RE: [Plib-users] now i can see the light!!!

[Dave M. <dp...@ef...>]

> So i ask now about keyframe generation......  i wonder if the ASE
> file format has keyfrme information.. I have actualy two simple ASE models
> and there is always at the begining some FRAME information like:

ase supports both keyframe and mesh animation.

mesh animation is good for things like bending and deformation.
you can get things to look blobby and organic if they squish and bend.
keyframe animation is good for position,rotation,and scaling paths.
an example of keyframe would be to open a trap door or move a turtle
back and forth across the road.

in ase, look for xxxx_SAMPLE for keyframes and MESH_ANIMATION for the
mesh animation.  when you export ASE, make sure to checkbox the options
to give you animation.  i always use "force sample every frame"

the keyframe samples give you a "time" value which can be turned into a
frame # by dividing by SCENE_TICKSPERFRAME.

i've planned to add ASE animation support to PLIB but i was overly busy
last week.

> Another think about ASE file format, is that it divides the
> objects in NODES, i think i can use this to create an SSG tree,
> but i dont know if the ASE format
> stores hierachical information, thinks like parents an childs  etc.......

GEOMOBJECT is the ASE structure that defines an object.  the NODE
term refers to any node in the MAX scene which could be a light, camera,
mesh, etc.  the hierarchical info is in there too like PARENT links.

i've worked on several commericial games using ASE and it truly rocks
the best source of info is the actual source code for the ASE import and
export which can be found in the SDK folder on the MAX CDROM.

> ... cameras ...

i like your camera ideas and they should work well
for movement you should also consider a smart camera that can
track the player.  ie: turn with inertia when the player turns,
pull back when the player increases movement speed, zoom in when
the player slows down.  in some games there are several different
camera "modes" you can choose from to watch the action.

all the best,
--Dave McClurg