Animating Weapons for Counter-Strike Source/Applications Used

Applications

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?

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.