How to use sketch up to design 3d game?

monta

Hello, I'm very new to SU and need help about How to use sketch up to design 3d game?
Frankly I'v never made a game and dont know the best work path or processes should i do,
so i just started modeling a little in SU, BUT dont know ho to continue to make my own game.

I'm feeling so happy dont know why

so Thanks in advance

BTM

Well, there are a lot of different ways to do that. If you want to work with free software, you might want to start by downloading Blender, learning to use it, and then learning to script in python.

SketchUp, though very useful, is not the best thing for making games. You need a program like Blender to be able to create skeletons for characters, and texture things properly. I personally don't use blender much, so I'm not that knowledgeable on it's features, but I DO know that it has a game engine to allow you to make 3D games, though it would require you learn python scripting.

You can export SketchUp models into blender, but I've never tried it with textures, and the scale will be way off. If you don't have SU pro, just export your model as a Google Earth file, compress it, decompress it, then import the .dae file with blender.

note: Blender is very intimidating, especially when you first use it. The interface isn't as easy to use as SketchUp's, so you'll probably have to use tutorials first.

miikka1978

I don't know too much about making 3D games but maybe this software (3D RAD) could help you with this matter. I haven't had time to try it yet but it seems interesting. It is free and you should be able to import Sketchup models into 3D RAD.

Software:
http://www.3drad.com/

Importing Sketchup into 3D RAD:
http://www.3drad.com/sketchup-exporting-guidelines.htm

FoXar

Well I suppose the best way to kick off is start making mods,
that's how I started modeling anyways. So this is what modding's
about (I'm giving this example as it's what I've been working on).

You can take GTA San Andreas as your 'game engine', with the available
tools of the 'modding comunity' you will be able to take out the whole map,
cars, peds,... And you will be able to creat your own map/world in it, you can
also code new scripts for new game modes or missions. I could talk hours about
it, but if you're interested in more about this just send me a pm or something, as
I'll be forgetting to check out this topic so..

Btw, I also know more things about other 'real' game engines (IrrLicht f.e.)

Cheers,
FoXar ^^

monta

Ok, First thank you very much ( BTM, Miika1978, and Foxar )

Really satisfying advices,

But i want to mention that the main reason that make me go to sketchup is that my first game will need to be Architecturally well designed ( as i'm going to model my university as the game world ) and I dont need a lot of characters
Beside Sketchup is very easy and fun to use

so i want to know what should i do after modeling the university buildings ?

And i'm gonna PM Foxar maybe i can use GTA for that

Thanks again.

Gaieus

Well, for the design and basic building (all architecture in fact), you can use SU with no problem.

Then later (at any stage) you can always export it to other software which you can carry on modelling/texturing/further exporting in. BTM's suggestion (however hazy it succeeded to be) is good for a first step;ł use kmz (a zipped library with all the textures and model info inside) to export into 3rd party apps (Blender being a very successful, well know and top orf all FREE example) where you can go on and tweak > export further whatnot.

monta

Thank you Gaius ,

I will Do So

So i think i'm gonna learn some Python scripting, maybe i will post a new topic when my game is ready

FoXar

No thanks monta, btw, I'm posting the response here so maybe someone else could ever have a profit about it.

Well the main documentation can be found here: http://www.gtamodding.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
The community can be found right here: http://www.gtaforums.com/?c=22

Those are the 2 main recourses where to start, now you will need version 1 of GTA SA, the
problem is they don't sell version 1 anymore (this version allowed modding before but due
the offending 'hot coffee' mod they needed to make the game unmoddable, so came version 2).
Now to still be legal what you can do is; buy GTA SA in the shop and afterwards download a
version 1 somewhere. But note, I don't know where it's legal and illegal, here in Belgium this
'practice' should be legal, so maybe advice someone who knows more about it.

Secondly, you will need a bunch of scripts, SketchUp Pro and 3ds Max and lots of patience,
you're still in?

Cheers,
Roevens Johannes

monta

OK Foxar I will see about GTA if it is legal and I already Have 3d max and SU
But till that I'm using the SU to Blender method ,

But i have a problem with collade importing inside blender

maybe my python installation or the collada blugin installation isn't right

So If some body there have an experience with that topic maybe fine

Chris Fullmer

Game modding (like he mentioned for GTA) is very legal, and has been a way for people to extend their favorite games. The tools needed to modify or "mod" games are generally published by the game making company. And many games, at least for the PC, can be modded.

I've personally playedd with modding Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield2. And I've dabbled with Half Life, Crysis, and the unreal engine. I've also used Virtools by D'assault systemes, which is a physics engine, and you have to do the programming yourself.

I would HIGHLY recommend using an existing game and mod it, especially if you are wanting to make a first person shooter, or any other style game thay already exists.

With most of the games, the process would be:

Play the game and become familiar with it.
Start playing with the map editor, learn how to make entire maps from scratch.
Learn how to import buildings that you have made in SketchUp. This can be a difficult process in some game engines, requiring that you export from SketchUp to 3dsmax or Maya.
Then beyond that, learn how to make weapones.
And then characters and rig, skin and animate them.
etc.

Its pretty fun to see a building or object you made in SU show up inside one of your favorite games.

Chris