I want to start making graphics for my games instead of using the ones in the SpaceWars starter kit.

I tried using XSI Mod Tool but it crashes alot and it didn't work on my friend's laptop, so is there another free program that can export as .FBX or .X ?

http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=202348

THis FAQ should help but 'best' is very subjective. Blender is probably the most common free tool.

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The ZBuffer - News and information for XNA and Managed DirectX

I heard that some people use Google SketchUp then uses blender as a converter, do you know how?

Note that I'm using the free version of goole sketchup and it doesn't export to .FBX nor .X it only saves as .skp

google sketchup is very easy and I liked it so I will be happy if I could convert it's .skp to .x or .fbx

I tried using Sketchup -> Blender -> XNA but my models came out all weird.  So I downloaded the trial version of sketchup pro.  It gives you like 8 hours of trial, but the clock only ticks when the app is running.  So make all your modifications in regular sketchup, open it in the Pro to export, then close Pro.  The export only takes maybe 30 seconds to a minute, so it works quite well.  Using this method, I've imported textured and regular models into XNA, complete with bones.

if you are not willing to seel your games you should try maya PEL

Maya PEL (and the free version of 3ds max - Gmax) have one HUGE restriction. They cant export to .x or .fbx. The idea was to use the tool for learning modelling and not use it for other apps.

Gmax did have some exporters that game companies (e.g. Train Sim and others) could pay for and other people have written apps toconvert FROM the legal formats so you can sometimes jump through multiple convertors but something almost always goes wrong.

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The ZBuffer - News and information for XNA and Managed DirectX

maya PEL cannot export in fbx ? Are you sure ? I thought someone tried to add the fbx plugin or the fbx converter.

you should try maybe I'm not mistaken.

We get this question all the time... believe me it can't export FBX... otherwise why would anyone buy the full version? PEL is not very lilmited inits functionality...

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The ZBuffer - News and information for XNA and Managed DirectX

Thanks guys for your help, I liked JavaFox's answer alot !

but one more question, What are the file types that Maya PEL can export to or Save as ?

is there any program that can convert these types to .FBX or .X ?

and How can I use DirectX SDK to make 3D models for XNA?

Hi, i'll use this topic for asking my question :-)

A friend gave me a 3D model she created with 3DSMAX (.3DSM i think).

So Xna canno't recognize that format so she used a convertor in her tool that creates a .fbx with no import

But when i tryed to load that model in my game, VS refused to load it because the first image wasn't a multiple of 4 something like that.

So do you know how to use some arts that was create with 3DSMax into Xna Content ?

Thanks,

Slimmx.

Make sure your textures are powers of 2.  The dimensions of each of your textures must be some power of two, like 2, 4, 8, 16, 32...256, 512, etc.  If she resizes your textures to powers of two it should work.  For example, instead of 100x100, ask her to change it to 128x128.

Alternatively you can use a ruby exporter plugin for regular SketchUp that can export in DirectX (.x) text files.

SketchUp models into DirectX XNA games

http://edecadoudal.googlepages.com/sketchupwithdirectx

Plugin code can be found here :

http://edecadoudal.googlepages.com/xExporter.rb

It supports textures and back faces.

That's a great find.  Thanks so much for posting it.

Thanks you, i'll send her your answers.

 

I saw this thread a couple days back and picked up the free version of Sketch Up -> Wow! The tutorials are simple and easy and I created a pretty nice (by my standards) M1 Tank in about two hours. The price is highly reasonable for the Pro version, and reduced for students.

I didn't know you could use Sketch Up to create game-type models or export them to XNA friendly formats, thanks for the advice!

(The app does crash every time I start it, but the online knowledge base helped me fix that so I can run it -> After that no crashes. Why do all 3D modellers crash?!)

With the .x exporter mentioned above, you don't need to buy the Pro version.  Just follow the directions on the site (paste the ruby file into the plugins folder) and the regular free version will export directly into xna.  It works fine so far, but on the model I tried, some of the faces were black.  The site said to try to explode the groups and the problem should be fixed.

Why did it crash or what did you have to do to fix it? (just curious cuz I had some problems too)

I Will try Blender, thanx!

I was having this problem (link to the support site) - and the solution provided by Google worked like a charm. I saw the ruby script, and I might try it, but I might just buy the pro version and avoid the hassle.

I tried XSI but it kept crashing and I don't want to devote my time to being a 3d modeller, I want to focus on game ideas and XNA code. (I've also tried Blender, and I bought/read the book, but it's still a little too much for me)

Thanks alot everybody specially "r1kdou".

I thought that exporting with google sketch up to something useful was just a dream !

I don't need to buy any software now, everything will be nice and easy with this wonderful plugin.

The nice thing is that it is legal (I think) so I can use it in the Imagine Cup competition next year without any problems.

Will 3Ds Max work?

MeatShield72:

Will 3Ds Max work?

It will but $3,495 USD is very far from free. I'd suggest going with the Sketchup idea or maybe try out Blender or Wings3D. All great tools that are absolutely free.

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Nick Gravelyn -- Microsoft XNA MVP
XNA Wiki | Zune Games

His true 3dsmax is a way too expensive if you just start modeling. Most of people are telling blender interface is ugly and odd but its features are the best for a free engine. Plus the xnqa exporter works fine.

I found a helpful series on this web page "Modelling for XNA with Blender" and did therefore my models with Blender - works pretty well.