Hey. We are doing a game, and we need a tool like Max and Maya... Since we have about $0, we would like something that is affordable. Max is $400 which is way too much. Maya has Free personal learning edition, but it cant do plugins, and scripts are limited to 45lines(i think).. so no exporting there either. Are there any programs with somewhat similar capabilities, at more affordable prices, especially student versions? Jonas

try this : www.openfx.org
It fits your budget and seems powerful

quote: Max is $400...

I guess you wanted to write $4000...

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David Sporn AKA Sporniket

[edited by - davidsporn on June 21, 2002 10:17:07 AM]

I''d say try MilkShape 3d (just do a search in yahoo). It''s an awesome low poly editor, and for games that''s about all you need. Plus you''ll probably also want a texture mapper, but I can''t remember one off the top of my head.

Try Gmax. its a program Discreet offers (the makers of 3d Studio Max) but its a free version designed just for gaming...and its 100% free. It has every feature of Max that you need for game design.

http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/

Will gmax let me write an exporter of the data?

I thought it was only for companies who already owned
3dsmax

quote: Original post by Spaz
Try Gmax. its a program Discreet offers (the makers of 3d Studio Max) but its a free version designed just for gaming...and its 100% free. It has every feature of Max that you need for game design.

http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/

gmax is only good if you''re modding a game from a company which has bought full licenses to MAX. You can''t create "standalone" content with it.

codeka.com - Just click it.

try blender, I''ve never used it, but it seems a capable free 3d modeller. Or, start playing the lottery and get lucky enough to win the cash to afford MAX. Also, I *think* Gmax has a Q3 model format exporter, which you could take advantage of by taking the md3, opening it in milkshape (which is kinda cool for only like 20 bucks) and converting it to .3ds I''d have to hunt the adress but there''s a full writeup on the .3ds file format, which you could use to build a standalone file conversion utility.

just a few ideas, I, too once knew what it was like to be searching for good, cheap software, hope I helped

-L0sT

There are a bunch of plug-ins for gmax if you search google, I believe it can export to several of the more common formats with those.

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