Hello all,
I want to create a completely free, open-source 3D modelling program to create models for games. Amateur games developers are the main target audience. I need programmers and artists to help out.
So why another 3D modeller? While there are quite a few, some even free and open-source, I’ve not found any of them to be at all pleasant or efficient to use. Many are designed primarily for animation and rendering rather than computer games. Others are slow and tedious to use, with cluttered and unintuitive interfaces. The only one that I’ve really enjoyed using was Milkshape, and even that could do with some serious improvements, not least of which is the price.
In addition to this, I have some novel modelling features I’d like to implement:
- The modeller will allow “spray-on texturing” whereby you can literally draw on your model in 3D to create the textures. Similarly for bump-mapping etc. if needed.
- “Spray-on skinning” in which bones can be fleshed out with skin using a kind of spray-painting technique (again in glorious 3D).
- Design mirrors, which enforce symmetry of objects during design (for objects like spaceships etc.)
- A highly plug-in oriented architecture, which allows easy extension and support of specialised objects like plants etc.
I know that this will, in totality, require quite an effort, but I believe we could cobble together the core system in a few weeks, and implement most of it via plug-ins. There is still plenty of room for changes to the design - any volunteers will, of course, have a full say in what goes in :O). Hopefully, with enough enthusiasm, this project will be able to set a new standard in modelling software for amateur games developers.
If you’re interested, please e-mail me at dickyrubbish_nospam@hotmail.com (remove _nospam), or obviously post here if you want to discuss!