3d max?

discreet's 3DS Max is a mid- to high-end 3D modelling and rendering package. It's used to create models for games such as Quake III Arena, and it has some very powerful features, not the least of which is the ability to write plugins so you can export to your own model format. In the UK, I can get a 12 month student licence for 3DS Max 5 and Character Studio 4 for around . If you're looking to buy without the student licence, it'll be upwards of .

If you're familiar with 3D applications, you can just sit down and use 3DS Max straight off the bat, but to make anything that's even remotely useful, you'll probably need a book which explains the user interface, primitive objects, simple and complex modelling, and the various modifiers which can applied. Try www.amazon.com. However, another resource (if you have a decent internet connection) is this excellent website, which has free video tutorials on 3DS Max 5. If you want to try out some of the features of 3DS Max before you buy it, then you should download gmax, a free but strictly limited version of 3DS Max which can be used to create new levels and models for certain games.

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Windows 95 - 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch
to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor,
written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition.

[edited by - iNsAn1tY on January 9, 2004 10:28:19 PM]

Also 3dmax can be used to produce extremely high quality pre-rendered videos. Some hollywood movies have used 3dmax to produce their cgi.

As you might have guessed, much of the cost is due to these advanced features/tools which are currently not used in games.