Animating Weapons for Counter-Strike Source/Applications Used

Applications

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All of the applications are free except for Counter-Strike: Source. Let's take a look at the applications that you will be using:

Application Use Comes with Source SDK
Steam platform required for Source SDK to function  
Counter-Strike: Source testing the actual look of your model in the game yes
Source SDK provides a source of tools for compiling models  
Cannonfodder's mdl decompiler decompiles original models as a guideline to compiling a new model yes
studiomdl compiling models yes
HLMV (Half Life Model Viewer) preview compiled models yes
vtex Convert TGA textures to VTF textures yes
IrfanView converting the textures to BMP format no
GCFScape extracting the original files out of the game no
SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® 6 Mod Tool (with ValveSource addon) animating the model and exporting it no
XSI Mod Tool 6 Update updating XSI Mod Tool to a more stable version no
Crosswalk merging XSI Mod Tool 6 scenes no
SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® 4.2 Mod Tool (with ValveSource addon) rigging the model and merging it no
Text editor editing the QC file no

Why do you need 2 XSI Mod Tools?

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You need two XSI Mod Tools because XSI Mod Tool 6 is not fully functional for our purposes. Mod Tool 6 cannot merge scenes or import smds properly. Here is a feature comparison of the two Mod Tools.

Feature XSI Mod Tool 6 XSI Mod Tool 4.2
import smds with proper skeletons No Yes
export smds with proper skeletons Yes yes, sometimes doesn't work
Merge Scenes yes yes (easier)
open Mod Tool 4.2 scenes yes yes
open Mod Tool 6 scenes yes no
registration required to save and export scenes no yes

Click here to register XSI Mod Tool 4.2.

Animating Weapons for Counter-Strike Source
Questions Applications Used Setting up the Source SDK