Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Apache on January 02, 2002, 02:59:00 PM

Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Apache on January 02, 2002, 02:59:00 PM
Anyone know what HTCs opinion is of outsourcing 3d modelers? I'm talking of talented 3d modelers within our community on a voluntary basis (translation: for free). It seems to work in WB. Wondered if it would here.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Reschke on January 02, 2002, 03:30:00 PM
I think the answer a year or so ago was no from HTC. I think they like to keep in house control on all the models in the game and that is not such a bad idea. However I still think that you might have a good idea there Apache.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Superfly on January 02, 2002, 04:21:00 PM
Been beaten to death.  Do a search back about 6 months or so.

The short answer is: "No"
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: hblair on January 02, 2002, 04:31:00 PM
Aw come on Supe!

There's nothing to it.

Just let these guys show ya man, if you only knew!

 
 
 
 
 
(kidding)
  :)

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: hblair ]
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Revvin on January 02, 2002, 05:56:00 PM
It's a bit more complicated than "hey guys make us some models and we'll put em in the game" its a legal nightmare to have player contributed art in the game. If say player X designs a model and allows HTC to use it what happens when a few months later he decides he no longer likes AH or has a fall-out with the team and tells them they are not allowed to use it..he still legally has artistic ownership of the model and HTC are high and dry. If they pay for the models like iEN does with 'Lemsko' and has a player like Lemsko working freelance how much do they pay..its starts getting expensive for HTC, if they have a few players doing them how long before HTC's carefully laid budget falls on its arse due to outgoings to these freelance modellers? ok give them free accounts? how long before you have 20-30 or more free accounts down the line? how much revenue does that lose HTC. iEN have halted their much vaunted 'PDC' because of this legal problem. I guess HTC see it causing more trouble than what they stand to gain from it, its a  legal minefield and with things seemingly going so well when other online sims are dying who can blame them?
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Apache on January 02, 2002, 06:40:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by SUPERFLY:
Been beaten to death.  Do a search back about 6 months or so.

The short answer is: "No"

Thanks for the...uhm...answer.

I'll strive to insure I search countless posts before the next time I decide to use the UBB again.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Tac on January 02, 2002, 08:03:00 PM
...and without a search feature enabled in the BBS (unless you have the magic link)  ;)
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Pyro on January 02, 2002, 08:21:00 PM
Actually HT wants to make a shape editor for building simple terrain objects.  For planes and vehicles, it's a lot more complex.  Building a simple plane shape is the easy part and takes relatively little time in the development process.  While that state may be visibly pleasing for screenshots and such, it's only a small fraction of the way completed to get it to a playable state.  To give you an example of this, we can purchase a 3D model of just about any plane or vehicle we want for cheap from various commercial sources.  We don't need players to make this stuff if we want to go that route.  The main problem is figuring out a means to make that more efficent than just building it from scratch ourselves.  QA is also a lot easier to handle internally.

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: Pyro ]
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Jochen on January 03, 2002, 03:27:00 AM
Apparently there are some concerns about copyright issues too, atleast in WB. Even if players do the 3D models and give them to IEN, there is some possibility that IEN can get in trouble if player who created the model gets difficult. Atleast that is what they say.

I am bit curious what HTC's own 3D modelers are doing right now. We haven't heard about new planes or even variants but surely they are doing something? Maybe a small hint or screenshot?
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: moose on January 03, 2002, 03:31:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Apache:


Thanks for the...uhm...answer.

I'll strive to insure I search countless posts before the next time I decide to use the UBB again.


I dont think he implied that at all Apache, at least not that I could see

And Jochen, you troll. Trying to kiss up to htc then casually ask for a screenshot? Psshft.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: HABICHT on January 03, 2002, 04:35:00 AM
lemsko is the best.
only outstanding modells fron him in wb3.
and he is getting better and better with each new modell.
they are faar better than the iEN ones :-)
he currently made:
hurri I and II +trop version
macchi 202
he177
109g6/r6 &k4
190a4 and a8 and ***
p47
ki XX secret!
ki xx secret
he162
he219
lancaster
p39
and some more.

some are official iEn requested modells, some are "free time activities" from lemsko.
and there is even more ib.

wastl

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: HABICHT ]
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Revvin on January 03, 2002, 07:34:00 AM
A shape editor would be pretty damned cool, would such a tool be distributed to the community so we could make bridges and other structures? Nuttz is doing a great job making them out of existing objects but it would be great to be able to make something more suitable.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Superfly on January 03, 2002, 08:51:00 AM
Quote
Thanks for the...uhm...answer.

I'll strive to insure I search countless posts before the next time I decide to use the UBB again.
 

hehehe... Well, I would have shown you the post, but I did't want to dig for the thread either.  I wasn't trying to be rude, and I apologize if I've offended you Apache.  I was just being lazy and didn't feel like typing out the long answer.  :p

I just spent a long time trying to find the thread where it was discussed, but I couldn't find it.  I think the thread was started by Deezcamp in General Discussion, and it has a lot of replies. That's all the help I can give you on finding it.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Apache on January 03, 2002, 09:32:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by SUPERFLY:


hehehe... Well, I would have shown you the post, but I did't want to dig for the thread either.  I wasn't trying to be rude, and I apologize if I've offended you Apache.  I was just being lazy and didn't feel like typing out the long answer.   :p

I just spent a long time trying to find the thread where it was discussed, but I couldn't find it.  I think the thread was started by Deezcamp in General Discussion, and it has a lot of replies. That's all the help I can give you on finding it.

No. I apologize to you Superfly. My system at home is down due to an AGP slot burnout and will be until my new mb arrives. I was just pissed and mis-read your reply. Again, my apologies.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Kratzer on January 03, 2002, 09:53:00 AM
So... SUPERFLY... since you won't be soliciting outside help for any models, what are the chances that some of the earlier planes (e.g. the 109s, pony, 190s) might get their cockpit's remade? We've all seen the incredible job done on the Me 262 cockpit, so we know the engine can hack it now...  :)  Is this planned?  If so, any hints as to when we might see them in game?
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Superfly on January 03, 2002, 12:50:00 PM
Can't say when, but we eventually would like to redo some of the first planes Nate and I created.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Seeker on January 03, 2002, 01:26:00 PM
Can you redo my Spit with bigger cannons? The LW stuff is all uber!
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: NUTTZ on January 03, 2002, 11:36:00 PM
diddlyIN' A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


NUTTZ


 
Quote
Originally posted by Pyro:
Actually HT wants to make a shape editor for building simple terrain objects.
[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: Pyro ]
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: 10Bears on January 04, 2002, 12:11:00 AM
Quote
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Pyro:
Actually HT wants to make a shape editor for building simple terrain objects.
[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: Pyro ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah!!...

So we shouldn't play around with this?Gmax (http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/gmaxconsumer/)
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Revvin on January 04, 2002, 05:06:00 AM
From what I remember developers have to buy a license (think it has to be renewed annually as well) that costs in exess of $100,000 if they would like to put together a Gmax kit for their sims users thats a hell of an outlay for a small team. Gmax is good fun though to mess around with and a free download.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: MadBirdCZ on January 04, 2002, 06:16:00 AM
GMax?? Ohh you mean that unusable piece of software... Crippled 3Dstudio... Well 3DS itself was never usable anyway  :D

You might say that im a bit too negative about 3D Studio and you are prolly right... Well maybe not prolly but absolutely... For me (former AMIGA and now PC and Mac user) is there only 1 way: Lightwave... (or Maya but Maya is financialy out of my reach)
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Revvin on January 04, 2002, 06:53:00 AM
I've tried a few 3d modelling progs, Blender, Lightwave and a few others and found 3DS to have the most friendly interface. 3dMax  is a great place to start and its a free download.
Title: We need more 3d modelers.
Post by: Kratzer on January 04, 2002, 10:57:00 AM
milkshape