You probably want Windows DDS thumbnail support (so you can see a folder of images without having to open them all):

like so http://www.pkeuro.com/images/modding/ddsthumbnails.gif

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/directx9_c/directx/graphics/Tools/TextureViewer.asp

Get the DirectX SDK (Summer 2004).

You will also need Maya 6.0 or above for CAD DDS support. http://www.carbonation.com/maya/

You will need to unpack game packs via Paineditor. File|Extract Game Data.

Your map textures will now be found in \data\textures\levels\.

Reference them in Maya 6.0 via the HyperTexture tool.

You will also need to activate the plugin, place in [maya install]\bin\plugins

Plugins are supplied by PCF in the editor package.

Within Maya go Windows|preferences|plugin manager and activate the plugin by clicking autoload and load

Methods of converting wireframe geometries into Maya.

http://www.pkeuro.com/images/modding/convert.gif

QUAKE/QUAKEWORLD
================

1. Convert BSP into MAP using BSP2MAP tool. Open PAKs using Pak Explorer/Quark, or look in ID1\Maps\

2. Open MAP using Right Hemispheres – Deep Exploration (2.0 or higher). Save as .obj

3. Import OBJ into Maya.

4. Set View|Camera Settings| Perspective off. Press 6. Use View|Camera Tools|Zoom Tool.

5. Set scale 1.2 1.2 1.2 , rotation 90 0 0

6. (Assuming youve loaded the plugin by now) File|Export All, and save the MPK file to data\maps\

7. Open Paineditor with a New Level… under templates add at least one Gameplay|playerrespawnpoint.

8. Make sure you Save All as DM_* … it needs to be DM_ for PK to recognise it as an MP map.

QUAKE3
======

1. Open PK3 files using Winzip. Find BSP files.

2. Open AC3D, open the BSP file and save as 3DS file.

3. Import 3DS into Maya.

4. Set View|Camera Settings| Perspective off. Press 6. Use View|Camera Tools|Zoom Tool.

5. Set scale 1 1 1 , rotation 0 0 0 (not checked)

6. (Assuming youve loaded the plugin by now) File|Export All, and save the MPK file to data\maps\

7. Open Paineditor with a New Level… under templates add at least one Gameplay|playerrespawnpoint.

8. Make sure you Save All as DM_* … it needs to be DM_ for PK to recognise it as an MP map.

Alternatively

1. Use GTKRadiant/Q3Radiant to open the BSP files.

2. Export as OBJ… open in Maya.

3. (alternative) Convert to ASE using GTKRadiant. Use the ASE2MPK file converter supplied by PCF.

5.5 TEXTURE (see step 2.)

6. (Assuming youve loaded the plugin by now) File|Export All, and save the MPK file to data\maps\

7. Open Paineditor with a New Level… under templates add at least one Gameplay|playerrespawnpoint.

8. Make sure you Save All as DM_* … it needs to be DM_ for PK to recognise it as an MP map.

UNREAL TOURNAMENT
=================

1. Use GTKRadiant/Q3Radiant to open the MAP files.

2. Export to OBJ

3. Import OBJ into Maya.

4. Set View|Camera Settings| Perspective off. Press 6. Use View|Camera Tools|Zoom Tool.

5. Set scale 0.1 0.1 0.1 , rotation 0 0 0

5.5 TEXTURE (see step 2.)

6. (Assuming youve loaded the plugin by now) File|Export All, and save the MPK file to data\maps\

7. Open Paineditor with a New Level… under templates add at least one Gameplay|playerrespawnpoint.

8. Make sure you Save All as DM_* … it needs to be DM_ for PK to recognise it as an MP map.

DOOM 3
======

1. Use GTKRadiant/Q3Radiant to open the MAP files.

2. Export to OBJ

3. Import OBJ into Maya.

4. Set View|Camera Settings| Perspective off. Press 6. Use View|Camera Tools|Zoom Tool.

5. Set scale 0.1 0.1 0.1 , rotation 0 0 0 (not checked)

5.5 TEXTURE (see step 2.)

6. (Assuming youve loaded the plugin by now) File|Export All, and save the MPK file to data\maps\

7. Open Paineditor with a New Level… under templates add at least one Gameplay|playerrespawnpoint.

8. Make sure you Save All as DM_* … it needs to be DM_ for PK to recognise it as an MP map.

NOTES
=====

If you are a fan of any of the parametric tools such as Pro Engineer or Solid Works, you can load up the geometry via STL files. You can export these from most programs, but you can also use Crossroads (link) as a common interface.

You may have noticed some smaller site changes on the right hand side. This is a move to the more open structure of the site where users can contribute a lot more to adding in opinions and news, something which is a standard feature on d3euro and q4euro.

Simply log in and you will have access to the site control panel from which you can add articles and news.

Have fun 🙂

Now that DOOM 3 will not be the game to be used in the CPL World Tour, theres been a lot of speculation as to what game will be used. There is currently 2 favorites: Painkiller & UT2004. The CPL have already said that it will not be Quake 3, and it wont be CS.. as thats a team game only.

Today I got informed by Stermy the Italian PK player, about a couple of threads over at the CPL forums. One thread was made in the Painkiller section to get Painkiller picked, and one was in the UT2004 section to get UT2004 picked. As you will see, UT2004 had way more people replying to vote for it to get picked, where-as Painkiller only had about 4 replys. So, Im posting it here, to get all of you Painkiller fans to give Painkiller the support it deserves. Just post to say you would like to see it at the CPL, and why. It will do the game a tremendous amount of good if it does get chosen, so lets help it.

The Painkiller thread at the CPL forums can be found here, and the UT2004 thread can be found here.

What are you waiting for? POST!

Today, PKEuro got a chance to catch up with a couple of the Chains.MOD guys, and ask a few questions about their thoughts on their MOD being used in tournaments such as The CPL & ESWC.

pkeuro: Hi guys, been a while since our last interview, could you please tell us who you are, and what your job role is in the Chains.MOD Dev team?

stR4y: Hi, im Dominik “stR4y” Tomasik, im living in Poland and im 2D graphic artist. My role in Chains.Mod Dev Team is all graphics – hud, new gui, simple item etc. Also im webdesigner and now im working on a new layout for www.chainsmod.net.

kAzu: My name is Greg and Im known as kAzu. Like stR4y and most people of Chainsmod.dev team Im from Poland. In our team Im second Client Side programmer. Actually Im working on new GUI and overtime feature at the moment.

pkeuro: How do you guys feel about the way the community has reacted to Chains.MOD?

stR4y: I feel good 🙂 I want to thank all these people, which play Chains.Mod and give us support.

kAzu: The Painkiller community reacted very good. 😀

pkeuro: Now, I know that Chains is going to be used at The CPL and ESWC as the official MOD, what are your thoughts on this? Extremely happy I should imagine?

stR4y: Yes, Im very glad to see our mod on such huge events. I never expected it and i think this is very big achievement. I hope it will help us in work and give more CM users.

kAzu: Im also a Business Director in Chainsmod team so I must talk with organizers of these very huge cups. Sometimes it was very funny, but not always. The worst time was when we were waitng for answers 🙂 Now everybody is happy. I think Chains.Mod should be more popular after these events.

pkeuro: I also hear theres going to be a special edition, just for those particular Tournaments. Can you give us some details on what is going to be in it? 🙂

stR4y: Especially for these tournaments I created a new HUD and MENU. About other things talk with my friend, kAzu. 🙂

kAzu: Yes. Actually we are making special release for ESWC. Specially for this event i did: Overtime, new GUI (which includes client/server config menu) and also I put ESWC logo in game during warmup. I think ESWC competetors will be happy 🙂

pkeuro: Is there anything you would like to say to the people reading this? IE. Server ops.

stR4y: I search sponsor which will give me cash for trip to Texas, USA for CPL tournament 😀 Also I want greet all my friends and family :>

kAzu: I cant understand server admins. We created CM especially for clanwars, cups etc. We did such useful things as rcon, referee for server side. Why admins arent using CM on their servers? I dont know. To gamers I can only say: Thanks. To server ops: Install Chains.Mod on your servers.

pkeuro: Finally, who do you think will win ESWC? :p

stR4y: I think mysod|mess will win 🙂 Polish game, polish mod.. polish winner 😀

kAzu: I hope: our great player – mysod|mess 🙂

pkeuro: Thank you for your time guys, I hope all goes well with future builds, and keep up the good work! 🙂

stR4y: Thank u2 🙂 Greets. 🙂

kAzu: Thank you. Greets goes to painkiller players, all members of dzastfrends crew: overeq, yareq, fUtRzAk, guhard, k4r3n1n, syzmon, My new polish friend CrippLe :), tester for server hosting and all people on #chainsmod channel.

Extras: Screenshot | Chains.MOD Website