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Model extraction and 3d printing
wraithshadow13
Member Posts: 1,728 Arc User
A lot more lately its been tossed around about 3d printers and the capabilities there in, one of which are static figures and possibly articulated action figures, some games already taking a queue with the static ones. My question is whether or not it would be possible to take your character or ship model from the game some how (with out breaking TOS or any thing like that) for the purpose of getting this done. I know that the game lets you save images for costume purposes, but what about the entire 3d model?
What are the devs opinions on the idea of figures based on the player characters? Is there any chance of being able to take the characters or ships from the game with out getting banned?
I honestly think there's a lot of money to be made by cryptic for having this type of feature running across all 3 games, especially with Star Trek, super heroes, and D&D licensing under their belt.
What are the devs opinions on the idea of figures based on the player characters? Is there any chance of being able to take the characters or ships from the game with out getting banned?
I honestly think there's a lot of money to be made by cryptic for having this type of feature running across all 3 games, especially with Star Trek, super heroes, and D&D licensing under their belt.
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I'm sure they could work something out with the program provider.
Sadly yes, I have looked into this myself. The best I can determine is that they are some bizarre form of Geometry File. No matter what I do, it always comes out garbled.
The toolset would be a post-build import process used only to get the ship in to the engine.
I'm willing to bet the original meshes are constructed in either 3DS Max or Maya. (Source: I'm a 3D modeller by trade...)
So they almost certainly have 3D-printer-friendly files on-hand somewhere in their office.
The additional problem you may find you have is the level of detail on the base mesh. At the moment, most 3D printers only recognise the basic geometry (3D spatial coordinates defining the ship's boundaries) and not additional attributes more specific to CGI and Animation.
So if the Developers are using particularly complex Normal Mapping (That is; overlapping a high-detail set of coordinates on to low-detail geometry to save on memory) you may find that the model is an unrecognisable blob if you strip away its more advanced attributes down to just the 'shell'.
I ran in to that problem when I was digging the model of the Hyperion from Starcraft II's map editor - her normal map was so complex that the ship was a mis-shapen mess when I managed to import it in to Maya. Significant rebuilding would be required to make a useable 3D printing model.
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My Ship Builds: USS Conqueror, HMS Victorious, HMS Concord, ISS Queen Elizabeth, Black Widow III
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Ripping from the game might be a violation of the TOS. But if you modeled it yourself, then printed it, it should be okay.
But 3D Printing isn't exactly cheap, even if you used a small prototype.
A long time ago, when CapnLogan was around, I believe he said they used 3D Max.
Actually, I know how to do this myself.
However...
It's a lot of headache and legally questionable and you'll have to assemble and touch up the model in 3DS Max and re-do the hull texture, likely from scratch.
Your best bet would be if a CBS licensee worked out a deal for toys with snap on parts for switching ship models or licensed some Cryptic designs.
And that would not be impossible but it would also involve headache.
I will say this: I wish somebody would contact Playmates about the idea of releasing STO toys. Action figures with swappable heads/hands and ships with a snap on building component.
But first I think you'd have to see a STO comic and other tie-ins. I think a comic could really take off but, again, logistical headache. And I believe it's been tried.
Make the nacelles seperate and have the buyer glue them one (like with some resin models).
Star Trek: The Original Grind
Star Trek: The Next Grind
Star Trek: Deep Space Grind
Star Trek: Voyage to the Grind
That's not the problem:
Some of the designs only work because they are computer models.
Take the "Nomad" Star Cruiser as an example: the nacelles are big yet the pylons are rather small.
To hold the nacelles you can't make the pylons out of the same material as the nacelles as the pylons would either break or bend too much under the weight.
Some of the more...exotic ships can't handle gravity.
I could not have said anything better ...
I hope STO get's better ...
It's 3D printing. Basically is used to scan an image or model of some kind in the virtual world, then use that to make something like an actual figure IRL.
The more complex 3D Printers can pull off some rather impressive paint jobs with tools built into the machine, so you could give the ships custom names, paint jobs, and registry numbers.
I'd love to be able to line a shelf on my wall with miniature ships I've purchased.
Halo and Ironman are done the same way where the 3D models are used to produce a paper form that is constructed and then coated in epoxy resin and hardened, then painted. Loads of fan sites around but very few items for Star Trek.
However, I recently worked on a 3D model of the Compression Phaser Rifle III for this sole purpose of creating it in physical form but I'd like to see if Cryptic could release official low-ploygon versions of the STO weapons - it would save me a lot of effort!
If anyone would like to get hold of the file for the phaser rifle I have created, I'm willing to share... but if anyone is also working on version of the suit or helmet, let's try and work together on it.
Zamil@razoreye2005
How is this unusual? Every game is different as far as the 3d models are concerned. As for unextractable. Not true, theres a plugin for a popular 3d modeling program that will rip 3d models from a game while its being played thought it will not be exact and cannot be used in the game if changed, and does not include bones and animation, basic model is easy. I wont go any further but what the OP is asking for is already available.
"I'm drunk, whats your excuse for being an idiot?" - Unknown drunk man. :eek:
I like that idea. Also what would be cool, is if they made some episodes in the game using characters we've made perhaps. Or heck, even put it in a tv show.
---post above is amahood's---
EDIT: Closed for necroing an old thread. Remember, if a thread has been inactive for 30 days, you should not post to it. Feel free to create a new thread on the subject if you would like to discuss further