Learning Project Looking for Devs

[Pranav]

Hello,

A couple of community members and I are working on a test/learning project to really explore into how to make UDK work to one's needs. Currently our goals are as follows:

Import a Custom Weapon and Script It for Use
Import a Custom Vehicle and Script it for Use
Import a Custom Character and Script for Use
Create a Custom UI
Make some interactive AI and enemy AI

It is not a lot of complicated stuff, but it does take awhile, we need some more skilled modelers with in-depth knowledge of preferably Blender, and animation in Blender. *IF YOU OWN A LEGAL COPY OF MAYA OR 3DSMAX or SOFTIMAGE, FELL FREE TO JOIN AS WELL! LEGAL ONLY!* Either ways yes, if you have Blender and you can model very well and animate very well in it, and you know what your doing to export a skeletal mesh with animation to Unreal Editor, then please add me at: pranavwowserver@hotmail.com.

Note: Whatever we successfully accomplish will be thoroughly documented and once completed, will be released to the public to share common knowledge and improve the community. So if you want to get active ( I KNOW IT SOUNDS CHEESY!!), then add me at pranavwowserver@hotmail.com , and try and add a comment as you want to join the learning project.

Experienced U-Scripters as well as people experienced in any aspect of game development with Unreal Engine are welcome, also noobs as well as most of us are first-time users :D.

[thelaw]

I think its a brilliant idea. Just out of curiosity, how many 3D modellers (and artists in general) do you currently have on board?

Also, in my experience, its helps a lot when you have something to work towards. i.e. A story line/concept, kind of like a tech demo.

[Pranav]

Hey thelaw, umm we currently have around3-4 modelers. but I welcome anyone :D, as it is a sort of "community" project, if you hae any skills you can contribute, fell free to add me at pranavwowserver@hotmail.com on MSN, btw we added a custom weapon ingame just over Christmas Break :D:D, kind of happy :D.

[dazdaryl]

Why do you care if people own legal copies of their programs?

How is it any of your business and how would you be able to tell if they had legal copies or not? Does it make a difference?

[thelaw]

@Pranav, I've added you to my MSN. I'm a coder and would like to participate and contribute where I can as I learn how to use UDK.

[Holmes]

Why do you care if people own legal copies of their programs?

How is it any of your business and how would you be able to tell if they had legal copies or not? Does it make a difference?

I can't speak specifically for Pranav, but I can tell you from my perspective it does make a difference.

For one, if you intend on making a game for profit, using illegally acquired programs can result in... well the complete destruction of your company and game. Additionally, it's called morality. Integrity. People gave a lot into making programs like 3DSMax, just for you to screw them and get it for free illegally? Wonder why the economy is failing? Because of situations like that.

[Pranav]

Thank you Holmes, you basically summed it up, yes it is based on truth and honor man. I don't know any REAL way to find out, but wouldn't you rather be safe knowing you did things legally rather than sit there and worry about it?

[dazdaryl]

I cant agree with you,

think of all the awesome Mods and Levels where young kids got their start, educating themselves in their bedrooms with pirate version 3D programs.

Then once they're educated enough to get into the biz they buy the programs they need, programs they never would have bought had they not trained themselves with pirate programs earlier on.

The people who pirate the programs generally cant afford them otherwise.


Wonder why the economy is failing?

I'm Australian and our economy isnt failing.

[Pranav]

daz, I totally understand your point of view, but you OBVIOUSLY have no understanding of how a COMMERCIAL game is or can be developed. I don't know what you guys do in Australia, but for your information, the WORLD's economy is impacted(this is not coming from an American), maybe your just not aware of it. Second of all, you CANNOT make a commercial development without LEGAL programs, yet again I don't know how STRICT laws are in Australia, but if your going to work with an international team, we follow the strictest rules to set an example, as well as make sure that EVERYTHING is legal. That is my case, and if you want to argue about using illegal programs, be my guest, make a commercial development, get away with it, or get arrested, that is not my problem. Thank you.

[GBJackson]

Cost of downloading Blender: FREE
Cost of downloading Gimp: FREE
Cost of downloading UDK: FREE
Cost of Visual C++ Express: FREE
Cost of a clear conscience: PRICELESS

I imagine that anyone with a computer and an internet connection can build a skill set without pirating anything. Maybe I'm just misguided and old-fashioned.

[Pranav]

:D ya what he said :D

[ShadeMistress]

Cost of downloading Blender: FREE
Cost of downloading Gimp: FREE
Cost of downloading UDK: FREE
Cost of Visual C++ Express: FREE
Cost of a clear conscience: PRICELESS

I imagine that anyone with a computer and an internet connection can build a skill set without pirating anything. Maybe I'm just misguided and old-fashioned.

Nah, I am the same way. Actually, I PAID to learn Blender by buying a few books and educating myself.

Blender has all (and more) of the tools of the commercial programs (including a way to bake normal maps from high poly objects, just like ZBrush), but comes at the cost of a steep learning curve. Many people these days just don't have the drive to push themselves to take the harder road and decide that the easier road (pirating an easier app in this case) is better... until they try to release a commercial game and are shut down for pirating.

If you want to learn Max, get GMax, it has most of the same tools and the exact same UI as Max when you are learning, then buy a copy of Max later on when you can afford it.

I try to see things from that point of view, but think about this: If you created a game and everyone just Pirated it the day it was released until they figured out how to play it, you'd have ZERO sales on release day... how long will your company hold up then?

[Dreadnought]

I can't speak specifically for Pranav, but I can tell you from my perspective it does make a difference.

For one, if you intend on making a game for profit, using illegally acquired programs can result in... well the complete destruction of your company and game. Additionally, it's called morality. Integrity. People gave a lot into making programs like 3DSMax, just for you to screw them and get it for free illegally? Wonder why the economy is failing? Because of situations like that.

I'd agree with you if it wasn't for the fact that 3000 dollar programs tend to put most people off of the idea of modeling. That is, non professionals. The way I see it if I were to pirate a program that I wouldn't buy it's a no-harm no-foul situation. I'm not making them lose money because I would never pay an extreme amount for a program and I'm helping them get business by spreading my work around.

[SovietSandman]

Thank you Holmes, you basically summed it up, yes it is based on truth and honor man. I don't know any REAL way to find out, but wouldn't you rather be safe knowing you did things legally rather than sit there and worry about it?


Actually, even though you cant directly prove a model is made with a legal copy of software, you can indirectly. Lets say you make a game, sell it and make mad money. Maya comes to you and says hey did you use maya? wed love to use your game as a success story! You say yep, sure did. Then maya says cool, can I see a proof of purchase? or you could say nope, used 3dsmax, in which case they can tell 3ds about it.

Granted the chances of that happening are really really low, but so are the chances of you being able to afford the lawsuit.


Now what you should do is form a limited liability corporation for like 200 bucks, produce the game under its name, and be personally immune to lawsuits. Plus get the perk of presenting yourself as a company to those jerk companies who ignore requests from individuals.

Sorry about the rant, I asked myself this before

[StingReay]

Nah, I am the same way. Actually, I PAID to learn Blender by buying a few books and educating myself.

Blender has all (and more) of the tools of the commercial programs (including a way to bake normal maps from high poly objects, just like ZBrush), but comes at the cost of a steep learning curve. Many people these days just don't have the drive to push themselves to take the harder road and decide that the easier road (pirating an easier app in this case) is better... until they try to release a commercial game and are shut down for pirating.

If you want to learn Max, get GMax, it has most of the same tools and the exact same UI as Max when you are learning, then buy a copy of Max later on when you can afford it.

I try to see things from that point of view, but think about this: If you created a game and everyone just Pirated it the day it was released until they figured out how to play it, you'd have ZERO sales on release day... how long will your company hold up then?
That's the big problem, companies like Autodesk and Adobe charge so much money for their products that no truly indie devs can afford them, which results in piracy or using free/open source programs.

[Pranav]

Lol I love how this turned into a discussion about modelling suites/tool,s but I must say I tried blender, that thing is too complicated. I will stick to my forte, programming :D:D. Either ways, we REALLY need some GOOD modellers, please add me on msn at pranavwowserver@hotmail.com

[SparkyUK]

Cost of downloading Blender: FREE
Cost of downloading Gimp: FREE
Cost of downloading UDK: FREE
Cost of Visual C++ Express: FREE
Cost of a clear conscience: PRICELESS

I imagine that anyone with a computer and an internet connection can build a skill set without pirating anything. Maybe I'm just misguided and old-fashioned.

What about a windows license? sorry ;)

[Pranav]

Everyone here has windows genius :D:D, UDK is only for windows, or correct me if I am wrong :D:D.

[jetstone]

Hey Guys,
Do you have someone helping out with the softimage side of things?
I am looking redo this video with FBX and then make some shorter video focusing on some key details of this workflow.

XSI to Unreal 3 Overview via ActorX plugin

Enjoy http://vimeo.com/10211124

The following video is using as an overview of XSI to the Unreal 3 engine using the Actor X plugin.
This method is out of date. Using the FBX format is the method moving forward for Autodesk products to Unreal.

UDK FBX news
http://udk.com/news-beta-mar2010

UDK FBX user guide
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/FBXImporting.html

Autodesk FBX news
http://area.autodesk.com/fbx2011