Lightwave importer

Engines, Libraries and Tools Xith3D Forums
#1

Currently I’m working on a Lightwave (LW in short) importer for Xith3d.
For my hobby game project it’s OK to load basic models and the importer is tailor-made for such small needs. The focus is on loading the models in order to use them in an own game.
However, maybe the importer could be useful to others, too, so the poll. It’s not ready yet and it’s not very fast.

{Edit} What’s there and what’s missing please see the thread URLed below.

PS: In case you think “why another Xith loader?”: Well, many well known geometry based model formats like 3DS, ASE, OBJ, etc, are dead formats which means their limits will never be fixed, eg multi-texturing. Add to this bad documentation usually.
LW on the other side uses a geometry based format being live and kicking. With good documentation (except Lws). Well known convertor tools write LW files quite happily. Oh, and Doom3 is being modeled with LW, too. :wink:

#2

I’ve to add I’m not good at low level parsing and 3d. Also I didn’t use J3D’s LW loader (source) because it doesn’t work with new LW files and I’m not smart enough to understand complex sources from other people.
An 3d models importer can tend to be a never-ending story (hey Kev :slight_smile: and I predict I’ll have to concentrate on the things I need.

Still, a few test models from a friend loaded OK so far and I guess this is a good sign, hehe.
{Edit: A preview of one of these models deleted because of bandwith problems on my homepage :expressionless: }

#3

Excellent model!

Kev

#4

What luck, my model designer on my current project was just asking if I could import lightwave models. This is excactly what he was looking for!

Is there a download at this point?

#5

[quote]Excellent model!
[/quote]
Yes, I also like his models a lot. A pity he’s so busy with his day job, so hardly time for hobby projects… Life can be unfair.

[quote]What luck, my model designer on my current project was just asking if I could import lightwave models. This is excactly what he was looking for!
[/quote]
Now that’s good timing.
However, don’t rejoice too soon. With 3d model exporters and importers I think only when you see your model(s) correctly on your screen in your application you can say: it works. :wink:

[quote]Is there a download at this point?
[/quote]
Not yet, it’s unfinished and several parts are in flux state. By the way, only the main loader class uses English Javadocs, being the interface for users. The other sources don’t use English comments and names.

{Edit: Another sample deleted because of bandwith problems on my homepage :expressionless: }

#6

No worries, I can wait until it’s more stable. Keep up the good work!

#7

OK, first pren … release: http://www.java-gaming.org/cgi-bin/JGNetForums/YaBB.cgi?board=xith3d;action=display;num=1081364159