But, well... there's actually no need to really script anything. Once the model is set up properly (this can be done with either the above interface or manually, or with your own scripts if you want to) all you need to do to export it is to use the regular File->Export... menu. You can of course do the same from a script too (this works in the old exporter too by the way).
#7
10/05/2005 (6:35 am)
Well my script that I have right now doesn't require the user to press any key in max. I drag the file onto the max icon and it launches, prepares the mesh and exports the dts then exits. I just export the whole shape currently but it would be nice to be able to only export dsq's and stuff without dialog boxes.
#8
10/05/2005 (6:42 am)
If you can do it with the old exporter, it's doable with the new one. You may have to adjust your setup scripts slightly, but the process when doing things manually is more or less the same.
#9
10/05/2005 (10:00 am)
Excellent! I can't wait for both the MAX and XSI exporters; although I admit I have been dreaming at night of having an XSI exporter for a very long time. Good work Matt!
#10
just kidding. Looking forward to testing & buying the XSI exporter. I'm sure it will be excellent!
10/05/2005 (10:42 am)
@Matt- you should have told your girlfriend to get up on the hood. :-) just kidding. Looking forward to testing & buying the XSI exporter. I'm sure it will be excellent!
#11
10/05/2005 (12:13 pm)
Dito as above except for really looking forward to that Max Exporter.. can't wait to see that released!! 
#12
10/05/2005 (7:52 pm)
I've been waiting for a Torque exporter for XSI before I buy it, it looks like there will be another license sold soon. Thanks for contributing to the Torque experience. 
#13
10/05/2005 (8:27 pm)
Thanks Matt...Glad to see your close. I just updated my XSI to 5.0 today.
#14
10/08/2005 (5:44 am)
Thank you for developing an XSI exporter that is compatible with 5.0. I will be one of your first customers!
#15
10/12/2005 (11:01 pm)
Just want to thank you for your work on the XSI Exporter and I anxiously await its release!
#16
Would you be able to share the expected dates for the XSI and Max exporters? Also, how much for them? I understand there's a free lite version for XSI. Thanks.
10/20/2005 (9:23 pm)
Hi Matt,Would you be able to share the expected dates for the XSI and Max exporters? Also, how much for them? I understand there's a free lite version for XSI. Thanks.
#17
Anything that simplifies the DTS export process is going to be useful for sure :)
10/22/2005 (11:15 pm)
Something that I was thinking of doing that might be handy would be a maxscript that exported a text file including name and transform info to a .mis compatible file for cut and paste. Might be too specific to my needs, as it's primarily for building levels in 3dsmax and exporting instances of levels constructed of destructible object states. Woudl be interested to know if anyone else had a use for a tool like this.Anything that simplifies the DTS export process is going to be useful for sure :)
#18
10/24/2005 (5:56 am)
I'm actually working on something like that right now but it's pretty specific to what I'm working on. You want to export datablocks to a .cs file right? I'm not sure how well it could be generalised though. 
Torque Owner Jeremy Alessi