pgw00k/import_valkyria

Blender import script for Valkyria Chronicles 3D model files

import_valkyria: A Blender Add-on for Valkyria Chronicles models

import_valkyria is a Blender 2.74+ add-on for importing MLX, HMD, ABR, and MXE models from Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles 4. The model files used by the PlayStation 3 and PC versions of Valkyria Chronicles are the same, so both releases are supported.

To use import_valkyria, you have to install it (once) and activate it (each time you start Blender, or in your startup file).

Installing and activating

To install, open Blender's User Preferences panel, click the Add-ons tab, click the Install Add-on from File... button, select import_valkyria-X.X.zip, and click Install.

To activate, open Blender's User Preferences panel, click the Add-ons tab, find "Import-Export: Valkyria Chronicles (.MLX, .HMD, .ABR, .MXE)", and click its checkbox.

If you want import_valkyria to activate automatically when you start Blender, open the File menu and choose Save Startup File.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 models use a relatively new variation of the DDS texture format, known as BC7. Not all of the textures are BC7, but many of them are, and Blender does not support BC7. Therefore, if you want to import Valkyria Chronicles 4 models with textures included, you will need to install an image converter so that import_valkyria can use it. See the wiki for more information.

Importing Models

Once import_valkyria is installed and activated, you can import a model by clicking File, Import, Valkyria Chronicles (.MLX, .HMD, .ABR, .MXE), or by pressing space, typing valk, and choosing it from the list.

Finding Models

If you have the Steam version of Valkyria Chronicles, you can open model files directly from the subfolders of its data folder. One example is valcA02aD_h.mlx, which is in the data\resource\mx folder.

If you have the Playstation 3 version of Valkyria Chronicles, you have to split up DATA.CVM to get usable models files. Use chrrox's quickbms script, which you can download here:

http://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?p=76717#p76717

The Steam version of Valkyria Chronicles 4 simlarly stores its model files in a large CPK file. You can use a CPK extractor such as YACpkTool to access the model files. Warning: The 23-gigabyte BASE.CPK file contains roughly 35,000 files that will occupy 47 GB after being uncompressed.

Known Issues

Bones are a little bit weird because this was the best way I could think of to get bones to correspond to the right vertex groups. Also, armature relationships that exist in some models (such as between the body armature and the head armature) are not supported.

Poses are disabled for now because I never finished this feature, but I wanted to release a new version anyway.

Materials aren't fully supported. import_valkyria is sometimes unable to tell if a texture should be transparent, or if it should be used as a normal map.

Please report any problems you find with specific models.

Changelog

2019-04-20: Version 0.8

• Added support for Valkyria Chronicles 4 model files.
• When opening .HMD files, look for textures in .HTX file of the same name.
• Set default colorspace to sRGB to fix dark textures.
• Merged #2 from angavrilov.
  • Fix bad object positioning in environment maps and some characters.
  • Support opening DLC files in the PC version.
  • Use the custom normal layer introduced in 2.74 to save game normals.

2018-09-16: Version 0.7

• Added support for the Steam version's directory structure.
• Added preliminary support for armature poses/animations. (Temporarily disabled.)
• Uploaded to github and added README.

2013-05-25: Version 0.6

• Added preliminary support for ABR models.
• Added preliminary support for MXE models.
• Added support for double textures. Normal map support is now broken.

2013-05-11: Version 0.5

• Renamed from hmdl_import to import_valkyria.
• Heavily refactored for encapsulation and extensibility.
• Handles bones differently, allowing fingertip articulation.
• Supports shape keys for facial expressions, etc.

2013-04-26: Version 0.4

• Preview release. Poorly coded and poorly documented.
• First release that works in Blender 2.63+
• Has preliminary support for bones.
• Has better support for materials, including normal maps and transparency.