DarkAngel_ArtPipeline

Content Pipelines Document Issue:

1.1

Document Status:

Date Issued:

September 11, 2001

Document Title:

Dark Angel Content Pipeline Specification

Authors:

Adam King, Bert Sandie

Keywords:

Animations, NISs, Textures, Models, Sound, FMV, and Scripts

Draft

Filing Path: SV040:1676/depot/docs/TechDesign

Revision History Issue

Date

Person

Reason - include problem #, ECN #, etc.

0.1

July 12, 2001

Adam King, Bert Sandie

Initial version of document.

0.2

July 20, 2001

Adam King

General revisions and updates

0.3

July 23, 2001

Adam King

Collision volume tool help in model pipeline Additional script information General minor updates

0.4

July 24, 2001

Adam King

Table of Figures Cloth pipeline updated General revisions and updates based on reviewed by Stephen Lambie

0.5

July 25, 2001

Adam King

Added facial animation pipeline General Revisions

0.6

July 27, 2001

Adam King

0.7

Aug 1, 2001 Adam King

General revisions based on reviews by Juneko Kurahashi and Bert Sandie

0.8

Aug 17, 2001

Animation, Facial Animation, and World Builder

Adam King

General revisions based on review by Bert Sandie

S

d

\ u e 0 0 0 Radical Entertainment. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, or any software included with it may be reproduced, stored in a system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

This document contains proprietary information of Radical Entertainment. The contents are confidential and any disclosure to persons other than the officers, employees, agents, or subcontractors of the owner or licensee of this document, without prior written consent of Radical Entertainment is strictly prohibited.

Radical Entertainment DA Content Pipelines

18-Oct-02 Sections updated.

0.9

Aug 29, 2001

Adam King

General updates

1.0

Sept 10, 2001

Adam King

Updated Bounding Volume Section

1.1

Sept 11, 2001

Adam King

Letterboxing and NIS bundle info added

Issue: 0.1

Page 2 of 125 This Document contains Confidential Information of Radical Entertainment.


18-Oct-02

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 13 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

Scope .............................................................................................................................. 13 Intended Audience ......................................................................................................... 13 References ...................................................................................................................... 13 Acronyms and Definitions ............................................................................................. 14

2. General Information ............................................................................................................... 15 2.1 2.2

Loading Data .................................................................................................................. 15 Version Control.............................................................................................................. 16

3. Animation Pipeline ................................................................................................................ 17 Description ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.1 3.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 17 3.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 17 3.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 17 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 17 3.2 3.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 17 3.2.2 Directory Structure .................................................................................................... 17 3.2.3 Instructions................................................................................................................. 20 3.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 20 3.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 20 3.2.6 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 20 3.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 20 3.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 21 3.3.1 Naming Conventions and Directory Structure ........................................................... 21 3.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 21 3.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 21 3.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 22 3.3.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 23 3.3.6 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 24 3.3.7 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 24 4.

Facial Animation Pipeline...................................................................................................... 25 Description ..................................................................................................................... 25 4.1 4.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 25 4.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 25 4.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 25 4.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 25 4.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 25 4.2.2 Instructions................................................................................................................. 25 4.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 26

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4.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 26 4.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 26 4.2.6 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 26 4.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 26 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 26 4.3 4.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 26 4.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 27 4.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 27 4.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 28 4.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 32 4.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 32 4.3.7 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 32 4.3.8 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 32 5. Model Pipeline ....................................................................................................................... 33 5.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 33 5.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 33 5.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 33 5.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 33 5.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 33 5.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 33 5.2.2 Directory Structure .................................................................................................... 37 5.2.3 Instructions................................................................................................................. 38 5.2.4 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 38 5.2.5 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 38 5.2.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 39 5.2.7 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 39 5.2.8 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 39 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 39 5.3 5.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 39 5.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 39 5.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 40 5.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 41 5.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 50 5.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 50 5.3.7 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 50 5.3.8 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 50 6. Texture Pipeline ..................................................................................................................... 51 6.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 51 6.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 51 6.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 51 6.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 51 6.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 51 6.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 51 Issue: 0.1



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6.2.2 Directory Structure .................................................................................................... 51 6.2.3 Instructions................................................................................................................. 53 6.2.4 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 53 6.2.5 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 53 6.2.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 53 6.2.7 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 53 6.2.8 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 53 6.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 53 6.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 53 6.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 54 6.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 54 6.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 56 6.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 60 6.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 61 6.3.7 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 61 6.3.8 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 61 7. NIS Pipeline ........................................................................................................................... 62 Description ..................................................................................................................... 62 7.1 7.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 62 7.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 62 7.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 62 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 62 7.2 7.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 62 7.2.2 Directory Structure .................................................................................................... 63 7.2.3 Instructions................................................................................................................. 64 7.2.4 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 64 7.2.5 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 64 7.2.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 64 7.2.7 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 64 7.2.8 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 64 7.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 64 7.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 64 7.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 64 7.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 65 7.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 66 7.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 67 7.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 68 7.3.7 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 68 7.3.8 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 68 8. FMV Pipeline ......................................................................................................................... 69 8.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 69 8.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 69 8.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 69 Issue: 0.1



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8.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 69 8.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 69 8.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 69 8.2.2 Instructions................................................................................................................. 69 8.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 70 8.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 70 8.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 70 8.2.6 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 70 8.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 70 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 70 8.3 8.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 70 8.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 70 8.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 71 8.3.4 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 74 8.3.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 74 8.3.6 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 74 8.3.7 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 74 8.3.8 Technical Documentation .......................................................................................... 74 8.3.9 Pipeline Ownership .................................................................................................... 74 9.

General Scripting Pipeline ..................................................................................................... 75 9.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 75 9.1.1 Pipeline Description ................................................................................................... 75 9.1.2 Goals of the pipeline .................................................................................................. 75 9.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .................................................................................................. 75 9.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 75 9.2.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 75 9.2.2 Instructions................................................................................................................. 75 9.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ............................................................................ 75 9.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ................................................................................... 76 9.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 76 9.2.6 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 76 9.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation .............................................................. 76 9.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 76 9.3.1 Naming Conventions ................................................................................................. 76 9.3.2 File Format and Content ............................................................................................ 76 9.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ...................................................................... 77 9.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ......................................................................................... 77 9.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ...................................................... 77 9.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations............................................................................ 77 9.3.7 Potential Extensions ................................................................................................... 78 9.3.8 Error Checking ........................................................................................................... 78

10.

Animation Scripting Pipeline ............................................................................................. 79

10.1

Description ..................................................................................................................... 79

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10.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................... 79 10.1.2 Goals of the pipeline .............................................................................................. 79 10.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .............................................................................................. 79 10.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 79 10.2.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 79 10.2.2 Instructions............................................................................................................. 79 10.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ........................................................................ 80 10.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................... 80 10.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 80 10.2.6 Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................... 80 10.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ..........................................................80 10.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 80 10.3.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 80 10.3.2 File Format and Content ........................................................................................ 80 Script commands .................................................................................................................... 83 10.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions .................................................................. 85 10.3.4 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ..................................................85 10.3.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 85 10.3.6 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................... 86 10.3.7 Error Checking ....................................................................................................... 86 11.

Fight Scripting Pipeline ..................................................................................................... 87

11.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 87 11.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................... 87 11.1.2 Goals of the pipeline .............................................................................................. 87 11.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .............................................................................................. 87 11.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 87 11.2.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 87 11.2.2 Instructions............................................................................................................. 87 11.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ........................................................................ 88 11.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................... 88 11.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 88 11.2.6 Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................... 88 11.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ..........................................................88 11.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 88 11.3.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 88 11.3.2 File Format and Content ........................................................................................ 88 11.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions .................................................................. 90 11.3.4 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ..................................................91 11.3.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 91 11.3.6 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................... 91 11.3.7 Error Checking ....................................................................................................... 91 12.

Lighting Pipeline................................................................................................................ 92

12.1

Description ..................................................................................................................... 92

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12.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................... 92 12.1.2 Goals of the pipeline .............................................................................................. 92 12.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .............................................................................................. 92 12.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 92 12.2.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 92 12.2.2 Instructions............................................................................................................. 92 12.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ........................................................................ 94 12.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................... 94 12.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 94 12.2.6 Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................... 94 12.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ..........................................................95 12.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 95 12.3.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 95 12.3.2 File Format and Content ........................................................................................ 95 12.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions .................................................................. 95 12.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ..................................................................................... 95 12.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ..................................................95 12.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 96 12.3.7 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................... 96 12.3.8 Error Checking ....................................................................................................... 96 12.3.9 Pipeline Ownership ................................................................................................ 96 13.

Localization Pipeline ......................................................................................................... 97

13.1 Description ..................................................................................................................... 97 13.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................... 97 13.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline .............................................................................................. 97 13.1.3 Users of the Pipeline .............................................................................................. 97 13.2 User Documentation ...................................................................................................... 97 13.2.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 97 13.2.2 Instructions............................................................................................................. 98 13.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ........................................................................ 98 13.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................... 98 13.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations........................................................................ 98 13.2.6 Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................... 99 13.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ..........................................................99 13.3 Technical Documentation .............................................................................................. 99 13.3.1 Naming Conventions ............................................................................................. 99 13.3.2 File Format and Content ........................................................................................ 99 13.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions .................................................................. 99 13.3.4 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ................................................100 13.3.5 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 100 13.3.6 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................. 100 13.3.7 Error Checking ..................................................................................................... 100 14.

Sound Pipeline ................................................................................................................. 101

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14.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 101 14.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................. 101 14.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 101 14.1.3 Users of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 101 14.2 User Documentation .................................................................................................... 101 14.2.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 101 14.2.2 Instructions........................................................................................................... 101 14.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ...................................................................... 101 14.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................. 101 14.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 102 14.2.6 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................... 102 14.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ........................................................102 14.3 Technical Documentation ............................................................................................ 102 14.3.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 102 14.3.2 Dependencies ....................................................................................................... 102 14.3.3 File Format and Content ...................................................................................... 102 14.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ................................................................................... 102 14.3.5 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ................................................................ 104 14.3.6 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ................................................104 14.3.7 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 104 14.3.8 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................. 105 14.3.9 Error Checking ..................................................................................................... 105 14.3.10 Pipeline Ownership .............................................................................................. 105 15.

Physics Cloth Simulation Pipeline ................................................................................... 106

15.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 106 15.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................. 106 15.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 106 15.1.3 Users of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 106 15.2 User Documentation .................................................................................................... 106 15.2.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 106 15.2.2 Instructions........................................................................................................... 107 15.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ...................................................................... 107 15.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................. 107 15.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 107 15.2.6 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................... 107 15.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ........................................................107 15.3 Technical Documentation ............................................................................................ 107 15.3.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 107 15.3.2 File Format and Content ...................................................................................... 107 15.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ................................................................ 108 15.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ................................................................................... 109 15.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ................................................110 15.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 110 15.3.7 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................. 110 Issue: 0.1



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15.3.8 Error Checking ..................................................................................................... 110 15.3.9 Potential Risks ..................................................................................................... 110 15.3.10 Pipeline Ownership .............................................................................................. 110 16.

World Builder Pipeline .................................................................................................... 111

16.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 111 16.1.1 Pipeline Description ............................................................................................. 111 16.1.2 Goals of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 111 16.1.3 Users of the Pipeline ............................................................................................ 111 16.2 User Documentation .................................................................................................... 111 16.2.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 111 16.2.2 Instructions........................................................................................................... 112 16.2.3 Location of Source and Final Files ...................................................................... 112 16.2.4 How to Verify Data is Correct ............................................................................. 112 16.2.5 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 112 16.2.6 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................... 112 16.2.7 References and Supporting Documentation ........................................................112 16.3 Technical Documentation ............................................................................................ 112 16.3.1 Naming Conventions ........................................................................................... 112 16.3.2 File Format and Content ...................................................................................... 112 16.3.3 Pipeline Flow Chart with Descriptions ................................................................ 113 16.3.4 Current and Desired Tools ................................................................................... 114 16.3.5 Platform Specific Instructions and Functionality ................................................115 16.3.6 Limitations and Recommendations...................................................................... 115 16.3.7 Potential Extensions ............................................................................................. 115 16.3.8 Error Checking ..................................................................................................... 115 17.

Appendix A: Television Display Issues........................................................................... 116

17.1 NTSC and PAL ............................................................................................................ 116 17.1.1 Colors ................................................................................................................... 116 17.1.2 Overscan .............................................................................................................. 117 17.1.3 Interlaced Video ................................................................................................... 117 17.1.4 Resolution Issues ................................................................................................. 117 17.1.5 Miscellaneous Issues............................................................................................ 117 18.

Appendix B: When your Maya files are blowing out of proportion: ...............................119

18.1 18.2 19.

Regular maintenance on the file .................................................................................. 119 After the Maya file is final and is ready to be exported to the game… .......................122

Appendix C: How Tristripping Works ............................................................................ 124

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Table of Figures Figure 1: Top-level art directory.................................................................................................... 18 Figure 2: anims directory structure ................................................................................................ Figure 5: Menu containing the plug-in manager ........................................................................... 29 Figure 6: Plug-in manager were p3dDeformer.mll must have both boxes checked ......................30 Figure 7: Plug-in shelf with Deformer Tools ................................................................................. 30 Figure 8: Models Directory Structure ............................................................................................ 38 Figure 9: Art Build Flowchart ....................................................................................................... 55 Figure 10: Menu containing the plug-in manager ......................................................................... 44 Figure 11: Plug-in Manager........................................................................................................... 45 Figure 12: Plug-in shelf with Bounding Volume Tool .................................................................. 45 Figure 13: Bounding Volume Tool Window................................................................................. 46 Figure 14: Maya Hypergraph with Transform node highlighted ................................................... 47 Figure 15: Model in Maya with a box bounding volume .............................................................. 48

Figure 16: Sourceimages Directory Structure ............................................................................... 52 Figure 17: Texture Pipeline Flowchart .......................................................................................... 54 Figure 18: NIS Directory Structure ............................................................................................... 63 Figure 19: NIS Pipeline Flowchart ................................................................................................ 65 Figure 20: FMV Pipeline Flowchart .............................................................................................. 71 Figure 21: RAD Video Tools Screenshot ...................................................................................... 72 Figure 22: Bink option interface for files being converted ............................................................ 73 Figure 23: Scripting Pipeline Flowchart ........................................................................................ 77 Figure 24: Set Lit to NO to flag a material as being pre-lit . .......................................................... 93 Figure 25: Applying pre-lighting to a selected geometry. ............................................................. 93 Figure 26: Setting custom polygon display options to show CBV lighting . .................................94 Issue: 0.1



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Figure 27: Lighting Pipeline Flowchart ......................................................................................... 95 Figure 28: Localization Pipeline Flowchart................................................................................. 100 Figure 29: Sound Pipeline Flowchart .......................................................................................... 104 Figure 30: Cloth Pipeline Flowchart ............................................................................................ 108 Figure 31: World Builder Pipeline Flowchart ............................................................................. 113 Figure 32: NTSC safe title area. .................................................................................................. 116 Figure 33: Finding intermediate objects in the hypergraph......................................................... 119 Figure 34: A disconnected intermediate object. .......................................................................... 120 Figure 35: Deleting image planes. ............................................................................................... 121 Figure 36: Hypergraph showing Trax.......................................................................................... 122 Figure 37: Export options when cleaning up file......................................................................... 123 Figure 38: Triangles without Tri-Stripping Applied ................................................................... 124 Figure 39: Tri-stripped Triangles ................................................................................................. 124 Figure 40: Example of a set of tri-strips for a mesh. ................................................................... 125

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1. INTRODUCTION The document describes all of the pipelines to be used for the Dark Angel project. It outlines the pipelines purpose, associated tools, workflows, restrictions, etc. The main purpose is to collect all of the information for all pipelines for the game in a single technical document.

1.1 Scope This document deals with all of the content pipelines for the DA game.

1.2 Intended Audience Primarily this document is aimed at programmers and other technical personnel on the project team and in support and management roles. The document will also be of interest to the art director and the technical artists working on the team.

1.3 References [1.] Inglehart, Mike. DA Game Design High Concept (//depot/docs/GameDesign/DA_High_Concept.doc). [2.] Inglehart, Mike. DA Preliminary Game Design (//depot/docs/GameDesign/DA_Preliminary_Design.doc). [3.] Kusy, Brad: World Builder Design (//depot/docs/TechDesign/WorldBuilderDesign.doc). [4.] Sandie, Bert: DA Master Requirements (//depot/docs/TechRequirements/DA_MasterRequirements.doc). [5.]

Sandie, Bert and Kusy, Brad: DA World Builder Technical Overview (//depot/docs/TechDesign/DA_WorldBuilderTechOverview.doc).

[6.]

Kurahashi, Juneko and Maruno, Yayoi: Dark Angel Art Directory Structure and Nomenclature (//depot/docs/ArtTech/ArtDirStructure.doc).

[7.]

Sony Computer Entertainment: IPU Stream Format (T:\Devsys\PS2\V2.14\usr\local\sce\tools\ps2str\doc\word\Ipustrea.doc).

[8.]

Brandt, Bryan: Fight Tree Reference Hair Club Perforce (SV060:1679).

[9.]

Ancessi, Laurent: Building the Motion Tree and Animation System Hair Club Perforce (SV060:1679).

[10.] Brooke, Nigel: Dark Angel Rendering Engine Technical Design Document (//depot/docs/TechDesign/RenderingEngine.doc). Issue: 0.1



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[11.] Lambie, Stephen and Sandie, Bert: Dark Angel Technical Art Specification (//depot/docs/ArtTech/DATechnicalArtReqs.doc). [12.] Pure3D Artists Guide (T:\Pure3d\Guides\Artist\index_art.htm). [13.] Mark James: Tristrips (Perforce sv040:1677//depot/docs/courses/Tristrips.ppt). ). [14.] Bink Help Documentation (http://www.radgametools.com/binkhlp2.htm [15.] Keong Gary and Sandie, Bert: Requirements for DA Skeleton Structure (//depot/docs/TechRequirements/DA_SkeletonRequirements.doc). [16.] Maya Skeleton Tutorials (http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/realtimechar1/ ). [17.] Kurahashi, Juneko and Kusy, Brad: World Builder Workflow Description (//depot/docs/TechDesign/WorldBuilderFlow.doc).

1.4 Acronyms and Definitions Some useful acronyms and definitions to help the reader better understand some concepts are provided below. DA PS2 NPC

Dark Angel Playstation2 Non-player character – characters in the game that are controlled completely by the AI without user input Level A collection of connected rooms or areas ( via portals ) on which a mission takes place Mission A set of objectives that must be met by the user player in the game NIS Non-interactive sequence SFX Special Effects FE Front-End HUD Heads-up Display LOD Level of Detail AI Artificial Intelligence Mipmapping Mipmapping is a method of avoiding the shimmering effect that can result from high detail textures being displayed on an object that is “far” away which can result in pixels popping in and out. Tri-strip A set of connected triangles that share vertices for efficient drawing. Portal A connection between any two rooms or areas. Room The smallest interior unit of a world that can be realized without passing through a portal (convex). World A collection of levels that compose the world the game will take place in. Blueprint A 2D construction/layout of a level upon which a 3D model will be built. Trigger volume When a collision with this geometrical construct takes place a game event will be generated. TBD To Be Determined Multicontroller The controller that looks after an animation.

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2. GENERAL INFORMATION This section deals with information that is applicable to more than one of the pipelines that will follow.

2.1 Loading Data

The rendering engine for DA will be using something called a Bundle to load files. This will be a text file specifying a number of things, including files to load, objects to be retrieved from the files loaded, dependencies to other bundles, etc. Bundles can consist of multiple .p3d or other files. Each bundle will be defined using a text file. Furthermore there will be a master list of all bundles used in the game (the manifest), also stored as a text file. A loader will be able to load the text file, parse it, and load all the files that it needs based on the information contained within the file. For example, a bundle may look like this: [shot12] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot12.p3d file nis\preprod\nis1\shot12.seq export nis1 nis control:shot12 draw:shot12 camera:pp_shotShape1 lights:Scene events:shot12 next:shot3 alone [shot3] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot3.p3d export shot3 nis control:shot3 draw:shot3 camera:pp_shotShape3 next:shot4 lights:Scene alone [shot4] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot4.p3d export shot4 nis control:shot4 draw:shot4 camera:pp_shotShape4 lights:Scene next:shot4b alone [shot4b] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot4b.p3d export shot4b nis control:shot4b draw:shot4b camera:pp_Shot4bShapeo next:shot4c lights:Scene alone [shot4c] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot4c.p3d export shot4c nis control:shot4c draw:shot4c camera:ppShot4cShape next:shot5 lights:Scene alone [shot5] file nis\preprod\nis1\shot5.p3d export shot5 nis control:shot5 draw:shot5 camera:anim_camsShape lights:Scene alone

Each bundle starts with the name of the bundle in square brackets, then has a list of keywords. The three keywords are file, depend and export. "file" just adds a file to the list of what will be loaded for that bundle "depend" indicates that the given bundle required another bundle to be loaded previously, and the local objects can reference object in the other bundle.

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"export" is the most interesting, it indicates defines what there is in this bundle that is actually of interest to the game (high level objects). The form for export statements is: export

DarkAngel_ArtPipeline

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