Which character pack should I buy?

#1 The big differences are:

Bravetree Pack: Max, Maya and Milkshape source files. The skeleton is flexible and can be reused for other characters, but the animations will not transfer correctly unless you use the *exact* same skeleton. The documentation is extensive and explains many things about exporting characters for Torque in detail. Includes two "skins" with layered PSD file.

Soldier Pack: Max source files only. Maya and Blender source files are in the works though. The skeleton is not as easily re-appropriated as the Bravetree skeleton. But, if you use the Torque Skeleton Generator to rig your character (in Max or Maya, Blender coming soon), the soldier animations will transfer. Good docs on getting the character in-game but not much on exporting or working within your 3D application. Includes 12 "skins" with heavily layered PSD file and instructions to make additional custom "skins".

Adam pack: Max source only, uses Biped so cannot be transferred to other programs (well, not very easily.. Anyway I don't think there's any plans to). Biped actually has a more robust and flexible animation transfer system then the Torque Skeleton, but is not compatible anything other than MAX. Don't know about the docs, haven't seen them. Includes two "skins" with layered PSD file. EDIT: Also, Adam Pack has 3 custom LOD models. The other two don't have any.


Hope that helped.

#2 All of the packs are a great deal.. You can't go wrong with any of them. They are all solid meshes will good animations. The best purchase is getting the one that most closely matches your development goals and skills and whose look you like the best.

In terms of which one is best, I like to think of it on a graph like this:

ease of use-------------------------------------------------------- flexiibility.
<-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------->
adam---------------------------soldier ----------------------------girl pack


The adam pack is probably the easiest to use. But it requires character studio.

The soldier pack is easy to use and fairly flexible, but it uses Jeff's torqueSkel so if you want to keep it easy, you need to remain within the bounds of what it does to keep it easy.

The girl pack is the most complex and probably the most flexible in terms of what it can be changed into, but it comes with the price of knowing what you are doing. I successfully changed the girl pack into a skeleton that was used in the boomball bot (without losing any animations) in less than an hour. I would not expect someone new to using max or maya to be able to do that.

so, no 'best'.. it is best from your particular POV and toolset compatability, and confort with working with the animation system.

as for your particular needs as outlined in yoru post, all will work to teach you how to mount a weapon and get it working in game if you take the time to dissect them.

#3

Quote:I successfully changed the girl pack into a skeleton that was used in the boomball bot (without losing any animations) in less than an hour. I would not expect someone new to using max or maya to be able to do that.

You're right, it is possible. I'm not trying to spread false information or anything. :(

#4 They all look great... I chose the Soldier pack since the game I'm getting it for as reference will use some form of futuristic soldiers, hence it made the most sense. If I were to make a Tomb Raider style game I'd probably pick up the girl pack as reference and if I were to make a game requiring a Male tough guy hero then I'd probably pick up Adam. In the end great reference and resources in all.

EDIT: In the end, even if you bought them all for ducumentation, reference, and animations they earn their value... I'll probably end up picking up the other two eventually.

#5 Thanks for the responses, guys.

I do have Max, character studio, and Photoshop, so compatability isn't an issue with any of them.

I have no intention of keeping the same player model, so, for the most part, this is just a learning experience. I do not need something that reflects my intention of game development as I will make my own character model for that.

I'm not excactly sure how to get a player model into TGE (And a second weapon), and I'd like the simplest possible solution (Which appears to be a content pack).

As of now, I'm leaning toward the Girl Pack, but since I have Max, I was wondering if there was a better option out there for a beginner. Is the Girl Pack difficult to place into the engine for a beginner? Would I be able to make my own character models and weapons (and place them in-game) after this purchase?

I'd like to re-use as much as I can from it, but that's definately not a priority.

#6 Girl pack took me about 2 mins to get incorperated ingame as a n00b so yes very easy. It also comes with all scripts so you can see exactly what scripts are required for a player char and some base settings. She also comes with a rifle so you can experiment with getting the crossbow mounted as a 2nd weapon as well.

#7 Girl pack it is, then! Thanks for the help... everyone....

#8 Hi,

I am creating a game like gladiator. These packs look perfect, but I will have to change the texture on Adam. The character does what I need but of course the 20th century clothing has got to change. I am not an artiest, but what would I need, in terms of software, to change Adam into a gladiator. All I want to do is change some of the clothes/boots and do something very simple. Do I need Maya for this?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

#9 Stephen

You could do it in a simple way, just by painting over the texture to make it look like the clothes you want. All you would need would be a graphics editing program. Photoshop is what the pros use, but there is a free program that's very similar called Gimp. Hope that helps

#10 You should be able to get Adam to look quite good as a gladiator, as the quite muscular upper physique, the legs will have to be changed the most, unless you can think of an outfit that suits the look of pants?

#11 Sweet! Thats all the "ammo" I needed. Thanks to everyone. I can't wait to buy the AdamPack :)
I wish AutoDesk would make it a bit more cost effective for Indies. But I'll take texture changes over that any day of the week.

thanks!
-Steve