As we will be using 3D Studio Max 2010 in the asset creation examples of this book, it is important that we explore the installation of the plug-in for 3ds max to allow for the exporting of meshes, animation, and other data to CryENGINE.
This first step in creating assets for the CryENGINE 3 is an important one. As most assets used within the CryENGINE need to be in an optimized format, we must export all of the source assets (asset we will work on in external packages like 3d studio max and Photoshop) through an optimization and conversion process. For this process to be successful it is imperative that the RESOURCE COMPILER be setup properly.
Note
The SDK installer should automatically install the plugins for the installed versions of 3ds Max during the CryENGINE 3 tools installation. In this case, the installer automatically sets up the system path, which allows the exporter to communicate with the Resource compiler.
To prepare yourself for asset creation, you must have the CryENGINE 3 SDK installed.
Before copying the plugin to the required 3ds Max directory ensure 3ds max is shutdown.
Locate the following .dlu file that is matched to the 3d studio max version you will be using. These files are found in the /tools directory of your build.
3ds Max 9 32 bituseCryExport9.dlu3ds Max 9 64 bituseCryExport9_64.dlu3ds Max 2008 32 BituseCryExport10.dlu3ds Max 2008 64 BituseCryExport10_64.dlu3ds Max 2009 32 BituseCryExport11.dlu3ds Max 2009 64 BituseCryExport11_64.dlu3ds Max 2010 32 BituseCryExport12.dlu3ds Max 2010 64 BituseCryExport12_64.dlu
- Once you have located the
.dlufile that is associated to your installation of 3ds Max, copy this file to thepluginsdirectory of your 3ds Max directory.C:Program FilesAutodesk3ds Max 2010pluginsCryExport12_64.dluis the installation path and we will use 3ds Max2010 x64 bit for the examples in this book. - Open 3ds Max.
When the plugin initializes, you will be presented with a setup screen to direct the exporter from 3d studio max to the resource compiler in your installation.
- In our example, we have our installation located in:
C:CrytekCryENGINE3 - On clicking Ok you will now be able to access the exporter through:
Utilities | More | CryENGINE Exporter
Now that we have installed the CryENGINE 3 exporter for 3ds and directed it to our resource compiler, we can export a variety of assets and objects to a CryENGINE format ready for use in Sandbox.
There are a host of tools available to 3ds Max users that are shipped within the CryENGINE SDK. Find out more later on how to install and activate these extended tools, and what they are used for.
During installation, the CryTools Maxscripts may have been installed to your installation of 3ds Max depending on the settings used during installation. These CryTools scripts are a collection of Maxscript tools that were developed by various artists throughout the development of Crysis and over various iterations of the engine. These are all coded in Maxscript format and thus are only compatible with 3ds Max.
The tools are separated into logical areas of:
- Having installed the required tools, you may want to go straight to the Creating and exporting static objects recipe later in this chapter
- You may also want to re-run the installation of the CryENGINE SDK, which is covered thoroughly in the Installing the CryENGINE SDK recipe in Chapter 1,CryENGINE 3:Getting Started.