Capture in-game models using OGLE

Raph Koster points us to a useful piece of kit: OGLE, the OpenGL Extractor, is a tool for extracting 3D models from OpenGL applications. By sitting between the application and the OpenGL library, OGLE can effectively take 3D screenshots–and the possibilities for gaming are immense.

The examples given by OGLE's developers include transforming a World of Warcraft avatar into a real statuette using a 3D printer, and importing Google Earth's 3D data into Maya for further editing. The Google data could be used to make a realistic world model for a game set in modern times; transferring character models between games could give rise to some fantastic FPS
mods and some imaginative machinima.

Copyright issues may lead to the software being restricted, but for now: let the hacking commence.