can i view ps2 game files

[ceql]

hmmm that's difficult... almost all game companies use their own proprietry formats (even most pc games u can't do anything with their models, unless the devs have gone out of their way to make it easily moddable).

There was a ps1 model importer a while ago, but that only worked with like 5 games (which happened to use the format) :p

It'd be interesting if someone made something that could rip geometry straight out of the graphics card (cuz everything must exist in the some sort of common format in the graphic card's memory, riiight?) or something like that ;)

[Levitateme]

thanks ceql, i researched for over a hour. i emailed like 5 people maybe they will be able to help out. most files for the ps2 games i saw were MGF i asked if there is like a MGF viewer, or mgf ? obj it would be really neat to see.

[Chappo]

Does anyone know how the whole PC development to PS2 (or xbox , gamecube) works ?

I've seen pictures where game developers have a cable running from there pc to game console and could export their models from Maya into their game console... and could review or even play it instantly.

I'm guessing that companies develop their own software (or cables) to hook it all up... but doesn't PS2 have a standard on how to import stuff onto it ?


Would be awesome to do it myself ;)

[MasonDoran]

We are using Renderware 3.6 as our exporter. What it does is take the maya files...and animation and exports them into a format readable by the target platform (pc and or console). The programmer then takes the exported files and programs them into the 3d engine, links the animations and physics as necessary.
Each platform has their own quirks and formats...so an exporter has to be aware of all the different requirements.

Its quite an involved process...most major titles take around 2 years to make. For example....the programmer has to make the 3d engine know the ground is the ground that the character can walk on but not fall through....or that he has to walk on his feet and not on his head......etc etc. The game designer would then take these exported elements and via the engine or a custom tool that communicates with the target platform place the characters, traps, items, doors....motion paths etc


To read the files, you would need the same software used to export it(called middleware or a custom inhouse tool). Do note that these files when exported are compressed to such a state that it would be the same as opening an .swf(flash file) in flash..the compression removes all unecassary information.

Middleware is important because it give you realtime feedback on how the art will look on the target platform without needing to use the platform itself. You can check on the how the animations look....the scale....the lighting...if the textures look crappy....env maps.....etc etc. The process goes back and forth constantly till you get the art to look the way u want....and then-as many companies do now- you can export to multiple platforms using the same art....and if necassary streamline certian assets to please a particular platform.

Unless you are a cracker, i think it would be next to impossible to open the files in a usable format.

[Levitateme]

jeeze, thats really helpful thanks 2bytes.

[Levitateme]

hmmm, do you have a link or soemthing showing what middleware does?

[ngrava]

Sorry, I don't know about any PS/PS2 geometry readers (thought I do think they exists). There is a Direct-X reader/exporter that might work on XBox games. The trick is extracting the models from the chunk file that a lot of companies store their data in. Again, I think there is a way to do it.

You might also check out some of the drop/snap together game engines just to come to grips with how they work. Check out:http: http://www.conitec.net/a4info.htm It looks pretty neat if you ask me. I can't think of any other's of the top of my head though.

-=GB=-

[Levitateme]

neat, yah i was just hoping there was somethign that i could just exectute and it would convert the ps2 game files.

[Mondo]

Download Milkshape 3d, there's an import option for playstation TMD files and you can export it into pretty much any format you want including maya.

[Levitateme]

playstation...as in playstation 1?
do you have a link? sounds promising i hope.

[Mondo]

check it out http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ms3d/

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