Graphics and Model Formats

Graphics formats handle textures, 3D models, animations, and visual effects.

Supported Formats

BLP Format

Blizzard Picture - Texture format with advanced compression.

DXT1/3/5 compression
Uncompressed RGBA
Built-in mipmaps
Alpha channel support

M2 Format

Model Version 2 - Animated 3D models for characters, creatures, and objects.

Skeletal animation
Particle effects
Ribbon emitters
Billboard attachments
Multiple texture units

M2 Sub-formats

.anim - External animation sequences
.skin - Mesh and LOD data
.phys - Physics simulation data

WMO Format

World Map Object - Large static structures like buildings and dungeons.

Portal-based rendering
Multiple groups (rooms)
Lightmaps and vertex colors
Collision geometry
Liquid volumes

Model Pipeline

graph LR
    M2[M2 Model] --> Skin[.skin file]
    M2 --> Anim[.anim files]
    M2 --> Phys[.phys file]
    Skin --> Render[Renderer]
    Anim --> Render
    BLP[BLP Textures] --> Render

Common Patterns

Loading a Character Model

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
use wow_m2::{parse_m2, parse_skin};
use wow_blp::parser::load_blp;

// Load base model
let data = std::fs::read("Character/Human/Male/HumanMale.m2")?;
let format = parse_m2(&mut std::io::Cursor::new(data))?;
let model = format.model();

// Load skin (mesh data)
let skin_data = std::fs::read("Character/Human/Male/HumanMale00.skin")?;
let skin = parse_skin(&mut std::io::Cursor::new(skin_data))?;

// Load textures
let texture = load_blp("Character/Human/Male/HumanMaleSkin00.blp")?;
}

Loading a Building

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
use wow_wmo::api::parse_wmo;

// Load root WMO
let data = std::fs::read("World/wmo/Azeroth/Buildings/Stormwind/Stormwind.wmo")?;
let wmo = parse_wmo(&mut std::io::Cursor::new(data))?;
}

Texture Management

Texture Types

Diffuse: Base color texture
Normal: Bump mapping
Specular: Shininess map
Environment: Reflection mapping
Glow: Self-illumination

Loading Textures

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
use wow_blp::parser::load_blp;
use wow_blp::convert::blp_to_image;

let blp = load_blp("Textures/Armor/Leather_A_01.blp")?;

// Convert to standard image format
let image = blp_to_image(&blp, 0)?; // Mipmap level 0
image.save("output.png")?;
}

Performance Tips

Texture Atlasing: Combine small textures
LOD System: Use lower detail models at distance
Instancing: Batch render identical models
Culling: Skip hidden WMO groups
Animation Caching: Pre-calculate bone matrices

warcraft-rs