When saving 3D objects for your games, what 3D format do you save them to?

Is there a format or two that the industry tends to use because of it's supported features?

I understand that eventually you probably repackage multiple models into a custom format with metadata and the like; but what is the preferred initial format?

I know everyone has their opinions. So let's have it.

---

http://projectthwart.sourceforge.net/

I'm not sure some games have different formats and are limited to only that format.
I often you wavefront obj to export and import... most things seem to use that format... sadly City of heroes didn't (Wanted to create a model in there, fetch it into blender and rig) they use the Hero. format.

---

"IrishMorn"
If Adon and Sagat step in....ah, what the hell, I'll get drunk and join in on that one.

Is the Hero format published anywhere? I suppose you already went down that path and searched.

Lionhead: do you use a custom exporter right from your modeller or do you save to one of the industry standard formats and convert your models further down the pipeline? If the latter, what format do you initially save to?

Does the obj format serialize the majority of what game developers want?

Thanks

---

http://projectthwart.sourceforge.net/

Yep searched... got nothing.

I'm not sure what format Lionhead use.. only I know most of what I've seen of import/exporting is using obj.

---

"IrishMorn"
If Adon and Sagat step in....ah, what the hell, I'll get drunk and join in on that one.

  Hi It depends  engine you use. I suppose that the easiest it is to use obj, as Quake Engine in Radiant or in last QW SDK. If the LionHead's dev teams use their tools, I suppose they export 3d models in obj, or use a private tools to convert in the editor's format. (?)

what do you mean 3d formats ?
You mean the poly count of a prop ?
Because when i want to save a 3d max file i only get 2 options.Save as 3d max file ore save as 3d max character file.

---

(c) 2010

Darkbelg:

what do you mean 3d formats ?
You mean the poly count of a prop ?
Because when i want to save a 3d max file i only get 2 options.Save as 3d max file ore save as 3d max character file.

Is there an option to export an object in a scene to a specific format? Look for an export option.

---

http://projectthwart.sourceforge.net/

Industry standards for 3D data are:

• VDA-FS (plane oriented format of the automotive industry)
• VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language, a general 3D model format designed for data exchange)
• STEP (Standard for the exchange of product model data; is also the ISO-Standard format)
• IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification, a general CAD exchange format)
• STL (SurfaceTesselationLanguage; a model surface build of triangles, a design description language made for 3D modeling with Rapid Prototyping)

Then you have the proprietary formats of the leading 3D design tools, like CATIA, ProEnigineer or AutoCAD in the professional CAD sector. 3D Studio Max as modeler/renderer/animator for example will most likely support all proprietary formats of the Autodesk products, like Inventor and AutoCAD. Many up-to-date programs support proprietary standards of the competitors too nowadays, like CATIA can import AutoCAD. The compatibility is limited of course.

I have experiences using VRML as an exchange format, although the proprietary formats are better of course. Especially if you stay in a software family, like Autodesk products. Converting into an exchange format rarely works flawlessly though.

---

Everyone should boycott Ubisoft and their new Online DRM for PC games. This has gone too far in the reduction of the rights of users and I am sick of it! It is not made to fight piracy, but to control the customer.

Game developers create plug-ins for software such as 3DS Max, for example, Crytek create objects in 3DS and then export it to CryEngine in .cgf format.

---

AS3!