Maya, torque and bsp trees

#1 There are two primary 3d content file formats in Torque. First there is DTS:

Quote:DTS (Dynamix Three Space) shapes are used for character models, weapons, vehicles, trees, and other detailed objects in your scene. This format allows incredible detail and complex animation capabilities, but simplifies collision to a bounding box or few convex brushes.

So because of the simplified collision (not BSPs) you shouldn't use DTS shapes for complex interiors.

Now you have the DIF format:

Quote:DIF (Dynamix Interior Format) shapes are used for large, static shapes that characters can enter into and collide with in a detailed manner, such as buildings. This format is based on convex brush construction, and uses a number of optimization tricks to boost culling and collision performance.

From my experience trying to export DIF interiors from Maya is a bad idea. Maya allows you too many tools to shoot yourself in the foot with when making an interior which should only consist of convex shapes. There are some utilities for Maya to help you with this, but i don't know of any that i'd trust for shipping a game with.

I understand why you would want to circumvent QuArK (alot of people find it painful to use). There are other options; you have Worldcraft/Hammer, Cartography Shop (now with a real DIF exporter... shameless plug), Q3Radiant, or Gamespace. Each has it's pros and cons.

My suggestion is to check out the DIF export matrix and really try to create a map with each one to test them.

#2 Thank you. This was exactly the information I was looking for!