   lots of things
  hi I wanted to know, after doing a model in milkshape, what follows? what else can you do with it? what steps follows in order to get that model running in a game? i really havent used milkshape but one guy reccomend it to me, so what can you do in milkshape, and after that what other program do you combine it with in order to get your model run in a game........hope, its not a long answer, i dont want details, just abreviate steps, if its possible, thanks 
  It's a pretty long answer.  Sorry, no way around it.  Start here... All you will ever need to know. [edited by - CodeMunkie on February 13, 2004 5:42:40 PM];  the steps differ depending on what you are planning to do, normally you write the game engine first, or use an existing engine, and that is what loads and uses the models. Since it seems safe to assume you have 0 prior programming knowledge, it would probably take you approx 2 years before you know enough to begin writing the engine, then between 3-6 months to get the engine working. if you are making models however, and that is what you want to do, you might want to find a team looking for a artist, or try to form a team of programmers to help you out.you might want to check out reality factory, they created a shell and added a scripting engine so they have done approx 90% of the work for you, and you just need to add your own assets, and script your own actions, it does greatly limit the amount of things you can do, but they definitely made it easier.also, make sure you check out the "faq''s", and the articles here. games are not a "click and create" type thing, they involve learning a language that the computer can translate into it''s native binary code, by no means a easy thing to learn, and it''s not for everyone. ___________________-Nicholas Anton-raptor85.siigna.net;  I tried to make the question so it seemed less ignorant, i know, the process of making a videogame cant be explained, in a simple post no, i know first, you need an idea, you need, animators, modelers, textures, programmers (for a lot of different things) and some other things, then the debugging, etc etc, i just wanted to know "normally you write the game engine first, or use an existing engine"This is the kind of things i want to know, im not asking how to do a game engine, or how to model, i was just asking the steps, normally people follow, thats it, thanks, and i understand that this forum is full of questions like this, but after all its called the begginers forum, if someone could describe me their personal  process they follow, to make a mod, or maybe a game i will be gratefull, maybe refer me to some previus post, and please understand that im not asking, the details, im not asking how to program, or how to model and animate, im just asking steps, (maybe list programs you use)..........I hope i dont get bashed, hehee  ;  You won't get bashed.  At least you realize there is a process to making games and not a big magic "Make Cool Game" button hidden in the computer.  My process is pretty hackneyed.  All the games I have made (started making) are just remakes of the classics, so the coming up with idea part is taken care of .  I use Blender to create my models and often to create 2d graphics as well.  Sometimes I use MSPaint, Wally, IrfanView or Gimp for creating/processing 2d images, just depends.  I use GoldWave for sound editing.  All of the tools I have mentioned are free btw.  I export the models out to Wavefront .obj because I like a format I can edit with Notepad if the need arises.  I have a little engine that can load in the models, textures and sound.  The engine also handles scene management/rendering, input and 3d sound.  The graphics renderer is OpenGL, the sound renderer is OpenAL and the input and windowing system is Win32.  Those are the only parts that are reusable and they are in a .lib file.  The game logic is separate and has to be coded for each game and linked to the "engine" lib.  Some people use or create engines which read in scripts.  The scripts handle the game logic and it means they have to write little or no code for their game.  Just a different way to do it, I'm sure someone here will describe this in their system.  Well, that's the bird's eye view.  My system is by no means complex or powerful, but it is good enough to make some games.  It took about 3 months to get my "engine" in a state where it was useful enough to make something.  To put things in perspective, I should also mention that I have been programming for 10+ years, have a college degree in Computer Science and program for a living.  Games are just a hobby/time killer .  Hope that gives you some insight.  Good luck !   [edited by - CodeMunkie on February 13, 2004 10:40:04 PM];quote:Original post by CodeMunkie  You won''t get bashed.  At least you realize there is a process to making games and not a big magic "Make Cool Game" button hidden in the computer.  My process is pretty hackneyed.  All the games I have made (started making) are just remakes of the classics, so the coming up with idea part is taken care of .  I use Blender to create my models and often to create 2d graphics as well.  Sometimes I use MSPaint, Wally, IrfanView or Gimp for creating/processing 2d images, just depends.  I use GoldWave for sound editing.  All of the tools I have mentioned are free btw.  I export the models out to Wavefront .obj because I like a format I can edit with Notepad if the need arises.  I have a little engine that can load in the models, textures and sound.  The engine also handles scene management/rendering, input and 3d sound.  The graphics renderer is OpenGL, the sound renderer is OpenAL and the input and windowing system is Win32.  Those are the only parts that are reusable and they are in a .lib file.  The game logic is separate and has to be coded for each game and linked to the "engine" lib.  Some people use or create engines which read in scripts.  The scripts handle the game logic and it means they have to write little or no code for their game.  Just a different way to do it, I''m sure someone here will describe this in their system.  Well, that''s the bird''s eye view.  My system is by no means complex or powerful, but it is good enough to make some games.  It took about 3 months to get my "engine" in a state where it was useful enough to make something.  To put things in perspective, I should also mention that I have been programming for 10+ years, have a college degree in Computer Science and program for a living.  Games are just a hobby/time killer .  Hope that gives you some insight.  Good luck !   [edited by - CodeMunkie on February 13, 2004 10:40:04 PM]Woooww thats exatly the kind of answers that i was looking for, thanks men!!, was really helpfull, yeah, and hows that you use blender for 2d images?;  Well, it''s not rocket surgery .  Once you render your image, bam, 2D!  I have used it to create splash screens, buttons, sprites, you name it.  Just create the scene or object and render it.  Then save the image and load it as a texture. 