Does anyone know a good place to get started with 3d modeling type stuff? So far, everything I''ve ever done has been in 2d and I''d like to give 3d a shot. Like, what kind of software (preferably not $1000) would be best to start with, and are there are really good tutorials out there?

i could never figure out blender myself (i don''t even know how to make a friggin cube) but it''s a *TINY* download so you might want to check it out.

and of course the problems with most modelling progs is that they''re so bloody expensive. max5 is $3500 (ohhh what i''d do for $3500 ) maya is something like .. $2000 i THINK, might have changed in a year (probably has), etc.

wings3d is a nice little modeller. it''s progressed very far from the version i originally downloaded, which was more or less a perfect clone of nendo, sans the model painting stuff. since then, it''s gained MANY modelling tools, a few even lend themselves to character modelling (like the virtual mirror: so you can model one half of the body and have it instantly show up on the other side but it''s not actually there ) unfortunately it''s not too great in the texturing ara and it has no animation support..

i personally use milkshape3d. it''s cheeeap ($25, come on if you can''t scrape up $25 you seriously need to rethink your life), easy to use (i think, a few people find it strange) and has good animation support. it''s a bit sparse on the tools but its open-ended plugin support allows for people to make plugins for it (of which there are a ton, i myself even made 2 ). also the texturing support is somewhat lacking.

i also use another program that''s not available for free download anymore, called lithunwrap. the name was changed to unwrap3d and now costs money (no clue how much). basically it''s a very nice program that makes mapping textures onto models really easy.

i just want to make a little game, sell it, and make $3500 for MAX :D i love max

one final note:

do NOT get tricked into thinking that GMAX is a free version of MAX. although it''s functionally identical to max (and i love it just as much), it says in the license agreement that you''re not allowed to use it for anything but game mods (at this point there are only 2 IIRC so..). that means you can''t make models, then make a game out of them. however what i was thinking was that if you convert an exported model to some other format will they really know it was made in GMAX?

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you just think i''m here. i''m really not.

ack, downloaded Blender and all it does is open up a nonresponding dos window and sit there.

Guess I''ll try wings next