Instancing

Dear guys,

I’m creating some stuff for in a game. This game doesn’t support instancing. I’ve got an idea of what that is but I’m not sure.
I think the problem is duplicating. If I duplicate objects, I use shift + D. I discovered the other way of duplicating what is alt + D. One has to be instancing and one hasn’t. I don’t actually which is what. Or am I totally wrong and has instancing nothing to do with duplicating?

Regards,
FerrariDamn

Blender object “Duplication” method duplicates the object and it is not the same as instance. Here is the definition:

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Modeling/Objects/Duplication

As for instancing, Blender uses various Dupli functions. Here is Dupli Verts method:

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Modeling/Objects/Duplication/DupliVerts

Okay I just used the normal duplication, so that seems to be right.
In 3DSmax there’s an option “Convert to poly” that should fix this. Is there a similar option in Blender?

Regards,
FerrariDamn

Sorry for this bump but I really need to find this out. It’s kinda like a big project what I’m working on. If there isn’t a function in Blender I need to find anything else. So came this idea recently to me:

  1. I export the file as a .3DS file.
  2. I mail the file to a trustable acquaintance who has 3ds max.
  3. He imports the .3DS file in 3DS Max.
  4. He selects every object and does “Convert to poly”.
  5. He exports it as an .3DS file and mails it to me.
  6. I import the .3DS and voila.

Will this work? Or are there any other options for my situation?

Regards,
SteamSSN

What are you trying to do exactly? Do you have a bunch of linked (alt+D) copies that you don’t want to be linked to each other? Select them all, hit Object > “make single user” and check the “object data” box.

Well, the game says: “Instancing not supported”. At an other forum they suggested “Convert to poly” if I work in 3DSMax. That might solve it. The fact is I’m working in Blender and I haven’t found a similar option in Blender. If there isn’t an option for this in Blender, I could do my idea which is written above. If there is an option, I would like to know this. I never used alt + D. I even didn’t know to option at all. If you guys know an option to get all the instancing things out of my .blend… I would like to know that too. I unparanted everything but that doesn’t seems too work either. So actually, I need help! :slight_smile:

Regards,
FerrariDamn

If you only used Shift-/Alt-D to duplicate your geometry in Blender, you don’t need to convert anything to editable polygons, as everything already is “real”, editable geometry…

Somehow I don’t get your problem: What happens if you actually import the mesh from Blender into that game engine? Did you even try?

Oke,

In Blender, the file needs to get exported as an .IGS file. That’s no problem, there’s an addon for and it has Always worked fine. So I export it and put it in the blueprint editor of the game. However, when I export the blueprint, the error comes up and says “Instancing not supported”:


After trying a lot myself I went on a forum which is specialised in this game. In the only reply I got they said: The problem is in the .IGS file. Wether I’m working with 3D Max, I have to select the objects en choose the option “Convert to poly”. Here’s a quote:

"Hello, The problem is in the IGS file, if you are working in 3D Max you surely made a clone of some object and a “instance” mode was choosen instead of a copy mode. Just right click on every object and choose the option “Convert to poly”. Export again and try to export in the blueprint editor.

Always when you clone a object, you must choose the copy option in the dialog box."

Now is my question, is that option - or a similar option - in Blender too?

Regards,
FerrariDamn