MIG-31 conversion w/out permission

[bospor 0]

I have been talking to Southy (Eble) about this addon from OFP. Originaly created by addonmaker from Russia named Timamas. Southy mentioned once in one of his posts that he tried contacting Timamas about the permission to convert. I got interested in the topic and also decided to get involved. I like Mig-31 and I really liked that addon from OFP. So, I tried contacting Timamas on the Russian forum Flashpoint.ru. However neither me, nor Southy had any response from the author. If I remember correctly, it is OK to convert other people's work if:

1. All that we could do has been done to get a permission.

2. All the proper credits would go to the origianl author of the addon.

Now, if this has been done, do you guys think it is appropriate to go ahead and do the conversion? It is possible that Timamas is no longer active in Arma community, so he is not responding. What do you think Southy should do in this case?

[max power 21]

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=70;t=71165;st=0

Here's a thread you should read.

One you have read it you will know what to do.

[spooky lynx 73]

I remember that model, it wasn't much accurate (plane was single-seater). So If you plan to bring MiG-31 to ArmA, some changes of model would be necessary. Also, I suppose, plane should be upgraded to "MiG-31M" version, as there's not so much space in ArmA islands for long-range intercepts only, so the plane should have ability to manage with ground targets.

[bospor 0]

Oh,... didn't see that forum discussion. I'll go there and ask Placibo to help out. Thanks plaintiff1.

Spooky,

That Mig-31 is the only one we have that was made with BIS tools (I believe). So, unless someone is making Mig-31 from the scratch, I don't see why not convert the one from OFP. There is alway a use for dedicated AA interceptor in this game or it can be used for reccon missions. 31M version is not that good in real life. Mig-27 or Su-24/25 (both coming up) are probably better choices, but this is strictly imo.

[max power 21]

The reasons against would be section count, I think. It will be up to the converter to see how far down he or she can trim that.

[wld427 1705]

We took a hard look at that model for the red side of our project. Honestly the model is very very inaccurate. a straight conversion would be a waste of time. Upgrading the model would be lengthly. probbly be better to secure a new one for another source or make it yourself.

I was trying to get permissions to use a FSX model converted to arma but still ahe not heard back form the maker. This would probably be your best bet.

[bospor 0]

What about Lockon? Seems that their models are acurate, but I don't know anything about Lockon compatability with Arma.

Maybe this?

http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm?id=371116

[suhsjake 1]

You are going to have to cut a lot of ploys out. At most, ArmA could run 15K worth of polys without major lag.

[modemmaik 53]

That Mig-31 is the only one we have that was made with BIS tools (I believe). So, unless someone is making Mig-31 from the scratch, I don't see why not convert the one from OFP.

I agree with you (about the OFP addon conversion). Check, what the OFP addon looks like in the Gatebuilder tool. It gives a good impression about the look in ArmA using DirectX 9 (just tried it. Does not look bad).

Section reduction is not that big problem, only time consuming, when you merge all those textures to get a couple of 1024x1024 textures and add some bump / specmaps.

After that, you may unwrap some sections to increase the quality of the addon for better bump / specmaps.

For contact: Have you tried to contact someone from the ORCS team? Timamas seems to have been in close contact with those.

[.kju 3245]

Not everyone cares about perfect realistic model.

Gameplay is way more important. Basic texture will do for the start.

Just tried to make it as error free and optimized as possible for

the start imo.

[blazer01 0]

You are going to have to cut a lot of ploys out.  At most, ArmA could run 15K worth of polys without major lag.

yup you will have to do a lot of work on some thing like that when i did Galactica she wos some thing like 19 to 20 k poly model and shes a low one lol and a big ship just have a look for a low poly model of the mig31 you may just find one

look er

http://www.amazing3d.com/modfree.html

[spooky lynx 73]

There is alway a use for dedicated AA interceptor in this game or it can be used for reccon missions. 31M version is not that good in real life. Mig-27 or Su-24/25 (both coming up) are probably better choices, but this is strictly imo.

Both long-range fast interceptor and recon aircraft are useless in ArmA, imho. First one will lack enough space for flying, second one will be just useless because of general ArmA gameplay (maybe in multiplayer only). So, I think, multirole fighter, which is MiG-31M, would be better choice. For both interceptor and recon very large spaces are needed.

[bospor 0]

blazer01,

Thanks for that link to amazin3d, looks like a good source.

Well, guys, thanks for all the comments, we can consider this discussion closed, unless someone has more ideas. I am not an addonmaker, so many of these things you said here is chinese language to me. I just wanted to find out the best way to convert the OFP Mig-31 to Arma. Southy is the one who converts models, not me. But I completely forgot that OFP model only had one pilot in it, which is a big no no for realism. So I am not too happy about the OFP Mig-31 now. Perhaps there is someone who can make Mig-31 in the future, I still believe there is room for that intercepter in the game. Until then fellas.

Its been emotional.

[eble 3]

You know, I could always drop another seat in it,    

It comes to something when I've almost run out of things to convert to Arma, I started off with the aircraft I wanted to see in game, second I was converting stuff for other people, what they wanted in game, then finally I was converting just about anything I thought the game needed or would look good.

This MIG-31 along with almost every plane made for OFP sits on my HD converted to Arma.

The problem I had was gaining permissions.

Some of the best addons not to have made it to Arma are in my opinion:

Su-27 Spetznaz Mod

Scars Su-30 and Su-30P

Sea Deamons Mig-29

Antonov An 124 (sorry can’t remember the addon maker name, doing this from memory not on my home PC)

Trentfeet – Lots of WWII aircraft (quality was off the chart for ofp, textures look great even without normal/spec maps)

IkaR’s C-160 Transall and Rafale jet fighter (Fingers crossed for an appearance in Arma 2)

Heres to Arma2 and for the conversion process to start all over again  

Southy

[sv5000 127]

You know, I could always drop another seat in it,    

It comes to something when I've almost run out of things to convert to Arma, I started off with the aircraft I wanted to see in game, second I was converting stuff for other people, what they wanted in game, then finally I was converting just about anything I thought the game needed or would look good.

This MIG-31 along with almost every plane made for OFP sits on my HD converted to Arma.

The problem I had was gaining permissions.

Some of the best addons not to have made it to Arma are in my opinion:

Su-27 Spetznaz Mod

Scars Su-30 and Su-30P

Sea Deamons Mig-29

Antonov An 124   (sorry can’t remember the addon maker name, doing this from memory not on my home PC)

Trentfeet – Lots of WWII aircraft  (quality was off the chart for ofp, textures look great even without normal/spec maps)

IkaR’s C-160 Transall and Rafale jet fighter (Fingers crossed for an appearance in Arma 2)

Heres to Arma2 and for the conversion process to start all over again  

Southy

+1 for these 2

Su-27 Spetznaz Mod

Scars Su-30 and Su-30P

I would love to get these into Arma. I dont have problems geting the models into Arma, but the configs are causing me the biggest headaches.

[blazer01 0]

id like to see the Rafale nice looking jet

[bospor 0]

Southy,

If adding another pilot to OFP model is not that big of a deal, I'll contact Placibo to help find Timamas

An-124. Interesting...

[blazer01 0]

@Bospor have a look on er some nice stuff all free to use just go to the Members Registration than find wot ya need and just pm the kid who did the model and ask if its ok to use it for a game

http://www.3dxtras.com/

[eble 3]

Southy,

If adding another pilot to OFP model is not that big of a deal, I'll contact Placibo to help find Timamas  

An-124. Interesting...

Adding a second seat shouldn’t be a problem as long as the original model can support it, basics are, if the second seat can be included and the view lod looks ok and the external view is ok, I think that should do it.

Without a total rework, it’s an old model anyway, but on the plus side it shouldn’t be too hard to bring it up to a decent quality level.

It’s something that could be used in Arma, it just isn’t going to be the best addon made that’s all.

It all comes down to content quantity over quality, somewhere in that is a balance.

I get requests all the time to convert this/that etc, some people would rather have a really bad looking su-25 than nothing at all.

In most cases if the addon is being used by AI with a revised texture, at distance your not going to see much if any difference to a lot of the BIS work.

I know a lot of people have their own thought on this, and I get told on a regular basis to stop converting crap from OFP,  I’m not about trying to convince people or anything.

I only started to convert stuff as I saw just a total lack of choice in the jets in Arma (when I started we had the F/A18 and F16 only) now thanks to a lot of addon makers and few people who convert a few things like myself look at the options we have now.

Southy