SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

SimCity 4 General Discussion and Tutorials => SimCity 4 General Discussion => General Custom Content Discussion => Topic started by: Schulmanator on July 29, 2012, 07:03:53 PM

Title: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: Schulmanator on July 29, 2012, 07:03:53 PM
Hello! A fellow SC4 player and I are collaborating on a new BAT or two. We have hit an impasse and I am hoping someone here will be able to lend a hand. Here's the situation:

He says: "I have the Gmax and .3ds files for the model itself and the textures needed for it.  I have the needed files, all they just need is to be put together, then made into a .sc4model file .Er, bad news. The BAT refuses to work for me."

What would you recommend to solve this problem? Or, is there someone who would be able to finish the process for us if we can't?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: jmyers2043 on July 30, 2012, 11:37:08 AM
Quote from: Schulmanator on July 29, 2012, 07:03:53 PM
The BAT refuses to work for me."

My first thought is, what is your gmax experience level? Have you done any bats and exported them into the game?

My second thought is that Gmax is very particular about 3DS files. There are several 'flavors' of 3DS. You have an impossible task if, during the import process, you get a message "unexpected file format". 

Sometimes I have to use an intermediate program. I have Poser 7. It will export a 3DS file that gmax recognizes. So I can import a OBJ or 3DS and it will resolve it into something usable for me.

Be aware that texturing a complex editable mesh ( that was once a 3ds file) in gmax can be a bit of a challenge for novice users.

I don't have a lot of knowledge as I usually start and finish my projects in gmax. Importing is something I've done but rarely.

- Jim



Title: Re: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: Schulmanator on July 30, 2012, 05:57:02 PM
Here's the latest from him:

"I have BAT experience; it's just that the BAT refuses to launch. I have even tried to uninstall and reinstall everything I had but now the BAT won't even install because of it doesn't think I have either Gmax or the game. I am able to get .3DS files through MilkShape and then I use a script for Gmax which allows me to open up the exported .3ds into Gmax and save like normal. I have done this for 1 model already and I am doing it for 2 others as of now. I tried to uninstall then reinstall Gmax to see if it works but when I try to run the BAT , it won't install because it doesn't think I have the game installed.

It says I need both Gmax and the game in order to use it. I have both, but the setup for Bat doesn't think I have the game when I do. "
Title: Re: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: Schulmanator on July 31, 2012, 05:24:20 AM
Everything else has been taken care of. I just need someone with a working BAT to render and export it as a model file.

The model file is the part that actually shows up in the game. Thats the only thing needed in order to wrap things up.
Title: Re: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: gn_leugim on July 31, 2012, 01:13:23 PM
if it is not too big I can render the model.
Title: Re: Looking for some tech support...
Post by: Schulmanator on July 31, 2012, 01:32:17 PM
That would be awesome. I will let him know.

Obrigado!!!