Zombie Uv Map?

[Springheel]

I was thinking last night about the most effective way to get some of our models into the game for testing purposes. Then I remembered that our plan was to use some of the zombies already present in the game (since the model and animation are already done) with modified textures.

 

I've also been looking for ways to try my hand at skinning. So in a brilliant flash of synthesis, I thought I would try my hand at creating custom skins for one of the zombies. Since I'll be modifying something that is already created, it won't stretch my limited skills as much, and we should be able to use it fairly easily in our mod tests once I'm done.

 

However, I need someone's help, because I have absolutely no idea where to look for the relevant files. I need the UV map, the texture map at a minimum...I can make my own normal and specular (if they even use that).

 

Can anyone tell me where to find those files? I'm thinking of the thin zombie with pants and no shirt (although the fat one will do in a pinch).

[BlackThief]

I found skins (at least I think they're skins) in the pak001. but I get an error, when I want to open them (DDS decode error).

[BlackThief]

there must have been an error, when I unzipped the file - now it works

there zombie skins are in pak001!

[Springheel]

Great, thanks BT. I'm at work at the moment, so I can't check. Will I be able to open the files in PS?

[BlackThief]

yes I think there is a dds-plug in for PS. I opened them with IrfanView

[BlackThief]

I just checked out some AI skins and I'm a bit surprised. All the zombie skins (I have seen yet) have a symmetric face - just like for example in Thief 1 ! maybe I just found the versions for low details - but even that is strange. Even Thief 2 doesn't have symmetric skins anymore

 

edit: just checked out more skins - they were tga files, but even the faces of scientists and Dr. Betruger are symmetric....

[Fingernail]

Yes, this is a 'feature' of Doom 3. The faces are mirrored, often with a VERY UGLY seam down the nose...something Carmack has commented on being a combined fault of him and the artists.

 

Anyway, I believe that this is done so as to confine all the character textures to 512x512.

[Domarius]

Hey I know where you can get that DDS photoshop plugin!!

From nVidia's website, but since I can't be bothered to dig out the link, I uploaded the file to the FTP!

 

ftp://208.49.149.126/TheDarkMod/Files/NVI...6.0827.1800.exe

[Darkness_Falls]

What is the DDS plug-in for? (What does DDS stand for?) The link isn't working. I'm just curious

[BlackThief]

dds is a graphic-format - generally used for computer games, because the file size is extremly small.

Edited November 13, 2004 by BlackThief

[Renzatic]

I believe it stands for Direct Draw Surface.

[Springheel]

there must have been an error, when I unzipped the file - now it works

 

Ok, I guess first things first; how do I open a .pk4 file?

[BlackThief]

first you should make a back-up. then change pk4 to zip and simply unzip it

[sparhawk]

first you should make a back-up. then change pk4 to zip and simply unzip it

You don't need to rename it. Depends on the program though. If you use Total Commander you can enter a pk4 (or any other archive it supports) just like a directory.

[Springheel]

Yes, this is a 'feature' of Doom 3. The faces are mirrored, often with a VERY UGLY seam down the nose...something Carmack has commented on being a combined fault of him and the artists.

 

Well, that's a bit of a pain, especially for zombies. What do we do in order to make one with a bit of rotting on one side but not the other?

[New Horizon]

Hmmm, does that mean new models are bound by the same rules, or will it only affect existing models?

[sparhawk]

Hmmm, does that mean new models are bound by the same rules, or will it only affect existing models?

If it is a rendering issue then yes.

 

Teh only ting you could do is to create two models, each ona half and then we would have to control them seperatly. If this is done well, it should look like a seemles object.

[New Horizon]

If it is a rendering issue then yes.

 

Teh only ting you could do is to create two models, each ona half and then we would have to control them seperatly. If this is done well, it should look like a seemles object.

Egads. That sounds somewhat difficult.

[sparhawk]

Egads. That sounds somewhat difficult.

Yes. This could become difficult.

[DeepOmega]

Not strictly necessary. This is a UV issue, not a technical issue. By mirroring, they cut the necessary texture space in half. I've seen non-mirrored models, so it should be fine.

[Domarius]

In the worst case, only the faces are symmetrical, right? The rest of the body isn't, and that's not so bad. I think I know why they did it. If you've ever zoomed into a Doom 3 monster body, the face is the MOST detailed part. Try the handgun guy with the glowing eyes. He has the most minute (normal mapped) wrinkles all over his face, and his teeth practically look real. His skin really looks dead. And you can really see the difference in detail with the rest of his body - the textures on his body look blurry in comparison.

 

I think they wanted the faces to be detailed, for the cutsceans. And they probably decided it was worth cutting them in half for the extra detail.

[Fingernail]

There's no technical limitation; it's just the way ID did it, right or wrong, for many models.

 

We could make each character texure 1024x1024 if we wanted, but it may cause performance issues. I think that's what they were being mindful of.

[BlackThief]

We could make each character texure 1024x1024 if we wanted, but it may cause performance issues.

 

well question is, how many AIs will be in vision of the player ? In D3 there weren't many enemies in comparison to other shooters ( I just say serious sam ), but think of thief ! How many AIs can you see at the same time ? Even if you run through a whole mansion there won't be more than 10-15 AIs persueing you - I think the engine is able to handle 10-15 AIs with a 1024x1024 skin. At least for people, who play with high quality - I remember that D3 is scaling down textures on the lower details-settings anyway.

Edited November 14, 2004 by BlackThief