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46

Feature requests, suggestions / Even higher resolutions

« on: June 28, 2005, 09:52:51 AM »

Specifically 1280x1024 and 1600x1200. Those aren't very common, but I can think of one commercial title that went all the way up. Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring.

47

Software and games / The Starving Developer's Quickstart Guide UPDATED June 9th, 2007

« on: June 26, 2005, 09:48:04 PM »

This is a compilation list featuring useful reference sites, quality programs and tools, and services that are ideal for the indie developer on a tight budget.

Bolded items are programs worth checking out first. This is based on my opinion, as well as others but they are very nice and do what they do very well.

If someone finds any dead links, errors, unforgivable omissions ( ), or something else, please post away.

2D:
Paint.NET - free paint program that should get you by for most things...NET 2.0 and soon NET 3.0 required
The Gimp - Photoshop knockoff..free & very powerful but has a quirky UI
Project Dogwaffle - "natural" paint & animation program...free version but commercial versions are stellar
ArtRage 2 - very inexpensive “natural” paint program...poor man's Dogwaffle
Paintshop Pro - paint program...commercial product
Pixel - Photoshop knockoff
Deep Paint 2 - free & powerful paint program
openCanvas - paint program...commercial product
Flash Maker - cheap Flash-like editor
Inkscape - Illustrator/Freehand knockoff with PDF export...free and it gets the job done
Anime Studio - 2D bones based animation...has some 3D import capabilities...formerly known as Moho
Texture Maker - general purpose seamless texture generator
Wood Workshop - procedural seamless wood texture generator...free
Genetica 2 - procedural seamless texture generator...Wood Workshop is based on it
Caustics Generator - water texture generator...free
Graffiti Creator - online graffiti generator...free and new commercial version
PNG Gauntlet - fantastic PNG converter & optimizer
GUIGenie - GUI builder...free

3D:
Blender - jack of all trades...free and powerful
Wings 3D - modeling/rendering with FBX import/export but no animation or bones support...free
Silo - modeling/rendering...like Wings only better and commercial
CB Model Pro - intuitive, Zbrush-like program for organic modeling and painting. OBJ export and free after email registration. Ideal for high poly models for normalmaps
Milkshape - modeling/animation...essential for model format conversion purposes
Gamespace - modeling/animation/rendering...commercial
MarbleCLAY - lots of features and free...must register to unlock some features...click English for English page
AC3D - easy on the eyes UI...your standard modeling app
Misfit Model 3D - open source modeling program
SharpConstruct - mold organic models from clay-like materials
Daz Studio - Poser-like figure creation and similar license restrictions apply. Nice for 2D renders or 2D animations...free
MakeHuman - figure creation...free
3D World Studio - level editor...commercial
Truebones.com - inexpensive motion capture...if you can get it to work (try fragMotion), this is both a steal and an animation paradise
DeleD - level and model editor hybrid...free version
TreeMagik - low poly tree creator
Ultimate Unwrap - model unwrapping and UVs
UVMapper Classic - OBJ model unwrapping and UVs..free version
fragMotion - character animation program...fantastic and powerful....low cost
CharacterFX - old animation program
LifeForms Gamepak 1 - premade game animations
Character Shop - premade game animations
Nem's Terrain Generator
Terragen - photorealistic scenery rendering
FreeWorld3D - terrain editor targeted for game development...commercial and superb
World Machine - procedural terrain generator w/erosion...free version
gile(s) - global illumination editor(texture baking/lightmaps)
Newton Dynamics - free physics engine

Other:
Inno Setup - installer..free
CreateInstall - installer..free version
NSIS - installer...free
Molebox - non extracting file packer
TalkToMe - lipsyncing SDK for 2D or 3D
Audacity - audio editor..free
Kristal Audio Engine - Cubase clone...free and open source
Divx - video codec...high compression & quality..free for noncommercial use
XVid - superior open source video codec....will open Divx files.....free to use
TMPGEnc - video convertor
Fraps - video capture...free version
Taksi - FRAPS knockoff...open source video capture...free
Virtualdub - powerful video compression app...free
VLC Media Player - open source video/audio player...free
dBPowerAMP - audio convertor with nice UI...lots of codecs...free
Exact Audio Copy - free audio ripper..the best in the world
BurnAtOnce - feature rich CD/DVD burning application...free
LAME MP3 Encoder - the best MP3 encoder...use with Exact Audio Copy
Font Creator - a nice TTF creator, editor, and viewer
SubtitlesK5ky - add subtitles to AVI..free
RAD Video Tools - video/image/sound convertor & tweaker...free
Open Office - MS Office knockoff....graphics, spreadsheets, powerpoint, word processing and more.....free
7-Zip - file archiver/compression...free
Motek Entertainment - huge BVH repository
TikiWiki - free
osCommerce - open source online shop e-commerce software...free
SmartFTP - free FTP client
Core FTP LE - free FTP client
Website Baker - open source PHP website software...free
WordPress - free blog software, "5-minute installation"
Photobucket - online image hosting
Putfile - online image hosting
Large file upload services - useful for large resource and demo dispersement
Bittorrent - useful for large resource and demo dispersement..eliminates webhosting and bandwidth consumption...free
Pidgin - multi-platform, multi-protocol, instant messaging client; formerly known as Gaim...free
Trillian - multi-protocol, instant messaging client...free
Open Clip Art Library - vector based....read license...free
1001 Free Fonts - free fonts

Reference and organizations:
Anatomy Atlases - large selection of anatomy atlases
3D Science - medical models and images...prices vary...some freebies
Human Photo References for 3D Artists and Game Makers - this site contains nudity...you've been warned
More human photo references and environmental textures - this site contains nudity...you've been warned
Morgue File - royalty free photo reference site...commercial usage permitted
Buildings & Structural reference sites - just what it says
Public domain art links - just what it says
Google Earth - satellite photos of just about everywhere...broadband required....free
LipSync - tutorial
Low poly modeling and texturing tutorials
Onnovanbraam blueprints - vehicles & people
Vehicle blueprints
ANIMAX - free textures
Turbo Squid - 2D/3D resource buy/sell site
CafePress - service that allows you to sell merchandise based on your company/game...free
IGDA - International Game Developer's Association
DevMaster - game developer siste
Gamasutra - free registration is mandatory to read articles on this game developer/news site
Gamedev - popular game developer information site
GameTab - game reviews and news compilation site
GameProducer.Net - insider info and tips blog from a real game producer
Indiegamer Forums - discuss everything related to indie life and more with real indies
Publishers - just what it says…a list of publishers
Shareware Directories - listing of most of the major shareware distributors
PAD file information - PAD files are used to expediate online, automated information gathering
3D Engines Database - huge list of 3D engines
2D Adventure Engines - list of 2D engines..most are specifically made for point & click adventure games

Here's another list on the Gamedev forum. There's a bit of overlap, but it's biased more towards programmers: http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=324643

Here's yet another list containing hundreds of freeware/shareware programs: http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/freeware.html

And another: http://www.bakhter.com/

***UPDATED: June 9th 2007***

48

Technical forum / Re: 3D BGR questions, a couple of them.

« on: June 23, 2005, 07:37:03 AM »

I know OB, but i'm trying to avoid Blender, you might be used to it, but with my 30 year old brain, i just find it too complex... but, well, if there isnt any simpler way, i'll give it a shot.

10X M8!

Hey, I'm 30, too. Go to the Blender site and run through all those tutorials. Blender looked like a jumbled mess before I read them. It's still an eyesore, but at least I know my way around and where all the important buttons are at. Like anything else, it takes practice and some time.

49

Technical forum / Re: 3D BGR questions, a couple of them.

« on: June 22, 2005, 09:09:40 AM »

has someone come with an alternative solution to 3DS MAX for exporting cameras and lights in the 3DS file (maybe a cheaper software)?

Unless I missed something, Blender is still the only free/cheap option ->  http://www.blender3d.org/

Get the required export plugin here -> http://forum.dead-code.org/index.php?topic=767.0

50

Feature requests, suggestions / Re: 3D characters discussion

« on: June 19, 2005, 08:22:58 AM »

The MS format doesn't supported weighted bones. This fact came up over at the Gamestudio forum recently, although I can't remember how Milkshape got into it. I think it would be nice if one day WME did support a format that supports every major feature under the sun. It might even be nice to have it's own format and offer the source so others can develop plugins for 3rd party modeling apps. That way, you get a format that does everything the users want(from beginners to advanced). However, that's probably a very tall order, and unlikely to happen any time soon.

51

Software and games / MS Expression/Acrylic

« on: June 14, 2005, 10:46:49 AM »

http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/e/7/1e7ca4ef-46f0-4acd-abb6-d3d8618d6c3c/AcrylicBeta.zip - direct link to file

Expression is like Adobe Illustrator only it can also handle bitmaps. Acrylic(a codename) is the next version of Expression, and will become a commercial product one day, but it's free, for now. Windows XP SP2 required.

52

General Discussion / Re: The problem of 3D characters

« on: June 06, 2005, 08:29:04 AM »

Unless you're using a dedicated modeling package(like Wings), most 3D packages will allow you to skin/rig right there. There are specialized programs, though. There's one called fragMotion which I've whored around the internet for some time. It seems to be building a nice reputation and is something to look into for rigging and animation. As for skinning, look at Ultimate Unwrap.

http://www.fragmosoft.com/
http://www.unwrap3d.com/

53

Software and games / Re: Deep Paint 2.0 is freeware

« on: June 02, 2005, 08:14:33 AM »

I've never used Painter 9, so I can't give a valid comparison.

This explains why they downgraded it to freeware:  http://www.righthemisphere.com/forum/announcement.php?s=04a74ccd0e2b7429a398449cd7f43985&forumid=50

54

Software and games / Deep Paint 2.0 is freeware

« on: June 01, 2005, 02:07:39 AM »

http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3000-2191_4-10398243.html?tag=lst-2-7

Deep Paint offers a realistic painting experience for digital artists and graphics professionals. Deep Paint intergrates stroke-by-stroke artistic photo-cloning, fully editable brush and canvas settings, and paint functionality for realistic and stunning paint effects. Experience thickly textured oils, bold acrylics, and dramatic watercolors. Deep paint simplifies your artistic workflow as a Photoshop plug-in or standalone application, with special support for the Wacom Intuos or compatible pressure sensitive pad.

55

General Discussion / Re: WME 1.4

« on: May 23, 2005, 04:46:57 PM »

Great update. Thanks again.

56

Feature requests, suggestions / Re: Updates: frequent vs large

« on: May 15, 2005, 10:30:04 AM »

Less frequent unless there's a crazy bug that needs squashing because of game crashing reasons.

57

Software and games / Re: fragMotion - character animator - Milkshape support

« on: March 01, 2005, 04:21:53 AM »

Here are the first three tutorials that I know of, and they'll be updated as new features get implemented:

Part 1...creating bones: http://binarypictureshow.com/site/staticpages/index.php?page=20050215083136858

Part 2...assigning vertices: http://binarypictureshow.com/site/staticpages/index.php?page=20050220201625232

Part 3...animation: http://binarypictureshow.com/site/staticpages/index.php?page=20050227232746414

58

Software and games / Re: fragMotion - character animator - Milkshape support

« on: February 11, 2005, 05:46:29 PM »

He's really been updating this program over the past few weeks. Lots of bug fixes, 3D Gamestudio support(which I requested..I still use it), and now Biovision and Poser BVH support which is fantastic since I can use it with Motek's huge assortment of free(for non commercial use) BVH files.

59

General Discussion / Re: Welcome Jonathan Boakes!!!

« on: January 18, 2005, 08:25:27 PM »

Oh yeah, I forgot a couple things...Since there's an "official" WME Blender exporter, I thought I'd let you know there's a Blender MDL7 exporter now. This is useful for people like me who will use both and want to stick to a single modeling app. MDL7 is the 3DGS model format and Blender power users on the forum have said it is great. ventilator created it and he will probably continue to support it since he uses both apps. It only exports vertex animation right now but if he ever figures out 3DGS's oddball bones implementation he'll include the option for that too. I think Conitec is really beefing up the model format for the next couple of updates so I think he said he'll wait until they get it all in place(6.34 I think).

http://www.conitecserver.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=468843

Lastly, they finally updated the demo to reflect most of the new changes that had been added over the last year. You can try out the extra edition for 30 days. It is missing some features(see chart on the homepage) but you'll get the point I'm sure.

I wouldn't really recommend 3DGS for more traditional adventures(if that's your aim). It can do a Broken Sword 3, Gabe Knight 3 style but I'd stick to WME for hybrid 2D/3D games. It's specialized and there's no need to reinvent the wheel. You can those in 3DGS but there are some hoops to jump through and I just don't think it's worth it unless your really really want DX9 shaders and a few other goodies.

60

Software and games / Re: The 2004 TCN Awards

« on: January 16, 2005, 08:54:40 PM »

Not sure if it would qualify, but there's Adventure in Pocia:  http://zio.echoshift.net/

It's a demo that was released in 2004 and although short, it is a complete game. As of this posting, the website is down, but I think it's just a server hiccup.