I will pay GarageGames for a Maya Exporter
by Carpenter Software · in Artist Corner · 06/20/2008 (1:19 pm) · 38 replies
I use Maya for all my art work.... I will PAY GarageGames $99 or more for a Mac OS X Torque DTS Exporter with Documentation.
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I am interested in Maya 2008 and above (Future Maya versions).
Carpenter Software
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I am interested in Maya 2008 and above (Future Maya versions).
Carpenter Software
#22
But if you choose another engine and want a Mac OS X solution that works well with Maya, I would strongly recommend Unity. It's a great engine with an excellent Maya pipeline.
Maya Pipeline documentation from Unity
06/21/2008 (8:49 am)
Blaming Autodesk has no point. And if you can install Maya on XP, that's the direction I would recommend since others have been using Maya 2008 and the exporter. I think it was Rubes who noted that the exporter worked on Windows but not on the Mac, but I might be getting confused.But if you choose another engine and want a Mac OS X solution that works well with Maya, I would strongly recommend Unity. It's a great engine with an excellent Maya pipeline.
Maya Pipeline documentation from Unity
#23
I have written several games both in TGB and TGE. I am working to find ways to upload the "ART" in them. It just frustrating sometimes to have to deal with attitudes that do not help.
You and I know that there is a Maya Exporter for the Mac. I obtained it from a university using it in their art program but it is only good for Maya 8.5 and below. I am working to keep several licenses for 8.5 and the current version and it future ones.
Unity is one of the best for importing assets into their engines with no 3rd party ties. GaragesGames should play some active role for the DTS technology in their own game engines.
Yes I am blaming but it is not at Autodesk - so wake up and smell the coffee.
Carpenter Software
06/21/2008 (9:29 am)
David you still do not understand. I realized a long time ago the situation with exporters. If this is what I have to work with so be it. Stop passing the buck. There are people out there who deserve the truth. Just be honest. Convey information that shows consideration for others. I have written several games both in TGB and TGE. I am working to find ways to upload the "ART" in them. It just frustrating sometimes to have to deal with attitudes that do not help.
You and I know that there is a Maya Exporter for the Mac. I obtained it from a university using it in their art program but it is only good for Maya 8.5 and below. I am working to keep several licenses for 8.5 and the current version and it future ones.
Unity is one of the best for importing assets into their engines with no 3rd party ties. GaragesGames should play some active role for the DTS technology in their own game engines.
Yes I am blaming but it is not at Autodesk - so wake up and smell the coffee.
Carpenter Software
#24
I have used the FBX format to get animated content into Apprentice HD.
That same FBX file; once Imported into HD and 'exported'/Rendered to a DTS file, placed in my vanilla 1.5.2 sandbox; loaded with the stock TSSConstructor script all the default MAX generated .DSQ files in the SDK with no errors. If you need help with any 3D graphics issue with DTS; I always make my self available to help anyone get a setup working. It was something I picked up from my first 3D tutor; who said, just pay me back by helping the next guy out....nice schema; I like the elegance of it's simplicity.
I can understand being disappointed a Mac version is not releasing with the WinOS version; but I feel this fact remains, that HD is a very viable solution to the pipeline and the formats needed. I, myself, have purchased a number of platforms to work the pipeline and was very disappointed in more than a few; some had purchase prices well above the Apprentice HD entry point.
There is no lack of trying to wrangle these many platforms now that convert to the DTS/DSQ formats; I remember when there was but 2, when I first evaluated the TGE. In a short time, there was an explosion of exporters to help out; yes from 3rd party's. This output of solutions, I don't see getting narrower, as more and more modeling and animation platforms recognize the potential of the engine and associated tools. what I see is the need to get them organized and as in sync as possible and I now see that need being fulfilled by Derek, the "3rd Party Guy".
I will continue to patiently work the solutions as they arrive and try to get them, as a member of a large Community, to be as cooperative as possible to all artists here.
Again: I'm more than happy to always look at DTS setups and help out, you just need but ask!
06/21/2008 (10:50 am)
@Carpenter[I'm trying to help]: Did you try an FBX export, from your XP Maya, to ApprenticeHD? I am always trying to get the smoothest path the DTS/DSQ; which is why I got involved in testing the WinOS tge ROP for HD. I jumped at the chance to get personally involved with helping the pipeline, from the outside. I am uncertain how many Mac users noticed the HD testing opportunity and chose to help test.I have used the FBX format to get animated content into Apprentice HD.
That same FBX file; once Imported into HD and 'exported'/Rendered to a DTS file, placed in my vanilla 1.5.2 sandbox; loaded with the stock TSSConstructor script all the default MAX generated .DSQ files in the SDK with no errors. If you need help with any 3D graphics issue with DTS; I always make my self available to help anyone get a setup working. It was something I picked up from my first 3D tutor; who said, just pay me back by helping the next guy out....nice schema; I like the elegance of it's simplicity.
I can understand being disappointed a Mac version is not releasing with the WinOS version; but I feel this fact remains, that HD is a very viable solution to the pipeline and the formats needed. I, myself, have purchased a number of platforms to work the pipeline and was very disappointed in more than a few; some had purchase prices well above the Apprentice HD entry point.
There is no lack of trying to wrangle these many platforms now that convert to the DTS/DSQ formats; I remember when there was but 2, when I first evaluated the TGE. In a short time, there was an explosion of exporters to help out; yes from 3rd party's. This output of solutions, I don't see getting narrower, as more and more modeling and animation platforms recognize the potential of the engine and associated tools. what I see is the need to get them organized and as in sync as possible and I now see that need being fulfilled by Derek, the "3rd Party Guy".
I will continue to patiently work the solutions as they arrive and try to get them, as a member of a large Community, to be as cooperative as possible to all artists here.
Again: I'm more than happy to always look at DTS setups and help out, you just need but ask!
#25
Look at the Houdini's Art Forum thread. I personally called Derek at GG. I passed along my situation. He vowed to pass on to me information and any DTS exporter updates.
Rex - I have come to believe that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I have been asking. Help me get my art into the game engines.
Give me a Mac version Maya DTS exporter.
Carpenter Software
06/21/2008 (11:18 am)
Sorry Rex but it's funny. When I first received the NEWS by email about Houdini's Apprentice HD and its Torque DTS exporter and the possible link between Maya and Apprentice via FBX and more importantly it was also a Mac platform software. I said to myself finally I can use my Mac version of Maya in Torque engines. I paid the $99. I transfered stuff from Maya to Houdini's. The stuff looked great in Houdini. OK how and where do I export the DTS file? THAT was the Hair that broke the camels back. "GG did it to me again." There is NO Torque DTS exporter at this time for the Mac. You should have seen me. I think I had scared my 25 year old daughter.Look at the Houdini's Art Forum thread. I personally called Derek at GG. I passed along my situation. He vowed to pass on to me information and any DTS exporter updates.
Rex - I have come to believe that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I have been asking. Help me get my art into the game engines.
Give me a Mac version Maya DTS exporter.
Carpenter Software
#26
I'm sorry you are having a hard time I truly am, but when you are working on a non-mainstream platform - which is exactly what Mac is - you have to get used to delays in products.
I am bowing out of the discussion before Carpenter twists my words even more.
-Then people wonder why no one wants to help people anymore /sigh
Edit: The post I was referring to was deleted. But this one is staying.
06/21/2008 (12:14 pm)
Please do not misquote me Carpenter. I wrote that post and then promptly deleted it after I reread the discussion as the point has been brought up. Also I looked on the Houdini Apprentice product page and it quite clearly has a windows logo on it.I'm sorry you are having a hard time I truly am, but when you are working on a non-mainstream platform - which is exactly what Mac is - you have to get used to delays in products.
I am bowing out of the discussion before Carpenter twists my words even more.
-Then people wonder why no one wants to help people anymore /sigh
Edit: The post I was referring to was deleted. But this one is staying.
#27
06/21/2008 (12:25 pm)
Yes I have made some bad decisions - it seems I get caught up in a spider's web, but I will pay GarageGames for a Mac OS X Torque DTS Exporter for Autodesk Maya with Documentation. 
#28
You should probably get used to this sort of issue if you want to continue using a niche enthusiast platform for game development, though.
06/21/2008 (1:55 pm)
@Carpenter, as I, Ben and David have all said, you're not going to get anywhere if you keep thinking you'll be able to pay GG to fix the Mac Maya exporter. They didn't built it in the first place. You're better off taking some of the *very* good options we've given you advice about, instead of sitting around posting on this thread over and over to no avail. Your time would be better spent booting up a non-niche platform, exporting your stuff there, and continuing on your Mac.You should probably get used to this sort of issue if you want to continue using a niche enthusiast platform for game development, though.
#29
Basically, the Maya 2008 DVD came with both Mac and PC installers. I installed it on my Mac laptop, but after I learned that the Maya2DTS exporter didn't work on the Mac side, I installed it instead on the XP partition of my laptop, so I could run it under Boot Camp. The nice part is that the license is linked to the hardware, and since that didn't change, I could just use the same license key.
So the artists who work in Maya 2008 on the Mac can give me their work and I can just perform the exporting myself in XP, since their files can be opened under either operating system.
I don't think the Mac is quite as niche as some are making it out here to be, especially in the art/modeling/animation world, so I don't think it's a stretch for some people to expect the pipeline on the Mac to be a little more robust than it is. But that's an argument for another time, and it's one that's not necessarily the domain of GG (at least in this case).
06/21/2008 (4:12 pm)
@David: Yes, that was me.Basically, the Maya 2008 DVD came with both Mac and PC installers. I installed it on my Mac laptop, but after I learned that the Maya2DTS exporter didn't work on the Mac side, I installed it instead on the XP partition of my laptop, so I could run it under Boot Camp. The nice part is that the license is linked to the hardware, and since that didn't change, I could just use the same license key.
So the artists who work in Maya 2008 on the Mac can give me their work and I can just perform the exporting myself in XP, since their files can be opened under either operating system.
I don't think the Mac is quite as niche as some are making it out here to be, especially in the art/modeling/animation world, so I don't think it's a stretch for some people to expect the pipeline on the Mac to be a little more robust than it is. But that's an argument for another time, and it's one that's not necessarily the domain of GG (at least in this case).
#30
Doesn't Mac have some virtualization such that you can either run Win in it, or run Win programs in it? I don't remember exactly what it was. Probably something that Apple wants to gouge you for though (since for some reason Mac users like to pay for every tiny semi-useful utility that is free on other platforms*). There's always Wine :p
Personally, I would love to be able to use my favorite enthusiast niche platform(*nix) for games development, and never have to boot Windows again. But since said platform is not the dominant games platform, I hold no delusions that I should be entitled to some sort of perfect support for it, when it's obviously not lucrative to develop for unless you have a monopoly (TextMate comes to mind...).
* - My ex-wife had a Mac, and I recall how excruciating it was to find an IRC client for it that didn't cost $60+. Patently ridiculous that after paying for an already overpriced watered down BSD variant and the luxury of a shiny plastic case, that one has to pay for every tiny utility which would be free on other platforms.
06/21/2008 (5:23 pm)
@Rubes, it IS extremely niche. Mac commands a mighty 3% of worldwide market share for PCs. It's a very vocal, very small, enthusiast niche, and is even MORE niche in terms of games and games development. It's not unreasonable at all that tools for a niche which represents less than 4% of all PCs worldwide doesn't have the best tools support for an even smaller subset of that niche (games development).Doesn't Mac have some virtualization such that you can either run Win in it, or run Win programs in it? I don't remember exactly what it was. Probably something that Apple wants to gouge you for though (since for some reason Mac users like to pay for every tiny semi-useful utility that is free on other platforms*). There's always Wine :p
Personally, I would love to be able to use my favorite enthusiast niche platform(*nix) for games development, and never have to boot Windows again. But since said platform is not the dominant games platform, I hold no delusions that I should be entitled to some sort of perfect support for it, when it's obviously not lucrative to develop for unless you have a monopoly (TextMate comes to mind...).
* - My ex-wife had a Mac, and I recall how excruciating it was to find an IRC client for it that didn't cost $60+. Patently ridiculous that after paying for an already overpriced watered down BSD variant and the luxury of a shiny plastic case, that one has to pay for every tiny utility which would be free on other platforms.
#31
I'll just leave you with this, and you can do with it whatever you like:
- Regardless of the numbers you want to quote for market share, Macs still do make up a considerable portion of the graphics industry, including modeling and animation, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a graphics pipeline to address the Mac community of users
- Apple has Boot Camp, which allows you to boot Windows on your Mac -- not virtualization, and not for any money. It's free. But whatever.
- I have no idea what you're referring to when you say Mac users "like to pay for every tiny semi-useful utility that is free on other platforms." Most of the utilities I need already come with the Mac, and whatever else I need I can usually get as a free download.
- I have many IRC clients that I can use, and all are free downloads. In fact, I can't imagine anyone actually paying for an IRC client, regardless of the platform. I certainly can't imagine paying $60 for one.
- Many successful developers here, like Prairie Games and Pocketwatch Games, will tell you that a large portion of their sales and success comes from Mac users, and that you ignore the Mac market at your own peril.
But again, not particularly something I care to get into.
06/21/2008 (10:37 pm)
I sensed that my comment would of course not go unchallenged, even if I did prefer to leave the argument to another time. Without going into it, I think much of your information is flawed or outright incorrect or misleading, for what it's worth. I hold no illusion that I can possibly convince you otherwise, considering what we know about internet debates, and particularly since you seem to have made up your mind a long time ago.I'll just leave you with this, and you can do with it whatever you like:
- Regardless of the numbers you want to quote for market share, Macs still do make up a considerable portion of the graphics industry, including modeling and animation, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a graphics pipeline to address the Mac community of users
- Apple has Boot Camp, which allows you to boot Windows on your Mac -- not virtualization, and not for any money. It's free. But whatever.
- I have no idea what you're referring to when you say Mac users "like to pay for every tiny semi-useful utility that is free on other platforms." Most of the utilities I need already come with the Mac, and whatever else I need I can usually get as a free download.
- I have many IRC clients that I can use, and all are free downloads. In fact, I can't imagine anyone actually paying for an IRC client, regardless of the platform. I certainly can't imagine paying $60 for one.
- Many successful developers here, like Prairie Games and Pocketwatch Games, will tell you that a large portion of their sales and success comes from Mac users, and that you ignore the Mac market at your own peril.
But again, not particularly something I care to get into.
#32
06/22/2008 (2:11 am)
Have you seen the post of Robert Magee in the Development Snapshot of the Day submitted by Derek Bronson?Quote: Our current target is August for the Mac .dts exporter. We need all our Mac development resources at the moment focused on getting a solid Mac version out the door for July 15th. Attention will then go into the exporter on the Mac.
#34
06/22/2008 (7:59 am)
@Stephan: Danny Ngan's materials are awesome and helpful, but he doesn't offer a Mac version of the Maya2DTS tool for Maya 2008. There is one available, but it has bugs that prevent animation exporting. The other links you provided are for PC only.
#35
The installer goes on to say:
Actually - I cannot get it to work at all - I'll send you a copy for testing.
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I will pay GarageGames for a Maya 2008 exporter for the Mac
Carpenter Software
06/22/2008 (9:59 am)
I tried to locate the url where I downloaded the Mac versions for the Maya 8.5 DTS exporter. Below is the information from the installer file:Welcome to the DTS Exporter installer for Maya. In addition to the DTS Utility mel script, the following plugins are included in this bundle... Maya2DTS for Maya 6.0 (PPC) Maya2DTS for Maya 7.0 (PPC) Maya2DTS for Maya 8.0 (PPC) Maya2DTS for Maya 8.5 (Universal)
The installer goes on to say:
The license for the installed files remains unchanged from the original product. Danny Ngan is the original author and Garage Games distributes the XCode project with TGE. The GRID Lab at Ohio University makes no claim to ownership of this product and accepts no liability for its use.
Actually - I cannot get it to work at all - I'll send you a copy for testing.
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I will pay GarageGames for a Maya 2008 exporter for the Mac
Carpenter Software
#36
Maya2DTS exporter by Clark Fagot at http://www.bravetree.com
Carpenter Software
06/22/2008 (11:37 am)
Inside the About dtsUtility says:Maya2DTS exporter by Clark Fagot at http://www.bravetree.com
Carpenter Software
#37
Anyway, Carpenter, I am glad you found what you've been looking for, and I'm surprised, that everyone has more patience that I'd have guessed. ;)
06/22/2008 (1:29 pm)
I am too using an Intel based iMac right now.. there's Boot Camp, which lets you have partitions. I love my Mac, it's the best thing for composing, but when it comes to coding or gfx, I boot up Windows XP, because Mac is just not there yet. An it won't ever be unless it owns 30%+ of the market. Though afaik, they already have 10%. I might be wrong.Anyway, Carpenter, I am glad you found what you've been looking for, and I'm surprised, that everyone has more patience that I'd have guessed. ;)
#38
Houdini for the Mac will be out soon and the only reason why I want it because it is or will be the best DTS (DSQ) exporter for GarageGames. I just hope the FBX import/export is compatible with Maya.
Carpenter Software
06/22/2008 (1:46 pm)
I also have both Mac OS X and Window XP on the same computer. What do you know about Renderman plugin for Maya by Pixar? It runs on both Windows XP and Mac OS X. The question I find myself asking with any new purchase is - What platform will I buy it for? Usually it is the Mac.Houdini for the Mac will be out soon and the only reason why I want it because it is or will be the best DTS (DSQ) exporter for GarageGames. I just hope the FBX import/export is compatible with Maya.
Carpenter Software
Associate Ross Pawley
Keep in mind as well, that the Maya exporter, as with most Torque exporters, are community built and maintained. You can't really fault Autodesk or GG for not having everything perfect on niche platforms when there are dozens of different apps to support.
Also, if you have XP why don't you just use that for your exporting?
Personally, I love *nix (and think it's far superior to the watered down BSD that is OSX :p), but I'm not really going to begrudge anyone not having *nix support for various things like exporters. It's just not viable to support, since there isn't any money in it. Now, that's not exactly true with Mac, since Mac users are used to being gouged for every possible little utility, but the situation is similar, at least with games.