Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:
DaFool's Civ3 -> .shp method
This is probably horribly inefficent to Suiseiseki's, but I'll post it up anyways. Here's what you need:
Flicster (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=5860)
XCC Mixer (http://xhp.xwis.net/utilities/XCC_Utilities.exe)
OS SHP Builder (http://www.ppmsite.com/downloads/InstallOSSHPBuilder3.36.exe)
You will also of course, need a civ3 unit animation. You can get them either with your copy of civ3 (naturally) or with through a fan site. The largest collection can be found at civfanatics (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=23)
First a word o the civ3 graphics. Civ3 stores it's graphics in a the ".flc" format. Each animation is in it's own seperate file, with each file facing the animation for each direction. The file comes with a bunch of palettes, and most have different sizes from one another for the frame.
Step 1, Setting Up
Now, done to buisness. The first thing you want to do is to create a folder to hold all the graphics you convert. My folder is called "tempie" and I leave it right on the desktop. Now, open up Flicster and open up all the unit animations that you want to convert. Most units have 7 animations, they are:
Default (you only need 1 frame)
Run (usually 10 frames)
Fidget (Usually 15 frames)
Attack (sometimes there is attackA and attackB) (Usually 15 or 20 frames)
Death (Usually 15 frames)
Victory (Usually 15 frames)
Open them all up with the exception of fortify (this is if you don't want the unit to have a deploy animation). Arrange all 6 windows on you screen so you can see all of them at once.
Step 2, The Settings[u]
This is a very important step, and if you mess up you will have to go back to here. For each window, go to the [u]export tab. You will see the following settings, and change them to the following settings:
Export Type -> Change to "Individual Cel PCXs"
Frame Size -> Look at the size of all the anims, and choose the largest one. Change the frame size to match the largest width and hieght.
Frame Count -> Ignore
Palette -> Change to "CivColor1" (This changes the remap to red)
Frame Delay -> Ignore
Base File Name -> Ignore
Output Directory -> Navigate to your temp folder.
Once all the windows have the same settings, export them all. You may now close Flicster
Step 3, Conversion
All of the animations should now be properly converted and in the same frame size and in you temporary folder in the ".pcx" format. **If you have a batch file renamer, you could probably just rename the files and then convert them directly**. However, I do not have a batch file renamer, so I will show you my method. Open up XCC Mixer and navigate to the folder where all of your .PCX's are. Minimize the program. Now Open up OS SHP Builder and create a new .shp. The setting should be 506 frames, and the hieght and width should match whatever size you exported the frames as (If you are unsure, look at the dimensions of the frames in XCC Mixer).
Here is where the fun starts. Select XCC Mixer and find where the first image of the default animation is, and then slect the one facing north. Copy it (crtl+c) and then open up SHP builder. Paste it (ctrl+v). It should fit perfectly in the frame. **Note Well: If you are converting an infantry, the facings should go in the the following order: North, Northwest, West, Southwest, South, Southeast, East, Northeast, or couterclockwise. They go clockwise if you are converting a vehicle.** So from here foward, you just go back and forth copying the frames over. Make sure you only get 1 frame per direction for default, and you only need 1 direction set for fidget, death, and victory (usually south, SE, or SW). After you have done a few conversion, you should be able to copy and paste at a fairly quick rate.
Step 4, Finishing Touches
After you have converted all the animations, you should have used all 253 frames. If there are extra ones at the end, you probably missed a frame for an animation. If not, you got to do some touching up. You can delete all the files in the temporary folder.
a)first select the eye dropper and select the pink background. use the color conversion tool to change that to colour number 0 (blue background). Next use the same method to change the shadow to color number 12 (black). If you wish, after you have done this you can convert the shadow to TS shadows by tools>misc tools>convert shadow
b)select the grid tool to show the grid over the frames. Ideally you want the guy to stand on the top X the the two lines make. Use you judgemean and use the frame resize tool under edit resize the frame until the guy is standing where you want him. (add pixels in the opposite direction you want him to go)
c)now you have to fix up the remap. even though we chose the red remap, the red civ3 uses is still different from the reds that we use. Open up the color converter, and select all the reds that aren't in the remap section. (colours #6,8,200,201,202,203,249,250. Also, select the orange colors of 188,189,190,191) then match them up with a remap red that matches them the closest. Once you hit ok, you should be done!
d)You may wish to resize them to make them fit it with the TS or YR infantry. For YR, I suggest resizing them 77% and for TS I suggest 58%.
Step 6, It's up to you
So you now have your civ3 unit in proper .shp format, the rest is up to you! _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
step 6 implies to actually modding the unit into the game, which is up to you. Besides, step 5 is overrated. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
They're available resources, not all of us have the ability to create the quality you do icy, to be honest some of these units are good quality. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
Someone's gotta tell it like it is. If not me, eventually someone else would. DCoder, for example.
Straight asset rips from games who's company, Take Two, is not dead isn't condoned by Banshee at PPM... but I guess he changed his mind. Anyone can post warez now since the site has been so dead, Banshee posted these rips on the front page.
Dutchygamer wrote:
DaFool is trying to keep the community alive by supplying stuff
I highly doubt a bunch of "stuff" is going to change anything around here.
Lt AlbrechtA wrote:
They're available resources
Which should be used for Civ3 or other Take Two Interactive games. Not in WW/EA games. Project Revolution (A Starcraft TC for Warcraft 3) was allowed to continue because the assets and the mod were both from and for Blizzard games. A similar mod built in Generals was killed by Blizzard. Same idea here. Leave the Civ3 junk in the Civ3 community.
Lt AlbrechtA wrote:
not all of us have the ability to create the quality you do icy
What? You think I was born with a computer and 3D Studio knowledge? Anyone who puts the effort in can learn to do what I do. But that's just it, this community lacks effort.
I bet someone will try to play the "Taktics is the same" card, but then they'd just be wrong simply because we don't rip graphics from the games. They are the base, but we create them all ourselves from texture to model to animation.
If you don't like this message, tough luck. You'll live. QUICK_EDIT
No, I'm going to play the "I tried" card. I gave it my best shot, I spent my time on trying to model and all I got out was some crap made of disjointed primitives and a hatred of 3d, yeah... Everyone can learn.
Their limits. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
No, I'm going to play the "I tried" card. I gave it my best shot, I spent my time on trying to model and all I got out was some crap made of disjointed primitives and a hatred of 3d, yeah... Everyone can learn.
Their limits.
Get out. If you spend time on it you can learn it. Don't make excuses, just do it. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
I did, I learned to voxel, to ini code, I learned how to space cataclysmic wars to allow the regrowth of the population of people of fighting age and repairing of economic damage. Hell, I even learned not to piss off a large amount of people. I try what I can, I don't always succeed, I climbed vulcano in italy without stopping using my own two feet. Those are things I am capable of, I tried and I succeeded. Not everything is possible, I can't fly, I can't move objects with just my mind, hell, I can't do a lot of things.
I'm human, I do what I can. I'm not perfect, I'm not a superman, nobody can do everything. I bet there are things even Icy can't do, just like he can't do those, I can't make 3d models that aren't shite. The fact is just like some people can't play sports to high levels, I can't 3d model to high levels. It's not as if I can't walk or talk or feed myself, I just can't manipulate polygons and primitives in 3d space to a level that is seen as "good" by those around me. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
You're right. I can't make music. That doesn't mean I go around copying bits and pieces from other people's music, smash them together and call it my own. That would sound like shit, and the original authors wouldn't like it. Sadly, that's what's happening here... QUICK_EDIT
There's no need to be so serious here, Icy Perhaps DaFool had thought that the Civ3 units would..."appeal/look nice/whatever" to members modding here, so he made this tutorial.
Don't quote me on this though, I don't have any idea. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:
IcySon55 wrote:
DaFool wrote:
why come in and be a prick like that?
Someone's gotta tell it like it is. If not me, eventually someone else would. DCoder, for example.
Straight asset rips from games who's company, Take Two, is not dead isn't condoned by Banshee at PPM... but I guess he changed his mind. Anyone can post warez now since the site has been so dead, Banshee posted these rips on the front page.
This is not warez. This is ripping assets from other games and posting the SHP version of them. People did this kind of thing with Starcraft, Half Life and god knows how many other games on many C&C resource sites (includes PPM) and on many mods as well.
You are not able to play Civilization 3 with the resources he posted here. He did not distribute the game files or serial keys or whatever crack to play the game. QUICK_EDIT
Actually that's a fair point, there's those HL1 Anims, the HL1 human soldier the "Converted Starcraft Doodads", those animals from Zoo tycoon, those converted Sudden Strike houses, none of them allow you to play those games or even recreate them. Although the "distributing part" thingy in EULAS might cover this... _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
Yo icyson55...did you just say that we lack effort...yes I do ask a few dum things here and there but your pushing it now.
We do have other things to do you know...I still have to get laid(very important!!!),it depends on how interested you are in whatever you do. If you like 3D modeling for example like im starting to like it, then you'll get better, which i think I am, to a certain degree.
You are way too serious, and plus this is just conversions, I personally don't like/wont use conversions but you cant use these in the original and Dafool's not crackin nothing....He's not making any money from this nor is he defacing anything. Infact I would be glad to see my work being converted for another mod if I was Take Two.
If Take Two get pissed off, I doubt the'll get all rapist on DaFool. Then conversions from other non CnC games will probably end. QUICK_EDIT
Yo icyson55...did you just say that we lack effort...yes I do ask a few dum things here and there but your pushing it now.
Let it be known, that anyone with talent, that is producing something decent, is not part of the effortless shmoe group.
L()KI wrote:
We do have other things to do you know...I still have to get laid(very important!!!),it depends on how interested you are in whatever you do. If you like 3D modeling for example like im starting to like it, then you'll get better, which i think I am, to a certain degree.
If you're not able to produce something decent. Don't start releasing garbage. Simply stop. Just don't.
L()KI wrote:
You are way too serious, and plus this is just conversions, I personally don't like/wont use conversions but you cant use these in the original and Dafool's not crackin nothing....He's not making any money from this nor is he defacing anything. Infact I would be glad to see my work being converted for another mod if I was Take Two.
Serious? Naw, this is mostly jokes.
L()KI wrote:
If Take Two get pissed off, I doubt the'll get all rapist on DaFool. Then conversions from other non CnC games will probably end.
I hope conversions of garbage end. It'd be great. Last edited by IcySon55 on Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:39 pm; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Icy get rid of ur bad attitude, clearly the community is against you on this one. Like banshee said this is simply converting a few image files accross, woopty do, there are some WW RA2 vxls converted to Civ3 image files for download on the civ files site, so clearly they have already opened the door. Besides I've started to convert some fan made images over (with permission) using this technique and that doesn't breach any copyrights, so the technique is useful even if you dont grab the origional games files. QUICK_EDIT
I was refering to the posts above, get rid of ur superior attitude kid, just because someone has a different opinion doesn't give you the right to speak like crap to them .
Now back ontopic, dafool I was wondering if the default animations that are in civ 3 will work as a shp (refering to ships), don't vehicles only get 1 animation per angle for stationary views or can you set it to play animations like infantry? QUICK_EDIT
The goal of what I am doing is to do something positive for the community. You (Icy) come in and criticize it, call it overrated crap, and basically shit all over what I have done, for no apparent reason. Then, several members of the community come in and support what I have done. Far be it from me to count, but I think there are more people in this thread who are in support of what I have done than those who are against it (namely you). I believe the community is a group of people as oppose to your one person... _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
This is how the vehicle setup is like. I have never tried having more than 1 standing (default) frames, mainly because all they do is sway slightly back and forth, and secondly it's too much effort to do the extra 9-14 frames per direction. The problem with civ vehicles is that their turret can't be made to spin, so it always has to face it's target. Ships works the same way as vehicles. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
i suspected as much, fortuently I'm looking at the ticonderoga missile cruiser, so it dont need a turret since the missiles come out of the hull QUICK_EDIT
just because someone has a different opinion doesn't give you the right to speak like crap to them
This isn't an opinion. It's garbage that should be stopped. DaFool isn't stating his opinion, he's posting converted junk.
DaFool wrote:
The goal of what I am doing is to do something positive for the community.
How is converting junk from other games positive? Just because you're bringing "new" shps into the community, doesn't mean it's a good thing. Maybe if they were actually new...you know, made by you?
DaFool wrote:
Then, several members of the community come in and support what I have done. Far be it from me to count, but I think there are more people in this thread who are in support of what I have done than those who are against it (namely you).
Those that support my view point, no longer visit PPM for reasons that include this kind of crap. They got tired of the lame conversions, balance mods, and other junk. QUICK_EDIT
just because someone has a different opinion doesn't give you the right to speak like crap to them
This isn't an opinion. It's garbage that should be stopped. DaFool isn't stating his opinion, he's posting converted junk.
DaFool wrote:
The goal of what I am doing is to do something positive for the community.
How is converting junk from other games positive? Just because you're bringing "new" shps into the community, doesn't mean it's a good thing. Maybe if they were actually new...you know, made by you?
DaFool wrote:
Then, several members of the community come in and support what I have done. Far be it from me to count, but I think there are more people in this thread who are in support of what I have done than those who are against it (namely you).
Those that support my view point, no longer visit PPM for reasons that include this kind of crap. They got tired of the lame conversions, balance mods, and other junk.
well I dont like the conversations from CIV3, but I am not going to hate on DaFool, he can convert to shp,some like it and it wont hurt anyone. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
Also Known As: evanb90 Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Location: o kawaii koto
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:
Don't feed the trolls. _________________ YR modder/artist, DOOM mapper, aka evanb90
Project Lead Developer, New-Star Strike (2014-)
Former Project Lead DeveloperStar Strike (2005-2012), Z-Mod (2006-2007), RA1.5 (2008-2013), The Cold War (2006-2007) QUICK_EDIT
Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:
Icy, please, tone down your attitude.
A way to improve the community and increase the amount of talented people is to be opened to newbies or those who are learning to mod, create graphics or even edit "junk converted" from other games, if you wanna use these terms.
And also, we have space for advanced modding discussion as well as the presence of talented people helping other talented people. So, we have a bit of both here.
So, honestly, the "garbage" posted here may annoy you, but it also helps newbie modders or even those with good pixel editing skills. If it annoys you, don't waste your time looking at it. Nobody forces you to do it. Instead of doing that, focus on what really matters to you . QUICK_EDIT
Unfortuently shp's are far few made and generally (not always) lower quality then a vxl made by the community, and its simply because it's not so easy and requires 3d knowledge. The few that can do it are generally gobbled up by the 2 or 3 major mods, so for the rest of us that leaves us next to nothing. So to be frank anything that adds more shps for people to work with is a good thing, after all its just pixels on a monitor, as long as they look like what the modder calls them and look alright I dont see the problem. If you dont like it that much, then either find more people that can create shp's for the community or else ignore it like Banshee said. This aint exactly my favoriate way to get shp's but since there is nearly no other I will take what I can get, but thats me QUICK_EDIT
even more evil than converting stuff from other games is to try to copy stuff from childish consolegames...
i say go dafool! it´s really good what you are doing...
don´t listen to icy...
he is like yotta/univeral/DDD...just a bit more talented...other than that he´s the one who has no life... _________________ just a simple logo by bricks @ raminator, on Flickr QUICK_EDIT
Yeah... But universal has an Encyclopedia Dramatica page
I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard at that page. Ah god. It was epic.
For the record, I agree with Icy on this issue. Conversions from other games don't lend themselves well to this game, and it really is unusable junk unless you're making a TC. >_> _________________ QUICK_EDIT
not really, downsized to TS scale the Bazooka guy makes quite a good rocket infantry. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
even more evil than converting stuff from other games is to try to copy stuff from childish consolegames...
You don't like Mario games, and class them as "childish". That's your opinion, as are the messages I've posted.
I can say the same thing:
IcySon55 wrote:
even more evil than converting stuff from other games is to try to rehash World War 2 again using stuff from other games...
I don't see this junk fitting in anywhere else.
raminator wrote:
don´t listen to icy...
he is like yotta/univeral/DDD...just a bit more talented...other than that he´s the one who has no life...
So you resort to direct attacks where as I was talking about the content and not the person doing it. Wow... For your information, I helped get Yotta/Universal banned for his asshattery.
Apparently trying to promote quality over quantity here gets you labeled a bad guy. Sure thing, let's just keep bringing more junk into the community, It'll definitely keep things "alive".
You've always had a bone to pick with me Raminator. What is it? Do you feel insulted by my messages somehow? QUICK_EDIT
He say everybody some convert things from others games is junk.
Now I want some high quality before you release the mod can you?
That's why the community dead because of people like you Icy!. Mario = Is for children and is true is stay on the game 3+ so is for children but parents can even play. _________________ Can you hide from me ? QUICK_EDIT
Mario = Is for children and is true is stay on the game 3+ so is for children but parents can even play.
Actually its more sophisticated than many stories here.
Quote:
Get your facts right. The community is dying because of lack of quality assets and mods, and it won't be fixed with a couple of ripped assets
that all sums up effort,.
people won't really learn anything worth while if you do it for them.
I converted SC/Diablo 2/etc junk aeons ago for the learning experience working in PSP7 and Animation shop at the time and SHP builder later on.
Dealing with so many frames, using straight ahead animation..then doing silly things like merging the succubi from Diablo 1 & 2, to create a jumpjet like unit with flying and walking. That was fun. and using palettes to colorize units such as the default and into a nice orange fire ant.
but this attempt in the long run where is the motivation or challenge to create, model, animate or design something? Hell even networking because of this "need/want", but it will is simply sit complacent..
So guys. honestly what would you like me to do? Take them all down? Lay down and die? Get real. Civ3 is one of my favorite games of all time. Right up there with Yuri's revenge. So I said one time, why not combine the two? So I went about and started the mod up. I found that the assets can be converted, I forget how exactly, but I found that it could be done. I said to myself "These are pretty good!" And they are. They are high quality. Why you call them garbage I don't know, but please show me some higher quality sprites! And I released them. Why not? People could use them, so why not be curtious?
As for the arguement of providing assets wont help the people out, then why even have a shp and voxel forum? Why even put up animations for download? Shouldn't they do it themselves?
And Icy, is there soemthing personal you have against me? I mean really, I'm not even the first person to make civ3 -> to .shp conversions. In fact, I'm not even the first to put up a tutorial (mine just varies from him). Suiseiseki did! So why aren't you in that thread complaining? Does my e-penis intimidate you?
Don't turn this into a thread about mario being a good game or not or civ3 vs mario, that has almost no relevance. I converted some stuff, and I posted it up. How the ztype did affect anyone whatsoever in a negative fashion? This topic must be cleansed. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
DaFool's Civ3 -> .shp method
?
Perhaps DaFool had thought that the Civ3 units would..."appeal/look nice/whatever" to members modding here, so he made this tutorial.
.
