Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 22.1.
FBX Export options in Maya 2011.Choose the Autodesk Media & En-
tertainment import or export preset to set options suited for most game pipelines. The
rollouts found in the File Type Specific Options area of the Maya Export dialog can be
expanded to expose the individual preset options for further customization.
The software component that handles the export is called an exporter; exporters
are often implemented as a plugin to the 3D application. The FBX exporters
for Autodesk products are general purpose, and feature GUIs that give the user
considerable control over what gets exported and how conversions are performed
(see
Figure22.1
)
.
Similarly, a game development tool uses an importer to read FBX files. A
full-functioned importer also lets the user control what gets imported. Since FBX
technology supports COLLADA and other non-FBX file formats, an importer built
on FBX technology can import COLLADA files as well as FBX files.
22.2.1 Pipeline Architectures
A simple game development pipeline looks something like this:
DCC
→
FBX exporter
→
FBX file
→
FBX importer
→
Game engine.
