A question for the team.

[Furyofaseraph]

Hey guys,
I was a lurker over at BCU a long time ago, and I recently posted a question on it, but realized no one really hangs out there anymore.
I read over in the FAQ that you guys do not release your files in Max.
I guess I want to respectfully ask why?
Reason being: I am working on a for-myself project in my spare time, just to play around, and I could really use a Bridge model. you're guys' models are superb, and why reinvent the wheel. Obviously there is no way to import a NIF, so I was going to ask if the MAX files of a few certain bridges could be released.
Is this a community wide choice? are there bridge modellers who wouldn't mind release Max files, even if in a controlled manner (ie: not to the general public, but to a discreet few with the understanding it shan't be distributed, honor system type deal)?
I don't really know who to talk to about this: I have tried contacting the artist for the bridge I am looking to use, but I cannot seem to contact them.
Any help anyone might have would be greatly appreciated.

[bsilver2988]

It is a community policy.  These guys work hard on these bridges, and i think they mostly just dont want someone taking their hard work, changing 1 or 2 things and releasing it as their own.  It makes sense. 

Also dont forget man, the last guy to reinvent the wheel put a tire on it.  You never know what you can do until you try.  You may release the best bridge to ever hit BC.

[JimmyB76]

hey seraph!  welcome to BCS!  i remember ya from BCU

[Furyofaseraph]

Thanks Jimmy. I'm honestly surprised, i think I only posted like three or four times.

Believer, I'm not actually looking to create a bridge for BC, but to for use in my own for-myself project. (a 3D-based web-comic). But I do like the analogy, and I am actually trying my hand at modelling a new one, vastly different from any trek bridge done so far.

[newman]

...Obviously there is no way to import a NIF, so I was going to... ask if the MAX files of a few certain bridges could be released.

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by telling you this, but that's not entirely correct. You can import NIFs into max without much trouble at all. I have max8 with niftools plugin installed and configured for BC. So far I was able to import every bridge I tried.
Once imported, you may have to re-link the textures for them to display in the viewport.
But importing NIFs is very much possible. Check the attached pic, you can see a screenshot of the prometheus bridge imported into max.
Of course, you shouldn't mis-use this information. If you're going to use it for anything that's getting published online, you should get permission from the author first.

[Creative Inc]

What newman says is correct. Unfortunately, I had issues with the stock Enterprise-E bridge...

[Legacy]

What newman says is correct. Unfortunately, I had issues with the stock Enterprise-E bridge...

indeed, the stock bridges were generated by a custom plugin created for a different software called lightscape, so they create the files in a different way that no importer can sucessfully translate.
However, niftools seems to be able to port some parts of the stock bridges indeed, with issues, but working.

And no, no rules broken by telling this, actually we have been encouraging people from niftools to develop their importing plugin so it works more with bc.

[Bren]

I dunno if this is old news... but I downloaded NIFskope there the other day, and to my ass-tonishment, it exported the Ebridge perfectly, first try!

[newman]

Wait.. are you saying that you can use max 8 or 9 with nifskope and export bridges?

[Legacy]

I don't know why, but i really think he means it IMported the bridge.

[newman]

I don't know why, but i really think he means it IMported the bridge.

Sounds about right.. guess I was celebrating too soon.

[Bren]

Yes, sorry, I meant I exported them as .OBJs from the Nif files... I guess I should have been more clear.