Introduction

What is this addon?

New and old Battlezone players and modders can all remember the time we done without or had to make do with something. Maybe it was because of a lack of tools, support, or maybe just super inefficient tools.

With Battlezone models much has been mysterious and confusing. More importantly, its hard to really know everything there is about Battlezone much less modeling itself. Custom Battlezone models required an immense amount of knowledge and just completely unreasonable workflows that could involve 2-3 programs along with a bunch of files you need other external programs to generate. With few alternatives and choices you might just assume this is the only way and it will be the only way for the foreseeable future.

Well lucky for you, this add-on is here to change that. In fact its not only here to add a new option for making models, it is here to change entirely how you make models for Battlezone and make your job a hell of a lot easier in the process!

MakeOBJ is obsolete and not required when using this add-on! No confusing .txt files or undocumented nonsense! Import/Export GEO/VDF/SDF files with all their information including animations!

Collisions are as simple as making two boxes or clicking a button for generating geometry collisions!

Plus many more useful features exist that make life easier.

SDF/VDF/GEO Files

There is a lot of reasons Battlezone 1 model formats are the way they are, especially in terms of complexity. Battlezone's game engine itself was derived from Interstate 76 which used damage levels on parts of the cars in game and more importantly level of detail to help keep the game running smoothly. While Battlezone don't have damage levels for parts of its vehicles and structures, it does however share the same concept and still uses level of detail!

Battlezone has three formats directly related to its models.

• SDF(Structure Definition File)
• VDF(Vehicle Definition File)
• GEO(Geometry)

We will talk about these file formats in Getting Started as it helps a little to know about them.

What do I need to have/know to begin?

• The correct version of Blender for the the add-on of your choosing.
• The add-on must be installed and activated.
• You should have knowledge of Blender or at least willingness to learn.
• If you have "done this before", you won't be doing it the same now at all. More importantly, you will not want to go back!
• Regular collision boxes are not supported at all in this version. Instead a easier way to create collisions exists that will be discussed in further sections. Again, you will not have reason to go back period, I can assure you that.
• You do not need a .txt file for SDF/VDF properties. Again, you won't be missing it either.
• SDF/VDF properties, animations, and GEO types are set inside Blender itself!
• You do not need any external programs or file formats for the creation of GEO, VDF, or SDF files including the old and confusing MakeObj program.
• The user interfaces inside Blender allow you to set a seperate texture per every material.
• You can't and should not mix the new and old workflows.
• Blender will be different for both better and worse if you used stuff like 3ds Max!

When reading this guide, is there anything I should know?

You might see a hint like this. These are useful generally speaking.

Hint: These might be useful to you or a good way to learn something.

You might see a warning like this. Should you see it in the manual, you should probably pay attention.

Warning: If you don't try to follow some advice, you will run into issues later.

I need support, nothing in this can help me!

If you really need the help, feel free to contact me. If I have some free time I'll try to help you.