I asked a friend of mine named McBong 3D (name not related to drugs) if I could convert his mods that were originally meant for the GTA series and other games to Drive. There are a few things that I would like to know: has it been done, is it legal (they're all created by him), and would it work? UPDATE: I have found out how to open the files with Blender (had to convert the files by importing them into Zmodeler2, then exporting them as .3ds files.) Now, if someone could help me out with the jbeam, then I can get the Matador (the truck) into the game.
If the original owner of the designs and models is giving you permission and you are capable of creating your own n/bs, I don't see the issue. Its only an issue if it's someone else's code or model (like BMW, Audi, Gavril, EA) without permission. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
I agree, as long as the original creator gave you permission to use in anyway then by all means...get them in here asap!
As the other two have said, if you have permission then you can do as you wish. (Some proof of said permission, like a screenshot of an E-Mail or a Skype message now may help your case down the road if for whatever reason this falls under review, though. ) The only models AFAIK that aren't allowed, permission or otherwise, are ones housed on the Sketchup Warehouse because Google puts their own stupid copyright on it or some other lame thing like that.
I said "permission or otherwise." Implying that if you were to somehow obtain written permission from a game developer (and the publisher, if one is involved), then you could. Sketchup warehouse models are the only ones not allowed even if you have the permission of the author, AFAIK The only problem is getting the permission to import models from another game. Good luck, have fun. This is why we treat models from GTA/Forza/Burnout/Racing game here as stolen unless sufficient proof can be supplied otherwise.
I chatted with McBong some time ago, I was going to port his Volvo 945 in RoR, he was so nice he sent me the source unlocked files too. So yeah, he is the kind of guy that grants permission to his models, go ahead with them
We handle things differently over here: copyright owners can simply file a takedown request instead of disallowing things in the first place.
I suppose it doesn't mean you can take models that comes from other commercial game and it's good etiquette to ask the original author permission first
So am going overboard by saying that Sketchup models can be used? Or was that just for videogame models...
Wait, does he mean conversions like 09Challengers work? Also, if we get permission, can we use someone else's n/b? I am a modder, I know conversions, I learnt it at school. So if I get permission, can I convert a car from GTA, get permission for an n/b and release it?
I can do this because the mods are not made or licensed by Rockstar Games, they were created by a modder named Chong McBong. You can do conversions of other game mods UNLESS the creator or creators tell you otherwise. I am not stealing credit, this is still his mod, I just got permission to convert it, and so far so good (I'm just inexperienced with getting the model coded correctly to get it in game.)
No, no, no. What Tdev said, you can do it, but if the author finds out and doesn't agree, it will be taken down. SO It's always better to get a permission from the original author (I'd be pissed if somebody took my E36 and made a GTA mod out of it without asking me, seriously). Using models from other (commercial) games (ex. Forza, Driver, etc.) is a No No. Using other people N/B should be fine, as far you ask them first, and make your own edits (so it doesn't act 100% as the original, no?) As I said above, I had the opportunity to chat with Chong some time ago, it's a "Go On" if he said you ok to convert the models.
Actually, it's fairly hard, I have to redo many thing just to get it compatible with Drive. As for the satisfaction, if I created my own, I'd only get the appreciation of those who use it, but if I convert, I help others who plan on converting by finding out how to get them correctly fitted for the game, and don't forget the people who download it and the creators. Chong McBong is thrilled that I am converting his models.