Extract BIS ArmA2 models - legal?

[icewindo 29]

Hi,

as this topic is about models I thought this subforum would fit my question best.

As we all know BIS didn't release any MLOD for ArmA2...

If there was a way to acces not the MLOD directly but to extract parts of the mlod, e.g. the 1.000 lod by using external tools, would BIS to put it plainly

a)Care about this, locking and deleting threads in context

b)Not care about this

I remember bxbx developed a tool to extract the ArmA1 models when he wasn't part of BIS yet but I really would like to take "insurances" before further work goes out of the window.

[[frl]myke 14]

I highly guess that answer a) is correct. After all, getting MLOD's out of the game files involves certain hacking and reverse engineering techniques which clearly is against the EULA you agreed to when installing the game.

However, i guess (read: hope) that BIS will release the MLOD's themselves. I guess that they didn't as they wanted to wait until release of OA so they can include those models aswell and they will be up to date for the reworked RV engine (FLIR as example relies on MLOD settings afaik).

That said, IMHO it is clever to wait for BIS and the release of OA as i guess after that, we wont have to wait too long for official MLOD's.

And be assured that i'm also waiting eagerly for the release of the MLOD's as you are.

[[aps]gnat 28]

..... hoping too :(

[icewindo 29]

I highly guess that answer a) is correct. After all, getting MLOD's out of the game files involves certain hacking and reverse engineering techniques which clearly is against the EULA you agreed to when installing the game.

However, i guess (read: hope) that BIS will release the MLOD's themselves. I guess that they didn't as they wanted to wait until release of OA so they can include those models aswell and they will be up to date for the reworked RV engine (FLIR as example relies on MLOD settings afaik).

That said, IMHO it is clever to wait for BIS and the release of OA as i guess after that, we wont have to wait too long for official MLOD's.

And be assured that i'm also waiting eagerly for the release of the MLOD's as you are.

Hmm, I had similar thoughts and I guess it'll stay that way, following this statement :( .

http://forums.bistudio.com/showpost.php?p=1139201&postcount=226

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?p=1139201#post1139201

The funny thing is that I'm particulary interested in the BIS female heads and in contrary to the male heads they are not added by proxy (so you can use them for every unit) but seem like they are part of the model itself as the female heads contained in characters.pbo only have 4kb size and don't show up in bulldozer if added by proxy.

Which mades MLOD necessary if I wanted to use the heads >.< .... say goodbye to that female soldiers addon.

Edited March 21, 2010 by Icewindo

[W0lle 1050]

As far as I can tell it's not allowed to extract the models and convert them to MLOD - let alone releasing such "hacked" addons after.

[raedor 8]

It is definitely forbidden to do such stuff (read the EULA you're accepting on installation of the game). It only depends on if BI tolerates it as they did (in the late phase) for OFP. But for A1 they didn't like it and I'm rather sure they won't like it for A2.

[oyman 0]

p3dedit

[mr.g-c 6]

However, i guess (read: hope) that BIS will release the MLOD's themselves. I guess that they didn't as they wanted to wait until release of OA so they can include those models aswell and they will be up to date for the reworked RV engine (FLIR as example relies on MLOD settings afaik).

That said, IMHO it is clever to wait for BIS and the release of OA as i guess after that, we wont have to wait too long for official MLOD's

Hmm i doubt it, in the OA thread, either Ohara or Armored Sheep said it different. They said that "normal Arma2" and its content which will then run as a "Mod" inside Operation-Arrowhead - especially Models - will not get updated for new FLIR shaders/etc.

They will simply be full hot/cold and not incremental like the new OA untis will be regarding FLIR.

I also believe BIS wont release Arma2 Mlods in near future because they fear other companies/individuals might steal/misuse their good made Models.

I remember that Maruk or someone "higher" from Arma2 Devs was especially Proud of the Mi24s in Arma2, and called them something like "The most detailed playble Model of a MI24 in any Computer Game", prior to Arma2 release.

Such statements bring me even more into serious doubt of a Mlod release soon.

Wasn't it the case that only with the reverse-engineering of Arma1 Mlods, BIS was finally convinced/pushed into a release of Arma1 Mlods? At least that is how others described it in various Forums.

[[frl]myke 14]

Hmm i doubt it, in the OA thread, either Ohara or Armored Sheep said it different. They said that "normal Arma2" and its content which will then run as a "Mod" inside Operation-Arrowhead - especially Models - will not get updated for new FLIR shaders/etc.

You're misinterpeting what i meant although i have to admit that i wasn't very clear on that point. I didn't meant they will update the "old" ArmA 2 MLOD's but they will probably wait to release ArmA 2 and OA MLOD's in one single pack rather than make separate packs.

I remember that Maruk or someone "higher" from Arma2 Devs was especially Proud of the Mi24s in Arma2, and called them something like "The most detailed playble Model of a MI24 in any Computer Game", prior to Arma2 release.

Sorry but this is nonsense. If someone is interested in "stealing" the MI24, or any other model, would they have major problems to get the 3D mesh if they really want to? AFAIK there is a grabbing tool for DX9 which lets you grab any model you want. Textures are also easliy accessible thanks to texview2. That said, they can't protect anything from stealing with holding MLOD's back. If someone really wants it, he'll get it. And finally, i doubt that BIS programmers and designers are the only excellent 3Ds artists on this planet. Hell, there are already addons out that partially looks and works better than original BIS stuff (no offence BIS, you had a deadline, addonmakers don't).

Wasn't it the case that only with the reverse-engineering of Arma1 Mlods, BIS was finally convinced/pushed into a release of Arma1 Mlods? At least that is how others described it in various Forums.

I don't see how some reverse engineered MLOD's could have pushed BIS in any way to release the MLOD's. So speaking, i highly guess that "others in various Forums" write a bunchload of BS.

[icewindo 29]

Sorry but this is nonsense. If someone is interested in "stealing" the MI24, or any other model, would they have major problems to get the 3D mesh if they really want to? (...)

Yep, and I doubt other developers would exploit BIS models for their own use, why take the risk...?

And I don't remember BIS ArmA1 models popping up in any other game...

The only guys ripping of content would use the assets for private use or for mods in other games, but then again these mods are locked fast from any serious modding site.

E.g. somebody was porting over stuff from Oblivion to Crysis, the whole thread and video got deleted by moderators.

[bushlurker 46]

I fooled around with both odol explorer and p3dedit and a few of the binarised A2 models - but couldn't get any of them to unpack...

I wasn't trying to rip or copy models or anything - just add a few "snap points" to things that should really have them - but don't... like bridges, walls, roadside barriers...

The "snappable" ones would purely be used in Visitor to try and shave a few zillion years off island development... at run-time, the users binarised models would be used as normal...

Sadly I couldn't get it to work... if anyone has any cunning ideas as to how I could add/edit a memory LOD in a binarised model I'd be delighted to hear it...

B