SpriteWorks 2.1 Released
Share SpriteWorks 2.1 is now available for Windows 7 and Vista. This release includes a number of significant improvements, including better support for COLLADA 3D models, compatibility with the Window 7 and Vista security model, support for long path names to 3D source models, faster image processing, and improved blur images effects. These improvements make SpriteWorks even easier to use to create high quality 2D static and animated sprite sheets from 3D source models. An additional SpriteWorks release for Mac OS X is near completion and will enable iPhone game developers to create sprite...
read moreSpriteWorks2 Beta Now Available
Featured in Michael Snow’s book, “Game Programming with Silverlight” and Blog, SpriteWorks is an fast and easy solution for creating animated sprite sheets for 2D games from existing 3D models. SpriteWorks was created last year, based on the XNA graphics framework. As such, it required VisualStudio 2008 and the XNA Framework to be installed as well. But no longer. SpriteWorks2 is a complete overhaul from the ground up. It’s foundation has shifted from XNA to T3D and comes with a new look and a lot of great improvements. But the process of taking 3D models and generating...
read moreNew Game Ideas
The game industry is really becoming a bit stale with re-hashes of the same old game ideas. Sure, there are some amazing new graphics, great looking characters, and flashy visual effects. But, for the most part, games mechanics and themes are mostly the same. This is becuase professional game development has become more like feature film production. Spending upwards of 15 million dollars in a AAA game is common and even expected. Game studios spend millions on a title and need to have confidence that they will earn that much back. The end result: designing and producing games that must appeal...
read moreNew Website for EnvyGames
The EnvyGames has been long due for a Website facelift. So this weekend, it finally received one. Welcome to the new EnvyGames website with a new focus on sharing information relating to game programming and showcasing our game and tools projects. Here, you’ll find articles relating to game programming for Xbox 360 using XNA and the Torque X Game Engine. Developer blogs that the share the progress of our game and tools projects. Purchase links to own your own copy of our games and tools. In the coming days, new features will be added to this website, including a discussion forum to post...
read moreConvert 3D Models to 2D Sprites
SpriteWorks is a flexible application that takes 3D models in .X, .FBX, .XSI, and of course .DTS and turns them into 2D sprite textures. This can be used to produce very realistic sprites from well lit and normal mapped 3D models. You can also select any animation sequence attached to a DTS shape to create an animated sprite sheet. SpriteWorks is based on XNA and, of course a running instance of the Torque X Engine. However, the images that are produced are translucent .png files that will work with any 2D graphics engine, including Torque X 2D and TGB. The sample sprite sheet here is a...
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