Friday 30 August 2013

Working with CryEngine 3 and Maya (tips and tricks)

This is an ever evolving list of stuff that I have learnt while working with CryEngine and Maya. There is still some things that I would like to add, and if there is anything you know of which I could add to the list, please let me know.

Getting started

CryTiff Photoshop 64bit plug-in installation

copy these two files from the CryEngine Tools folder:

CryTIFPluginCS4_11_64.8bi and CryTIFPluginCS4_11_64.bsc

to Photoshop plug-in folder, and ensure that the path to rc.exe is correct in plug-in by going to Help > About Plug-in > CryTiffPlugin...



CryEngine Keyboard Shortcuts

Q - terrain clipping on/off
Ctrl + F1 - set camera 1 location (also woks for F2 to F5)
Shift + F1 - go to camera 1 location (also woks for F2 to F5)

Assets creation

Asset creation guidelines
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC3/Asset+Guidelines

Basic collision detection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpF2Yhf61Ng

Custom collison with physics proxys
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC3/Physics+Proxy


Exporting Models from Maya

MayaCE3
http://seithcg.com/wordpress/?page_id=973

Materials

Basic material properties
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC2/Basic+Material+Parameters

Creating an animated door
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC2/Doors+Entities
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC3/Exporting+Animations

Creating an interior scene

Vis areas and portals

http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC2/VisArea+and+Portals

Interior lighting
http://www.crydev.net/viewtopic.php?f=321&t=91767

Creating outdoor scene

road entities
http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/categories/cryengine-3-sdk/cryengine-3-sdk-09-create-roads.php

Light beams (god rays)
http://www.crydev.net/viewtopic.php?f=371&t=118405&start=30
http://www.crydev.net/viewtopic.php?f=371&t=92869
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC2/Geometric+Light+Beams
http://freesdk.crydev.net/display/SDKDOC2/TemplBeamProc+Shader

Useful console commands (CryEngine)
g_godmode=1 - enable god mode
r_displayinfo=0 - remove debug info
g_showhud=0 - remove in game HUD

Examples of work
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94634
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97099
http://www.behance.net/gallery/props-cryengine-3/5009249
http://www.behance.net/gallery/WIP-UDK/1977585