Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3-9.
Sample COLLADA file. The format allows figuring out most things just by reading it
For example, the XNA content pipeline supports only FBX files and the outdated X file format. If you still want
to import COLLADA files, there are several libraries and samples available. One of the authors, Benjamin Nitschke,
wrote a comprehensive article in early 2007 on how to import “Skeletal Bone Animations and use Skinning with
COLLADA Models in XNA.”
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COLLADA files still work great, and when you don't want to include shader parameters from 3ds Max or Maya,
which are always tricky, you need specific COLLADA plug-ins, but those are no longer supported in the latest Max or
Maya versions. Static geometry can easily be handled with COLLADA, and all animation data works great out of the
box. In addition, you can extend the format to include your own XML nodes anywhere in the XML tree.
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exDream. “Skeletal Bone Animation and Skinning with Collada Models in XNA.”
http://exdream.com/Blog/post/2007/02/25/
