Xpacks shop and how to convert existing gfx as easy as possible.?

[dacoolone91]

I think it would be fantastic to know the procedure of how to convert
downloaded license free gfx into a personal xpack as easy as possible.

Which "batch" texture conversion tool(s) are best and especially easiest to use.?
Which "batch" 3D models tool(s) are best/easiest to use for converting 3D models into a usable xpack format.?
Which tool(s) are easiest to use in regards to texturing/re-texturing of the converted 3d models.?

Please post a step to step instruction in regards to your suggested tools, allwing easy use right away.

Also I was wondering if there could be basis for organizing a friendly quality Xpacks (paypal based) shop..

The current lack of quality Xpacks / xpack variation, sadly prevent construction of dream tracks,
for a regular community guy (no gfx skills of importance) like myself.:th_sad:

I do believe that quality xpacks like the Great Britain Xpack could sell in fair quantities,
if the price was set at a -fair- level: 10-USD would be fair for a quality Xpack like the GB.

The content could be scratch produced or purchased from various pro gfx sources like.:
http://www.turbosquid.com/ ( A Big pro gfx resource ).
http://www.the3dstudio.com/ ( Another Big pro gfx resource ).
http://www.3dlinks.com/links.cfm?categoryid=9&subcategoryid=90&order=dateadded ( Pro Gfx links ).
http://www.marlinstudios.com/ ( One of the best pro gfx shops ).
http://www.xfrogdownloads.com/greenwebNew/products/productStart.htm ( Xfrog Trees n plants ).
http://www.asilefx.net/catalog/ ( Lots of nature products ).
http://shop.3dtotal.com/index.php?cPath=21 ( The Total textures collection ).
http://www.ambientlight.co.uk/store/index.php?&vmcchk=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=81 (textures coll).
http://subdimensionstudios.com/products.htm (textures coll.)

Interesting pro gfx Items, just a few (exiting) examples.:
http://www.marlinstudios.com/products/treefarm/treefarm.html ( The Treefarm Collection ).
http://www.asilefx.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=100 ( Jungle and Rainforest ).
http://www.the3dstudio.com/product_details.aspx?id_product=30774 ( Big city buildings ).
http://www.the3dstudio.com/product_details.aspx?id_product=24790 ( More Big City Buildings ).

A shop system like this (bigger scale tho) works like a charm at the Second Life scene.:
https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace
( Please notice that the shop item pricing is set in Linden Dollars -not- USD ).

I know that the current (community) new quality xpacks efforts might take care of this
"current lack of quality xpacks problem" in lets say 12-24 month, but why wait so long
if we don't have to.?

Just an idea, since I'm fairly new to this scene and there might be a lot of action going
on in this important field already, action I just haven't been able to spot yet.

Cheers,
Dac.

 

[RT1971]

No models purchased online may be resold, free models can't be sold, same goes for royalty free images.
Most images found online are in .jpg format and incorrectly sized for straight conversion, you need to resize your images to .dds standard, 2,4,8,16,32,64,128,246,512,1024,2048 any combination of those width and height.
Then you need a program to convert to .dds, Gimp, PSP, Photoshop or get the Microsoft DX SDK (2007) from MS which has a great tool for converting to .dds and lets you know if the size is incorrect.
As for 3d models from online, free ones tend to be buggy, missing textures, too many poly's, possibly someone's commercial stuff pirated.
So using them straight into xpack is out of the question.
Unfortunately you may have to wait for someone to offer their xpacks to the public or start from the beginning by doing some stuff yourself, or ask here for some help with textures or model conversion for you.
Track making unfortunately involves a lot of work if you want it to be different and you need to plan what you want before you start.

 

[Steppenwolf]

Really if you want to be able to create your "dream track" you need to learn the necessary skills. It's hard to find good custom content for way bigger games (like all the well known fps games) and it's even harder in a comparable small modding scene like this.

And frankly 10 Dollar for the Great Britain xpack would not be a fair price. Commercialy this would be worth a lot more as you can see in some of the links that you self posted.

 

[dacoolone91]

No models purchased online may be resold, free models can't be sold, same goes for royalty free images.
Most images found online are in .jpg format and incorrectly sized for straight conversion, you need to resize your images to .dds standard, 2,4,8,16,32,64,128,246,512,1024,2048 any combination of those width and height.
Then you need a program to convert to .dds, Gimp, PSP, Photoshop or get the Microsoft DX SDK (2007) from MS which has a great tool for converting to .dds and lets you know if the size is incorrect.
As for 3d models from online, free ones tend to be buggy, missing textures, too many poly's, possibly someone's commercial stuff pirated.
So using them straight into xpack is out of the question.
Unfortunately you may have to wait for someone to offer their xpacks to the public or start from the beginning by doing some stuff yourself, or ask here for some help with textures or model conversion for you.
Track making unfortunately involves a lot of work if you want it to be different and you need to plan what you want before you start.

Thanks for a good reply.

Sad to hear that matters in question infact are a bit more gfx-tech difficult
than I had hoped for, which more or less leave me waiting for someone
to release more xpacks publically - just like you suggest.

Anyways lets hope that a good solution to the current lack of quality Xpacks
are to be found - one way or the other.

I will keep my fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Dac.

 

[dacoolone91]

Really if you want to be able to create your "dream track" you need to learn the necessary skills. It's hard to find good custom content for way bigger games (like all the well known fps games) and it's even harder in a comparable small modding scene like this.

And frankly 10 Dollar for the Great Britain xpack would not be a fair price. Commercialy this would be worth a lot more as you can see in some of the links that you self posted.

I know that building quality (dream) tracks takes a lot of hard work,
but without the necessary 3d models n textures avalible, it's an impossible task.

Sadly most guys doesn't have the (gfx) skills to scratch produce quality gfx.

Over at the Second Life scene I construct Islands via premade (purchased) gfx
and re-texturing of 3d models are (more or less) just a question of drag n
dropping (in 3d real time) a new texture on a(ny) object, which makes gfx
handlin fairly easy to deal with.

Perhaps Piddy (one day) will implement a similar easy going re-texturing
feature in Bobs Trackbuilder.

Cheers,
Dac.