MD2 to TAR.GZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Quake II Model and Gzipped TAR Archive exist for different jobs: MD2 is the Quake II model format — a single vertex-animated mesh with keyframed frames baked in. Thousands of classic game models exist in it. TAR.GZ is what open-source projects and Linux servers expect to receive.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How to convert MD2 to TAR.GZ
- 1
Select your files
Select your MD2 file — it never leaves your device.
- 2
Convert instantly
The engine packs the file, byte for byte, into a TAR.GZ container — no re-encoding, no quality change.
- 3
Download results
Download the finished TAR.GZ archive.
About the MD2 format
MD2 is Quake II's model format: one mesh whose frames are baked vertex-by-vertex into the file — the original "vertex animation" that predates skeletal rigging. Every enemy, weapon and pickup in Quake II (1997) is an MD2, and the format became the de-facto standard for early modding.
three.js parses MD2 including its frame data, so a converted glTF carries the animation frames as morph targets — the retro look arrives intact in modern engines.
+Strengths
- ✓Huge library of classic models
- ✓Frame data survives as morph targets
- ✓Simple binary layout
!Limitations
- −Fixed 8-bit texture skin
- −Small vertex budgets by modern standards
- −No materials beyond one skin
About the TAR.GZ format
TAR.GZ is the classic Unix distribution shape: a TAR bundle squeezed through gzip (DEFLATE-based). Every Linux package of source code, every Apache tarball, every data-science dataset arrives this way. Decompression is a pipeline — untar the gzip stream — and the format is understood everywhere Unix ideas went.
gzip compresses the whole archive as one stream, which keeps ratio decent for text-heavy trees but means reaching file #400 requires decompressing the previous 399. Modern alternatives (zstd) are faster at similar ratios, yet tar.gz remains the safest common denominator.
+Strengths
- ✓Universally understood on Unix-like systems
- ✓Good ratio for text and source trees
- ✓Preserves Unix permissions via TAR
!Limitations
- −Single stream — no random access
- −Slower than modern zstd
- −Two-step format (tar + gzip)
Why convert MD2 to TAR.GZ?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of TAR.GZ meet what MD2 cannot give you. Universally understood on Unix-like systems Meanwhile Fixed 8-bit texture skin One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this MD2 to TAR.GZ converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will my model look the same as a GLB?
Geometry, hierarchy and standard materials convert faithfully. Note that Draco-compressed GLB files and exotic extensions are not supported — export those as plain GLB from your original tool first.
Does the scale or orientation of the model change?
Vertex data is converted as-is. Formats without a unit system (like STL) are interpreted as millimeters by most 3D-printing tools — scale before converting if your model uses different units.
Will my TAR.GZ model keep its colors and textures?
Only if TAR.GZ can store them. Geometry converts faithfully; appearance data survives only when the target format has a place to put it. For full materials, GLB is usually the right target.