May/June - Noob - Some Guy
 

I'm in. I havn't tried too much animation before. Now i gotta think of an idea.

OK, i am going to be animating Alyx from Half life 2. Just wondering though, is there any way to get a skinned and jointed model form 3DS Max into Maya.I don't have much expirience with 3DS so it would make it easier to animate if i had it in maya.

it's possible, but not without some pretty expensive transfer tools. At best, with nothing but the apps native forms, you can transfer the model, but not the rig.

Ok, i got an SMD importer for 3Ds wich gets a rigged HL2 model but i have trouble using 3Ds after doing maya for so long. I am in the process of rigging this in maya.
I also managed to convert the HL2 Textures so it will look better.

nice idea to use a premade game model some guy :)
its quite tempting to do the same (with a different model though)

should b cool

ps. how do u get the models from the game? do u only need the game CD or is it more complicated

nice idea though

U need the cd and you need to be able to de-compile the models using GF Scape (Or something similar). Then you can use the SMD decompilers that come with the SDK and SMD importers to get it into 3DS (There is a way to get it into maya but i havn't figured it out yet).

If you want a more Detailed explination just ask :)

I have decided to use another model (Still form HL2) that will be easier to animate. I found a script that gets the skeleton into maya but then i had to go back and Skin/weight the mesh.
This one is beter because it is wearing bulkier clothing wich means there wont be as much noticable deformation problems.

Here is my first animation test. It is not the final thang

http://media.putfile.com/anim1

better ojne

http://media.putfile.com/Anim-2

Here is a fast walk cycle. I still need to decide what i am actually planning on doing.

http://media.putfile.com/anim-test3

nice lookin model to do it with

i like the anim with the box, its good u have made it shake as well which makes it more realistic

some more info would be nice however at the mo do u have to take it into max (bein u dont know how to get it staigh to maya) as i would be a ble to do this

thx and good luck

yeah, the box one is great- 'cept that one c+C would be to make him lift his foot a bit more when he steps back.

But it really is good.

But the walk cycle- no offence but I don't like it :p

try looking at this:

http://www.biomotionlab.ca/Demos/BMLwalker.html

Helped me get my walk cycle.

Good luck,
Matt :alien:

Agreed about the walk cycle.

The arms don't even shift on time.

The walk cycle was done in about 10 minites so that is why it is bad. Thanks for the link MAtt :)
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PB Man: Firstly, you have to download GFC SCAPE from Here

http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=25

Then you need to find your steam folder and your "STEAM APPS" folder. You then need to open your 'SouceModels.GFC' file. This can't open if you have STEAM running so close it.

This is were it gets kinda tricky.

Find the model that you want to extract and grab all of it's coresponding files, EG if you want to get Barney you should get every file above and below the 'Barny reference' file that has the word Barney in it.

You then extract it to a folder of your choice. Mine is on the desktop. I have included a ZIP with a program called MDL Decompiler. you HAVE to put this in your SDK bin folder.
Like this

C:\Program files\Steam\Steam apps\User Name\souresdk\bin

You can then use this to extract the MDL's to your folder of choice.

I will aslo include the SMD importer for Max. witch yuo put in your scripts folder.
Thats all you need to do. The Models will be skinned and animatable.
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Hope this help's :)