REPLACED PIC.

(showcasing a program, I wrote it -- no, I didn't make the models -- I wrote the program ... sheesh)

Ok, after some big code kleanup, I have:



I've begun support for multiple models, animation files, skins, shaders etc. Specular highlights, blending, and environment mapping are supported at this point. Right now all models sport the same animatioon, which will be rectified when I can get around to it.

Of course, in fixing some things, I've broken others, now I get to write an entire bolton code that works for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

BTW, I'm really digging the forum changes.

And what exactly is this program for? Displaying model animations?

Anyways I like the little boxes. :p

[Edit: What the hell? I am 99% sure the DFMod team does NOT want the Dark Trooper 1 model shown at this time! I request you remove it immediately unless you received specific permission... .'/]

It'll display animations, but it'll also make them.

It's also the first program I've written, and as such has needed much reworking as I've learned from my mistakes.

Cool. What about my DT question? (Sorry about the PM, I thought you might be offline.)

OK good, just checking. Wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a surprise for the full game or not.

In good faith (and not wanting to start 'somethin') I've replaced the pic

Tell me, can you perhaps combine individual animation sequences from multiple files? Since the SP allows one extra animation file, it would be nice to collect and gather the needed animations from multiple sources until you had just the animations you need.

ARGGG! Wudan.. Is god! All worship or die! I just got finished playing KOTOR.. SWEET! That game I can get lost playing for hours on end. And, I go to thinking. Well, they "use" swords. And those swords somehow deflect lightsabers. Then terms of personal animation comes to mind. Can there be a ability to replace current SP animations? With this app? And for MP, can there be ways to make, ummm.. Animations for sure.. But actions or events in which can work with map physics? Meaning, MP.. See a NPC-GUARD1. Come behind him, choking him or straggeling him. MGS/SplinterCell Style. Or use him as a human sheild. Could that be possible to do for MP? Or would there be limits? Your my god right now dude! I mean it!

And Ja I got xbox and all that. Any sort of inspirations to doing some neat things and making them user friendly. Anything I can do or get. Would be good for the rest of us :P.

In response to both lassev and SilentSavur, yes, both of what you're suggesting as features and possibilities are feasible.

The animations go in-game exactly the same manner in which Keshire has done this, except I'm not using SoftImage|XSI or 3dsmax.

I wanted to be able to load as many models as I felt like expressly for the reason of making cutscenes and action/reaction animations would be much easier to coordinate with multiple models/animations being created at one time.

As for lassev's suggestion, yes, it's feasible to break existing animation files up and repeice them, although it's not implemented or necessarily planned at this point.

Hell, I'd just like to get it in working order (that is, exactly to specification) so I can release it.

Any idea how long it's been since I released ANYTHING? Too long, that's for sure.

You should allow the selection of bones and the exporting of ONLY those bones' animation.

JediKirby

They had a shot of the DT1 on the April Fools joke.

Wudan. Email it to me. >.>

daniel(dot)wilkes(at)gmail(dot)com

A slightly humorous pic. I was just testing out the new model loading system. Up next: A much beefier bolton system.

Come on shake your body, baby do that Conga!

You're not giving it to me! Give it to me faster!

Yeah I checked it, it's only the head tho.

Also, that model's skin is newer than the released model (you can tell by the April Fools pic).

Wow.

What did you write the program in?

C++.

/me awaits new version of Dragon

Thrawney[Numbers], I'm afraid I am going 'balls out' on this one - I'm trying to do everything I ever wanted on this project, so don't be sad if it takes a while. It's been over two years, but the plus is that I've had enough time to learn to do this stuff right.

I've rewritten the bolton-system so basically you can attach as much stuff as you want to the models, even multiple models to the same bone, etc. And shhhh, but I've also reworked the saber system to support as many damn sabers as you've got in there - so if you bolt a saber to ... lets say, a models head, along with one to each hand and foot, it would work. It'd be nasty, but hey, it's your gig

Yes, Luke does not look cool. I think the saber looks ok.



You tell me.

Cannot comprehend. Cranial failure in five...four...three...two...one...

Seriously though, I'm not sure I see what you're saying, apart from "no." :p

Get this done, and you will revolutionize JO/JA modding.

no pressure or anything...
-S

Aw, Thrawney[Numbers], I'd hoped you'd understand better than that. Basically, I want to finish a few more things up and write some kind of a manual before I begin handing things out. You've been incredibly helpful in the past, of course I will hook you and Cazor up with this beasty thing.

I just want to get everything in order first, that's all

Well, I wish that were true. Saavy modders already can make new animations and get them in game. When I started this project, nobody beleived that new animations could be added, barring some new kind of tool from Raven Software. They (somewhat stubbornly) didn't beleive people could get their hands on an animation program that could handle it, and especially didn't beleive that it was something modders would want to do.

Basically, almost independently of what I'm doing here, other modders, such as ASk and Corto (for JO) and Keshire (for JA) got it all working, without all the hard work that I've gone through. Granted, I respect people who can build skeletons and repair hierarchy using very expensive software, but I don't think it was as hard for them to do as it has been for me.

Anyways, I'd have had all of this done a long time ago except for two things:

(1) I'm a perfectionist and I can't bring myself to release something that's not up to my own personal standard, and;
(2) I can't seem to find time or energy to finish it. This recent work was actually very easy, and I guess in my head I'd made it up to be something very hard. Using linked lists and completely re-writing major chunks of code, I've paved the way to actually adapting this technology to other things, like actually making a game with it, or adding other things, like making new models with it or something. I have another project I'm working on, and RTS (or TTS) engine, and I fancy the idea of an RTS/TTS using Ghoul2 gibbing power. Of course, that's all pipe dreams right now. It's a high priority to finish Dragon. Sadly, school comes first sometimes.

Ah, gotcha. Does it do keyframing yet?

The most important question from me is...

Where did you get that lightsaber effect? It certainly doesn't look like Raven's.

Make a pic of the lightsaber blade coming out of their ears.

*cookie to anyone who knows where I got the idea*

http://3do.jediknight.net/dcm/strips/07.gif