An idea for making 3D players that are better than those of Minecraft.

[Inocudom]

The model that Rarkenin made is basically what an improved version of Minetest's player model could look like. It has a neck, and its arms are not the same size as its legs. Of course, the legs would look better if they got narrower as they went down to the feet. The arms would also look better if they got narrower as they went down to the hands. They neck should probably be at least as wide as the tops of the arms. In order for such a model to be used in Minetest, the following would have to be done:
The model itself would have to be made
It would have to be put in a mod for testing purposes

A feature that could make a model like this truly worthwhile is creating a layer slightly above the main mesh for hair and clothing. This layer would have to be visible inside and outside (so that hair on the back of the head can be seen from the front and the back.) There could be more than one version of this layer (one for pants and one for dresses would be a reason for this.) Creating textures for the layer and its base mesh would have to be an easy task (perhaps Minecraft textures could be used on it as well.) I have seen Pavel_S's models for the simple_mobs mod, so such a feat should be possible. Such a mesh with such a surrounding layer for hair and clothing could exist as an option for players rather than as a replacement. Before you ignore this idea and let it sink into the abyss to be forgotten forever and ever, consider what could be gained in terms of creative expression and individuality. Consider the possibilities, possibilities, possibilities...

If such a player model is created, it could have improved animations. The bending of arms at elbows, the bending of legs at knees, and the tilting and turning of the head would be good ideas.

[rarkenin]

lurk Fine, I'll upload it... But don't expect much action otherwise...

I'm using it for another project, so I might as well.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wfe1gcabtib85o0/1WqCUiZKDy

[Inocudom]

I went and downloaded the model you made so that your efforts will not be in vain. I sincerely hope that someone like Pavel_S will find this to be useful and create the kind of player model that I mentioned in my last post. I wish for Minetest to have an identity of its own, and I feel that a player model that is better than the one that is from Minecraft is a step in the right direction.

[jojoa1997]

I likke the minecraft moel. It makes the playuer look good in a block world

[Sokomine]

Even if the model will not end up beeing used for players, it might still be intresting for mobs.

A model that could wear clothes would be great! The only advantage the current model has is that it's compatible to Minecraft and thus skins can be re-used. Apart from that, I'd have expected another shape for the Minetest-player-model (more based on the 2d shape which wasn't blocky).
I'll see if this model here can at least be used for a mob.

[Inocudom]

The model that Rarkenin made is basically what an improved version of Minetest's player model could look like. It has a neck, and its arms are not the same size as its legs. Of course, the legs would look better if they got narrower as they went down to the feet. The arms would also look better if they got narrower as they went down to the hands. They neck should probably be at least as wide as the tops of the arms. In order for such a model to be used in Minetest, the following would have to be done:
The model itself would have to be made
It would have to be put in a mod for testing purposes

A feature that could make a model like this truly worthwhile is creating a layer slightly above the main mesh for hair and clothing. This layer would have to be visible inside and outside (so that hair on the back of the head can be seen from the front and the back.) There could be more than one version of this layer (one for pants and one for dresses would be a reason for this.) Creating textures for the layer and its base mesh would have to be an easy task (perhaps Minecraft textures could be used on it as well.) I have seen Pavel_S's models for the simple_mobs mod, so such a feat should be possible. Such a mesh with such a surrounding layer for hair and clothing could exist as an option for players rather than as a replacement. Before you ignore this idea and let it sink into the abyss to be forgotten forever and ever, consider what could be gained in terms of creative expression and individuality. Consider the possibilities, possibilities, possibilities...

If such a player model is created, it could have improved animations. The bending of arms at elbows, the bending of legs at knees, and the tilting and turning of the head would be good ideas.

Thank you, Sokomine. The text above tells of my general ideas for the model. Pavel_S should be capable of the task. It might be worthwhile to ask him and see if he can try.

[Sokomine]

I hope Pavel_S does more models. The ones he did for simple mobs are fine.

[doyousketch2]

Yeah, I was thinking it'd be cool to see the Puzzle Moppet guy walking through Minetest.

Your phone or window isn't wide enough to display the code box. If it's a phone, try rotating it to landscape mode.

Code: Select all

http://garnetgames.com/puzzlemoppet/

Its now free and open source, so we could totally use it.

I pulled the player file out and zipped it to make it easier to possibly use in Minetest.
http://wikisend.com/download/148274/player.zip

If you haven't yet, I'd recommend you download and install the full game.
Just to check it out.

[doyousketch2]

I realized there was a link on the Puzzle Moppet page that says
there's people trying to continue expanding that game from the source code.

From there I found an updated .blend file of the player.

Renamed the player file "character.blend"

I then downloaded the latest Blender
and enabled the DirectX import/export addon
in the preferences, so as to export "character.x"



He loads fine in the game, tho his arms stick out.
Perhaps because bones data isn't named the same as in Minetest.
That can be corrected.

----------------------------------------
To install:

minetest/mods/minetest/default/

delete, rename, or move the "models" directory somewhere else.
Then replace it with this one:

http://wikisend.com/download/929386/models.zip

You obviously can't see yourself in game,
so you need to log in with another player to see it.

Be sure to disable any texture packs
and the player_texture mod so you get a good character image.

You may need to clear your cache folder if it still looks strange.

[Evergreen]

I realized there was a link on the Puzzle Moppet page that says
there's people trying to continue expanding that game from the source code.

From there I found an updated .blend file of the player.

Renamed the player file "character.blend"

I then downloaded the latest Blender
and enabled the DirectX import/export addon
in the preferences, so as to export "character.x"



He loads fine in the game, tho his arms stick out.
Perhaps because bones data isn't named the same as in Minetest.
That can be corrected.

----------------------------------------
To install:

minetest/mods/minetest/default/

delete, rename, or move the "models" directory somewhere else.
Then replace it with this one:

http://wikisend.com/download/929386/models.zip

You obviously can't see yourself in game,
so you need to log in with another player to see it.

Be sure to disable any texture packs
and the player_texture mod so you get a good character image.

You may need to clear your cache folder if it still looks strange.

One thing you could do is do what Jordach is doing with the miku miku thing. If you can rig it, and have bones in it, you could make it animated.

[Jordach]

I realized there was a link on the Puzzle Moppet page that says
there's people trying to continue expanding that game from the source code.

From there I found an updated .blend file of the player.

Renamed the player file "character.blend"

I then downloaded the latest Blender
and enabled the DirectX import/export addon
in the preferences, so as to export "character.x"



He loads fine in the game, tho his arms stick out.
Perhaps because bones data isn't named the same as in Minetest.
That can be corrected.

----------------------------------------
To install:

minetest/mods/minetest/default/

delete, rename, or move the "models" directory somewhere else.
Then replace it with this one:

http://wikisend.com/download/929386/models.zip

You obviously can't see yourself in game,
so you need to log in with another player to see it.

Be sure to disable any texture packs
and the player_texture mod so you get a good character image.

You may need to clear your cache folder if it still looks strange.

One thing you could do is do what Jordach is doing with the miku miku thing. If you can rig it, and have bones in it, you could make it animated.

You've reminded me to finish the model later.

[Inocudom]

This mod came out today.
http://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?id=5957
It is a mod that allows for the use of custom 3D models (such as the above Puzzle Moppet guy and Jordach's work-in-progress model.) Maybe it will be able to use custom models designed for Quake 3 Arena and Half Life one day.

[Calinou]

Maybe it will be able to use custom models designed for Quake 3 Arena and Half Life one day.

This isn't trivial to do, since Q3A models are made of three parts: head, torso and legs. You would need to stick them back together.

Also, animations in Q3A are separate for each part (eg. attacking while running uses "attack" animation on torso, "run" animation on legs -- head never animates), you would need to add support for that too (the default Minetest model's walk-attacking animation is just attacking and walking "stitched" together in Blender).

[doyousketch2]

Saw this page and had to laugh - http://www.walltowatch.com/view/10483/Distorted+Cartoon+Characters



They got a few blockheads there that'd be pretty awesome characters.

[Jordach]

I realized there was a link on the Puzzle Moppet page that says
there's people trying to continue expanding that game from the source code.

From there I found an updated .blend file of the player.

Renamed the player file "character.blend"

I then downloaded the latest Blender
and enabled the DirectX import/export addon
in the preferences, so as to export "character.x"



He loads fine in the game, tho his arms stick out.
Perhaps because bones data isn't named the same as in Minetest.
That can be corrected.

----------------------------------------
To install:

minetest/mods/minetest/default/

delete, rename, or move the "models" directory somewhere else.
Then replace it with this one:

http://wikisend.com/download/929386/models.zip

You obviously can't see yourself in game,
so you need to log in with another player to see it.

Be sure to disable any texture packs
and the player_texture mod so you get a good character image.

You may need to clear your cache folder if it still looks strange.

Do you want me to actually put some bones into this? I'm quite happy to tomorrow.

[Pavel_S]

I realized there was a link on the Puzzle Moppet page that says
there's people trying to continue expanding that game from the source code.

From there I found an updated .blend file of the player.

Renamed the player file "character.blend"

I then downloaded the latest Blender
and enabled the DirectX import/export addon
in the preferences, so as to export "character.x"



He loads fine in the game, tho his arms stick out.
Perhaps because bones data isn't named the same as in Minetest.
That can be corrected.

----------------------------------------
To install:

minetest/mods/minetest/default/

delete, rename, or move the "models" directory somewhere else.
Then replace it with this one:

http://wikisend.com/download/929386/models.zip

You obviously can't see yourself in game,
so you need to log in with another player to see it.

Be sure to disable any texture packs
and the player_texture mod so you get a good character image.

You may need to clear your cache folder if it still looks strange.

Animation will play if you follow this conditions:
Use only forward kinematics(all constraints do not support),
Change aimation ranges in player.lua(default mod).
Also character face look to Y+.
Export:(in .x file exporter propetries)
full animation,
armatures,
all objects.

[doyousketch2]

Do you want me to actually put some bones into this? I'm quite happy to tomorrow.

It already has bones, but the animations are different names than what Minetest uses.

I started renaming them, but it didn't seem to do anything.
Also, I believe it's turned around 180*

I was wondering if the bone hierarchy needed to be rebuilt from scratch.
If you feel like doing it, go for it.

The character has an internal name of "daniel"
wondered if that needed to be changed to "Player"

Then I tried renaming:

idle 0 - 80 to Stand_START and Stand_END
blink 81 - 161 to Sit_START and Sit_END
falling 162 - 167 to Lay_START and Lay_END
walk 168 - 188 to Walk_START and Walk_END
push 189 - 199 to Mine_START and Mine_END
vert fall 200 - 220 to Walk_Mine_START and Walk_Mine_END

Then I realized the frame locations might not match up with what's in the default player.lua

Hadn't had a chance to sit down and try anything else 'cuz I've been on vacation,
but yea, if you can get it running, that'd be awesome.

Edit:

Pavel_S got a post in as I was typing mine up.
Thanks for the info. That sounds about right.

[Jordach]

Do you want me to actually put some bones into this? I'm quite happy to tomorrow.

It already has bones, but the animations are different names than what Minetest uses.

I started renaming them, but it didn't seem to do anything.
Also, I believe it's turned around 180*

I was wondering if the bone hierarchy needed to be rebuilt from scratch.
If you feel like doing it, go for it.

The character has an internal name of "daniel"
wondered if that needed to be changed to "Player"

Then I tried renaming:

idle 0 - 80 to Stand_START and Stand_END
blink 81 - 161 to Sit_START and Sit_END
falling 162 - 167 to Lay_START and Lay_END
walk 168 - 188 to Walk_START and Walk_END
push 189 - 199 to Mine_START and Mine_END
vert fall 200 - 220 to Walk_Mine_START and Walk_Mine_END

Then I realized the frame locations might not match up with what's in the default player.lua

Hadn't had a chance to sit down and try anything else 'cuz I've been on vacation,
but yea, if you can get it running, that'd be awesome.

Edit:

Pavel_S got a post in as I was typing mine up.
Thanks for the info. That sounds about right.

I'll make a test model by using Simple Mobs.

[Inocudom]

It looks like this topic is alive again. I hope something good comes out of this.