Current News is on the front page
Old News
Aug 18, 2003
- MD3 Export plugin available for testing
Chris Cookson's fixed .MD3 Exporter (mentioned here about 5 weeks ago) has been compiled by Discreet and is available for testing.
So far I haven't been able to break it, if you'd like to receive a pre-release version of the plugin for testing you can contact me
or follow this link.
Aug 15, 2003
- FTP is once again working at the main site, site updated to include Tutorial 6 part One and Two.
Aug 14, 2003
- Tutorial 6, Part Two, "Animation and Projected Shadows," has been
uploaded and is now complete. It's recommended that you complete Part One
prior to doing Part Two, since the later steps require the animated scene created in part one.
Aug 12, 2003
- Tutorial 6, Part One, "Animation and Projected Shadows" has been
revised to include steps for adding and linking a Dummy Helper object. Please be sure to start at Part One, Step 12 if you previously
completed the Part One tutorial.
Aug 8, 2003
- Part One of Tutorial 6, "Animation and Projected Shadow Techniques" is
finished and online, part two should be complete and available soon.
- Join the Forum!
I've neglected even mentioning my long dormant Legend of Tarkus Website
because it's in serious need of some updating and house cleaning, but I'm looking for more feedback from you as to how I can
improve the tutorials and content of this site. So don't be shy, stop in and say HI ;) in the
forums.
Aug 7, 2003
- The Interim Fix for Hotfix 823980 mentioned yesterday was posted in the gmax Support section of the Discreet Web Site today.
If you want to read it in it's entirety follow this link.
- Part One of the animation tutorial I mentioned a few days ago is nearly complete and should be available tomorrow.
Aug 6, 2003
- Discreet today posted the INTERIM FIX for Hotfix 823980 that I mentioned the other day.
Here's the relevant section of the Discreet Announcement in the 3ds Max support conference:
"For those of you who have updated to Hotfix 823980 or Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 and encounter the problem described above,
Microsoft has a new, early-version Hotfix available. For access to this early Hotfix, customers can call 800-936-4900 and request
Hotfix - Q824136 for Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
You will be asked to provide your Name, Email and Zip Code, and then the ~1Mb Hotfix will be sent to you via email attachment within
about 10-15 minutes. The fix will only install if you have previously installed one of the affected hotfixes or service packs listed
above in the “Who is Affected” section.
WARNING – be sure to back-up any critical data on your system before installing
the new MS Hotfix.
After installation of the new Hotfix Q824136, you should open and resave any affected files.
This Hotfix is expected to be fully tested and officially released through Microsoft within a couple of months.
This new Hotfix is also available for some localized language versions of Windows. When requesting the Q824136 Hotfix, make sure
to request the language that matches your installation of Windows."
Aug 4, 2003
- A few days ago Discreet posted an ALERT for gmax users
which addresses the file corruption issue first reported here on July 15, and was subsequently traced to Hotfix 823980.
The alert outlines the steps for removing the Hotfix and is essentially the same document previously addressed to Max and VIZ users.
- If you feel particularly vulnerable after removing Hotfix 823980 (even though the security hole has been there for about 2 years)
or just can't wait for the fix for Hotfix 823980 to be released, you can contact Microsoft Support at 800-936-4900 and ask for
the beta update fix Q824136.
- Due to positive feedback I've started working on a new tutorial, initially I was going to demonstrate how to create a
scene utilizing animated texture maps. The goal hasn't changed, but to make it comprehensive I'll be covering the basics of
object animation, linking, and controllers, then move on to transparency maps, map animation and combining the elements
to create a viewport rendered movie.
July 30, 2003
- Sorry for the lack of updates, I just returned from a wonderful 4 day vacation of sun and fun along the Lake
Michigan coast and managed to keep away from computers the entire time ;)
Before leaving I started working
on an idea for a slightly more advanced tutorial on creating animated shadows in the viewport, let me know at the
gmaxsupport forums
or by e-mail if this is something you'd like to see, or if you'd rather that I continue with basic tutorials.
- I found a notice that Discreet posted last week referring to the M$ Hotfix KB 823980 corruption issue in
Max and VIZ. They expect Microsoft to issue a new Hotfix-fix soon and explain the procedure for removing the Hotfix
here. Note; You
may need to login as a guest to read the post, it's in the Discreet Announcements Conference.
July 25, 2003
- I've just uploaded a new Tutorial, "Creating a Sword from a Spline"
you can reach it from the Tutorials page.
- Added a link to Bobo's BackFromFive on the Import/Export page, this is an
amazing script that is essential if you need to transfer Max models into gmax.
- A few links added here and there, misc. page edits, typo corrections, and related nonsense :)
July 24, 2003
- Finally got the July 20 updates on the main site, sorry for the lack of updates, now that FTP is working again
look for more updates soon.
July 20, 2003
- I've just completed and uploaded a new Tutorial 2, "Engraving Text using the Boolean Compound Object"
you can reach it from the Tutorials page. Note; the cityscape tutorials
are now combined and can both be found as Tutorial 3 (they have not been rewritten yet).
- Gmax users have pinpointed the cause of file corruption under XP and 2000 reported below,
to security update Hotfix KB 823980 "Buffer Overrun in RPC Interface May Allow Code Execution",
removing this update should restore gmax to normal operation. Thanks guys!
July 18, 2003
- The gmax to .obi export script is now available for downloading on the
Import/Export page,
also added a link to Chris Cookson's export script for Tiger Woods course designer.
July 17, 2003
- XP users report gmax file corruption due to latest updates!
Apparently the file corruption problem from Win2k SP4 has migrated into the latest XP security update.
A user posted to the gmaxsupport forums
that after XP auto-updated to "Windows Update V4", attempting to open a .gmax file would crash explorer.
Another user reported that after removing the latest XP security updates, the gmax file corruption
issue was resolved, view the thread.
- Tips n Tricks
I've just started working on a new section for the web site that will feature Tips n Tricks for gmax users.
For now I recommend checking out xenomorphic which lists
"50 Ways to Work Faster in 3ds max", many of the tips apply to gmax as well.
July 15, 2003
- File Save problems with Win2k SP4
This notice went out to 3ds max users and also applies to gmax (emphasis mine)
" Attention All 3ds max Customers,
We have identified and confirmed that installing the Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 causes the corruption of .max files.
All 3ds max (.max) files saved with Windows 2000 SP4 installed will no longer load in 3ds max on systems with Windows 2000
SP2 or SP3 installed. Our Engineering Team has narrowed in on the problem and is working with Microsoft to resolve the situation.
In the interim it is strongly advised that all 3ds max users do not install the Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.
If Windows 2000 SP 4 has already been installed it is suggested that customers revert back to SP2 to create usable (.max) file content.
This affects all 3ds max files created in versions 3 through 5.1
3ds max files created while Windows 2000 SP4 is installed can be retrieved through either of two workarounds:
Option 1
(Please be aware that some data will still be lost in this workaround.)
Revert Windows 2000 SP 4 Systems back to SP3 or earlier
Use "File Merge" to retrieve data from corrupted .max files created under Windows 2000 SP4 and resave.
Option 2
Open corrupted .max files created under Windows 2000 SP4 in Windows XP and resave.
Revert all systems back to Windows 2000 SP3 or previous.
Bear in mind that 3ds max 5.1 is officially supported for Windows 2000 SP2, so for optimum stability revert to this operating system platform to use 3ds max 5.
Thank you for patience and assistance in getting this problem resolved."
July 13, 2003
- Finally went back and finished Tutorial 1 Creating a Multi-Material and using it for a Template
- Added a few more tutorial and import/export links.
July 12, 2003
- Tutorial 4 Faking Shadows in the Viewport using Vertex Colors, Completed
- Added site navigation at top of all pages, created separate pages for import/export options,
links and a tutorial launch page as part of a complete site reorganization.
- Added links to other gmax Tutorial sites on the Tutorials page,
also added a couple gmax related sites to the Links.
July 9, 2003
- Chris Cookson has announced that the gmax/Max MD3 exporter should soon be available!
All known bugs in the export plugin (originally written by Pop_N_Fresh, later updated by Tical)
have been eliminated, read the announcement here
- New web host, new URL, http://gmax.web1000.com easy to remember and no banner ads!
Also created the page banner/logo above, the hands were modeled in gmax (of course),
the rest was done in PSP 7
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