Players and the community want to make their own unit models/textures/"sprites"

[Alex_brunius]

Actually, that's quite hard to decide whether it could be viewed as legal use or not in such case.

I agree with what your saying, but legal, semi-legal or not legal at all I still wouldn't call it stealing since its a copy.

I also don't think some off those more expensive 3D programs should be included since they are not even available for sale unless your a corporation, how can they even claim lost sales to people they are not trying to sell it to?

 

[Slan]

I agree with what your saying, but legal, semi-legal or not legal at all I still wouldn't call it stealing since its a copy.

I also don't think some off those more expensive 3D programs should be included since they are not even available for sale unless your a corporation, how can they even claim lost sales to people they are not trying to sell it to?

It is called intellectual property, and yes, unauthorized distribution of it is illegal, and rightfully so (I mean rightful in a moral sort of way).

If the holder of the rights doesn't pursue modders or individuals, that is not because they can't, but they don't want to. It may not worth the effort.

There are a lot of great business models to circumvent this problem. First, there's Microsoft's MSDNAA program. You can use their software for free, if you are studying at a university in association with MS. Thus, you will learn to use their software, and if you get into a decision making position, chances are, you will be choosing their product. A similar method could be to give away Software Development Enviroment to individuals for free, but not for companies. I don't know how this can be monitored, though (so a company can't sell a software created with the SDE's of the individuals, not the company itself).

 

[Riffraffselbow]

Actually, that's quite hard to decide whether it could be viewed as legal use or not in such case.

First, you don't buy the program, but only a license for its usage. Then it surely depends on the license being used for the particular program.

Also we can partly say, that when you use it for your own private purposes, it might be considered as legal usage, but in that case, you surely cannot publish your work anywhere (regardless if it's commercial or a mod). In some countries you are allowed to use a copy of the program for your own purposes, but it is supposed that you own also a legal copy of it.

And only the fact that the 3D program devs do not pursue modders really do not legalize any possible illegal program usage. It is just because they don't have enough capacities to hunt down every single pirate. (Just imagine Paradox paying hundreds of lawyers to make all the pirates pay for their games...).

Finally, I don't believe that only because you are using anything under authorship protection for educational purposes only would excuse such usage without the license. That would allow all the schools and other facilities like that to use e.g. Windows on their PCs without actually buying it (in real, they still need a multilicense). Actually, this is widely discussed dispute and can hardly be solved until the authorship laws get more clear in such case, so I would not be that much certain about it...

Agreed; by alex's logic, I could pirate all of my textbooks legally, as I use them only for learning. I can assure you that, while it may be possible to pirate my textbooks, it is not legal for me to do so.

But we're getting off on a tangent here; The point is that many people have access to whatever tools you used, unless they were purely in-house, which is incredibly unlikely. Even then, a quick file-format specsheet could be enough for technologically minded types to go on as far as converting files.

 

[kiaghi7]

Guys, I appreciate the "bumping" of the topic and keeping it at the forefront, however please don't derail the effort by going into the semantics of legalities for that which we aren't even discussing.

If someone doesn't have the tools, or acquires them through dubious methods, that is not what the matter at hand pertains to.



The goal of the thread is getting someone at Paradox or from the 2nd party group producing the "sprite packs" (model/skin packs), to make available to the community -WHO DO HAVE THE TOOLS- the necessary instruction to creation of models for the game, importing/exporting there of, and the general specifications with which all of the above are made to.


Thanks

 

[Simon3101]

I dont think that the guys are bumping the thread, they are only discussing more or less intersting other Topics. The most posts here in this thread are Off Topic or are bumped by you. :rofl:

If Paradox or the other group of specialists would have wanted to give you an answer you allready would have an answer from them. So I think you are only wasting time and will get frustrated. Sorry but this is my opinion, after one week of the existence of this threat. Would be nice but you have to see it realistic....

 

[kiaghi7]

I dont think that the guys are bumping the thread, they are only discussing more or less intersting other Topics. The most posts here in this thread are Off Topic or are bumped by you. :rofl:

If Paradox or the other group of specialists would have wanted to give you an answer you allready would have an answer from them. So I think you are only wasting time and will get frustrated. Sorry but this is my opinion, after one week of the existence of this threat. Would be nice but you have to see it realistic....

Well, no, the bulk of the thread is precisely on topic. I'm not upset by the off-topic posts, nor am I bothered by the lack of response, the goal is every bit as much to raise interests and awareness to the glaring lack of the information being available, as it is to get Paradox or the 2nd party group making the "sprite packs" to simply share some of their knowledge with us.

I have no delusions that everything will be panacea, or that things we'd like to see come to fruition right this minute, the goal is always larger than that and always more moves ahead than "well what if they don't respond".

Every initial call for Paradox to change/fix something started with one voice, and this is a beginning, nothing more. If anything, I could argue that I'm being far more realistic than you are, you've given up before you've even asked the question, when the worst that could possibly happen is either a "no", or continued silence... What is there to lose then? If anything, the greater loss is from NOT asking, and NOT pursuing the goal, because the only thing that results from that is a de facto loss of potential.

If you are not interested, then I guess the effort isn't for you, I respect that and do not mind in the least. However civil discourse on the subject and basic educational materials for the public is what will be drummed.

 

[hdosbe]

First off all there is a modification subforum that becomes available if you register your HoI3 game to your forum account.

There you can find guides explaining what you ask for, download other mods to check out how they have done new units and technologies and also learn more by asking. So I highly recommend going there first

Coul'd you give me the link to this sub-forum with guides, and other mods?

Mino

 

[kiaghi7]

Coul'd you give me the link to this sub-forum with guides, and other mods?

Mino

You have to register your copy of HOI3 to your account and the forum will appear.

 

[kiaghi7]

If someone from either Paradox or the 2nd party "sprite pack" making group could chime in it would be most appreciated.

If it can't be shared, a brief explanation as to the inevitable "why" would go a long way toward explaining the situation.

If there is no legitimate reason it can't be shared, could someone within either organization please share their knowledge and preferably some details on the specifics we of course would require in order to meet the needs of the game itself for creating a new model.

Guidance would suffice, pointers would be appreciated, and instruction would be a tremendous gift.

 

[RisingSun]

It would take alot of work for each models for each nations to be accurate. Guess if they put efforts into it, could be alittle profitable for them. I like sprites in HoI2 but not 3.

 

[unmerged(1823)]

All sprites are made in maya, and then exported with emotionfx. Textures are normal tga or dds files.

The guys making & sellling spritepacks are just regular fans like you.

 

[Simon3101]

Ah maya, good to know. Thank you for the answer.The emotionx softwarre is the 3rd party tool which was mentioned in several older threads! But how can the community make their own sprites without paying for € 15.000 ++ this tool ? Hats off for the fans who are making the spritepacks. I would buy a very cool car for this money Or is there any other possibility to get a tool for free?

 

[kiaghi7]

All sprites are made in maya, and then exported with emotionfx. Textures are normal tga or dds files.

The guys making & sellling spritepacks are just regular fans like you.

Ahhh, thank you very much!

Is there any other engine aside from EMotion FX that would suffice? Or is EMotion FX the only thing that will export in a way HOI3 can make use of?

 

[unmerged(100543)]

Ah maya, good to know. Thank you for the answer.The emotionx softwarre is the 3rd party tool which was mentioned in several older threads! But how can the community make their own sprites without paying for € 15.000 ++ this tool ? Hats off for the fans who are making the spritepacks. I would buy a very cool car for this money Or is there any other possibility to get a tool for free?

Since the people making the community sprite packs are fans, you might be able to get them to do the export via emotionfx for you (assuming the export is not a long and tedious affair).

 

[unmerged(204577)]

Since the people making the community sprite packs are fans, you might be able to get them to do the export via emotionfx for you (assuming the export is not a long and tedious affair).

Hi.

Yes its right we are fans of Hoi3 like you, too

I followed this thread a while. The only possibility we can offer you is to make 3D Sprites (Models) and cede them to us. (But here are some conditions you have to note: eg. spritepacks which don't change the checksum Polycounts, Triangles, Textures, etc... and particularly self-made from the bottom of!) So we can make sprites for Hoi3 out of these 3d Models and put them into our packets.

This is the only possibility we can give to the community to get their own sprites into Hoi3, because we have signed license agreements.... and we have paid much money and time like you all know. But I think 2 euro for a bunch of 3d Models isnt really much. Cheaper you won't get them never anywhere....

If we decide to do something like that after consultation and permission with Paradox, we could use the modforum where everyone can post his Models he made and/or wishes he has. So that two persons are not making the same model.

Like you see this is much of extra work for us and we dont know whether it's worth?

So everyone who is interested in this offer can write a PM to me so that we
can see how much of you are really interested into this offer.

And like said above we only will give this offer to you when paradox gives us an OK for it....

 

[unmerged(194392)]

No offense but if you were real fans you would not charge money for extra sprite packs.

It's a shame Paradox went down the 3rd party route for the sprites, missed a massive opportunity for modders and the community.

 

[Lauri]

No offense but if you were real fans you would not charge money for extra sprite packs.

Oh shut up you.. They have to pay to be able to make them, it's only fair they get money for it

 

[Simon3101]

No offense but if you were real fans you would not charge money for extra sprite packs.

It's a shame Paradox went down the 3rd party route for the sprites, missed a massive opportunity for modders and the community.

This is a completely wrong opinion. These fans are willing to give the possibility to make and to get own sprites into the game, although it would be more work for them. People like you destroy the only possiblitity. The fans must not give such an offer. But if YOU are a real fan than:
- buy the software,
- make new sprites
- and give us new spritepacks for free...

You should think about what you write..

 

[unmerged(194392)]

This is a completely wrong opinion. These fans are willing to give the possibility to make and to get own sprites into the game, although it would be more work for them. People like you destroy the only possiblitity. The fans must not give such an offer. But if YOU are a real fan than:
- buy the software,
- make new sprites
- and give us new spritepacks for free...

You should think about what you write..

If you read the whole thread you would know that the OP is suggesting Paradox give us the information so we can do just that. I have the technology and need information from Paradox on how to implement it into the game. Instead we have to rely on a 3rd party, destroying the modding community.

YOU should think about what you write and perhaps read the thread before making a fool of yourself.

 

[Simon3101]

If you would read the whole thread you would know that Johan gave the answer and that you need a 3rd party tool and this 3rd party tool is nothing you'll get for free... No you have to pay 15.000 € ++ for this TECHNOLOGY like you call it. Or will you say you have this TECHNOLOGY ?

If it is like you say, than why dont you start making new sprites for us, for free :rofl: