Modeling Programs

Proxzee

So this is a big question I have been thinking about lately. What 3D programs are critical in working in the game modeling biz? I've heard that many companies use 3DS Max and that Maya is used for animation. I was also recommended XSI. I already know how to model in Maya, but is it necessary for me to learn Max and XSI or some other program too? What about programs like mudbox and zbrush?

alexk

you can't go wrong with either maya or max, and if in the future your job uses a diff program then you just go and learn it mudbox and zbrush are for high poly sculpting which is great for characters and even environment stuff. In general, learn whatever programs and techniques you need in order to produce quality as close to what you see in games right now or coming out soon. So if you want to make stuff like in Gears of War, then yah, better pick up some high poly modeling, either Mudbox or Zbrush along with highpoly modeling within your chose application. The latest Maya has a great highpoly preview, just press 1, 2 or 3 (which corresponds to the number of subdivisions you want in the highpoly) and it will turn your current model into a highpoly preview. And then later you can just convert it to the highpoly

edwardE

The three big-name modeling apps are Maya, Max, and XSI; they all use the same fundamental ideas, so by learning one very well, you'll find you can switch over to others with a crash course fairly easily ( i.e. this button is the equivalent of this ). The only modeling program I've used that was a bit rusty to learn was Blender; it has a pretty unorthodox interface, not that it's bad, though.

alexk covered the sculpting stuff.

ghib

I try and model in Silo as much as possible, it's pretty fluid and you can export to a file format that your Max, Maya, XSI app will understand.

PolyHertz

I'd recommend learning either Max or Maya really well, plus zbrush and/or mudbox for sculpting.

As for the other programs: XSI has decent industry penetration in Japan and Europe, but is still playing catchup in the US. Silo is starting to gain some popularity as is Modo, but they're still years away from widespread use. Blender has essentially any tool you'd want, but I've yet to hear of a game studio that uses it, and its interface is far from standard.

Deathead

Well, many people from a website I used to go to said "There is no modelling program which is best, but the modeller who models." But yeah, go with Max if its for game biz or animation buisness.