Is it possible to convert .3ds to .gmax?

[LivingInThePast 364]

I wanted to do a process that would convert SketchUp to a BAT-compatible format through Blender.

So far, the model has gone from .skp (its initial form) to .dae (Collada) via SketchUp and .dae to .3ds via blender. Is it possible to convert .3ds to the Gmax format since I don't have 3dsMax? 

[Travis 5 11]

yes, easily possible: in GMAX, go to file > import. That's all you need to do.

[LivingInThePast 364]

EXCELLENT. My plan of converting SketchUp to Gmax without Pro or 3dsmax is finally becoming a reality!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

If you use blender though, some of the polygons or shapes(just some) dissappear(with sketchup models turning them from skp. to 3ds. in blender) and the textures do too. So you'll have to do some fixing once in gmax.

[SC4BOY 21]

Is it very common or practical to import from Sketchup models pulled off of Googleearth? I've seen some fairly decent models placed there by folk.. of course they are all Sketchup models

[SimFox 804]

I think tis is first of all morally questionable...

Those models often (commonly) passed as own work. The energy spent on such appropriation of someone else work would really be well spend on learning to do something by oneself.

Besides, SketchUp models for Google Earth are very low poly. Virtually all detailing is accomplished via texturing. And those virtually alway are just photographs of the buildings. Photographs taken usually from ground level. As such these would look perspective "inverted" in Game.

In short, in my opinion It is not practical to fake work.

at the very least when such a "converted" model is presented to the community the source of it should be acknowledged.

[SC4BOY 21]

The googleearth models are not restricted in any way and are in the public domain as I read it.. whether you "represent it as your own" is a matter of your own conscience.. personally I wouldn't "release" it at all.. in fact I probably wouldn't do it at all (I'm not really very interested in that part of the game), but it's a natural and reasonable question. To call this "fake work" is silly.. the game currently is represented by a wide array of work built on the work of others. It is highly unlikely it could be imported without a LOT of effort I'd guess (not being an expert) for all the reasons you set forth.

[LivingInThePast 364]

I'm going to try to export it and retexture it, and by the end, it's going to represent a significant amount of progress by me...it's not just direct ripping, and I'm going to credit the original makers.

Furthermore, I'm going to try to work on it a little bit more...

By the way, the model in question is the ALICO building in downtown Waco, Texas.

If it ends up being too much work, I'll try to do a different method of getting buildings in.

[SimFox 804]

Originally posted by: SC4BOY

To call this "fake work" is silly.. the game currently is represented by a wide array of work built on the work of others. It is highly unlikely it could be imported without a LOT of effort I'd guess (not being an expert) for all the reasons you set forth.quote>

Well the key word there "WORK". When someone takes ready SC4Model and lot it genuine new work is created - the LOT. Of course it could be or varying quality and so on... but it is a good direction. Taking some ready work and just learning sequence of automated step is NOT a work. Not a creative one, at least. And imho the biggest problem with it is that it actually diverts attention from  doing actual work and learning to model.

Retexturing Google earth models is a bit pointless, as there isn't enough model there to work with. It all an illusion based on the fact that it has real life photos as a texture. it in a GE environment tricks the eye. But in SC4 environment it doesN#t work that well. And, as i have said there is simply not enough model to retexture. Besides creating good, customized and tailored  textures is as hard as actually modeling, may be harder, cause it is more open ended process.

Take for instance the ALICO building; Living InThePast is planning to take on. The parking garage would have to be redone in its entirety, so is the base of the tower. and actual the tower itself... I mean "painted on" windows would look silly in game. In the end why not to just model it from the start... The only thing that come to my ming is that such importation may save time on sizing. But I'm not sure how good is size/proportion fidelity in those models.

So in the end, although the process of importation itself might be simple enough (any mechanical manipulation is simple enough in my book) the result may and probably will (judging by quite a few models already on STEX or shown in some threads) be not particularly good. 

All in all you can get size relatively close from Google earth itself and proportions from good frontal photos of the building JasonCW  has a very helpful and informative tutorial on this issue.

[JonM 38]

The 3d warehouse building files are not generally high-poly enough to work with BAT. Some are, but perhaps only a handful. They almost always use photo textures which don't look right. Almost easier to make it yourself like SimFox was saying.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

From my experience in sketchup, I always made my own models in sketchup and had the photo-textured models as a reference. Of course that's what I did a long time ago.

[madhatter106 3,931]

With all this fuss about Sketchup, I still don't see why people don't just learn gmax from the beginning and BAT it in there...you're going to have to drag the silly model into gmax at some point anyways and retexture it properly there, why not just make it from scratch?

I still don't see why people insist on going the Sketchup route; it's not like gmax is rocket science compared to it...

[SimFox 804]

the reason is a huge cash of SketchUp models ready to download and "make own" and silent acceptance of such practice. Naturally it is appealing as low resistance path. Appealing to those who are not too familiar with the process eg not aware that the result a) would not look good, b) will almost instantly reveal "borrowing" of others work. There few some incidents like this.

Biggest practical problem (apart from moral issues) is that this development is in effect erode BATing tradition and standards.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Sure. I'll step back, and try to make my own buildings. And I'll also use it as a reference. And I'll try to use gmax, too. But SketchUp is on my main computer, and I'm going to install Windows...later.