Creating a New Custom Car

This section steps you through the process of using Kinetix 3D Studio MAX Version 2.5 create a new custom vehicle for use in Midtown Madness. Before starting this process, make sure that you have already installed the Midtown Madness Vehicle Creation Kit (VCK), and that the required software and hardware are installed on your system based on the requirements listed in the Introduction section of this document.

In following the steps listed below, you will create files in the shop directory ( \vck\shop ) that define a custom vehicle, the Red Rocket. The purpose of these steps is to demonstrate the process by which a car model moves through the asset pipeline. After completing the steps and becoming familiar with the process, you can use the Red Rocket's vehicle and dashboard models as a template for creating your own custom vehicles. The gold directory ( \vck\gold ) contains the finished version of the files for the Red Rocket. After you complete the steps listed below, the files in the gold folder should be identical to the files in the shop folder.

  1. Build your car model in 3D Studio MAX 2.5
  2. Copy your textures and export your model
  3. Verify your textures
  4. Review the model
  5. Build a custom car dash
  6. Update texture worksheets
  7. Create palettized textures (optional step for software rendering)
  8. Build an archive file
  9. Tune your custom car's performance characteristics
  10. Customize your car name in the Vehicles List