milkshape 3d

[DsPet]

> After making a model in Milkshape, how do merge them into existing .brres files?
It is messy, email it to me and I'll take a look (no promises)

Be warned, my first comment will probably be: that's way too complex, reduce the number of polygons by X times (where X may be 2 or 20). To their credit, the Nintendo 3D modellers did a good job optimizing their models (also using efficient triangle strips). This makes the items smaller, and easier for the 3D engine in the Wii to render.

[siestacat]

Couldn't you just give us an example? Like a tutorial on how to merge the files and how many polygons you need?

[DsPet]

> Like a tutorial on how to merge the files and how many polygons you need?
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TO REPEAT: It is messy,

FWIW: here's what I did for the spinning PokeBalls 3D model (texturing was done separately)
I used MilkShape-3D to model a simple sphere. I experimentally determined the max size (small enough to fit, but big enough to look round enough). In this case "7 stacks, 12 slices".
I exported it as a "Text" file (very simple 3D file format: final results 74 points, 144 faces/triangles)

I found an existing item, the spinning shells, and extracted the MDL0 file (ITEM_Tool will do that for you)

(now the hard part)
Then I wrote a program to read in the binary MDL0 file for the old spinning shells, and the text file for the new Milkshape3D model, and merge them (along with rotating the 3D model, scaling it to adapt from MilkShape3D coordinates to AC:CF coordinates, and other BRES specific tricks and optimizations...)
(FWIW: you are welcome to the C++ source code to the utility, but I doubt it will make sense; ie. very few comments)
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The maximum size (number of triangles) will depend on the existing BRRES you want to modify. This is not a general 3D tool, it is a hack to squeeze in something new into an existing game. If you are designing 3D models with 1000s of faces, there is no chance it will fit.

NOTE: My tool does not do triangle optimization. MilkShape3D exports triangles only. A smarter tool would do 'triangle strip' optimization which can save significant space. Most of the built in 3D models use triangle strips a lot to save space. We don't have access to the tools that Nintendo uses.

(messy ... another reason that trying to write a general tutorial is a waste of time)

[siestacat]

Alright. I'd love to take a look at the source if you were willing to give it out.

Hey DSPet. I was fooling around with MilkShape and would like to email a model to you to inspect and possibly help me through the messy proscess of making it into a brres file. What is your email address?