This is not a bug report but I thought this might be best place to make such request.
I think all modders will agree with this request.
Please give us the vanilla DayZ models unbinarized when we unpack the pbos with the DayZ tools and allow us to reuse them in our mods fully or partially.
Why would this be a good thing for modders of DayZ?
- Modders can do comparisons for importing new items. E.g. I want to see the size of the vanilla Carp to adjust the size of a custom imported fish.
- Modders can see where they place the proxies instead of having to meddle with those triangles.
- Modders can learn from vanilla models about good practices and what we should be using when making models.
- Modders can upscale some models for their projects.
- Modders can use parts of the models to create new ones. E.g. Make new variants of the base building like smaller doors.
- Modders can use them in other programs like substance painter to make accurate retextures.
Why would this be bad for DayZ?
I believe some people think that having access to unbinarized vanilla models will cause DayZ models to leak into other games mods, 3D models websites etc. While this could be true, there's nothing stopping them from doing that now as well if they really wanted to. Someone that has that kind of intention won't be stopped by some binarization. I'm pretty sure you as the devs know about these tools.
So while the binarization may be an extra protection measure, at the moment it's not helping anyone. It is actually just hurting modders that want to create authentic looking models for DayZ.
How will this affect the models imported by modders and the models using vanilla parts?
This is a complex topic indeed. Some might say: If we get rights to use the vanilla models, why shouldn't we use same licensing? e.g. If I make a model, someone else can use it for their mod in a derivative way.
I wouldn't be happy to pay even £10 for a model and someone else to just take it of course. So we can open a discussion on this to find the best solution.
I would personally prefer if all models by modders are still protected from reupload or derivatives. This would be safest and easiest solution.
A middle ground it would be so models containing vanilla parts, would be considered derivatives and should be allowed to be used by other modders as derivatives. But no one can take a model that was rightfully purchased under no redistribution licensing. This would be more "fair" solution but will be extremely hard to police, in my opinion.
I've been modding this game for so many years now. We have tried many times to find workarounds to make similar looking models like commissioning someone to make it match the texture but this is extremely costly and time consuming. This also only works for point 5 from above. All the other points still don't have great solutions.
I do beg the DayZ dev team to listen to our request. This will enrich the DayZ mods in many many ways.
