SleepySea wrote:I have been silently following this thread for a few days now, and what you guys have been doing is very fascinating.
I am completely new to the game modding scene, but I have roughly been able to follow the general discussion and have understanding of various discussion topics such as Endianness and so on.
I think the biggest obstacle for me is that I have little experience in 3D modeling (maybe I shouldn't even be here in the first place), and have little idea what makes up a model object. I can open up a file in hex editor to see all the binaries, but to get my foot in the door, I need to know what I should be looking for instead of shooting in the dark.
How does one go about figuring out what goes into a 3D model and what data structure is normally used to hold the information (in regards to byte sizes)?
Any advice to help me get started would be much appreciated. I am eager to learn, but I understand I am too late to the game, and this is probably not the best place for a novice like me to ask such questions.
In any case, I have been learning a lot just by reading this discussion and I hope you guys will find success soon.
Actually, this is a great place to ask, and that's the right mentality to have.
Everyone has started with limited knowledge and worked up somehow. There are still plenty of unknowns, but there is still enough shared knowledge to do some really cool things here.
The best place to start is really just getting the feel for the workflow. Starting with mario's vertex editing youtube vid is a good starting point. For now most resources still pertain to Xbox 360, but at least learning the files helps with knowledge of how PC files work.
You can also, start with Archivarious to learn how to extract models, use Noesis to view them, and then start with various things like changing textures, or even play with the hex to toggle items. I know more tutorials are starting to pop up.
A lot of advanced mods involve working vertices, indices, injection and mesh swapping, but it's all doable with time. Trial and error is a good way to learn, and when you get stuck on a specific issue feel free to ask. That seems to be a good way to get people moving without dumping a gigantic amount overwhelming information.
To answer your specific questions, you don't have to know that much about 3D models to work on 360 stuff, just for manual edits. Start with the basics, and then more discussion can come up regarding more advanced stuff.