[seggaeman]

This is a 3ds max importer for GTA III/VC/SA .dff model files. Since it's a compiled plugin import speed is comparable to Zmodeler2 & it can handle large models.

UPDATE 26/10/2011 Added support for night vertex colors.

Night vertex color and alpha are imported to mapping channels 3 and 4 (x-coordinate only) respectively; let me know if you are able to view and edit the information.

Instructions

In addition to 3ds max you need to have .NET framework 4 and Max.NET installed.
You will also need Kam's gta_material.ms which is included with his scripts.

Download the Max.NET installer here.
http://www.ephere.com/autodesk/max/downloads.html

Download Kam's 3ds max scripts here.
http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=9172

But it's important to note that the plugin will not work with versions prior to 3ds max 9 since they do not have in-built support for the .NET framework.

Copy GTADffImporter.dll into <3ds max root folder>\plugins. It's advisable to run 3ds max as administrator; sometimes it didn't work when this step was omitted.

The plugin is accessible from the utilities tab: Expand the "Utilities" rollout and click the "More... " button. In the list you should find an entry for "GTA DFF importer".

The utility brings up a dialog. Click the "open" button to choose a file. One or more numbers will appear in the listbox; these represent clumps in the .dff file. The numbers are the offsets(i.e addresses) of the clumps relative to the beginning of the file. Select one of them and click the "Import" button to perform the import.

Most .dffs are single clump.

Features

Imports GTA III, Vice City and GTA SA models.
Imports materials, normals, both UV maps and vertex colors.
Limited support for peds: mesh is imported but bones are represented by dummy nodes.
UV and other animations not supported.
2dfx not supported.
Does not import collision data.

This post has been edited by seggaeman on Friday, Dec 30 2011, 18:57

This mod is hosted at GTAGarage.com

Screenshots:

Downloads:
Download plugin - 0.009MB, uploaded on Nov 01 2011, downloaded 6609 times

Click here to view the mod at GTAGarage

[dingleman]

Ah, nice one seggaeman. I'll definately have to check this out tomorrow.

[aad]

what makes this more special then the already released DFF importer / exporters ??

[seggaeman]

It imports stuff made in Zmodeler.

This post has been edited by seggaeman on Tuesday, Nov 1 2011, 17:09

[DimZet13]

please create dff VC(PS2) Importer

[pmillett]

This is a good tool... However, I feel you should take into consideration protecting the models that are locked. It's nice to import models into 3ds Max that were made in Zmodeler and ZModeler2, but will you protect locked models out of respect for the modelers that made them?

This post has been edited by pmillett on Thursday, Dec 22 2011, 21:56

[fastman92]

QUOTE (pmillett @ Thursday, Dec 22 2011, 21:51)

This is a good tool... However, I feel you should take into consideration protecting the models that are locked. It's nice to import models into 3ds Max that were made in Zmodeler and ZModeler2, but will you protect locked models out of respect for the modelers that made them?

I don't really think it's a good idea. Though what's wrong if someone opens your DFF that is for free anyway. If someone can open DFF, it may be improved especially when no domage parts were made. Even taking someone's hard work isn't a reason to block DFF as everyone is unknown and anonymous on internet. We don't glory anyone for making mods it is wrong to try to get rid of the mod reuse by another.

[pmillett]

Well, if the author gives permission then have them send the model unlocked if they can. People are going to use other people's work without permission regardless as some just don't have respect for them. If it's locked it should remain so unless you actually have permission since with permission you don't have to worry about having to bypass the lock anyway,

[seggaeman]

Actually the problem is that if I implement recognition of the Zmodeler2 locking system, files generated by at least one other tool won't import correctly. I know someone who created a PS2 to PC .dff converter and the files generated won't import in Zmodeler2, because they were "locked" unintentionally. And because of the way this locking system works, this issue can arise with Kam's exporter as well

Another alternative is to use the "non standard .dff" workaround, but if I do that no Zmodeler file will import. It will defeat the purpose of the tool as I see it.

It remains though that I have ceased work on the .NET version of the importer, if there are going to be further updates they will only apply to the native SDK plugin (also posted on gtagarage).

Pmilett if you or anyone else would like to have locking for this tool I'll supply you the source code.

Btw an exporter is coming.

This post has been edited by seggaeman on Monday, Dec 26 2011, 18:34

[XEPOMAHT007]

any plans to support import bump mapping from dff gta3?

[bammargera]

GTA 3 Bump maps? What is this? Why haven't I heard of it

[ALMOST610]

Is He Talking About Collision? It looks like the person is falling through the fence.

[goin-god]

QUOTE (ALMOST610 @ Monday, Dec 26 2011, 21:07)

Is He Talking About Collision? It looks like the person is falling through the fence.

He wasn't talking about colision, he was talking about Bump Maps.

[ALMOST610]

Well perhaps someone will explain what a Bump Map is bammargera questioned it, it is clear that I do not know what it is, can you enlighten us then?

[seggaeman]

A bump map makes an object appear to have an irregular surface (even though actual geometry may be flat). @ XEPOMAT007 Are you sure gta 3 models support it? Send me a sample model if you have 1.
I wasn't aware of this.

[Vicolaships]

Download link down !
I would like to give a try

[seggaeman]

Use the "Download mod" button on gtagarage.

http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=16737

You may also want to check this importer; it has more capabilities. I've stopped updating the Max.NET tool.

http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=18572

[ALMOST610]

Perhaps you could also try and add support for GTA IV, as far as I know there is no Max Script for IV and it would be a welcome from plenty of modders who dont like using Zmod.
Could you look into it Seggaeman?

[seggaeman]

I would have liked to, but there are two hurdles. My pc is not good enough to run GTA IV, plus I don't have knowledge of the .wft file format. I guess it's .wft you are talking of since Shadow's plugins and GIMS can do WDR.

[ALMOST610]

I myself am not to familiar with GTA IV file formats either but on the event that a Max Script is available I would get into modding and playing around with it then.

I think that ZMod might have import/export capabilities can you not reverse engineer that plugin and create a max script, all I can say is try and do what you can, and it will be more than I can comprehend, not sure how all these scripts and plugins work to begin with.