To Frob:
I apologize for the way that I worded that, I think Starcraft and Blizzard are the greatest things since sliced bread. I was just pointing out that even though the game has aged so much since it's inception in 1998 people often still play it over the newer ones. I was just highlighting that graphics don't have to be everything.

Quote: Original post by axpen
Thanks for the replies, I think I'm gonna go ahead and get started with Blender, Maya PLE looks good but it's of no real use except learning how to use it. I need something that can export to an obj or such for Torque 3d or OGRE to use. Additionally could someone help clear this bit of confusion up for me, when you make a 3d model for importing into a game engine it becomes a static mesh right? So in other words even with SyFlex it would do no good during gameplay (unless they provided the engine), just during pre rendered movies? Thereby also leaving soft body pretty useless if the game engine doesn't support it right?

Correct.
Even more relevant; the core component of something like SyFlex is it's soft-body deformation engine, which your game engine would most likely have to code itself anyways (and cut a lot of corners to get it to run in real-time).

If you're a student, I'd go look at Maya Student Edition, which is available at much lower costs (~120$ last time I checked). You can also use PLE initially to learn how to do basic modelling and animation.

Good luck,

Allan

Quote: Original post by stonemetal
The first, best, and easiest way to get your hands on 4K is get a job. Even at a minimum wage job that is less than a year of employment or sell your car if you have one of those. Also what makes you think SyFlex Cloth simulator is an industry standard tool? I mean outside of XSI's marketing materials.

The other thing you might try is an angel investor.

Perhaps, but what is he going to earn, a few measly dollars on the internet.

If you are serious about earning money, you have to be a serious developer. I don't think you necessarily need a business to contact a publisher but it would probably help them trust you.

Why not get a demo working and take it from there?

If you want to take the publisher route then you need something to show besides paperwork. Publishers assess risk, and with a new team in place or no team at all to execute your ideas you won't get very far. The best IP even with the best game engine means nothing to a publisher unless you can execute it.

One way to describe the situation is trying to sell a car. You can go to someone with a bunch of paperwork on how awesome the car will be, how much it'll cost to make, who you may want to build it with you, and how many units you think you will sell – which is a high risk. Other option would be to build the car or a prototype of what the car will consist of and then show publishers. Showing a visual product of some kind will make your chances considerably higher of getting funding.

sorry for necro'ing a fairly old thread, but as starting a new one would just be silly, and I imagine this comes up a lot...

Game financing. Pay particular attention to the E&O insurance section, as it also addresses some of the "would it be okay if I used..." questions that pop up intermittently on these forums and sets out why the answer will typically be "no" or "not without permission".

Also, Tom, I linked to your article.

Best of luck!

Quote: Original post by madelelaw
Also, Tom, I linked to your article.

Hi Mona,
I crosslinked back to your article from FAQs 29 and 62.
Tom

Quote: Original post by Tom Sloper

Quote: Original post by madelelaw
Also, Tom, I linked to your article.

Hi Mona,
I crosslinked back to your article from FAQs 29 and 62.
Tom

You didn't have to that, but I appreciate it. Just wanted to give you a heads up that you're a reference.