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Hello,

It has been a long time since i'v been here. Anyway -

I have been messing around with Google Sketchup 8, And I was wondering what I have to do to import the Building/Props into the Battle Front II Map Maker.

Also, In my first building there are two stories. Do I just put a stairs and in game will people be able to walk up is?

Thanks,
Starzwarz ( Frodo )

look what i found! :-O

XSI FAQ / Tutorials wrote:

• How to get models from SketchUp(free version) into XSI
• How to get models from SketchUp to XSI to SWBF2

and to the secod question: yes, but better use a ramp (atleast for the collision). the ai however does only understand paths in two dimentions, that means you cant have paths for both the first and the secon dlevle if they have different layouts.

If I read right you need to have a program that does xsi files? I'm not a big techy person so it's better If I have people telling me what to do exactly.

Also, I am working on a map in sketchup. Basically and abandoned mall. And was just going to build the all the building on a platform the export the whole thing into what ever program someone sugests.

And here's the process from my understanding - build all buildings and props. Get sides ( probably from someone else ) the save it. Open it into a program and change the file to msh?? The set up the map. Put the mall into it. The I'm done?

Also, in sketchup. Is it fine to use 3d models from their library? Do I have to credit whoever made it?

Thanks

im not sure these tutorials work for Sketchup 8 because i followed all the steps and there were many texture problems in xsi that were just plain weird. and also if i were you i would try and get used to xsi because its just way better with all the more specific features it has over sketchup

Starzwarz wrote:I'm not a big techy person so it's better If I have people telling me what to do exactly.

nearly nobody here is a big tech person but a big aspect of moding is trying things out and fguring out why something oesnt work as wanted.

Starzwarz wrote:Also, in sketchup. Is it fine to use 3d models from their library? Do I have to credit whoever made it?

theoretically yes and yes. the problem is that either, the models in the librabry arent made for games (e.g. they have far too many polygons for rounding), or they were made for games, ripped and put into sketchup wich makes them kind of illegal to use, with some exceptions.

Starzwarz wrote:I'm not a big techy person

Let your passion lead you. Passion is the key.

Hello Everyone, So I have Been working in Skechtup today for awhile. And I have the map 55% Done right now in sketchup!

I was planning on building all the Building in the layout i have right now on a platform n Sketchup and to just export the whole map into XSI then to Battle front II...Is that possible?


The layout is basically a Mall - It has a little out door shopping center with a welcome center. A Large Used Tank and Speeder dealer ship - With platforms that will have tanks and speeders on them. Then there is a large indoor mall. There is also a hidden tunnel going for the strip mall to the Indoor mall. And a couple awesome sniping places for people to find.

Btw - The mall is abandoned - So there are old crates and walls surrounding the whole thing. I created everything myself o far - Boxes, Building etc

Thanks

It is possible to export big models. But if you have a high poly count(number of faces) then I would export it in pieces as mshex sometimes has a hard time with large amounts of polygons and it would be easier to go back and fix texture mistakes which sketchup sometimes has.

you could theoretically make the whole mall one object but you shoundlt do that for performance resons, battlefront would always have to display the whole mall, and its better if a crate is one object and yoiu place it multiple times for the same reason.

Ok. So my crates are basicaly part of the floor..I just tokk a tool. Made a square and rose the Rea I need to be a crate. The I skinned/textured it with a old wooden fence. To tell the truth.. It look pretty good!

Ok, so now only part of the map is a small mall. I am planning on building some business buildings and houses.

Should I just do the mall as on object? Then build four or five different style houses? The whatever props etc in need as different objects?

Thanks, this map is going o be very cool and fun to. I'll try to get some screenies

Starzwarz wrote:Should I just do the mall as on object?

DarthD.U.C.K. wrote:you could theoretically make the whole mall one object but you shounldnt do that for performance resons

It helps to create the models for a map together so you can avoid issues with fitting it all together later. But take it apart when you export it. I make components so I can convert individual models without painstakingly selecting geometry. Also, Sketchup Tip, avoid making groups - they're laggy in the modelling program. Components allow you to model more.

I'm new to the whole mod/mapping thing for battlefront. I have no idea what groups and components are.

Also - how many polygons or face are to many for a model? For my main model has 1200 faces? It is a small trip mall..and welcome center. Along with a "tunnel" that goes outside of the walls around this abandoned little section of a town.

I'm working on a couple different style houses for a couple streets. Along with sith's used tank and speeder..ha. The starwars car dealer.

One last thing - does swbf 2 mod tools have different ground you can put down? Like if I wanted asphalt, dirt, or gravel? I will be getting the computer with battlefront2 tomorrow.

Thanks some of your help so far!

Starzwarz wrote:I'm new to the whole mod/mapping thing for battlefront. I have no idea what groups and components are.

Groups and componts are actually in sketchup. Here is a tut for making components.

Note: any components made have to exploded(right-click>explode) before exporting.

Starzwarz wrote:Also - how many polygons or face are to many for a model? For my main model has 1200 faces? It is a small trip mall..and welcome center. Along with a "tunnel" that goes outside of the walls around this abandoned little section of a town.

I think for a building you should keep it below 3000 and for props under 500, so you should be good.

Starzwarz wrote:One last thing - does swbf 2 mod tools have different ground you can put down? Like if I wanted asphalt, dirt, or gravel? I will be getting the computer with battlefront2 tomorrow.

You can very easily change the terrain texture in modtools. You will probably need to make your own textures for asphalt or gravel though.

Isn't the Sketchup face count different from a poly count? I need a way of telling this stuff while still modeling.

Ok, Thanks!

Couple more questions -

1. After reading some tutorials on how to get the models into XSI - I read you have to change the texture name from texture1 etc to something else? What do I change it too?

2. Also, How do I get to the text file?

3. (off topic ) - What is the best free program to take screens with?

Thanks

1. The texture name doesn't really matter, you can name them anything you want.

2. Asuming you mean the 6.0 xsi file, follow the instructions on this post.

3. I would use xfire because you can use it to take screens and videos then upload them automaticlly, you may also want to try fraps

OK! I finished all the buildings in sketchup...Then I downloaded mod tools. Created/Munged my world...Then from there it went all down hill...I would go to zero editor...But I couldn't figure out how to do anything....Not even get some grass on the floor...

Anyone have any recommended really helpful tutorials?

Also, Would anyone be will to get all my objects into ready form to be put into the level?

It is...Kinda anoying not to be able to do anything but move...and looking at the blue floor drives me crazy...

Thanks!

Try this tut. Its very good if you are just starting to mod.

I might be able to help you convert your models. Check your PMs.

Don't get too dependent on other people to convert models for you, by the way. Also, I don't know about your model, but I would convert to .dae and re-import to Sketchup to find some texture issues. Then fix them on the original model and convert again. I just realized you could do that without leaving Sketchup, haha.