Introduction

Introducing Games Data Transfer

Creating Polygonal Models

Polygonal and games-related modelling is covered in the manual Polygonal Modelling in Alias.

The MakeGame Plug-in and Direct Translators

MakeGame is an OpenAlias plug-in for translating models and animation into game data. MakeGame provides a simple front-end to the Direct Translators. See Translating Game Data on page 5.

The Direct Translators are DSO libraries that use the Dt API to convert Alias wire files and animations to game formats (see below).

You can use the Direct Translators from the command line with the DtExport program. See Using Translators from the Command Line on page 15.

The Direct Translators use the Dt API, an interface layer for games translators, built on top of the Alias API. The Alias installation includes source code for the translators. We encourage technical users to browse the source code of the translators, and modify or extend the translators to suit their needs.

Game Platform Translators

Alias has three game platform translators:

• Nintendo 64 (see page 21).
• Sony PlayStation (see page 33).
• Sega Saturn.

These translators have different types of customer access restrictions, due to agreements with manufacturers.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 plug-in and its documentation are available to Nintendo-certified developers only.

The part number of the Nintendo 64 translator is PA-NU64N. To enable the translator you must request an encryption string from Alias|Wavefront and show that you are a certified Nintendo 64 developer.

For information on this translator, see page 21.

Sony PlayStation

Download the PlayStation translator and documentation from the Sony web site or the Sony developer CD.

For information on this translator, see page 33.

Sega Saturn

Download the Sega translator and documentation directly from the Sega developer web site.

For information on this translator, see page 49.

Open Translators

In addition to the game platform translators, Alias supplies translators and tools for the following popular formats:

• Microsoft Direct3D (see page 61).
• OpenGL (see page 87).
• VRML 2.0 (see page 79).
• RTG 2.0 (text format)

RTG and AnimRTG Formats

RTG and AnimRTG are portable (ASCII) file formats for 3D models and animation, suitable for game authoring. These formats allow different game platforms and non-standardized PC development environments to share 3D data.

Although the RTG formats are not standards (governed by a committee), they are designed to be very easy to parse and translate, allowing easy creation of new translators on any platform.

Alias|Wavefront now supplies RTG 2.0, based on the Direct Translator (Dt) API. This gives you the following benefits over version 1.8:

• Uses MakeGame to output RTG files instead of external utilities.
• Saves geometry and animation in the same file.

For information on the RTG format and the RTG translator tools, see The RTG Utilities and File Format on page 95.