3DMax VS Softimage

3D Studio Max is the industry standard for game programming. Max is extensible, with its Max Script which allows you to write your own exporter for any type of format you want. Most existing formats have an exporter written for Max, for example, Half Life, Quake, etc.

I am a 3D animator and game programmer, so from a modelling standpoint, I like Max. I''ve only briefly tried SoftImage, so I can''t make too much of a comparison.

Hope that helps

Clay

Yes Max would be easier I am pretty sure. They have a real nice Max SDK to learn to make plug-ins and game export stuff. Max has unlimited power and I could never fully use it''s potential. For raw power I would think SoftImage is, I know it is from a artists point of view. And considering you practically have to be a programmer to use some of SoftImage''s tools,they probably
have a lot of ways to use your code with the program. But you will want to check SoftImage out, it is probably far more then you need.

thanks for the help guys.

Don''t forget that SoftImage has quite the price tag attached to it, and it''ll only increase with the "Sumatra" release.

3D Studio Max is much more affordable and adequate for game graphics. You might also want to check out Animation:Master or even Rhino3D (although Rhino is only really for modelling, not rendering).