MilkShape 3D
Encyclopedia
MilkShape 3D is a Shareware
low polygon
3D
modelling program created by Mete Ciragan. It is used mainly by people compiling models for Half-Life, Blockland
, The Sims 2
, The Sims 3
and other sandbox games.. It is also used to create models for a large amount of indie games, Milkshape 3D's repertoire of export capabilities has been extended considerably, due to the efforts of both its creator and the community around it, and it is now able to be used for most games today, so long as an exporter
for the required format is available.
modelling program by Mete Ciragan for the GoldSrc
engine. Over time many features were added as were many export formats. Though not as advanced as other leading 3D modelling programs, it remains effective for the user because it is simple and cost-effective.
MilkShape 3D is a skeletal animator. This allows export to morph target animation like the ones in the Quake model formats or to export to skeletal animations like Half-Life, Genesis3D
, Unreal
, etc. The amount of file types that the program can support features all major 3D game engines from Source
, to Unreal
, to id Tech
, to Lithtech
. It has become known as a useful converter from one format to another.
would go so far as to shut down the offending program and prevent it from being run again while MilkShape 3D was still running. This problem was resolved, right after this issue has been pointed out. Ostensibly, this was to prevent users from figuring out how to edit the Windows registry to pirate
the MilkShape 3D application without paying for it. However, there was no End User License Agreement until version 1.8.1, which authorized the program to do this. The unlock process itself was rather confusing, because the second and third code parts were checked within the two minutes after restarting MilkShape 3D. This made it possible to enter invalid second and third code parts, which lead to a two minutes message loop. So even with a legitimate, but mistyped license key, it was possible to have an unregistered copy of MilkShape 3D. This could be easily fixed by entering the license correctly. A number of users have therefore accused MilkShape 3D of essentially being spyware
, and many have boycotted it. Also, older versions of Milkshape could be used after the trial period by repeatedly altering the system date to trick the program out of trial mode. All issues mentioned here have been resolved since version 1.8.1beta2 (May 2007).
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
low polygon
Polygon
In geometry a polygon is a flat shape consisting of straight lines that are joined to form a closed chain orcircuit.A polygon is traditionally a plane figure that is bounded by a closed path, composed of a finite sequence of straight line segments...
3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
modelling program created by Mete Ciragan. It is used mainly by people compiling models for Half-Life, Blockland
Blockland
Blockland is a multiplayer computer game built on the Torque Game Engine, in which players build using Lego-like building blocks. It was developed by Eric "Badspot" Hartman and was released on February 24, 2007. The game is not endorsed by, or affiliated with the Lego brand. However, at one point,...
, The Sims 2
The Sims 2
The Sims 2 is a strategic life simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims, which debuted on February 4, 2000. It was first released on September 14, 2004 for Microsoft Windows. A port to Apple Mac OS X...
, The Sims 3
The Sims 3
The Sims 3 is a 2009 strategic life simulation computer game developed by The Sims Studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims 2. It was first released on June 2, 2009 simultaneously for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows...
and other sandbox games.. It is also used to create models for a large amount of indie games, Milkshape 3D's repertoire of export capabilities has been extended considerably, due to the efforts of both its creator and the community around it, and it is now able to be used for most games today, so long as an exporter
Exporter (computing)
An exporter is a software application that writes out a data file in a format different from its native format. It does this via special algorithms . An exporter often is not an entire program by itself, but an extension to another program, implemented as a plug-in...
for the required format is available.
History
MilkShape 3D was created by chUmbaLum sOft, a small software company in Zurich, Switzerland, which was established in the autumn of 1996. chUmbaLum sOft develops 3D tools for games and other applications. MilkShape 3D was originally created as a low polyLow poly
Low poly is a term used to describe a polygon mesh in 3D computer graphics which has a small number of polygons. It is, however, a relative term, usually referring to meshes in real-time applications . That is to contrast them with meshes in animated movies and special effects of the same era...
modelling program by Mete Ciragan for the GoldSrc
GoldSrc
GoldSrc, or Goldsource, is the retronym used internally by Valve Software to refer to the heavily modified Quake engine that powers their science fiction first-person shooter Half-Life ....
engine. Over time many features were added as were many export formats. Though not as advanced as other leading 3D modelling programs, it remains effective for the user because it is simple and cost-effective.
Features
MilkShape 3D has all basic operations like select, move, rotate, scale, extrude, turn edge, subdivide, just to mention a few. MilkShape 3D also allows low-level editing with the vertex and face tool. Standard and extended primitives like spheres, boxes, and cylinders are available. Milkshape 3D can export to over 70 file formats.MilkShape 3D is a skeletal animator. This allows export to morph target animation like the ones in the Quake model formats or to export to skeletal animations like Half-Life, Genesis3D
Genesis3D
Genesis3D was a project by Eclipse Entertainment to create a real-time 3D engine for Microsoft Windows. It was released as source code in 1998. The first released version supported hardware acceleration and a software renderer...
, Unreal
Unreal
Unreal is a first-person shooter video game developed by Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes and published by GT Interactive in May 1998...
, etc. The amount of file types that the program can support features all major 3D game engines from Source
Source engine
Source is a 3D game engine developed by Valve Corporation. It debuted in June 2004 with Counter-Strike: Source and shortly thereafter Half-Life 2, and has been in active development ever since...
, to Unreal
Unreal Engine
The Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games, first illustrated in the 1998 first-person shooter game Unreal. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully used in a variety of other genres, including stealth, MMORPGs and RPGs...
, to id Tech
Id Tech
id Tech is the family of game engines designed and developed by id Software. Prior to the presentation of the id Tech 5-based game Rage, the engines lacked official designation and as such were referred to as the Doom and Quake engines, from the name of the main game series the engines have been...
, to Lithtech
Lithtech
Lithtech is a game engine which was initially developed by Monolith Productions in collaboration with Microsoft. Monolith later formed a separate company, LithTech Inc., to deal with further advancements of the engine technology and currently, after a change of its corporate identity, LithTech Inc...
. It has become known as a useful converter from one format to another.
Controversy
Old versions of MilkShape 3D (older than 1.8.1beta1, May 2007) allegedly contained code which caused itself to shutdown if it detected certain other programs running on the computer, such as Registry Monitor. Versions older than 1.6.5 (April 2003)would go so far as to shut down the offending program and prevent it from being run again while MilkShape 3D was still running. This problem was resolved, right after this issue has been pointed out. Ostensibly, this was to prevent users from figuring out how to edit the Windows registry to pirate
Software cracking
Software cracking is the modification of software to remove or disable features which are considered undesirable by the person cracking the software, usually related to protection methods: copy protection, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, date checks, CD check or software annoyances...
the MilkShape 3D application without paying for it. However, there was no End User License Agreement until version 1.8.1, which authorized the program to do this. The unlock process itself was rather confusing, because the second and third code parts were checked within the two minutes after restarting MilkShape 3D. This made it possible to enter invalid second and third code parts, which lead to a two minutes message loop. So even with a legitimate, but mistyped license key, it was possible to have an unregistered copy of MilkShape 3D. This could be easily fixed by entering the license correctly. A number of users have therefore accused MilkShape 3D of essentially being spyware
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
, and many have boycotted it. Also, older versions of Milkshape could be used after the trial period by repeatedly altering the system date to trick the program out of trial mode. All issues mentioned here have been resolved since version 1.8.1beta2 (May 2007).
MilkShape 3D file format
The native file format for MilkShape 3D-models is the ms3d-format. This file format is structured in the following way:- Header
- "MS3D000000" followed by version number (ver. 3 or 4)
- Vertex Data
- Coordinates for the vertices
- Triangle Data
- Pointers to vertices, as well as surface normals
- Group Data (object/mesh)
- Group name and pointers to triangles
- Material Data
- Color details
- Bone data
- Animation data
See also
- BlenderBlender (software)Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. The current release version is 2.60, and was released on October 19, 2011...
- Misfit Model 3dMisfit Model 3dMisfit Model 3d is a 3D computer graphics editor that works with triangle-based models.It is designed to be easy to use and easy to extend with plugins and scripts.Misfit Model 3d is free software and distributed under GNU General Public License.-Features:...
- OGRE EngineOGRE EngineOGRE is a scene-oriented, flexible 3D rendering engine written in C++ designed to make it easier and intuitive for developers to produce applications utilizing hardware-accelerated 3D graphics...
- 3D computer graphics software3D computer graphics software3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery. This article covers only some of the software used.-Uses:...
- gmaxGmaxGmax is a 3D modeling application based on Autodesk's 3ds Max application used by professional computer graphics artists. Whereas 3ds Max is a comprehensive modeling, animation, and rendering package with some secondary post-production and compositing features, Gmax is much more limited due to its...
External links
- The Official MS3D Web Site
- Official MS3D Download
- File format specification of the ms3d format
- An MS3D viewer written in C++, complete with animation and weighted vertices for the latest file format
- An MS3D loader written in C++
- Milkshape tutorial for Video game Makers