Files on Xbox360

I'm in the process of writing my master thesis about hybrid shadow casting methods using the Xbox360. I have a few questions I would love to have clearified.

- Say I wanted to use a .3DS file to represent my scene and models. Are there a way to get this file to the xbox360 without using the content pipeline since it doesn't support this format. I know this might be a simple problem, but I just can't seam to figure out how to do it. I know that Abi's RocketCommander uses some custom .level files which is just placed and copied directly. Would this work for .3DS files as well

- In case it does, how would I access it Normal file IO

This whole reason for using the .3DS file format is the fact that it incapsules geometry, cameras, light settings etc. in one file which eases the test scenarioes for me quiet a bit.

I hope someone will take the time to help me out a bit. It would be most appreciated.

Regards

Since Autodesk aquired Alias it now owns FBX.

The newest FBX plug-in for MAX is working reliably fer me ( Animation, lights, materials, meshes and more.. in Maya import/export to MAX )

As Microsoft has partnered with Autodesk on the FBX intergration, I imagine if not yet, then hopefully soon for full scene pipeline import

Have you downloaded FBX yet

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index siteID=123112&id=6839916

Yes I do indeed plan on using the Threesixbox 3DS importer. Problem is that it doesn't use the content pipeline which you need when running on the xbox (as far as I'm aware. Please enlighten me if not).

I did indeed look at the FBX format which I have used for several other projects in the past. But as you said yourself I don't think GS supports full scene loads yet.

The way I was planning to go around it was to keep the 3DS files intact (as they are now) and load it using the BinaryReader as you do now. I see no reason to precompile them into the binary XNA format (I'm not particulary interested in fast load times since it doesn't benefit my project in any way atm).

I'll be sure to drop you a mail when I get it working (should be sometime next week). The only thing, I see, that prevents it from running as it is on the Xbox is the dynamically compiled shaders which should be easily removed. But then again we will see :)

Ok I'll be sure to try that out. But doesn't compiling them prior to running the program make them static compiled :)

Just to make sure I completly understand what you're suggesting:

1. Compile the shaders by running the program on a windows machine while parsing the Xbox360 parameter.

2. Copy the precompiled shaders to the xbox360 output directory

3. Deploy on the xbox