Request: Hats/weapons for TF2 using XSI

Noggin

I want to model a hat or weapon using XSI, could any of you guys record a vid of how to do a simple hat/weapon.

I make maps with Hammer but find XSI difficult so far and dont have any reference model etc.

Thnx!

MoP

Have you looked at Valve's XSI Beginner Tutorial to learn the program?
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/XSI_Beginner_Tutorial

cryrid

If you head to Autodesk's Area, they have a bunch of tutorials for Softimage. You can find a bunch at http://www.i3dtutorials.com/view/Tutorials too.

As for reference models, you should be able to use a mdl decompiler to get the smd, which you can then import.

Ark

The Mod Tool should come with a few videos made by Noesis on modeling and texturing.

Noggin

Mod Tools didnt come with anything apart from the Valve Addon.
Im looking thru i3d now, I need the absolute basics as what little 3d exp. I have isnt cutting it

I just got a student license for 3DS Max, I presume thats better as most people seem to use it.

cryrid

I presume thats better as most people seem to use it.

It's more likely because they started with Max, got good with it, and as a result had no reason to use other tools. In the end it's not going to matter what you use as long as it does what you want. XSI is pretty simple to use, especially when working with the Source Engine.

The tutorials that 'come' with modtool are found at http://www.noesisinteractive.com/xnabot/
here's an older one, but looks like they make a hat
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dawate/archive/2008/02/05/building-a-3d-game-in-xna-from-scratch-free-video-tutorial-series-now-available.aspx

Noggin

I need help with a certain part in this tutorial...

http://www.i3dtutorials.com/tutorial/21_modeling-a-cd-jewel-case

At 2m46 in the video he moves the 7 points down and they flatten out to a certain level, when i do it they all move down in tandem they start to overlap the inner circle... Ive watched it about 20 times and still cant figure out what he did!

cryrid

Click on the transform menu, and make sure 'Collapse Points When Snapping' is toggled on. Be sure to only translate one axis though, or it will collapse them all to a single point

Noggin

Thank you!

The other thing Im having a problem is when he clicks the rim polygon and says click the middle mouse button... I dont have one, is there a key I can press instead?

cryrid

Hmm, that could be a problem as many tools in XSI take advantage of a 3-button mouse (mouse wheel) : /

Noggin

Getting there slowly...

How do I render so it looks like a TF2 model, it looks lame in SI?

Noggin

Every time I export to SMD and compile it says "error loading model" in the model viewer.

cryrid

No errors returned during the compiling process?

Nanor_131

Only sligtly related but I can't contribute it to TF2 at www.teamfortress.com/contribute I'm using xsi aswell so can anyone help convert the model to any of the requred formats (obj/mt/ql)

Noggin

Only the "WARNING: AppFramework : Unable to load module p4lib.dll!" which, from what I remember isnt a showstopper.

I find this export/compile process painful - apparently im not alone.

Also are the player smd files I can use for reference?