other games content ".mdl" used in hl2

Ok so i am always looking for new models to use in my maps. I have not yet learned modeling so until then i rely on other mappers content. So in my seach for models i came accross a tidbit of info that basicly states that .mdl's from vampire the masqurade can be used in source maps because they use the source engine for that game. So... I purchased the game and found a program to extract the content and started looking through the crazy amount of models for this game. I was able to convert the texture files to vtf and vmt files and set them in the proper dir under my cstrike/models folder. however when i go to load a modle in hammer, the program crshes. i can not view the models using model viewer it crashed that too. I specificly read the agreement as far as using these models in the other source games is ok for non profit maps.

Anyway now you know what i have been doing for the last two days. Is there anyone out there that could shed some light on the issue i am having? if so hit me up...

thanks

MayheM

The tidbit you heard is wrong. VTMB does indeed use a modified version of the source engine but the model format seems to have been changed.
IIRC i tried to do the same thing you're doing and failed miserably.

You'll have to get your hands on a modeling package or the XSI mod tool in order to convert those models into the different .smd's for studiomdl.exe to convert to a .mdl and all the other related files for Source to read.

And that may not be worth the trouble just to use some of those models from that game. You're probably better off being more creative and utilizing the props you already have to give you your desired effect.

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

has anyone tried decompiling a model from one of these other games?

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i eat paint

I tried decompilnig them, It runs an error when i tried to do so. my plan was to bring them into xsi and recompile them so they work but when the decopmpile failed i came here...

Truth is i need to get off my but and learn how to do modeling for myself. any map that comes out and truely gets recognised has custom content. I have the software and i normally learn fast. it is just i am trained in 2d design and maknig the jump is not as easy as i would have liked it to be. time to bite the bullet and do it though.

but in the meantime, If i get it to work i will pass on the news...

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well did a fast search for decompilers, came across the same oone i used before but i noticed something i missed before...

http://www.chaosincarnate.net/cannonfodder/mdldecompiler.php

there is a dll file i missed to allow you to decompile them. it will still be nessesary to open and alter in xsi i am assuming but it will be posible to use these in hammer now. check out the link above...

your probably better off with studiocompiler, also by cannonfodder, which will help with re-compiling for hl2, and has the decompiler built in.

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i eat paint

i had tried studiocompiler and when i try and open it it gived me this message...

Extra App ID set to 211, but no SteamAppId

To be honest i have no idea what that means. I tried running with both steam running and not running and still have no luck. And in case you are wondering it is in the bin folder of my sourcesdk dir. :smile:

and ideas?

Ah, I'd forgotten all about that. It got broken by a steam update a while back, and cannonfodder didn't fix it, so someone else did. I found a download for the fixed .exe here. Overwrite the .exe in your bin folder with it, and it'll work fine.

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i eat paint

thanks, lets give this a wirl... I will keep you posted.

ok so no luck on the decompile though i must say i am a bit of a noob when it comes to anything more then reskinning models. anyone think they could take a crack at thes models if i set up a download for them.

just let me know...