Max-FX Tool issues

[jhaas]

Hey, I know I'm a bit late on getting into modding Max Payne 1, but I'm total newb at modding, and I figured since it was only $5 at my local EB (used) I would pick it up and see what I could do with it.

Well, I have an issue... 2 of them actually....

1- When i try to open Actor FX, nothing happens... my computers load light flashes a couple times, then that's it... the program won't open. I was thinking maybe it could be a compatibility issue with XP?

2- I finished a demo level in MaxED, and went to save it as a level to be playable, and it wouldn't let me save it.
I don't remember the error exactly, but if you need it for further help, I'll get it again. When I try to open Rasmaker, the DOS window flashes on my screen for about 1 milisecond, and disappears.

If anyone has any idea what could be wrong, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

[NobleHero]

1- When i try to open Actor FX, nothing happens... my computers load light flashes a couple times, then that's it... the program won't open. I was thinking maybe it could be a compatibility issue with XP?




Actor fx won't work with XP, you can't even do much with it anyways. Your better off with 3dsmax or milkshape 3d.



2- I finished a demo level in MaxED, and went to save it as a level to be playable, and it wouldn't let me save it.
I don't remember the error exactly, but if you need it for further help, I'll get it again.




You need to group everything to a room, plus have an exit placed somewhere. You can't export without an exit and grouping.



When I try to open Rasmaker, the DOS window flashes on my screen for about 1 milisecond, and disappears.




Rasmaker is a command line base program. To use it, either enter dos mode or enter commands from "run".

I would suggest goind to the official max ed tutorial site: http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne/tutorials/MaxED/index.html

Hope it helps man. :-D

[rookiemodda]

create a level(two rooms, with a hallway is what I'd recommend), then click materials, and insert materials from file, go into the MaxEd directory and into examples, then select basicroom, texture your level, then go into extrude mode(f4) and highlight the wall at the other end of the hallway, then press A to align the grid to the wall. you the press f12, this is where you can move the grid around, and hold down pageup or might be pagedown, and keep holding it until the grid is in the middle of the hallway. then press f7, this is where you make the exits, and click the left-up corner of the wall, then the right-up corner of the wall, then the bottom-right corner, then the bottom left corner and right-click. it should say 'mesh is separted by two exits'. now, go into model mode(f3), go to the room where you want the player to start, find a spot like maybe in the middle of the room, and press N. this places and entity, choose the Jumppoint entity, this is the Player Startpoint, it might as well be called Startpoint. now, there should be 3 little lines or something, one going up(gray color), one going sideways,(grey color), and one going forward(yellow color), press f5 and select the jumpoint, press A and hold down 2, move the the mouse around(keep holding down 2) until the yellow line is facing toward your exit. then let go of 2, click the jumppoint again and hold down ctrl and press E, this groups all the objects into the room like NobleHero mentioned. then export blah blah blah. name your level Startup_level(this is so you don't have to do a bunch of fancy menu editing), put it in the RASMaker directory. then create a folder in the RASMAker directory called Data, inside that, create a folder called Database, inside the database folder, create a folder called Levels, inside there, create a folder called Front_End, place your level in the front_end folder. the reason for this is so when you click New Game at the main menu, it will load your level. any other info such as how to put sounds in your level, or other entities, particles or level items, just email me what you want to know and I can help you with most stuff, almost anything except animations, and cinematics. rookiemodder1991@msn.com is my email.
rookiemodda, http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif!

[Joonas]

create a level(two rooms, with a hallway is what I'd recommend), then click materials, and insert materials from file, go into the MaxEd directory and into examples, then select basicroom, texture your level, then go into extrude mode(f4) and highlight the wall at the other end of the hallway, then press A to align the grid to the wall. you the press f12, this is where you can move the grid around, and hold down pageup or might be pagedown, and keep holding it until the grid is in the middle of the hallway. then press f7, this is where you make the exits, and click the left-up corner of the wall, then the right-up corner of the wall, then the bottom-right corner, then the bottom left corner and right-click. it should say 'mesh is separted by two exits'. now, go into model mode(f3), go to the room where you want the player to start, find a spot like maybe in the middle of the room, and press N. this places and entity, choose the Jumppoint entity, this is the Player Startpoint, it might as well be called Startpoint. now, there should be 3 little lines or something, one going up(gray color), one going sideways,(grey color), and one going forward(yellow color), press f5 and select the jumpoint, press A and hold down 2, move the the mouse around(keep holding down 2) until the yellow line is facing toward your exit. then let go of 2, click the jumppoint again and hold down ctrl and press E, this groups all the objects into the room like NobleHero mentioned. then export blah blah blah. name your level Startup_level(this is so you don't have to do a bunch of fancy menu editing), put it in the RASMaker directory. then create a folder in the RASMAker directory called Data, inside that, create a folder called Database, inside the database folder, create a folder called Levels, inside there, create a folder called Front_End, place your level in the front_end folder. the reason for this is so when you click New Game at the main menu, it will load your level. any other info such as how to put sounds in your level, or other entities, particles or level items, just email me what you want to know and I can help you with most stuff, almost anything except animations, and cinematics. rookiemodder1991@msn.com is my email.
rookiemodda, http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif!



http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[jhaas]

where abouts would i get milkshape or 3dsmax?

and thanks guys, ill try everything out that you told me and give you an update when im done

[NobleHero]

where abouts would i get milkshape or 3dsmax?

and thanks guys, ill try everything out that you told me and give you an update when im done



You can get 3dsmax at http://discreet.com, although, be forewarned it costs $3500.00.

Milkshape3d can be found at http://www.milkshape3d.com/, for $20.00 I believe.

[jhaas]

Okay, so i created the room you told me about, I used the MaxEd tutorial that you gave me the url to.

I'm at the point to export the level for playability, I click Export button, push yes on the 2 boxes that come up after that (size and logic) and then i get this error:

File C:\PROGRAM FILES\MAX-FX TOOLS\MAXED not found

http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brickwall.gif http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brickwall.gif http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brickwall.gif

The directory is there, I know it is... because that's where the bloody files are...

Any thoughts?

[Kozak]

Try reinstalling it and don't use spaces in it : Maxfxtool.

[rookiemodda]

I'll tell you what to do, save the level before you export it.

[jhaas]

yay!
okay, i got it to save, and now its a .lvl file... but its not showing up in my list of customizable games in the drop menu...?

i tried putting the .lvl in the max payne directory with the .exe for the game, and that didnt work
i tried putting it in the /front_end folder, and that didnt work...

im probably missing a step?

[Mr Splinter Cell Guy]

Oh yes, a very big step. You are supposed to have created the data folder, database folder in it, levels folder in the latter, a levels.txt file in the latter folder with correct modifications, and others...Read the Max Payne "First level" official tutorial at http://maxpayne.com/tutorials for more details.

[MentalSentinel]

1- When i try to open Actor FX, nothing happens... my computers load light flashes a couple times, then that's it... the program won't open. I was thinking maybe it could be a compatibility issue with XP?



It's no problem with XP. It's a DLL file problem.

Go to C:\Program Files\MAX-FX Tools\ActorFX\ or whereever you installed Actor FX.
You can see a folder in there called "e2driver".
Open the folder, there is a dll file in it.

Copy the dll file to the main ActorFX folder, for example C:\Program Files\MAX-FX Tools\ActorFX\.
After that, delete the DLL file in the e2driver directory.
And Actor-FX should work.

[Kozak]

But you don't realy need actor fx i've heard.

[Joonas]

But you don't realy need actor fx i've heard.



You don't need it. You really don't. Even when you start it, you get Remedy's message telling that it's not supported in anyway and they didn't use it themselves.

[MentalSentinel]

where is it for anyway?
I never even read where it is for.

[Joonas]

I tried it once, you can view any model and skin together with some playing animation.

[jhaas]

okay, i already had those folders in my rasmaker dir.

but, i cant find a level.txt anywhere?

[Mr Splinter Cell Guy]

Extract one from the Basic Room Example Mod.mpm file you should have in C:\Program Files\MAX-FX Tools\ExampleMod.mpm. Red the official tut for more details.

[jhaas]

:\ I don't get it... it's not there... I even ran a search of my whole computer for a level.txt file, and it found nothing... could someone just send me the .txt?

[MentalSentinel]

Extract X_Levels.ras, i believe it's called that way.
Else extract X_Data.ras.

[Joonas]

It's in X_Data.ras. data\database\level\levels.txt