3DS MAX

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Original post by Anonymous Poster If you create characters and anything of game content, there's a free program called "GMAX" which is available the same website. It has almost all the functionality of 3ds max but just you can't render anything.

gmax may have the functionality of 3ds max, but there's a very good reason it's free: you can't use it in any way to create your own game content. Exporters for certain file formats have been written, but they were written exclusively for particular games by companies who have a licence to use gmax.

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Original post by Anonymous Poster Of the commercial packages, Softimage XSI (Foundation) recently went down to $495, and is an excellent package for the price. www.softimage.com. I believe that is what Valve (creators of Half Life) use. They also have a free Gmax like environment for doing game mods, the name and details escape me, but im sure you can get the details on their site.

Softimage|XSI is indeed the tool that's been used to create models for Half-Life 2. The Half-Life 2 modding version of XSI is called Softimage XSI EXP. It's free for download at their site, but the deal's the same as with gmax: you can't use it to create your own game content.

You have a few options. As the AP noted, you could try to get a student licence for 3ds max. However, I've looked into it, and the slice of people eligable is pretty narrow: off the top of my head, I think you have to be on a degree course to do with computing (that's for the UK, and I could be wrong). Otherwise, you could take a look at one of the free/shareware/inexpensive pieces of modelling software available. Try Googling for Wings3D, blender, MilkShape and gameSpace...

Caligari Truespace is good too. It's about $300.

XSI is very very good. It even has a library in order to read your .XSI models into your app/game with all bone/texture information.

Luck!
Guimo

I'd also agree that if you're looking for a professional 3D package that Softimage XSI for $500 seems like a good way to go!

-John

Why buy it? it's easy to crack!

GMAX IS NOT FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT!!! Gmax is used for games that shell out a huge licensing fee so the end user can use it to modify game content. It is ILLEGAL to convert the model format.

I suggest trying out Milkshape 3D. It is shareware, so you can try it out for a month before deciding if you want to buy it ($20, IIRC). Blender is also a decent modeling tool, though it takes some getting used to. Both are free to try, so there is nothig to lose. Good luck!

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Original post by Tueur Why buy it? it's easy to crack!

I really hope you're joking.

He's right! They sell it too mutch high, you almost have to be an astrophisician to buy a prog like that, nothing a young, creative mind can afford!!!

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Original post by BEHOLDER192875 Caligari Truespace is good too. It's about $300.

Also, check out the related gameSpace product from Caligari. It's tailored to game development, and is cheaper than trueSpace.