Stealth22

Good, so we're all in agreement then. By the way, on a somewhat related note, I have a couple questions for modellers: - What is exactly going on with the locking ability? Does Oleg plan to add a feature to Zmodeler at all? Or are there any other efforts underway for this? - Does anyone have anything they could share in regards to the progress on their models? - If Zmodeler is not going to have any sort of locking feature, and there's no alternative, are most modellers prepared to release vehicles unlocked?

Remember that calling Ped.Dismiss() sets IsPersistent to false, so the ped could be cleaned up by GTA V at any time. Telling them to wander is fine, but sometimes they tend to take out their cell phone and start talking on it. Once they do that, they become more difficult to interact with and seem to ignore commands, at least in my experience.

I've tried to stay out of this as much as I could. But I really don't get why there are arguments going back and forth here. I really could not care less if a model was locked or not, really. I mean, seriously, who cares?! It doesn't make any difference to a consumer whether a vehicle is locked or not. I agree (to an extent) that it can restrict new modellers from having a high quality model to learn from. But I really don't get the "Us VS Them" mentality here. We're supposed to be one community, not one small "elite" group, and then "everyone else". I don't mind if a modeller wants to protect his work. In fact, being a script developer, I completely understand it. I don't necessarily agree that ripping a model from another game makes it "yours", but, I digress. The thing that I have a problem with is when a modeller releases a WIP gallery image, and then says "Oh by the way, this model is never going to be released." Well then, why in the hell did you even tell us about it? To inflate your ego? If you're waiting on a so-called "locking" feature, well...its not against the rules to release said screenshot (as opposed to posting a picture of something that you have no intention of ever releasing), but why not wait, then? If I was a 3D modeller, and I had vehicles in the works, but I wanted to lock them, personally, I would keep quiet on the matter. It just avoids the confrontations altogether. No one knows you have anything in progress, and then when a locking feature arrives, suddenly, you're a hero because you just released 3 different vehicles. I have not kept myself updated on the whole "lock feature" situation. But even if Oleg implements some sort of feature in Zmodeler that prevents re-importing a model, I hope that all modellers know that it would not be a 100% guarantee. People have been getting past licensing/activation locks in software for years, including software by Microsoft and Adobe. So your little Zmodeler lock...don't expect it to stop everyone, is all I am saying. Like, if a YFT filter for say, 3DS MAX or whatever comes along...it may or may not look for Zmodeler's lock flag, right? But all that aside, if you want to lock your models, sure, be my guest. But there are just two things that I have a problem with. Firstly, what if this "lock" feature never comes? Hypothetically, if there is absolutely no way to lock your models, are you just never going to release them? Because that would definitely "deprive" the community, as others have been talking about. And secondly...if you're going to lock models, that shouldn't mean that new modellers should never get to use your work in some fashion. Personally, I think that releasing a locked model and denying permission to use it when anyone asks, is wrong. If you've got custom parts on there, I can understand the desire to have it locked. But when someone asks you, "Can I use your vehicle as a starting point to work with?" and offers to credit you, don't say no. Maybe give them an unlocked version of the car with no lightbar or other police parts on it? I am not saying that there should be a "rule" that "veteran modellers have to help out new modellers", but we should avoid having an "elite" group of modellers that have access to all the good vehicle models. I am just a "script dev" to most of you. But I do have some "modelling" experience, if you can call it that. I was one of those "glue and stick" guys who would ask an experienced modeller for permission to use their vehicle as a base, and then take a publicly available lightbar, create the dummies for the lights, and presto, I'd have my own "vehicle". For those who are old enough to remember Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (the old one, Need for Speed III, not the new one) and NFS High Stakes, remember CarCAD? Those were the days. I also used to play around a little with GTA:SA models, just for myself. I'd take an unlocked DFF, and see what I could change around with it. But I never actually released anything. So I do know, and can appreciate the effort it takes to model a vehicle. I'm not trying to take sides here, in fact, I'm trying to question the need to even take sides! Whether a vehicle is locked or not, doesn't really affect anyone much. But at the same time, modellers should still be willing to release some things unlocked, or at least, provide unlocked versions of higher quality models (with custom parts removed, if desired) when a new modeller asks permission to use a vehicle. The issue is not whether models should be locked or not. That should not be debated at all here. The real issue is, we need to avoid creating an "elite" group of people who have access to a greater selection of resources. I don't remember what the sites were called, but I remember back in the days of NFS High Stakes, I could go into the "Development Resources" section of the downloads area, and there were subsections in there. One for vehicle models, where you could find unlocked versions of CVPI's, Caprices and god knows what else. It may not have been the best CVPI model, but it was definitely decent. And if you wanted to use the best locked CVPI model out there made by "Bob Smith", you just ask Bob, and most of the time, he was more than willing to help! You could take a vehicle, then you could take a lightbar, then you could find rambars, laptops, prisoner cages, and all sorts of different parts. You take all those parts, you take CarCAD or Zmodeler, you put them together, and, presto, as a new modeler, you just made your first car! And for those modellers who scratch-make a lightbar, and don't want to (understandably so) release it unlocked to the public, maybe there should be a stickied thread in the Modding section. This thread would have links or screenshots of the various vehicle models, lightbars, and other parts out there that are available: This CVPI was made by Modder A, it is unlocked, and can be downloaded here. This CVPI was made by Modder B. It is locked, but he has indicated that anyone who wishes to use it can send him a PM. This lightbar was made by Modder C. It is locked, but he has indicated that anyone who wishes to use it can send him a PM. (and so on) THOSE are the days that I miss. Where anyone who wanted to learn how to put a vehicle together had unlimited resources to do so. TL;DR Modellers - Lock your stuff if you want, but remember it ain't always going to stop every ripper out there. Oh, and if you're never going to release something to the public, just never let us know it exists. And please, help out the new guys, will ya? If someone asks to use your locked model, don't just keep it to yourself. Consumers and new modellers - It won't make a difference whether a model is locked or not. It will still run in your game. And if you'd like to use a lightbar or a vehicle that is locked, just ask. Veteran modellers are people too. Why can't we be friends...

Thanks for the kind words! Yeah, I was trying to add as much variety as I could to that one. Not only for realism, but just so its not the same scenario each time. Often times, police officers get very little information (or none at all) about a call. Or worse yet, what they get from dispatch is completely different from what they see on arrival. That's not a knock on dispatchers, as they can only work with the limited information that they get. But its just the way things are. A lot of times, a caller simply dials 911, and hangs up. Dispatch calls back, and there's no answer. They have to respond quickly to those things, because no one knows if its a baby playing with the phone, or a home invasion in progress where the robber grabbed the phone from the victim's hand. The detective's vehicle is random, and he shows up in one of three possible vehicles: either the unmarked Stanier, unmarked Buffalo, or unmarked Granger. I realize that detectives usually have unmarked sedans, but I threw the Granger in there just because it was the only unmarked police vehicle left. As for the update, I think I might have jinxed it by announcing it. I've been spending most of the weekend battling a fever. I just got out of bed, medicated myself, and sat down with the laptop cause I can't sleep anymore. Don't think I'll be working on it today though...my brain is too fried to think right now.

There will be an update coming soon, most likely next week, barring any major issues. I can't commit to a day, but it could come as early as Monday or Tuesday. It will include a new callout, as well as a couple of new features. All depends on how much free time I'll have, and how well testing goes.

Just as an FYI, Jeff recorded is own voice and edited it to add a megaphone effect.

Audacity.

If someone would be so kind as to write a guide on that, I might buy Zmodeler 3 and try my hand at a vehicle.

The fact of the matter is, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way vehicle producers think. When you create/convert a vehicle (which, again, if you take from another game, does not belong to you to begin with), you do one of two things. Develop it for yourself, or your friends.If you go this route, don't let anyone else find out that the vehicle exists. That is how these pissing matches start.If no one knows it exists, there is no problem. Or, you release it to the public. And you can either allow or deny permission for others to modify it.But don't get mad when someone uses it without permission. If it is in the public domain, it is fair game, really.Its out in the public, and either people credit you, or they don't. If they don't, you can report them, but that is it.And that is how we do it. If we don't create unfavourable circumstances, the problems will cease to exist.

I can't comment on anyone else, but I do know of the CVPI model that Jeff, Buggs, and Polecat are testing. And that's just it...TESTING. As Jeff wrote in the very comment above, he was approached to test and showcase the vehicle while its still in development. If you watch his video, there are still indeed issues with it. (By the way @JFavignano, did you get the recall notice for that rear door? ) None of the vehicles are ever going to be released if they are not finished yet. Creating something, anything, whether its a script, texture, or a model, takes time. And each one has its own level of complexity. I would never release an update to one of my scripts if it was full of bugs. So would a modeler release a car that had a busted door, or blue emergency lights that flashed lime green? Of course not. These guys are working on these things to make sure they perform correctly for the rest of us. There's no point in releasing an Alpha CVPI when its just going to go through walls when you drive it. And these guys give these cars to people like Jeff and Buggs to show us the progress of the vehicles, and to get feedback from a group of people on how well they work. I don't condone some of the behavior that we are seeing out there...it's a little bit like being the only toddler in the sandbox with a toy dump truck. But, I digress. My point is, yes, there are some people out there who are not acting in the best interests of the community. But at the same time, disparaging the character of those who are showing us something that is coming out very soon (for all to have, I might add) is just uncalled for, in my opinion. My $0.02. EDIT: @Kilyin, I just re-read my post, and felt I needed to add that it was not targeted at you specifically. I've removed my quote of your post, as it was just meant as a general statement.

+1...I think I'll be making use of that!!

I know Jeff personally, and frankly, the disrespect for Jeff and the other Code Zero guys is uncalled for. They are beta testing the vehicle. These guys are not 3D modelers, and they did not create the vehicle for their own private use. Jeff posts here as @JFavignano, and to tell you the truth, these guys aren't the type to wave a virtual car in your face and sing "Look what I got!" I'm sorry if I sound rude, but Jeff and Buggs both have been testing beta versions of Code 3 Callouts for me. Does that mean that I created it only for their use? The vehicle you're seeing is simply in development, and is being beta tested by these guys. They're showing off a great mod that's coming our way. I really don't get the hate.

I believe that CVPI is still in beta, and it isn't complete yet.

I've never tried that before, unfortunately. Maybe @FinKone or @Straysify can chime in, since Police Radio and Bait Car both have some GUI elements to them.

The author has already denied two requests in the comments for people to use his model as a base for a police car. He did say he is doing one himself though.

This. I don't mean to be rude, but its better if you don't stand there and watch what the officers are doing. They don't know who you are, and if you're not related to the situation, you really have no business being there. It's just going to put the officer on edge, wondering if you're a friend of his suspect waiting to knife him in the back. Or worse, if the suspect gets loose, who do you think he's going to use as a hostage if he gets ahold of a weapon? I'll give you a hint...its not going to be the armed police officer. If you want to watch the police up close, go on a ride along. They'll make you fill out paperwork and sign a waiver, but you get to ride in the cruiser, and if the officer is nice, he may let you turn on the lights for him on a traffic stop. And when he responds to a call, you get to see everything.

Here's a video of a CVPI that's being worked on, credit to Chasez on the ZModeler forum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJY3-zxOL8U I'm in my 20's...but I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning.