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Update October 21: Please note that the animation converter this tutorial dedicated to, is outdated. Now there is a better tool for exporting the animations. More details can be found here:
http://modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=428
Sim's Body Animation Converter Tutorial
About the converter:
Miche's Sim's body animation converter is a tool that was first released back in summer
2005 on Modthesims2(link). It enables the importation of animations created in 3D program into
Sims 2 game. it converts Half-Life SMD animation files into .anim
format which is used by Sims 2. The tool wasn't finished, as
the creator is no longer working on it, so don't expect
it to function 100% perfectly.
This tutorial gives instructions on how to import an animation
created in Milkshape 3D into the Sims 2 game. But it doesn't give explanations about the animation
creation process itself.
Here is a basic tutorial on how to create a simple animation using Milkshape:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~abyrne/Models/model9/tutorials_tut09.htm
First, you will need to download a few things:.
1. It's the converter tool, obviously.
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=83003
[Zip archive will contain the animation converter application and its files
and simbody.smd file, which is a model of sim body, the one you will be
editing in 3D program.]
2. Miche's mirror with 'animate' option.
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=81786
[There will be 2 package files in testsim-animation.zip archive:
1. mirror.package - the mirror object itself
2. testanim.package - it's the file that contains the animation
resource. later you will edit the file and replace the existing
animation in it with your new one.]
Additional software that you will need:
3. Some 3D program. Converter should work without problems with
Milkshape and Fragmotion.
Writing this tutorial I used Milkshape 3D. Here's a link to 30 day trial download:
http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ms3d/download.html
4. SimPE - to import the newly created animation into object.
http://www.sims.ambertation.de
Now follow these instructions:
1. Unzip the converter files into a separate folder
2. Unzip the contents of testsim-animation.zip into your 'Downloads' folder.
3. Launch Milkshape
4. Go to 'File -> Import -> Half-Life SMD'. Now find simbody.smd file that went together with converter.
5. When SMD import window comes up just click 'OK'
6. This is what you are supposed to see next:
If you see a really weird mess of random lines, try changing the joint sizes.
Go to File-> Preferences -> Misc -> Joint size [enter sth from 0.006 to 0.01]
7. Next press Anim button on the bottom right part of the screen
8. Now this is very important. You need to set the first frame as a
keyframe. You should leave the body the way it is, with arms stretched.
Go to Animate -> Set Keyframe
Then you move the slider to the 2nd frame and start creating your
animation from there. You may now set the bones in any position you want.
9. Now start creating your animation as usual. Just one thing.. you have to remember that there is a limit of 60 frames.
If you are new to Milkshape, check out this tutorial, it should provide you with all needed basic knowledge on
how to create animations.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~abyrne/Models/model9/tutorials_tut09.htm
10. Once you've finished go to 'File-> Export -> Half-life SMD'... then
save it as a Sequence file. You may name it whatever you like.
11. Now go to your animation converter folder and launch animconverter.exe
This is what it looks like:
Time: 1000=1sec. So if you want the animation to last 5 seconds then you
change it to 5000.
Internal name: you can name it whatever you like* but for what we are
going to be doing I say just keep it the same.
* - the name must have the same amount of letters as the original
name (25)
12. Now press convert button and find the smd file that you've just created.
13. Now if everything went right you'll see a new file with the .anim
extension appear in the converter folder.
14. Ok, now open SimPE.
15. Open testanim.package file in your Downloads folder
16. Rightclick on Animation resource -> choose Replace
17. Now find your yourname.smd.anim file
18. If Resource changed dialog window comes up, choose yes.
Press Commit
and Save the package.
19. Done!
The problem with the thing you just did is that your animation will replace one with sims
taking out trash. So you might want to disable the testanim package is you want the game to function correctly.
20. Now launch the Sims 2 game. When you choose Animate option in the
mirror you sim will perform animation you've just created...
Can I create a facial animation?
No. Facial animations are a separate thing, they are not supported.
Can I make an animation only for a certain part of body (overlay)?
No. Converter supports only animations of the whole body
What's the.. now my animation plays whenever my sim takes out trash!
You will need to give an animation its own unique name if you want
the game function correctly. The mirror is set up to perform trashbag-carry animation so that's why I told
you to keep it the same.
How do I put a Sim on the ground? Even if I move the model down in Milkshape,
he still hangs up in the air in the game.
Actually, I don't know a solution to this problem myself. I'd really
appreciate it if you let me know about it if you happen to know how to fix that.
When I press 'convert', choose my file, I get an error message.
This might deal with your default Windows regional settings.
Go to
Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options
Press Customize. Make sure you've got dot - "." set as a Decimal symbol
I've got some trouble with the converter, something doesn't work, gets messed up etc.
Please don't email me with tech questions. Go to official thread for help instead. There are 1000ds things that can
go wrong and I have enough problems with it myself. If you were confused
by some instructions in this tutorial, it's ok you may drop me a line.
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