.SMD files are the file by which the .MDL files are created. There are different ways to generate a .SMD file. During this project two of those were studied, by using Mikshape and by using Maya (very broad). .SMD files come in three different ways:

• Reference .SMD
• Physics .SMD
• Animation .SMD

A reference SMD file is a complete snapshot of the model, including its geometry, skeletal structuce, texture and the links between its mesh vertices and skeleton. These reference SMD files don't need any animation data. They produce a static image of the complete model. Viewed in a text editor a long list of 3D coordinates will show up.

The physics .SMD is the volume that the physics engine uses to calculate collisions, and any links between its verticies and the skeleton, in other words for touch. The animation .SMD contains only animation data and information for StudioMdl to be sure that the animation data matches the skeleton of the reference model. A .SMD file always needs a animation, even if the model is static. During this project there were made animations, but only static models will be implemented in the VU Game.

QC file stands for Quake Command file. It can be seen as a kind of table of contents for model projects, containing a list of all the assets which will be included in a finished model. Things like animations, submodels, textures and weight can be found in it. The primary function is to tell StudioMdl.exe where to find textures and SMD files. Furthermore, the .QC file is the place where game engine data is specified. The file has the extension .qc and can be edited in a text editing program. Figure 1.1 gives an example.

$modelname "ninja_sit.mdl"
$cd "."
$cdmaterials nskingr
$scale 7.0
$surfaceprop flesh
$staticprop 
$model ninja ninja_site.smd
$texturegroup skinfamilies 
{
{ "nskingr"  }
{ "nskinorg" }
{ "nskinred" }
{ "nskinwh"  }
}
$sequence Idle "ninja_site.smd" fps 1
$collisionmodel "ninja_site.smd"
{
      $Mass 80
      $concave 
}

Figure 1.1, QC file

Some basic commands:

• $modelname <savepath>\<filename>.mdl
  Here you tell where the models have to be saved and the filename for the models/objects.
• $cdmaterials <materialpath>
  It tells the engine where to look for the models materials, only put the name of the directory
• $body studio "./<smdfile>.smd"
  The base model
• $scale <scale>
  This defines the size of your model. You can use any number you want, the number 1 represents the actual size.
• $staticprop
  Use this command if you are making a static prop
• $model <SubModelName> "<smdfile>"
  Defines what model to use as a sub object and gives it a name.
• $texturegroup skinfamilies
  {
  {"skin 0"}
  {"skin 1"}
  {"skin 2"}
  }
  Use this if you have more than one skin for your model, you don't have to give the extension
• $sequence <AnimName> "<smdfile>" fps <fps>
  Here you define the models animations. You always need a animation. If there is no animation, fill in 1 as in only one frame.
• $collisionmodel "<collision_model>.smd"
  This is the model used for collisions. If you have a simple model you could just use that for the collision model. If it is a complex model with loads of polygons it might be better if you use a simpler model for collisions.
  [<extra commands>]
  • $Mass
    This lets you set the objects mass in kilograms
  • $automass
    This will automatically work out the mass of the object using density/thickness of the material applied to it and the size of the collision model itself
  • $concave
    Tells studiomdl to assume the collision is concave (i.e. a set of convex chunks). Basically studiomdl assumes the model is a single convex.

The QC file has to be saved in the same directory as the smd model.

Materials for Half Life use two files as there source, .TGA and .TXT files. A TGA file stands for Targa file. It can be created with a lot of applications, like Photoshop, Painter, Deep paint and JASC paint Shop.