Thank you very much Seth for releasing the original RTSoft Dink models from 1996-1997. To get them to work one will need the original versions of 3D Studio Max for Windows 95/NT4. These should work well enough on a Windows 2000 VirtualBox VM, or in Windows 7 with WineVDM. They may open in later revisions of Max, however, there are a few plugins necessary for proper appearance that only work in these earlier releases. There is also the caveat of plug-ins only being available for R2 and later meaning you'll potentially need R2 and R3 installed too for optimal results.

For Max R1, there is a minor upgrade path to 1.2. Install 1.0, then patch with 1.1 before 1.2. Do be aware that if you're attempting this on recent Windows that you'll need DOSBox to run the patch.

Helpful URLs:

• https://archive.org/details/3dsoftcoll7cd
• https://archive.org/details/3dsmax-1
• http://max3dstuff.com/
• http://www.oocities.org/vienna/3147/maisplug.htm
• https://archive.org/details/win2ksp5
• https://archive.org/details/3dstudiomaxcharstudio7z
• https://archive.org/details/3d-studio-max-2.5-dc
• https://archive.org/details/3dsmax2.5
• https://archive.org/details/3D_Studio_Max_3.1_Discreet_Autodesk_Inc._12806-016806-0101
• https://archive.org/details/inside3dstudioma00elli
• https://archive.org/details/inside3dstudioma0000unse_j5l5
• https://archive.org/details/inside-3-d-studio-max-volume-3-cd

Various tidbits of early MAX releases are available in various GOLD UTILS CD-ROMS also available on archive.org.

Plugins in use are as follows, and there may be more:

• SMATTE.DLT - Peter Watje's Shadow Matte. Only exists for original Max. Found in the plugin pack on archive.org
• INTSPL.DLT - Peter Watje's Interpolate Spline. The original version for Max is missing. His site is still on the web and therefore could probably be begged for. Works in later releases of Max such as R2 and R3. The sign in particular looks mushy without this.
• Character Studio 1.0 (BIPED, PHYSIQUE etc) - Exists for later versions of Max too. Used heavily for the various animations.
• FFDMOD - Freeform Deformation plugin. It appears to be included in the 7 CD thingo above for original Max, as well as the CD for "Inside 3D Studio Max" which Justin may have used at the time.
• LenzFx - Used for some particle effects. In plugins collection above
• APE - All-Purpose Emitter by Sisyphus Software - Used for some particle effects such as the potion bottles and water fountain. Also in plugins collection for original Max.
• COMBUST - used for the fireplace. Available in the plugin pack as a self-extracting exe.

Do note that the bookcases and beds, along with potentially a few others will not open in these early Max versions. They will, however, open up in much newer and modern releases of the program made in the last ten years.