I'm using blender to create 3D models for my XNA game.  The main character is a stick figure...he will need to run, jump, and perform a variety of attacks with a sword and a gun.  Should I endeavor to code the animation in XNA, or can I set it up in Blender?

If you are doing 3D meshes, you can export in FBX format and load them into XNA using the skinned model processor.

Though this is none trivial, lot's of issues to get it working reliably.

If you want 2D, then you need to render to a texture and import the textures.

2D is simple enough...it's the 3D animation I don't quite understand.  And skinned models haven't really worked for me either....my FBX models have all come across with gray skins...not the ones I gave them in blender.

As someone who recently fought his way across the skinned-model battleground armed only with his wits, a sniper-rifle, and unlimited grenades (woo!), I can assure you that it's not an easy task. However, you have a few other options available to you.

You have to animate in your 3d environment: trying to procedurally code animations is, for all intents and puposes, impossible [hide's Spore behind back]. You can do this either by skinning the model, or animating it's individual parts seperately. Unlike most humanoid characters, a stick figure is ideally suited for the second option (I speak from experience here... ;) )

The downside to this is that XNA has no default importer for rigid animation, and as far as I know there is no sample dealing with it (although you could undoubtedly find a tutorial somewhere, perhaps ziggyware.com?).

You could download one of the many animation libraries, although you'll undoubtedly learn more building your own system.

Really, it's up to you... :P

AWESOME.  well my game involves stick figures....LOTS of stick figures. so I couldanimate the parts separately you say?  I'm gonna go tutorial hunting =D.

EDIT:
wait...does this method still involve bones and all that jazz?  Not a problem if it does....just once I learn how to create the animations I'll need some way to import and run them in xna.

By the way, is Blender considered a good enough 3D software for making 3D models? I plan to use Panda 3D for the time being to get myself started in 3D games since it uses C++, but I'll eventually try XNA studio, which will require me to go over and study C#.

lol random post...but yeah, I'm using Blender and it's a great tool.  and for getting your c# in line, I sugggest getting the "Learn Programming Now!" Xna Game Studio 2.0 book....some ms dude gave it to me, but you can probably find a torrent.  And I know it's outdated but there aren't any major changes that I've come up on so far.  And finally, if you're well versed in other object-oriented languages you should do just fine with xna.

just once I learn how to create the animations I'll need some way to import and run them in xna.

Well that is where blender becomes a pain in the proverbial.

It IS possible, but very difficult.

The only way I have found to get animated meshes out of blender into XNA is to find the FBX export script that has been preconfigured for XNA.

If you use the one that ships with blender, you will fail.

Once you have that, you can start learning the myriad of gotchas that stop the system working.

A single vertex not attached to a bone. Fail.
A single vertex not textured. Fail.
etc.
etc.
etc.

It can be done, but good luck.

=(

well...crap.  Looks like there's a long road ahead.  Any idea where I could "find" the FBX export script?  I was just going to google it but if you know feel free to speak up.

And troubleshooting isn't too bad once you get used to it, so I'm game....I guess.

email me at stainless at orange dot net and I will put you in touch with my GA, he has been through all of this already and will be happy to point you in the right direction.

I can also supply you an animation test tool that uses a XNA window in a winforms application to load and display an animated mesh, it is very handy when you are testing the results.

I'm lucky, I use my contacts in the industry to get myself a copy of 3ds max, I just had to reverse engineer a couple of file formats for them and they put me on their license.
I cannot get on with blender at all.

Hey tdogger.

Yeah, I made a little stick-dude out of cylinders and capsules, and if he's all one colour you can get away with all the clipping and sliding that makes this an awful animation technique in most cases.

Like I said, though, you run into the problem of there being no rigid body animation sample for XNA (any wonderful XNA Mods of unrivalled awesomeness out there? I'd really like to see this one day). I think some animation libraries handle it, but am not sure.

Given that I've already beaten up Skinned Model animation and forced it to dance for my sadistic amusment, I would do this with bones, but you do face the Skinned Model quagmire. It's a good quagmire, though, and if you're happy to work your way across it you can do a lot of good stuff with bones.

Unfortionately I use 3ds MAX, so I can't be much help when it comes to blender. Sorry. :|