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Biped Crowds 1177
into the Shared Motion Flow dialog, described
later in this procedure.
Note: If a motion flow script already exists for a
biped, for example after you’ve solved a crowd
simulation, the software can use the first clip in
the script for subsequent solutions.
9. In the Motion Flow rollout, click the Save
File button, and save the graph in the MFE
format.
The next step in using bipeds in a crowd
simulation is to create the simulation.
To set up the crowd simulation:
1.
Reset 3ds Max.
2. Set up a crowd simula tion with any number
of delegates, using behaviors appropriate to
thecrowdsceneyouwanttocreate. Donot
use bipeds at first; work with delegates only to
rough out the motion of the crowd members.
Tip: When first starting out with motion
sy nthesis, use smaller crowds of eight or so
delegates.
3. Solve the simulation and adjust the settings as
necessary to obtain the desired motion.
4. Merge bipeds and characters into the scene, and
associate each delegate with a different biped
using the delegate’s Motion Parameters rollout
(page 2–1183) >Bipedgroupsettings.
Youmustselectthebiped’scenterofmass
(COM) object (t ypically named Bip0#), as
indicated by the mouse cursor turning into a
crosshairs icon when it’s over the COM in the
active viewport.
5. Turn on Use Biped for each delegate.
Tip: To link up any number of delegates
withbipeds,allatthesametime,selectthe
Crowd helper object and click the Setup rollout
> Biped/Delegate Associations button (page
2–1199).Usethedialogtoconnectthepairs
andturnonUseBipedforeachdelegate. See
Linking Ob jects to D elegates (page 2–1169) .
6. Set the biped/delegates to use a random
startclipasthefirstclip. Youcansetthis
simultaneously for multiple delegates with the
Edit Multiple Delegates dialog (page 2–1197).
To apply the shared motion flow:
Next, you use the Shared Motion Flow function to
apply the saved motion flow graph to the bipeds.
1. Select any biped and open t he Motion panel.
2. Click the Biped rollout > Motion
Flow Mode button.
3. Click the Motion Flow rollout > Shared
Motion Flow button.
4. In the Shared Motion Flow dialog, click the
New button.
This creates a new shared motion flow and
assigns it a default name. You can change the
name if you like.
Next, load a motion flow file.
5. Click the Parameters group > Load .mfe button,
and use the Open dialog to load a motion flow
file. Typically, this would be the one you saved
earlier in the procedure.
Next, specif y the bipeds that will share this
motion flow.
6. In the Parameters group, click the Add button,
and u se the S elect dialog to specify the bipeds
that will share the mot ion flow.
Foryourconvenience,theSelectdialogshows
only center of mass objects for the bipeds in
the scene.
After you click the Select button, the bipeds
appear in the dialog, in the list under "Bipeds
Sharing this Motion Flow."