Hi, Is it possible to create an exporter for gmax? How? Thanks

You can write an exporter using MAXscript.

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When I''m in command, every mission''s a suicide mission!

No, you can't. GMax is NOT what at first glance it appears to be: a freeware or stipped down version of 3DS. That is not what it was created for. It was designed only to be compatible with games that provide "game packs". You use a game pack that came with the game you want to customize to create and export new models. The developers of these games paid $$$ for the SDK to write their own exporters. So if you want to export to your own format you join Discreet's developer program "Spark", pay up some money, and then you can export. Now, there is a little catch. One of those companies that created game packs for their game was a little company called Id. They made a pack for Quake III which will export to .md3 format. This format just happens to be one which is fairly commonly known. In fact, there are tutorials all over the place that will explain how to parse a .md3 file. Good luck!


All you will ever need to know.

[edited by - CodeMunkie on August 28, 2003 3:15:51 PM]

I hate GMAX. At first, it seemed cool. But now, I notice that you must find an expensive exporter to do it, while probaly breaking the EULA. You will have to use Blender or OpenFX. Milkshape 3D only costs 25 USD, and is really good.

Scott Simontis
e-mail:ageofscott@comcast.net
AIM:ssimontis

Yeah the gMax SDK is $25,000 USD per seat of full version of 3DS Max.

You can write a Max Script, but be warned that many of the functions to access geometry have been removed... to keep people from writing exporters .

Lamont G.
CG Artist
Chula Vista CA
http://www.digitalweapon.net

You can try, but even if you are successful at it be careful not to get caught by Discreet for violating some term of the license agreement.

If you''re able to write an exporter (with MaxScript) for GMax, you''re probably not allowed to use it, because if you were they could as well give you 3DSMax for free.

Please correct me if I''m wrong, because I can''t compare GMax to 3DSMax

That is a lot for something that small. Wow.

Scott Simontis
e-mail:ageofscott@comcast.net
AIM:ssimontis

As noted in a previous post. GMax was a tool designed to sell to game developers as a replacement for spending engineering time and money creating their own redistributable level and model tools for their game MODS. For MOD makers this tool is a god send. Why? Well before GMax ID software would have to either buy or create their own modeling tools/level tools (radiant anyone?), and the makers of unreal would also need to either buy or create their own modeling tools (unreal ed?), needless to say you can see the trend here where each engine needs it''s own MOD tools, and each game needs to add/remove features from said tool. GMax creates a common interface which can be used cross games, developers buy this product in order to save time and money developing tools that the MOD community may or may not like. This is what GMax is, and why it costs so much. If you want to make models you can save yourself a whole lot of cash and just buy 3d studio max, use blender, or milkshape.