Request for Help with Animation for New Unit

[GenPatton]

I was wondering if anyone could help me out by creating animation for a troop transport vehicle. Its great the Infantry in civ 3 can be used effectively on attacks, however it seems that I can never get the infantry to the front line, especially since one of the major tactics includes the destruction of roads, seems like my calvary, tanks, and modern tanks stay well in the advance of the infantry, when in real warfare the calvary and tanks have always been support for infantry.

I have to pictures one of an older style transport truck like ones used by the US in Korea and Vietnam and a modern one of Humvee, setup for troop transport. If some one could animate one of these it would be great. Which ever one is easier to accomplish is fine, thats why I included both.

 

[GenPatton]

Here is the Humvee!

I appreciate any help I can get on this!

 

[Dark Sheer]

I can try to give it a shot.

But I will need a few days. Is there anywhere on the web where I can get a good view of the truck on a few direction?

I can try to draw my own view with imagination but if there is a real view it would help alot of course

 

[GenPatton]

This is an overhead angled look at the truck. This version is setup for cargo, thats why it has the boxes in the back. The troop version looks the sam except it has benches in the back one on each side from the front of the truck to the back!

 

[GenPatton]

This page has a few pictures of the truck. I have yet to find a direct front view or rear view though. If I come across one I will send it.

http://my.freeway.net/~pwrwgn/PW~M35A2.htm

Also attached is a look from the front right corner

 

[Kal-el]

If you have Civ2ToT there are a bunch of great animated units in there. They are all in sprite format and I don't know anything about animation, but if you can convert the sprites to flc files or just have a program that can view the sprite images you can use those as a base. I have the game and can post the files if that would be helpful. The mech infantry unit in that game is a humvee. I don't know if there would be any copy protection issues. I don't think so because we are not trying to make a profit on these things and its all in the family, right?

I'm at work right now but I can have those for you by tomorrow if you want them.

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by Kal-el
If you have Civ2ToT there are a bunch of great animated units in there. They are all in sprite format and I don't know anything about animation, but if you can convert the sprites to flc files or just have a program that can view the sprite images you can use those as a base. I have the game and can post the files if that would be helpful. The mech infantry unit in that game is a humvee. I don't know if there would be any copy protection issues. I don't think so because we are not trying to make a profit on these things and its all in the family, right?

I'm at work right now but I can have those for you by tomorrow if you want them.

Hmmm...maybe I just need to go and dig out my ToT CD and reinstall it

Just in case, if you don't mind, please post the file here as well. As to copy right issue, if Sid want to sue us for using his other games' data in his new game....I rest my case :crazyeyes

 

[Dark Sheer]

Nothing fantastic, just a quick test

Most likely the end product will look much different from this one. I realise the units are never seen from the real side profile in Civ3. So I need to tilt this one a little still

 

[GenPatton]

Great Start Dark Sheer, I can't wait for the finnished product. Not trying to rush you though!

I was trying to pull something together before I asked for help with the animation and in a couple days worth of tries nothing looked that promissing!

Keep Up the Great Work!
It is greatly Appreciated!

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by GenPatton
Great Start Dark Sheer, I can't wait for the finnished product. Not trying to rush you though!

I was trying to pull something together before I asked for help with the animation and in a couple days worth of tries nothing looked that promissing!

Keep Up the Great Work!
It is greatly Appreciated!

So its close to what you want then?

I model it after the WWII trucks rather than a modern one (found a b/w picture from the Steel Panter - World at War game) . I am just wondering, any plan to give the truck an attack value? If so, I will need to create the attack flc as well

 

[Dark Sheer]

Ok, here is the revised version of the animation

I think this one looks more like the rest of the in game animation in term of angle

 

[KloePoek]

naah... just a 0-0-2 or sth i suppose...

i do only wonder what happens when a transport on land is destroyed... are the units in it destroyed too (which would be logical, but not all units) or are they placed were they were... also, is there any AI land transport strategy thingie???

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by KloePoek
naah... just a 0-0-2 or sth i suppose...

i do only wonder what happens when a transport on land is destroyed... are the units in it destroyed too (which would be logical, but not all units) or are they placed were they were... also, is there any AI land transport strategy thingie???

As far as I know, there is no land transport strategy for AI in Civ3. So the AI might not know how to use it

And you can put A/D/M as 0/0/2 but I suspect unless the AI understand that it can transport unit it won't be building the truck as it is neither Offensive nor Defensive unit. Need to test this one out to see As to if land transport die, I believe all unit inside die as well? But then, unit should dismount come end of turn to protect the transport

 

[Dark Sheer]

I prefer to make sure that the final flc looks as much like the other in game animation as possible

So here is the final revision which shows the truck at a better angle I believe.

 

[Psychlone]

Dark Sheer, any chance of talking you into making a halftrack or M-113 icon if I can find pics?

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by Psychlone
Dark Sheer, any chance of talking you into making a halftrack or M-113 icon if I can find pics?

I would love to try any unit as I take them as challenges

But I only has so much time.... I might do a halftruck later. At the moment there are a few request to be filled first

 

[GenPatton]

Dark Sheer,

Looks great, I like the WWII design better too. I have to start looking into how the land transport will be incorporated into the game too. Especially now that a graphic is coming along !

Thanks

 

[Dark Sheer]

This is the final teaser before completion

I have already completed Default and Run. And I am working on Death flc now. As I assume that the truck will not be used for attack I will not make any flc for attack (unless you want attack as well )

 

[Dark Sheer]

Here is the in game view for your consumption

 

[s3d]

Anyone remember what is AoK/AoE unit format ? If we only could import them... Vikings, Crusaders, Mongols, Chu-Ko-Nu OMG!