Assets and Models

[rickytickitembo]

Is there someway/somewhere to download the assets, models, sprites, etc. for AOE3?

[Gendarme]

You already have them, no? How else does your client know what to render?

[milku3459]

Is there someway/somewhere to download the assets, models, sprites, etc. for AOE3?

buy the game on steam and install it on your computer
You could look in the game files...though I'm not sure exactly what place they store it and what kind of application you'd need to open them

[edeholland]

I would like to summon @tilanus and @musketeer925 for this one.

[musketeer925]

Yeah, as others have said, they're already on your PC if you have the game installed. However, they're not exactly in common formats, so you need some tools to be able to convert them to something useful.

First, locate your game's installation file. It's in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\Age of Empires 3\bin\ if you installed via Steam, or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\ if you used a CD.

Then you'll need AoE3Ed:
http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... 23622,0,10

Most of what you're looking for is in the "art" subfolder. The .bar files within are special archive files like a .zip or .rar file that AoE3 can read. AoE3Ed contains a bar viewer/extractor, so you can extract individual files.

The five art[number].bar files generally (although there are exceptions where things seem to be "misplaced") contain the following:

art1.bar - Unit and building models, and .XML animation definition files
art2.bar - Textures
art3.bar - Terrain textures, UI stuff
art4.bar - The Warchiefs content
art5.bar - The Asian Dynasties content


Once extracted, textures are a .ddt file and models are a .gr2. The file converter that comes with AoE3Ed can convert .ddt files to .tga files, which is a format that can be read natively by GIMP and Photoshop. GR2 files are a little more complicated. There's a program called "Granny Viewer" floating around that can be used to open most models to look at them, but it doesn't do any conversion or editing. Further, not all models work since the game uses a "custom" version of the .GR2 format, so standard granny format viewers can't handle every game model.

Modders have developed methods for importing the .gr2 files into the modelling program 3DSMax:
http://aoe3.heavengames.com/downloads/s ... ileid=3789

I also think there are some tutorials on modelling for AoE3 floating around, but I'm afraid much knowledge has been lost by forum closings and moves.

[rickytickitembo]

Yea, I just assumed they were encrypted so it would be tough to simply open them up. Thanks! Will look into this.

Yeah, as others have said, they're already on your PC if you have the game installed. However, they're not exactly in common formats, so you need some tools to be able to convert them to something useful.

First, locate your game's installation file. It's in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\Age of Empires 3\bin\ if you installed via Steam, or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\ if you used a CD.

Then you'll need AoE3Ed:
http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/for ... 23622,0,10

Most of what you're looking for is in the "art" subfolder. The .bar files within are special archive files like a .zip or .rar file that AoE3 can read. AoE3Ed contains a bar viewer/extractor, so you can extract individual files.

The five art[number].bar files generally (although there are exceptions where things seem to be "misplaced") contain the following:

art1.bar - Unit and building models, and .XML animation definition files
art2.bar - Textures
art3.bar - Terrain textures, UI stuff
art4.bar - The Warchiefs content
art5.bar - The Asian Dynasties content


Once extracted, textures are a .ddt file and models are a .gr2. The file converter that comes with AoE3Ed can convert .ddt files to .tga files, which is a format that can be read natively by GIMP and Photoshop. GR2 files are a little more complicated. There's a program called "Granny Viewer" floating around that can be used to open most models to look at them, but it doesn't do any conversion or editing. Further, not all models work since the game uses a "custom" version of the .GR2 format, so standard granny format viewers can't handle every game model.

Modders have developed methods for importing the .gr2 files into the modelling program 3DSMax:
http://aoe3.heavengames.com/downloads/s ... ileid=3789

I also think there are some tutorials on modelling for AoE3 floating around, but I'm afraid much knowledge has been lost by forum closings and moves.