MD2 to TGZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Quake II Model and Gzipped TAR (TGZ) 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. Convert TGZ exactly like TAR.GZ — unpack, repack or inspect.
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 TGZ
- 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 TGZ container — no re-encoding, no quality change.
- 3
Download results
Download the finished TGZ 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 TGZ 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 TGZ?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Fixed 8-bit texture skin TGZ works differently: Universally understood on Unix-like systems If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this MD2 to TGZ 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.
Will my TGZ model keep its colors and textures?
Only if TGZ 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.
How large can the MD2 file be?
Everything runs on your device, so memory is the only ceiling. Dense meshes with millions of triangles convert fine on a desktop computer, just over a slightly longer coffee break.