3D Studio Max or Maya?
hello everyone! I'm getting a new computer soon for game development, and i'm unsure of whether to purchase 3DSMax or Maya for 3D modeling. I've heard good things about both, but i'm not sure which is more highly recommended, or at least looked better upon by gaming companies. thanks in advance!
If you are new to modelling and general 3d arts design, neither would be a good choice. You should have a decent graphics background (start with 2d drawing, that's what I did, and honestly it helps a great deal to know about poses, perspective and the sort).
But assuming you know your graphics and is making a venture in the 3d market, I would go with a free modeller to begin with, to make sure you understand some things. I suggest Blender, but don't let it discourage you if you can't do anything within a month (Blender is arguably the most complicated modeller around, but also arguably the best competitor to professional software such as 3DS Max and Maya).
If you, for some reason, decide that you want to buy Max or Maya, I suggest you read something I posted in the Visual Arts forum awhile back (shouldn't this thread be in that forum, by the way [attention] ).
Good luck, and I hoped something I said made sense [lol]
But assuming you know your graphics and is making a venture in the 3d market, I would go with a free modeller to begin with, to make sure you understand some things. I suggest Blender, but don't let it discourage you if you can't do anything within a month (Blender is arguably the most complicated modeller around, but also arguably the best competitor to professional software such as 3DS Max and Maya).
If you, for some reason, decide that you want to buy Max or Maya, I suggest you read something I posted in the Visual Arts forum awhile back (shouldn't this thread be in that forum, by the way [attention] ).
Quote:Original post by D Shankar
I'm a Max guy, as are many of my friends. Some of my friends are Maya people, and a few are even XSI modellers. In conclusion, its up to you. Completely up to you.
In my opinion, anyone who tells you buy either one (max or maya) is biased. In accordance, I would go with Max. XSI (not biased) is too complicated, and I'm not a Maya fan (yes, biased).
Good luck, and I hoped something I said made sense [lol]
At the moment it depends on the type of art you want to focus on, but that may become less of an issue (or more of one) as time goes on due to both programs being owned by a single company now.
Maya has traditionally been used for higher end cinematics i.e. movies and the film industry. That's not to say Max isn't capable or used for that area as well (see Blizzard Entertainment).
Max has had a fairly strong 'game art' presence for a long time though and it tends to be a bigger staple in the jobs I've seen posted. Maya has been getting a bigger share in recent years though, especially with companies with complicated pipelines.
Bottom line I'd favor Max, but I think either is fine. That said keep in mind that after you get skilled with 3D art the program really means very little. For me I can use either but I prefer Maya's interface but that'sonly my personal preference. Max is just as well.
But before you go out and buy some expensive software consider learning the basics with a free or nearly free program. Blender is a free piece of software that is more than featured enough to get you a running start with the basics and well beyond. Once you know where you stand you might have a better grounds to determine which more expensive industry standard package you really might like better.
Hope this helps.
Maya has traditionally been used for higher end cinematics i.e. movies and the film industry. That's not to say Max isn't capable or used for that area as well (see Blizzard Entertainment).
Max has had a fairly strong 'game art' presence for a long time though and it tends to be a bigger staple in the jobs I've seen posted. Maya has been getting a bigger share in recent years though, especially with companies with complicated pipelines.
Bottom line I'd favor Max, but I think either is fine. That said keep in mind that after you get skilled with 3D art the program really means very little. For me I can use either but I prefer Maya's interface but that'sonly my personal preference. Max is just as well.
But before you go out and buy some expensive software consider learning the basics with a free or nearly free program. Blender is a free piece of software that is more than featured enough to get you a running start with the basics and well beyond. Once you know where you stand you might have a better grounds to determine which more expensive industry standard package you really might like better.
Hope this helps.
oh, i'm sorry ^^; i figured since this belonged more in the begginer section, i wasn't really sure.
but anyways, i've already worked with Max 7, and i'm familiar enough to know how to use it. i'm kinda leaning towards Maya though, since the newest version is only around 2000, while Max 9 is about 3500. i'll have to download the new demo of Max 9 and see how it is, maybe i should start saving up for it (there any place i can go to download a Maya demo?).
but anyways, i've already worked with Max 7, and i'm familiar enough to know how to use it. i'm kinda leaning towards Maya though, since the newest version is only around 2000, while Max 9 is about 3500. i'll have to download the new demo of Max 9 and see how it is, maybe i should start saving up for it (there any place i can go to download a Maya demo?).
I'd go poke around the autodesk site in the maya section and see if they have any options for you. If money is the biggest issue Maya wouldn't be THAT big of a jump, but I know some Max users who cringe at the sight of Maya (and vice versa) so depending on how you take to it you might make your nerves go balistic by switching. Really depends on how entrenched you are in Max.
Quote:Original post by Proclone
I'd go poke around the autodesk site in the maya section and see if they have any options for you. If money is the biggest issue Maya wouldn't be THAT big of a jump, but I know some Max users who cringe at the sight of Maya (and vice versa) so depending on how you take to it you might make your nerves go balistic by switching. Really depends on how entrenched you are in Max.
Yes! I'm a Max R7 user who does indeed cringe at the site of Maya, (don't even get me started on Blender/XSI [laugh]). My copy of Maya 7 and the one of XSI are just laying around because of complexity issues, lack of need, and because I'm working just fine with Max.
Seeing that you have used Max 7 before, I suggest you stick with Max, at least until you know what you are doing. The way I see it is if you've dipped your feet into Max, dive in. If you have just barely touched it, then you still have the option of going to Maya.
Also, if you consider Maya to be "only $2000," then Max at $3500 isn't even double the price. Wouldn't you rather have software you know you have used and are comfortable with?
As mentioned, try Maya before you buy it, if you buy it.
yeah, i know 2000 isn't very expensive considering this line of work, but right now even 2000 is out of my price range (recently had to pay for a pet's surgery-there went my computer fund), so on a bit of a tight budget.
Well, you could always save up some money (quite a bit, I know), or use the trials until you get the money. Better yet, why not try some of the free ones like Blender? Some people (not I) like Wings and various other free modellers, although I doubt you want to go down that line.
You could try Lightwave3D which is different, but $795.
You could try Lightwave3D which is different, but $795.
I actually started out with Lightwave myself, I still find it to be a superior modeler that the other options and the renderer is really nice, especially for things like car renders(a major use for lightwave). However lightwave isn't heavily used in games and never really was.
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