Sega GL

Converting to Sega GL Files

This section describes how to use the interface of the Sega Saturn-specific Direct Translator. For information on how to run the translator, see Using the MakeGame Plug-in on page 9 and Using Translators from the Command Line on page 15.

Availability

You can get the Sega plug-in and documentation from the Sega web site. The Sega plug-in and its documentation are available to Sega-certified developers only.

Sega GL Translator

Special Features

• Allows per-polygon Texture pieces.
• Optimized format for texture table.
• Object melting converts all objects in the scene into one Sega GL object.
• Outputs Sega GL source code.

Limitations

• Cameras are not converted.
• Lights are not converted in this release.
• Soft body (vertex) animation is not converted.

Installing

To install the Sega GL translator:

1. Download SE and SE.1 from the Sega Web site to a temporary directory on your computer.
2. Run InstallGame with the following options:
   • -a alias-directory (the directory where Alias is installed. If you do not include this option, InstallGame will look in $ALIAS_LOCATION).
   • -e (this option tells InstallGame the files are not encrypted).
   • -t target-dir (the directory where the files will be installed).
   • -f source-dir (the source directory where the SE files are located).

Using the Sega GL Translator

Options

When you run the translator from MakeGame, the Sega GL Translator window appears. Use this window to set the options described below, then click Start conversion to begin.

Translator Related Settings

Feedback

Choose the amount of information you want during conversion.

Output

DOS text - output Sega GL source code to a file using CR+LF as the line delimiter.

UNIX text - output Sega GL source code to a file using LF as the line delimiter.

Downloader - download the source code directly to a connected Sega Saturn.

When you choose Downloader from the Output pop-up menu, a new section containing Downloader-related options appears.

Format

Choose the version (2.0 or 3.0) of Sega GL source code the translator will generate.

PolyNormal Calc

VertexNormal based - use the normals provided by Alias.

NEWELL's method - calculate new normals using Newell's method. Use this option if you have any problems with polygons seeming "flipped" after conversion.

Texture size

Fixed - all output textures have the same size. Choose the width and height using the sliders below.

When Texture size is Fixed, the minimum and maximum sliders become locked together, allowing you to set a single fixed size.

Auto calculation - scale the output textures to a best fit within minimum and maximum values. Choose the minimum and maximum using the four sliders below.

Scale

The translator will scale the whole model by this factor before converting it to Sega GL source code.

Operations

Melt Objects

Flatten the hierarchy of objects into one large Sega GL object.

Texture Tbl Optim.

Optimize the texture table (do not repeat texture pieces).

Prelight Texture

Apply a simple pre-light operation to the textures. Currently this operation only uses the polygon normals.

Vertex Tbl Optim.

Optimize the vertex table (do not repeat vertices at the exact same location). This option is only useful if Melt Objects is turned on.

Downloader Related Settings

This section appears when you choose Downloader from the Output pop-up menu.

Init Viewer

Click this button to reset the SCSI connection and download the monitor program to the connected Saturn CartDev.

Click this button when you turn on the Saturn, and to reset the viewer.

SCSI Id

The SCSI identifier on the SGI side of the connection to the Saturn CartDev.

Start Frame

End Frame

Start and end frames of the animation to convert.

Target Data Addresses

These text boxes allow you to enter exact memory locations when downloading data to the Saturn.

Enter 0x00000000 for continuous memory allocation. Refer to the Saturn programming manuals for more information.

SGL Related Settings

These options control standard Sega GL settings and modes. Refer to the Sega GL specifications for information.

File Specific Settings

Use this section to enter filenames when you choose DOS text or UNIX text from the Output pop-up menu.

Model/Hierarchy filename

Filename for the file containing model and hierarchy information.

Use the Model and Hierarchy checkboxes to choose what information to include in the file (usually you will leave both options on).

Texture filename

Filename for the file containing texture information.

Use the Texture checkbox to choose whether to output texture information.

Light/Animation filename

Filename for the file containing lights and animation information.

Use the Lights and Animation checkboxes to choose what information to include in the file.

Lights are not converted in this release.

GetSegaGL Command Line Options

-v	(verbose) Print progress updates during the conversion.
-fs n	(frame start) Set n as the first frame of animation to output.
-fe n	(frame end) Set n as the last frame of animation to output.
-s factor	Scale model by factor before converting.
-a	Do not output animation.
-n	Do not output MetaCycle information.

Environment Variables

DT_EXPORT_DIR

The directory where exported files are created. This is the same as the Export directory field of the MakeGame window.

Parameters: a valid path to a directory

Default: '.' (the current working directory)

Output

The Sega translator's Sega GL source code output is flexible. The translator can output three files:

• A file containing the model and/or hierarchy. If you turn both the Model and Hierarchy checkboxes off, this file is not created.
• A file containing the textures. If you turn the Texture checkbox off, this file is not created.
• A file containing the lights and/or animation. If you turn both the Lights and Animation checkboxes off, this file is not created.

  Lights are not converted in this release.

Testing the Output

Before you Begin

1. Set up the development Saturn and CartDev according to their instructions.
2. Make sure the SCSI ID dial on the back of the CartDev matches the SCSI ID text box (in the Downloader related settings).

If you have problems with SCSI communications:

• Make sure the SGI SCSI ID's device (in the /dev/scsi directory) has write permission. Since only the root user can change the permissions, you may need to contact your system administrator.
• Change the CartDev SCSI ID dial and enter the new number in the SCSI ID text box (in the Downloader related settings).
• Shut down your workstation and restart it (contact your system administrator). When the workstation boots up again, it should find the CartDev as one of its SCSI devices.

Downloading to a Development Machine

1. Choose Downloader from the Output pop-up menu.
2. Click Init Viewer if you just switched on the Saturn, or if you want to reset the viewer.
3. Click Start conversion to convert the model to Sega GL and download it to the Saturn.

The following screen appears after the CartDev is initialized:

The following screen appears after the monitor program is downloaded:

The following screen appears after the Alias|Wavefront viewer program is downloaded:

Using the Sega GL Demo Viewer

Left/Right Top buttons	Change mode.
A+B	Toggle information display.
A+B+C	Clear screen.
Object Move, Object Rotate, Object Scale modes
X	Previous object.
Y	Next object.
B	Show current object.
C	Reset transformations.
Left, Right	Move/Rotate/Scale in X
Up, Down	Move/Rotate/Scale in Y
Z+Up, Z+Down	Move/Rotate/Scale in Z
Camera Move mode
B	Show current object.
C	Reset moves.
Left, Right	Move camera in X.
Up, Down	Move camera in Y.
Z+Up, Z+Down	Move camera in Z.
Camera Rotate mode
Start	Switch between Look at (LAT) and Direct (NLM) modes.
B	Show current object.
C	Reset rotations.
Camera Rotate/Look At mode
X	Look at previous object.
Y	Look at next object. (When there is no current object, look at the origin).
Left, Right	Change longitude.
Up, Down	Change latitude.
Z+Left, Z+Right	Rotate camera around the Z axis.
Z+Up, Z+Down	Move camera toward/away from the current object.
A+Up, A+Down	Increase/decrease Y offset.
Camera Rotate/Direct mode
Left, Right	Rotate camera around the Y axis.
Up, Down	Rotate camera around the X axis.
Z+Left, Z+Right	Rotate camera around the Z axis.