For the last 3 days, I've been learning a lot of 3ds Max 8. With these simple tutorial guides found right on their site (using 30 day trial). Really good ones By the way.

Quote: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=6837309&linkID=5573440

However, with maya I've yet to find something that's "free and good". What resources should I be using to learn Maya? I've also got another 'beef', was I right to switch to maya from 3ds Max 8?? For, the main reason I'm doing it is because I've heard that maya is better for game development. I've yet to purchase anything yet. So I have 30 days to decide which path to go. Can someone help me out with a good .pdf document for maya? Furthermore, can someone tell me if maya is better for game development.

Quote: Original post by Instigator
For the last 3 days, I've been learning a lot of 3ds Max 8. With these simple tutorial guides found right on their site (using 30 day trial). Really good ones By the way.

Quote:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=6837309&linkID=5573440

However, with maya I've yet to find something that's "free and good". What resources should I be using to learn Maya?

I've also got another 'beef', was I right to switch to maya from 3ds Max 8?? For, the main reason I'm doing it is because I've heard that maya is better for game development.

I've yet to purchase anything yet. So I have 30 days to decide which path to go. Can someone help me out with a good .pdf document for maya? Furthermore, can someone tell me if maya is better for game development.

neither is better for game development. for an artist it comes down to which one feels more intuitive and easier to use. i find max easier than maya, but another modeler friend of mine feels maya is easier for him... then you have what some of the fanboys say, "in pro development maya is used more", this is untrue. from what i've found its about half and half and some of the more major players in the industry using max actually (bethesda-elder scrolls 4-oblivion for example).
after you've learned the advanced techniques for modeling it is then possible to move to the other and start learning it, i'm learning maya right now for example. however if you're completly new to modeling pick the one you feel most comfortable with.
as far as tutorials, try simplymaya.com, and simplymax.com each have video tutorials, one for maya one for max.

Well for some reason everyone that I know that is taking "media arts" in college is actually using "Maya" instead of 3ds Max.

I see a major trend in schools adopting Maya over Max. Furthermore, Most of the game design jobs that I've been looking at require knowlege in Maya. I don't know if this is all coincidence but I'm feeling this strong urge to leave 3DS max and go to Maya.

Quote: Original post by Instigator
Well for some reason everyone that I know that is taking "media arts" in college is actually using "Maya" instead of 3ds Max.

I see a major trend in schools adopting Maya over Max. Furthermore, Most of the game design jobs that I've been looking at require knowlege in Maya. I don't know if this is all coincidence but I'm feeling this strong urge to leave 3DS max and go to Maya.

did you read what i posted above? use the one you like best, after you become experienced enough in one its a lot easier to go to the other and start learning it... and by learning i mean familiarate yourself with it. all modeling apps (well most) use similar ways of modeling, only thing different is their interface and some of their tools work slightly differently. so learn one = easier to move to the other.
take a look at gamedev.net game jobs they either require 3ds max or just require you to have a strong understanding of 3d modeling programs.

maya has been used primarily for movies and not for games but that changes slowly and more and more game companys use maya. one of the problems that i had with maya were missing exporters. It's export-capabilities are very poor.

I think that now that alias got bought by autodesk maya will get more popular especially for gamedevelopment.

Back on topic:
learning-maya.com has a really large tutorial data base.

regards,
m4gnus