Awesome 3d Game Development: No Programming Required (Charles River Media Game Development)

Before we can begin using MilkShape, we first need to install it.

On the CD It’s located on the CD-ROM for this book in the Applications\MS3D155 zip file. Otherwise, you can download the most up-to-date version from http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/.

Once you have acquired the software, the next step is to run the setup.exe file. It will begin the installation process where you will be presented with a screen that looks similar to Figure 14.1.

Figure 14.1: The installation program begins with this screen.

Click the Next button to continue the installation. From the next window, which appears in Figure 14.2, you should enter an installation directory or use the default value of C:\Program Files\MilkShape 3D 1.5.5.

Figure 14.2: You should set the appropriate installation directory for MilkShape.

You need to click the Start button from a window that looks similar to Figure 14.3 to copy the files to the hard drive.

Figure 14.3: Clicking Start copies files to the hard drive.

The last step in the process is to click the Exit button in the window, which is displayed in Figure 14.4.

Figure 14.4: This is the final step in the installation process.

Once you have finished the installation, you can run MilkShape by clicking the shortcut that was created in the installation. When you open MilkShape for the first time, a window will open that is similar to Figure 14.5. This window will be displayed only when it is executed the first time and is very important. As you will notice, it displays your current system date and time.

Figure 14.5: Make sure the system date and time are accurate before you click Yes.

You need to make sure the information is accurate because MilkShape allows you to use its software for only 30 days without registering it. If the information is incorrect, you need to correct it before you click Yes. Otherwise, if you attempt to correct it at a later time, the software will not function unless you register it. You should take the 30 days to try MilkShape, and if you like it, you should consider registering it. It’s currently only $20, a small price for a modeler with so many features.

Once you have determined the date is correct, you can click the Yes button, which will display the standard MilkShape interface that appears in Figure 14.6.

Figure 14.6: The standard MilkShape 3D interface.