🔒 Locked

Looking For good 3D Program

Started by braves Mar 19, 2000 at 6:17 PM 26 replies 1.4k views

Original Post

Mar 19, 2000 at 6:17 PM

Does anyone here know of a good program to make 3D Objects? I am making my first 3D demo and never made a 3D object, so looking for something very user friendly and for beginners. Something also that is freeware or shareware with a free 30 day trail, so I can see if I like it. Everyone keeps talking about 3D Studio Max, but not sure if that has a 30 trail version? Thank you very much for everyone''s help. Braves

Spiff

Mar 20, 2000 at 12:40 AM

3D Studio Max is really good, but advanced and (for us mortals) really expensive.

You should try getting Truespace, Cinema4D or something like that. I think Truespace can be found at http://www.fxrealm.com.

There's another one called Milkshape 3D at http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/, it looks really neat.

============================
Daniel Netz, Sentinel Design
"I'm not stupid, I'm from Sweden" - Unknown

Edited by - Spiff on 3/20/00 2:44:50 AM

Fredric

Mar 20, 2000 at 6:25 AM

I suggest buying 3d Studio Max... it''s an awesome program- really powerful, and in fact- it''s used in a LOT of commercial games today! If you can''t afford to buy it, then you can *cough*PIRATE*cough* do a carwash to raise the money!

Programming::~Fredric(const Annoy_Ance)

Spiff

Mar 20, 2000 at 6:35 AM

But for someone that has "never made a 3D object", 3DSMAX is quite hard to learn. The shareware 3D programs don't perform anyway near 3DSMAX (R3) quality, but they're much more user-friendly (or so I've heard).

But if you're looking for really good applications, try Maya, it's even more used in games (not to mention movies) than 3DSMAX, but it is hard to learn and "you've gotta be kidding me"-expensive.

I take that about Milkshape 3D back, I think it's an advanced Quake/Unreal/Halflife modeler, don't think it's a 3D modelling application as 3DSMAX.

============================
Daniel Netz, Sentinel Design
"I'm not stupid, I'm from Sweden" - Unknown

Edited by - Spiff on 3/20/00 6:36:10 AM

DaBit

Mar 20, 2000 at 10:27 AM

There are a few programs I can think of:

- ppModeler (Pretty Poly modeler, see www.flipcode.com for an URL. New versions are announced over there). It is free, but in beta stage.

- Blender (www.blender.nl). Takes some time to get used to (weird interface), but it works pretty well. As long as you don''t care about some special features (you won''t), it is free.

- To mention it again: TrueSpace. I never worked with it, but it seems to be one of the most easy to use programs available.

But 3dsmax is also not too hard to start with, and I am sure you can get a pirated copy somewhere. This program is just unaffordable for people who don''t earn money for their work with 3dsmax. (it comes at a price of ca. $5000)

DaBit.

voodoo

Mar 20, 2000 at 11:00 AM

Doods, there''s a student version of 3ds max, witch is only 100$ or so. The only thing you can''t do with it is production work.

Bberet

Mar 21, 2000 at 8:55 AM

Whoever says MAX is not user-friendly shouldn''t think about making computer games. Sorry for that, but I started right away with MAX and got used to it in just a few days. And I am NOT the most intelligent guy on earth.
braves, just try out MAX if you know someone who owns it and see if I''m right.

Spiff

Mar 21, 2000 at 9:01 AM

3DSMAX is quite user friendly once you learn it, but I was comparing it to the "non-high end" 3D programs. Everything''s relative, right?

One more thought: "Whoever says MAX is not user-friendly shouldn''t think about making computer games" - uhm...I don''t really see your point here. What''s your definition of "making computer games"? Geez...

============================
Daniel Netz, Sentinel Design
"I'm not stupid, I'm from Sweden" - Unknown

NewDeal

Mar 21, 2000 at 3:29 PM

Truespace is very cool, and its only about $400 (i think). There''s a fully functional demo for d/l at their website.
check it out

acw83

Mar 21, 2000 at 7:57 PM

You guys are forgetting Milkshape 3D, it is free (nag screen) and great to create low poly count objects. It can export to any popular file format. Go to www.swissquake.com and look for a link to Milkshape 3D. Also, most objects and characters in game mods (Counter-Strike for example.) use Milkshape 3D.

luther2k

Mar 22, 2000 at 6:26 AM

If you're willing to wait just a little while then you might find what you're looking for in the shape of the latest release of my 3d modelling program. I hope to release a beta version for windows very soon.
Check this site for details:
[url]http://members.aol.com/luther2000/clay.htm[/url]

Tim.

Edited by - luther2k on 3/22/00 10:46:08 PM

ZoomBoy

Mar 22, 2000 at 7:54 AM

1) Look around for TrueSpace
There''s actually a British magazine called Computer Arts
In their latest edition(?) February they have a TrueSpace 3D Special Edition(doesn''t do advanced stuff)
I picked up a Copy of the Magazine and I know where I can pick up 5 more copies of it.

Check out 3D Cafe for some good 3D stuff including Tutorials and Models here

ZoomBoy
A 2D RPG with skills, weapons, and adventure.
See my character editor, Tile editor and diary at
Check out my web-site

Bberet

Apr 7, 2000 at 3:19 AM

Well spiff, what I wanted to express is that a person who makes computer games is always a special person in some way. We think in another way than people who just use computers for surfing, or even never used one. Therefore, a quite easy to learn program (IMO) such as MAX should be no real problem for someone who writes games and WANTS to learn 3D-design.

The price of the package is another problem of course :-)

Spiff

Apr 7, 2000 at 7:04 AM

Sorry braves, if I''m picking on you now, but this is just to prove my point.

Bberet: braves said "I am making my first 3D demo and never made a 3D object" - does that sound like he''s an experienced 3d modeler? Also, the way you said it, you said people that found 3DSMAX hard to get into were no good game developers. How many professional game developers are both programmers and artists? Does that make me a worse programmer/game developer? Do tell.

============================
Daniel Netz, Sentinel Design
"I'm not stupid, I'm from Sweden" - Unknown

Bully

Apr 7, 2000 at 7:17 AM

Actually Truespace 1.0 has been released for free download.
Get it here http://www.pcplus.co.uk/article.asp?ID=8556

So now you don''t have to pirate

-David

Paul JG

Apr 7, 2000 at 9:26 AM

it sounds like you want a 3d poly editor rather than a 3d modelling program. Try RHINO, I think you can find it at www.rhino3d.com - its for creating objects that can be used in modelling programs or saved in a format that programmers like yourself can load in. 30 day shareware jobbie though.

braves

Author

braves

Apr 7, 2000 at 3:34 PM

Paul JG: What''s the difference between poly editor andt a 3d modelling program? Also, what do you mean it lets you create objects that can be used in modeling programs? Also, when you say programmers like me, do you mean new programmers?

ECKILLER

Apr 8, 2000 at 10:56 AM

Where can i get the student version of max? Also does maya have a student version?

Thanks

ECKILLER

Paul JG

Apr 8, 2000 at 12:52 PM

Ok, it really is only for designing shapes that you want to load into a scene editor such as 3d Studio Max - you don`t have to, it contains everything you need to create realistic raytracing. BUT - it will also save the shape as a format that a programmer can use. I save my objects in RAW triangle format - every triangle is saved in an x,y,z format. Just use a basic file loading routine to load in enough x,y & z co-ords as there as triangles in your shape.
Displaying them is a different matter - but its not hard if you stored the co-ords in arrays.

Bberet

Apr 10, 2000 at 8:32 AM

Spiff, it''s me again.

My point is that you don''t have to be a good modeller to learn MAX. The question is how fast one can get used to a program, and IMO MAX is very good for first steps on 3D-design. Start by creating some primitives, provide some textures, and wait with the harder stuff until you have some experience.
No, not every programmer is an artist/designer too, but like I wrote if you really WANT to do something 3D, MAX isn''t hard to learn.
Ok, I have to admit that I did not use a lot of other 3D packages, but taken the ones I tried MAX was the easiest to learn.

bberet

Topic Locked

This topic has been locked by a moderator. New replies are not allowed.