Twisted D.I.R.T. Archive

Tool documentation

Practical guides for preserved track-making and game-modification tools.

Unibastard

Download: Unibastard.zip
Game: Motocross Madness 2
Purpose: Export a model from 3ds Max 3.1 to Rainbow's text-based .slt model format.

Install

  1. Copy UniBastard.dlu to the 3DSMax3_1\Plugins directory.
  2. Copy MSVCRTD.DLL to the period Windows system directory if it is missing.
  3. Restart Max. Open the plug-in from the Utility panel.

The archive also contains a ready-to-export Max scene, an exported SLT, a model texture, and editor artwork. They are useful references when diagnosing a new model.

Prepare the model

  • Keep the model economical. The supplied guidance recommends generally staying below 250 polygons; many stock vehicles were around 150.
  • Use one texture and material ID 1 on every face. Apply a Material modifier if needed.
  • Use a square, power-of-two texture: 32, 64, 128, or 256 pixels per side.
  • Save the texture as a 24-bit TGA and use the smallest practical size. A texture atlas is preferable when several small objects will be used together.
  • Put the object at (0,0,0). In the Max top view its front should point toward the top of the view—down the model's Y axis according to the original instructions.
  • Apply Reset XForm, then collapse the modifier stack before export.

Export and use in Armadillo

  1. Open Max's Utility panel and run Unibastard.
  2. Select Export SLT and save the model.
  3. Copy the .slt and its .tga to TrackEditor\UserModels.
  4. Optionally make a 133×103, 24-bit TGA preview named <model>_art.tga.
  5. Find the model in Armadillo's Custom object group.
  6. Once placement is finished, process its textures with MakeCMP before bundling the track.

Transparency and ColorKey

The readme says to use “pure purple” but prints RGB 255,255,0, which is yellow. The included sample should be treated as authoritative when verifying the actual keyed pixels; the prose and numeric value contradict one another. Common MCM2 practice used a magenta/pink key, but do not silently substitute a value without inspecting the sample texture.

For keyed transparency, add this directly below TextureMap in [Material - 0]:

[Material - 0]
TextureMap=IronMountainSign.tga
ColorKey=48,48,48

ColorKey is not the transparent color. It is the replacement edge color used when MCM2 builds lower mip levels. Choose a color close to the opaque pixels surrounding the transparent area; green foliage might use ColorKey=0,128,0.

Troubleshooting

  • Wrong orientation in Dillo Too usually means the model axes were wrong before export.
  • A missing model normally indicates the SLT or referenced TGA is not in UserModels.
  • A crash or malformed result after importing through another modeller can come from material IDs, transforms, or unsupported geometry. Return to the supplied Max sample and change one element at a time.

Sources

  • Packaged ReadMe.txt and sample files in Unibastard.zip.
  • Unibastard Help.
  • Related packaging workflow: MakeCMP.