Importing Hat Kid into Maya?

[StellaSymphony]

In my rigging class, my teacher wants us to download an existing rig to look at and experiment with. I'd really like to use Hat Kid for this since I really like A Hat in Time, but I've never done this before so I'm not really sure on where or how to get her model and rig. I did find this but I'm not sure on how to bring Hat Kid into Maya.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1508886779
Can anyone help me figure this out? Sorry in advance if the answer is obvious but I haven't done this before.

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

Exporting from Editor
First you would have to enter the Hat in Time editor. Within there you can find Hat Kid's model. Her full model is HatKidGreg, a Skeletal Mesh found in the Content Browser. From there, you drag it into the viewport, and select it. While you have it selected, you go to File > Export > Selected Only. Save as whatever you want to call it, preferably .fbx, and save. From there you can import it into whatever modeling software you use, in this case Maya, by importing it in as an .fbx or whatever file type you choose. You should be able to see the model and its rigging in action, and I believe that this export will have her idle animation.

Alternatively, I have provided a download for said file here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y8LQ2DOlQqwG6nk5Iji1SPNJ5Zi5x-TS

Just keep fair use rules in mind and don't try to make anything monetary off of it, although that shouldn't be an issue if you're just using it for experimenting with rigs as an example.

[StellaSymphony]

Originally posted by TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee:

Exporting from Editor
First you would have to enter the Hat in Time editor. Within there you can find Hat Kid's model. Her full model is HatKidGreg, a Skeletal Mesh found in the Content Browser. From there, you drag it into the viewport, and select it. While you have it selected, you go to File > Export > Selected Only. Save as whatever you want to call it, preferably .fbx, and save. From there you can import it into whatever modeling software you use, in this case Maya, by importing it in as an .fbx or whatever file type you choose. You should be able to see the model and its rigging in action, and I believe that this export will have her idle animation.

Alternatively, I have provided a download for said file here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y8LQ2DOlQqwG6nk5Iji1SPNJ5Zi5x-TS

Just keep fair use rules in mind and don't try to make anything monetary off of it, although that shouldn't be an issue if you're just using it for experimenting with rigs as an example.

Thank you so much for the info and the file! Although, I'll still go through the steps you listed so that I can practice this. I'm hoping to get into modding at some point so this is really good to know. Thanks!

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

If you do choose to look into modding, there are a few guides on Steam that would help you get started with level creation and inform you on how to create certain functions such as ziplines and the other quirks exclusive to hat. I don't think there's much coverage on asset replacement, which would be the primary use of rigging other than custom NPCs and such, but there are many people in the community that would be willing to help you should you go down that path. Best luck to you.

[StellaSymphony]

Originally posted by TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee:

If you do choose to look into modding, there are a few guides on Steam that would help you get started with level creation and inform you on how to create certain functions such as ziplines and the other quirks exclusive to hat. I don't think there's much coverage on asset replacement, which would be the primary use of rigging other than custom NPCs and such, but there are many people in the community that would be willing to help you should you go down that path. Best luck to you.:necroheart:

Thanks a ton! 8^)

[StellaSymphony]

@TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee : So the rig fully works! However, the textures are missing. Is there a separate place that I'll need to get the textures? Or are those not usable in Maya anyway?

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

The textures would have to be exported in a different way using a seperate program. I believe a program called UModel can export textures from the game files, however I have not tried to do so or have knowledge on how this can be done or what limitations may apply to it. You can ask other modders on the Official Hat in Time Discord server in the modding channels and I'm sure there are several people there who would be more qualified and willing to help you.

Best luck to you in your prospects

[StellaSymphony]

Originally posted by TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee:

The textures would have to be exported in a different way using a seperate program. I believe a program called UModel can export textures from the game files, however I have not tried to do so or have knowledge on how this can be done or what limitations may apply to it. You can ask other modders on the Official Hat in Time Discord server in the modding channels and I'm sure there are several people there who would be more qualified and willing to help you.

Best luck to you in your prospects :necroheart:

Ah ok. Thanks!

[robehickman]

I'm unsure that this is the full rig originally used to animate the character, it may be an 'export' version. I say that as the rig is all forward kinematic, while legs are often rigged inverse kinematic, and arms often have the ability to switch. This is so that it is easy to move the characters body, while leaving the feet in place for instance.

Note that I may not be seeing the whole rig as blender may be unable to import some things. I have no idea what was originally used to create this. In blender, IK is set up using constraints on bones, other programs may do this differently. Also I haven't done anything serious with computer graphics for about 10 years.

[Rusoski]

Hi there, In the Hat In Time editor there is no option to export models :(

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

You actually can! You need to toggle off simplified mode, place the model into the editor (perferably at 0 0 0 in the world, or else it'll be offset in Maya/Blender), go under file, and click on export! Simplified mode toggle can be found under the Preferences tab at the top-left of the editor.

[Rusoski]

solved the problem, people from the Discord server helped me :D

[AsianGirlLover]

Thanks for making this thread, OP. Lots of useful info here for anyone looking into modding

[seltzerr]

Can i even import Hat Kid's model to Blender?

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

You indeed can. You can export the model from the editor as an FBX file and then import it into blender. You can either export her skeletal mesh by placing it in the level, setting its location to 0 0 0 in the mesh's properties, selecting it, and then clicking File > Export.

[TheGreatAndPowerfulWeegee]

You can find the mod editor tools under the Tools tab in steam, located when you hover over the Library tab.