For casual 3D modelers, Google SketchUp is a good alternative to more complicated and robust software such as Blender and Maya.
For developers who prefer to get decent looking models up and spend their time writing code, then SketchUp could be used to assist in visualizing their concept.
You can use the free version of Google SketchUp to export to the Microsoft DirectX .X format by using a custom built plug-in. I’ll describe the steps below, but if you are just looking for the plug-in then it can be found at:
The script was created by r1kdou (of XNA forums). You can view his original post here.
Installation & Setup
First, install Google SketchUp, install the above plug-in (just copy it to the <Google SketchUp install directory>/plugins folder).
Finding & Loading the Model
Next create your own or find a model via Google SketchUp warehouse. There’s tons of free models built by users and you’ve bound to find at least one or two you can use.
Here’s a good looking model that I’ll be using:
Export To DirectX
Next, export the model to .X format by choosing the “Export DirectX” menu choice in the “Plugins” menu.
Loading the Model into your XNA Game
Finally, copy the .x file to your “Content” folder, and include it in your project using the default “X File – XNA Framework” content importer and “Model – XNA Processor” content processor.
Don’t forget to include any texture files that the model requires. If you don’t know which textures are in use, you can open the .X file using Notepad and see the TextureFilename values (listed at the top of the .X file).
Place the textures in the same directory as the .X file, but you don’t need to add the texture images to your XNA project. Also, make sure your image dimensions are all resized to a power of 2 (2, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, etc.).
You will get a compile error if you are missing texture files or an image size is not a power of 2.
Viewing the Model in your XNA Game
Assuming, you have your camera and basic game already coded, you can now just load the model using the ContentManager.Load<Model>(“modelName”) function.
Here’s a screen capture of the above model loaded into my current game framework. You may recognize the terrain and skydome from the XNA Generated Geometry sample.
You can also use Google SketchUp for designing entire levels. I’m unsure of the speed involved in loading a level of that size, but hopefully (one day), I’ll test that out when my game makes a little more progress.
[...] Direct Link to the Post. March 08 2008 Mykre No comments Filed under: XNA, DirectX, Art and Design [...]
Can u have a download of the XNA software? Thanks:D And Net.Framework 2.0!
You can download all of the requirements at http://creators.xna.com .
Thank’s but I have trouble downloading visual game studio 2005 that’s required.
You should post your problem details over at the XNA forums ( http://forums.xna.com ). The Microsoft staff and MVPs can help troubleshoot your downloading issues.
Here is another free exporter plugin for SketchUp supporting XNA’s .x file format:
http://www.3drad.com/Google-SketchUp-To-DirectX-XNA-Exporter-Plug-in.htm
i think i really need it to practise for my competition
Thanks for this awsome converter. Life saver! Working fine on XNA 3.0
This is really cool. I’ve toyed around with Sketchup, and I’ve wondered if some of the models could be exported to other programs like this. Thanks for the info.
Hi can someone help me with this question,is it easy to use xna if you have no experiance with writing code? i have made great models using sketchup for a game that i always wanted to make
I would say that it is as easy to use as any other programming library. First, you have to know how to program and understand that. Then you can start learning how to use the items within the XNA libraries. It all just depends on how much time you want to invest in learning how to program and how to use the XNA libraries. Just remember, there’s no drag and drop for programming. It’s just a whole lot of text/code and structuring it so that it works correctly.
If you’d rather stick to modeling and graphics, then there’s tons of programmers over in the XNA forums that can’t build a good looking model to save their lives. You can always team up with a programmer who can’t model and then you can stick to doing what you’re good at and let your partner stick to what they are good at.
sketchup is on mac os x, but this isn’t? too bad its made by microsoft. can you tell me a program that lets you put sketchup models in to games on a mac os x??
Good luck finding a program that allows you to write code or import your own models into an existing game on a Mac :) I don’t know if they exist or Apple allows developers to modify software unless you are a licensed Apple developer.
XNA is a library designed and distributed by Microsoft, so developers (and hobby devs like me) can build games for the XBOX. Microsoft makes the XBOX and .NET frameworks along with Visual Studio. You can download everything for free (the IDE and the XNA libaries), you just need a PC and/or XBOX to play the games you build.
There isn’t any games that allow you to import directly from Sketchup. That’s why I wrote this article. You are exporting the model from Sketchup format into another format. Then you are loading that other format into XNA.
I’m sure you can find/write another script that exports from Sketchup into another format that is more compatible for your needs.
Does this plugin also allow to export the animations made in Sketchup?
I don’t think the plug-in supports animations.
Well this certainly helps putting Google Sketch on par for me!
[...] http://jamesewelch.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/how-to-load-a-google-sketchup-model-into-a-xna-game/ [...]
Thanks! This makes things much easier.
How do I resize a sketchup file? I have a gun model that’s as big as my tank model.
You should look at the SketchUp documentation. You could also just resize it by setting the model scale in your Visual Studio content project’s item properties.