Blender Underground

@NinjaKrowe: No worries at all, thanks for getting back to me on this one. In the time since my original message I've gotten more of the tools under my belt and seem to have worked out most of the kinks. A lot of it's with the UDK engine and how it was handling the imports. Seems to be smooth sailing now though with the latest update.

Thanks again!

yeah UDK just keeps getting better and better with ever monthly release huh... if you ask me... It's stomping the crap out of unity and then some...

A little Update... UDK's FBX Import Feature is a lot more stable now (But still far from perfect) and is usable. However be very careful of how you use it.

There are a few import setting that can cause a lot of havoc with your game package organization.

Basically it like this, You do not have to have all your verts merged together when building you models. You model could be made up of a lot of smaller separate parts all combined into on single object. then Saved as a FBX file via Blender Export.

When it come time to import there is a few options that ask you how to handle this items or set of items. While the desired object may be a single object and intended to be a single object, it will then go down into the Object it self and start also saving out the little part that aren't connected as their own separate objects. making a mess of your import with many little segments of that one whole object. Generally there will be a whole version somewhere in the package, but also all it's little parts too in separate files. in some cases this would be fine, but not in every case.

a word of advice would be to experiment with the settings and figure out how and what each setting does. after all you can't really brake anything by playing around with it. you may crash it but it's not broken.

Next, Be aware for you models. Blenders method of edge smoothing is different then most other programs. edge smoothing may brake if not done correctly or the proper setting not take into account when exporting or importing you models. Be aware of this and try to figure out your work flow before taking on any serious work with the UDK engine.

anyways... thanks again for all your awesome comments and Hope to have some more soon...

UDK UPDATE:

Grrrrrr...

FBX formatted files from blender do not have their smoothing recognized by UDK. Most programs uses 3DS max style surface smoothing, but blender does smoothing a bit ass backwards. and thus it's not recognized and not used.

The ASE plug-in for Blender however forces the models that is exported to have Max style smoothing. Avoid using the FBX export method is you want to keep things smooth.

I've been using it with my block out place holder models just to keep things simple while i build, however when i want to export a serious model, i either use maya or the ASE/PSA/PSK plug-ins found on the Katsbits web site i gave out in the tutorials.

Anyways have fun and happy blending...

Dude, you are awesome. That UV import was driving me nuts. I tried baking it, I tried building a node texture line with co-ords, I tried hitting it with a hammer.

You saved what is left of my hair.

Kudos.

lol

You are most welcome...

*cough* 2.5 tutorial *cough*