We are a group of people working with the engine Gizmo3D. We need an editor that can be customized to generate a file format that fits the features in the Gizmo3D API. Are there any people out there that have added animations, skinning, fx etc to any commersial or non commersial editor to build models, maps and worlds with ? Are there any good existing file formats that contains geometry, animation info, skinning, particle fx etc...

Check out MilkShape 3D : http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ms3d/

Um, sure you could use that for modelling, but it would be too hard. I know SEVERAL people who use ANIM8OR to model and then Milkshape to export to different file formats. Anim8or is FREE at www.anim8or.com and the maker of it is more dedicated to it than the maker of milkshape is too.

You could also write a standalone app that imports Anim8or files and exports it to the Gizmo engine. Does the Gizmo file format support weighted vertices? because that how Anim8or handles animations. Also, I hear that in the next version or 2, anim8or will have IK.

MAYBE you could also do this: Write an exporter that exports all anim8or data except vertex assignments to milkshape and just assign vertices to bones in milkshape if the gizmo format doesnt support weighted vertices.

Good answer !!

Our idea is to add Skeleton animation and skinning that fits the various formats. Gizmo3D uses a hierarchical approach and it seemes today very easy to add hierarchical skeletons ( as well as support fo IK). The best situation is to find a complete and well behaved format with support in a good modelling tool ,to use as standard. The Gizmo3D format will eventuall be the complete format for Gizmo3D but it is always good to use a standard as the "first shot"...

Good answer to my answer! ;-)

Anim8or is an excellent modeller that is great for games. It has bones hierarcy and like I said, it will have IK support in the future release. (actually, IK is already in Anim8or, except its disabled to use because Steve, the maker of Anim8or, does think its ready for primetime yet, but some IK is still hardcoded into the program) The file format is an easy one, because its ascii. loading the files would be pretty easy if you are a serious programmer. Download Anim8or at www.anim8or.com and if you dont like it, then delete it! its only 1 exe file that only half a meg zipped.