[back]About KatsBits.com

What's KatsBits about?

KatsBits is all about content creation for games and interactive media, that includes 3D models and meshes, texture making and a host of other things related to conten creation. In essence, anything that would be regarded as 'low poly' is considered part of the remit of KatsBits, in other words, 'stuff' the site covers!.

What will you find here at KatsBits?

Primarily information, tutorials and hints and tips on making the above mentioned low poly content using 3D software, shifting away from the trandition 'level editor' and 'specialised' way of creating content to cover more topics on modelling content for games, in particular with the use of Blender 3D. Most of the resources available on the site are 'cross application compliant' in that the general principles can be used by any one regardless as to what 3D modelling application is being used to produce the actual content, tutorials and information cover 'principles' rather than 'specifics'.

What about 'level design? Is KatsBits still covering that?

Most certainly. yes. So if you're here to find information on level editing for idsoftware technolgy (now renamed 'idTech') then KatsBits is where you need to be to find the most comprehensive and enviable collection of tutorials on that subject.

Having said that though a lot of the information on the site is also useful for any game you can create new assets and custom content for; modders send reports of tutorials being useful for working with Half Life 2, Unreal Tournament 2004, BF42, and other media such as IMvu, Sims, MS flightsimulator amongst others.

As well as level design related subjects, you'll find a wealth of information about creating textures for games as well; tutorials on creating normal maps, terrain editing and more...

Who is KatsBits for?

Anyone, although the very nature of content creation means you'll obviously need to know a certain amount of background information and be at a certain skill level regarding the editing and creation creation process to understand and make use of some of the more complex and involved topics covered by tutorials and tips on the site.

Although the site doesn't specifically cater to 'noobs' in the sense that you won't find any answers or tutorials to commonly and readily available questions like 'making my first room' or 'how do I make a door', that shouldn't however, prevent those new to content creation (whether first time 'ever', or first time using id tech after using another) from reading through the information now for later 'oh I get it' digestion once you've got past the initial 'noob' stage of development.

What sort of tutorials can I find?

Tutorials generally cover creating new maps (level editing) and making models for those maps. Specific subjects on models, for example, cover preparation and exporting to various game formats. Level editing tutorials include subject such as setting up QeRadiant or GTKRadiant for use with a modification. You'll find the full list of available topics on the tutorials master list here.

Any other useful stuff?

Yes. Most notable are the hard to find import and export scripts most useful for modelling with Blender 3D.

Where can I get this stuff?

Just use the navigation menu on the left and look through the site. Don't forget there's also the forums available with bits of information pretinant to level editing and modelling.

Can I ask for help here?

Yes. Either post a message on the forums or use MSN, Yahoo, AIM or ICQ to get in contact. Keep in mind that if it's a common question that's been asked a number of times before or the answer is easy to find, you'll be directed to search google.com for information. In fact, it's recommended that you search google before contacting KatsBits, and/or have as much information to hand about your problem before doing so.

Behind the curtain

KatsBits as a web site has 'evolved' over the 5+ years it's been running. It wasn't set out to be anything more than a personal web site where gamers could download new maps, models and textures to either just play 'as is' or use in their own prejects.

There was no initial format but before long one was settled upon and has been the mainstay of each successive revision of the site. As you can imaging it's taken a lot of work and time because it's currently a 'one-man-show' and it's had to be done in between the 'day job'.

For the technogeek

Software used to create KatsBits:

• html : Dreamweaver v4
• javascript : Scriptsearch
• graphics : Coreldraw 9 graphics suite
• uploading : wsftp95 le
• browser testing : Netscape and Internet Explorer
• 3d and vrml : java md3 model viewer
• misc : winzip

Contacting me

If you want/need to contact me about anything send mail to the following address:-

• info@KatsBits.com