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For the conversion process, we need the following tools:

• 3D software (Blender/3ds Max/Maya)
  
• NIF Scope download[sourceforge.net]
  
• FO3 Archive Utility download[www.nexusmods.com]
  
  WARNING! If the link does not automatically download the files, try copying the link and pasting it into your browser.

All resource files of the game are located in the «Data» folder. All of them are packed in a special archive with *.bsa extension. In particular, we are interested in the following archives:

Fallout - Meshes.bsa - all models
Fallout - Textures.bsa - all textures

So let's get started, the game was developed by Bethesda Softworks. These are the people who worked on Morrowind and Oblivion, and for these games tools were developed long ago. And since the engine in Fallout 3 and Oblivion is the same, though slightly modified, the appearance of tools for Fallout was a matter of time. Now there is already G.E.C.K., but it is needed to change the game and modify it and we, unfortunately, will not help us in extracting 3D models from the game.

However, it has some useful features that may be useful for finding the right characters or other models, because as is customary in games 3D models are composite.

3D models need to extract from the archive Fallout - Meshes.bsa.

To do this, use the FO3 Archive Utility



To open an archive, click File > Open Archive. Then select the desired archive.

After downloading, which happens like this:



Click Action > Extract All or Extract Selected Files and select the path to extract the files.

After the extraction in the folder where you specified to extract files will appear folders - meshes and trees. All 3D models are stored in the meshes folder.

Now we need the NIF Scope.

Install it:



Now we have a tool to convert 3D models Fallout 3 from the format of the game *.nif to the format *.obj understandable by most programs for 3D modeling (Blender/3ds Max/Maya).

Next, run the previously installed NIF Scope. First of all, we need to show the program the resources of the game, in order for it to correctly load textures and “dress” them on the game models.

To do this, click File > Resource Files > Add and specify *.bsa archive files.

Now everything is ready to load the 3D model, to do this, click the Load button on the toolbar or File > Load... and select the file with the extension *.nif in the meshes folder, in which we recently unpacked all the models of the game.

The model is loaded correctly:



To convert it, click File > Export > Export .OBJ. And choose a place to save the file.

Tip: for convenience, I advise you to save all converted files with the same name (if you opened the file 10mmsubmachinegun.nif save it with the name 10mmsubmachinegun.obj). Also keep the converted files in the folder with the original file.

Open any software in which you work with 3D and import model:



Assign the textures we exported earlier and get the finished result:

In the end, we learned how to work with Fallout 3 game archives and export 3D models!

Thank you all for your attention and feel free to ask questions in the comments if you have any difficulties!

Maybe one time this guide will be updated later and I will complete the Ultimate Guide to modding in Fallout 3.

I remind you that all rights to the models belong to the authors of the game Mafia II and the paid distribution of these models will have unpleasant consequences.