I need to make a 3D rendition of my school campus that you can walk through in first person. I don't have to do the insides of the buildings, but just the outside of the buildings, trees and bushes, stairs, some statues, and parkings lots with cars in them, and other stuff like that.
I've been looking at and considering using more advanced game development software (Darkbasic, Torque, Blitz3d, etc.) however since this has to be done this semester I don't want to start using a language or engine that will take me most of the semester just to learn. I mean heck, I need to learn how to use 3D modeling software as well and that will be challenging enough as it is. (BTW, I have approximately 12 weeks to complete this)
So basically, I'm asking
can I make the various components of my campus in some 3D Modeling software and put it all together in Reality Factory with minimal hassle?
Also, how hard is it to implement terrain such as hills and slopes?
Do you think Reality Factory is the easiest way to get this done?
What 3D Modeling program(s) would you say are the easiest to use and at the same time capable of this task? (i.e. Buildings, statues, stairs and terrain).[/b]
Is RF ideal for my school project?
yes i do belive this would be possible with RF, unfortunatly the time scale you mentiond may be a problem, not for RF but 3d modeling in generel, if your a quick learner and can leanr 3d modeling easily then its fine but RF i would say is the easiest/cheapest option.
answers to your questions
Q1 & 4, they both are related to each other, yes it is possible to insert models from other programes into RF but only specific ones can be used, these are files with the extention of .act or .bdy, while most programes dont export to these formats there is one called milkshape, it exports to bdy and with a free tool that comes with RF can export to .act RF's model format, then importing it into RF is simple and easy. milkshape isnt the only programe that can import into .bdy or .act but in my opinon its the best, alot of users on the forum use it, its cheap and aswel as a converter its an actual 3d modeling programe wich is basic but easy to understand compared to things such as 3dsmax and maya as the functions of milkshape are limited but the ones it does have are powerful.
Q2. its not too hard, there is a terain generator for it, i havnt used it yet but it looks good, another way around this is to create a height map, this is a greyscale bitmap image wich depending on the colour would change the height e.g. blak and white stripes would create a very high - low - high vally's using this principle if you mark hills in a dark grey and rivers in a light grey you can create a heightmap, this then can be used in milkshape to create a 3d terrain. (the terrain generator that i mentiond erlier may even have a function for the height map but not sure)
Q3 for your project yes i think it would be the easiest solution but i wouldnt say it was easy. as i mentiond erlier my main concern on this is that learning to model might take along time and isnt the easiest thing in the world.
answers to your questions
Q1 & 4, they both are related to each other, yes it is possible to insert models from other programes into RF but only specific ones can be used, these are files with the extention of .act or .bdy, while most programes dont export to these formats there is one called milkshape, it exports to bdy and with a free tool that comes with RF can export to .act RF's model format, then importing it into RF is simple and easy. milkshape isnt the only programe that can import into .bdy or .act but in my opinon its the best, alot of users on the forum use it, its cheap and aswel as a converter its an actual 3d modeling programe wich is basic but easy to understand compared to things such as 3dsmax and maya as the functions of milkshape are limited but the ones it does have are powerful.
Q2. its not too hard, there is a terain generator for it, i havnt used it yet but it looks good, another way around this is to create a height map, this is a greyscale bitmap image wich depending on the colour would change the height e.g. blak and white stripes would create a very high - low - high vally's using this principle if you mark hills in a dark grey and rivers in a light grey you can create a heightmap, this then can be used in milkshape to create a 3d terrain. (the terrain generator that i mentiond erlier may even have a function for the height map but not sure)
Q3 for your project yes i think it would be the easiest solution but i wouldnt say it was easy. as i mentiond erlier my main concern on this is that learning to model might take along time and isnt the easiest thing in the world.
*GD*