Porting Tutorial
Introduction
This tutorial will explain you how to export a track from any other 3D Mario Kart Game. If you are following the Custom Track Tutorial and making a level from scratch, proceed to the Modeling Tutorial.
If part of this article is unclear or hard for you to follow, you can ask questions on the Discussion page. Someone will attempt to clarify things for you and possibly edit the tutorial so it will be easier to understand.
The following will tutorials will explain step-by-step how to get your models in both Google Sketchup and 3DS Max if possible, and how to convert Max files to Sketchup, so please follow the guide appropriate to your needs. Additionally, this guide assumes you own a ROM or ISO Image of the needed game.
Important! The majority of these guides requires the use of 3DS Max before use in Google Sketchup. It is recommended that you go ahead and only use 3DS Max if possible.
Porting From Mario Kart 64
(The following applies to most N64 Games)
Exporting
Required Tools
Alternative Tools
- 1964 Emulator (Project64 alternative)
Setup
Create a new folder in your hardrive folder - C:\ - titled VRML (This should be C:\VRML\). This file path is set in the emulator as the place to export the VRML file and the associated texture BMPs.
Open your Emulator. Take a moment to locate the Options Menu (Plugins Menu in 1964), as this plays a vital role in obtaining your model. Within the Options Menu, locate "Configure Graphics Plugin", as this is where you'll rip your model later on.
Download Lemmy's Video Plugin (registration required), go to your plugins settings and change video to Nemu64 Graphics.
Next, you will need to load your N64 ROM, this can be done by simply dragging your ROM into your emulator. In game, select the course or level you wish to extract. Once the game play begins, pause the emulator immediately (This can be done by pressing hotkey F2 in Project64, or by pressing hotkey F3 1964). While the game is paused, go back to the Options Menu (Plugins Menu in 1964) and once again locate "Configure Graphics Plugin" and open it (or alternatively just use the ctrl + v shortcut to video settings).
Within the Graphics Plugin configure menu, is an option that read "Export VRML". Select it and close the configuration menu. Quickly press F2 (F3 in 1964) to rip you model. This will capture one frame of animation, and create a VRML in your C:\\VRML\ folder. The emulator will only capture what geometry is shown on screen, so you'll have to capture your model multiple times from different locations, but be sure not to overwrite anything captured by moving it each time to a different folder or you can also directly import it into your 3D-Editor directly after capturing.
Importing
In 3DS Max
From here, importing into 3DS Max is simple. Once 3DS Max is open, select the 3DS Max logo in the top left corner. from there, select "Import". Go to your C:\\VRML\ folder, and select the VRML models you've exported (At this point, they've been given the file extension .wrl), and import them into your 3DS Max Scene. Import each .wrl model into your scene until each ripped frame combined creates the whole model.
The ripping process may have some effects on your UV coordinates, which must be fixed manually using the Unwrap UVW Modifier.
In Google Sketchup
Because Google Sketchup doesn't support VRML, you'll have to import it into another 3D-Editor first.
The .3ds export function is removed in the latest version of MeshLab! Use Blender Instead!
If you still want to use the MeshLab Method, you have to download an older version of MeshLab!
Blender
It is recommended to use Blender. It's free and it works well.
Open Blender, select "File" in the top left corner. Then select "Import", X3D Extensible 3D (.x3d/.wrl). (Keep all the textures too, for later use!) Go to your C:\\VRML\ folder, and select the VRML models you've exported (At this point, they've been given the file extension .wrl), and import them. Import each .wrl model into your scene until each ripped frame combined creates the whole model. You can also combine each model in Sketchup later.
Now you export it via: "File", "Export", 3D Studio (.3ds). Save it where you want. Now you can import the .3ds model into Sketchup.
You still have to texture it in Sketchup with the texture files that are saved with the .wrl file!
MeshLab (Old)
It is NOT recommended to use MeshLab because the .3ds export function is removed in the latest version! You have to download an older version first!
From MeshLab here, importing into MeshLab is simple. Once MeshLab is open, select "File" in the top left corner. from there, select "Import". Go to your C:\\VRML\ folder, and select the VRML models you've exported (At this point, they've been given the file extension .wrl), and import them. Import each .wrl model into your scene until each ripped frame combined creates the whole model.
When done you can export your model as .3ds. Be sure to place it in the same folder with all the textures that have been exported together with your VRML (.wrl), otherwhise you'll lose them. Now import your .3ds-model into SketchUp.
Porting From Mario Kart Double Dash!!
(The following applies to all games using bmd/bdl models)
Required Tools
OR
Max
Optional:
- BMD Viewer 2 (Allows you to collect shader data)
- BrawlBox (Allows you to both import the vertex colors and use collected shader data)
Sketchup
(The following applies to most GameCube/Wii games that use the BMD & BDL format)
Setup
Firstly, you need to open Dolphin. In the Dolphin window, select Browse, which should be right under the image of a star. Select the directory containing your ISO(s), and press select OK.
If you've selected the proper directory, then your game should now be displayed on the Dolphin main Menu. You should then right-click your game, and select "Properties" from the drop down menu. In the properties menu, you should select "Browse". This allows you to view & extract the game's files. You should look for key words within the directories of your game, such as "luigi_course.rarc", which would be GCN Luigi Circuit in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Most courses or levels in the game will be located in either an archive file. Refer to the following table for the needed tool to decompress the desired file:
- SZS Tools Can:
- Decompress SZS Files
- Decompress Yaz0 File
- Decompress Rarc, Carc & Arc files
- Yay0 Decoder Can:
- Decompress SZP Files
- Decompress Yay0 Files
Once you've located you level or course, extract it by right clicking it and by selecting "Extract". Extract it to the directory you choose.
The last step would be obtaining the model from this file. Use the appropriate tool to decompress your archive. The process is fairly simple, if you have a Rarc, car, Arc, SZS or Yaz0, download SZS Tools. SZS & Yaz0 Files go into the Yaz0Dec that comes with SZS Tools, where they will be converted to .rarc. Any Rarc, Carc, or Arc, goes into rarc dump, where all of the files will be put into a folder for you to view.
If there are and BMD or BDL files, proceed to the next step.
3DS Max
Unlike most other games you can rip models from, this tutorial allows you to import both Vertex Colors & Shaders. Both are advanced lighting methods to make shadows, visual effects, and natural looking scenery. The following tutorial will explain how to both extract & import both into Mario Kart Wii. If you have no plans to use either, please move onto the next section.
Setup the plugin
Firstly, you must setup the BMD Importer plugin to allow 3DS Max to import your BMD or BDL.
Some version of the readme is uploaded here. (Source here) Ignore references to "bmodel.ms" (If someone knows
To set it up, you must put the bmdview.exe in the same directory as the main executable of 3ds Max. Ignore the .mcr file in that archive. Instead extract this script into a path you know, preferrably <3ds max installer folder>\scripts\MaxBMD.mcr . If it doesn't work, try using 3ds Max 2010 32-bit instead of whatever you have.
To load the plugin, go to:
- Maxscript -> Run Script. The dialog may default to the scripts folder. If you cannot find a MaxBMD.mcr file, navigate to where you put your script earlier. Then open it.
- Customize -> Customize User Interface. Go to Toolbars tab and click the Categories dropdown menu at the left. Find and select MaxBMD. Then at the large scrollable box below, drag the "BMD Importer" item to a toolbar.
- Click on the new button to run the importer.
Instructions based on 3ds Max 2010 32-bit. These instructions are untested and could fail, break your computer, start thermonuclear war, etc. I am not responsible for what happens if you follow this tutorial.
Getting Vertex colors & Shaders
Once you plugin is ready, you may import you BMD or BDL file.
Since the plugin supports only BMD files, simply rename your BDL to BMD and continue. Continue onto Creating a BRRES with BrawlBox for a setp-by-step guide on how to get your model in BRRES form using 3DS Max & BrawlBox.
One your BRRES is ready, you may add the shader data. To do so, open your BMD/BDL in the BMD Viewer 2. Once you model is loaded, go to File menu, and select "Dump Shader Data". You should get a .txt containing the shader data from your model. This data can be added to your model with the use of BrawlBox. The .txt will refer to the shader settings in BrawlBox you can alter. Re write the information in the .txt in BrawlBox. While settings between the BMD Viewer 2 & BrawlBox may not be exact, they are very similar, and will produce very similar results, casuing your model to look as if it was directly ported from the game you had gotten it from.
Porting From Mario Kart DS
You will need
- MKDS Course Modifier 4.0
- Mario Kart DS ROM (Preferably a Beta rom) - (If you do not, you will have to extract the textures by hand)
With a BETA ROM
Ok, open your ROM in the MKDS Course Modifier.
- If you have a beta rom, go into "data --> course --> coursefilename.carc"
Double-click the .carc file and double-click course_model.nsbmd and in the upper left corner, go into --> Export --> Model --> OBJ. Export the textures as PNG. Now you can import the OBJ file into your Model editor.
Without a BETA ROM
Open your ROM in the MKDS Course Modifier.
- If you have a normal rom, go into "data --> course"
Open FileNameTex.carc and double click the course_model.nsbtx. Export each texture into a folder. Now open the FileName.carc. Double-click course_model.nsbmd and in the upper left corner, go into --> Export --> Model --> OBJ. Export the OBJ into the same folder as the textures.
Creating Your Track
Now that you have exported your model, you should scale it correctly. Check out Recommended Scale for Retro Tracks for that. After that you can proceed with making your own ported track! See the Importing Your Model section of the Modeling Tutorial next.
Main Tutorials
Introduction –
Textures –
Scale –
Modeling ⇒ Using Blender –
BRRES: CTools
BRRES: BrawlBox –
BRRES: RiiStudio –
Minimap –
Solidity –
KCL: Wiimms Tools –
KMP Editing
Object Editing –
Cameras –
Cannons –
Post-effects –
Videos
Battle Arenas
Battle Arenas –
Enemy routes in battle arenas ⇒ Using Wiimm's Tools –
Coins
Misc. Tutorials
Getting Files –
BrawlBox Tricks –
Animations –
Shadows –
Mipmaps
Custom Effects –
Moving Terrain –
Music –
Ports –
Paint Remakes –
Tutorial Archive
Extended presence flags: Track Tutorial –
LE-CODE Track FAQ
Testing and Reviewing
Testing a Track –
Visual Review –
Track Transformation –
Fixing Errors
Software
3D Tools –
BrawlBox –
CTools Pack –
KMP3D –
KMP Cloud –
KMP Modifier
Lorenzi's KMP Editor –
MagicY –
Material Tool –
Post-Effect Editor –
Wiimms SZS Tools –
Wiimm's Tool Manager
Other
KMP Objects –
Custom Objects –
Model Database –
Tutorial Archive