Three-Dimensional Modeling Tools

A three-dimensional game requires three-dimensional objects within the environment. Although it is possible to design an object on graph paper and manually enter all of the vertices for that object using a text editor, it is an arduous effort. Luckily, there is a wide range of modeling tools available.

Professional Modeling Tools

A number of professional-grade modeling tools are available on the market. Some of the more popular packages are Maya by AliasWavefront, 3D Studio Max by Discreet, and Creator by MultiGen-Paradigm. Each of these packages is an incredibly powerful suite of modeling tools for creating three-dimensional models. All of that power and capability comes at a price. A license for one of these package costs thousands of dollars. If you can afford these tools, this is the way to go. Information on these tools can be found on the following Web sites:

• http://www.aliaswavefront.com

• http://www.discreet.com

• http://www.multigen.com

Discreet also offers a free modeling tool called gmax. In some ways, this tool could be thought of as 3D Studio Lite. It has a similar user interface and many of the same basic features. Discreet designed gmax as an enabling tool for game developers. The concept was for a free tool that could be used by game owners to create additional content for the game that they have purchased. Game development companies can purchase a gmax developer kit that allows them to create import/export filters between their games model format and the gmax model format. For that reason, gmax may not be used to generate DirectX format models directly. It is possible, though, to export to Quake format models using the Tempest gmax plug-in for Quake. Once you have models in the Quake format, there are tools available to convert them into the DirectX format.

Hobbyist Modeling Tools

If you are not an industry professional, you will likely find the professional tools beyond your price range. Numerous low-cost and free tools are also available, however. One of the best of the inexpensive modeling programs that I have encountered is trueSpace by Caligari. The latest version of the software is only $595. Older versions of this program are available for as little as $99. All of these versions can directly read and write DirectX-format model files. In addition to the three-dimensional modeling capability, it includes animation and shader support. Information regarding this tool can be found at http://www.caligari.com.

If trueSpace is still a little too expensive for you, you have a couple of shareware/freeware options available for download from the Internet. One is MilkShape 3D available at http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft from chUmbaLum sOft. MilkShape 3D is a shareware product with a modest registration fee of $25. It does not have the ability to import DirectX format models, but it is able to export to DirectX through a free third-party plug-in.

The second alternative is Blender, available at the Blender Foundation site (http://www.blender.org). Blender is an open source freeware application. It also is unable to import DirectX models and uses a downloadable plug-in for exporting to DirectX format. Blender is more than just a modeling toolit actually has game engine features built within the applications.

If you are unable to afford one of the professional packages, I recommend that you download and try out each of these applications. The trueSpace application has a demonstration version that can be downloaded for evaluation. It is fully functional with the exception of saving the models that you create. MilkShape 3D has a 30-day evaluation period before registration is required. Each package has its own style of user interface, and by evaluating each one you can determine which fits your style the best.

Converting Model Formats

In addition to creating your own models from scratch, you have the option of downloading free three-dimensional models from the Internet. A search with your favorite Internet search engine will provide numerous sites dedicated to free models. Unfortunately, most of the models will not be in DirectX format. Most models are in either the 3D Studios format (.3DS) or in Autocad format (.DXF). To use these models, you would need to either write an importer for your game engine or convert the models into DirectX format. A conversion program like the ones we will take a look at next is a must-have for your game development toolkit.

One of the premier professional conversion packages is PolyTrans by Okino (http://www.okino.com). This package lists for just under $400 for the PC platform and is able to translate between most model formats. There are a few formats that require a plug-in at an extra cost. Luckily, the DirectX format is not one of these. You can check out Okinos Web site for details.

Another option for model conversion is Deep Exploration by a company called Right Hemisphere (http://www.righthemisphere.com). This is a nice package that lists for $249. It not only provides the capability of converting models between formats, but is also a good visualization tool for models and two-dimensional images. It has a user interface similar to that of the Windows Explorer. It also has the ability to select and play any animations that are a part of a 3D model file.

If you are a hobbyist developer without the budget for one of these tools, there is still an option left to you. A freeware package called CrossRoads provides limited model conversion capability. It may be downloaded from the creators Web site at http://home.europa.com/~keithr/Crossroads/. It has some export capability for DirectX format models, though it can be somewhat buggy at times.

The final option for the hobbyist is the conv3ds application from Microsoft. The DirectX 8 SDK and earlier included the application to convert 3D Studios format files into the DirectX format. Although conv3ds doesnt come with the DirectX 9 SDK, luckily it is still available on a number of Web sites. One such site is http://www.microtower.com. The conv3ds application works from a DOS command line interface.