3DS Max or Maya

jeramy79 · Jun 2010

Alright guys. I know you've probably been asked this 1000 million gabillion times, but I'm going to ask one more time. For someone starting out, which software package should one go with? I'm looking at either 3DS Max or Maya.

I'm planning on taking online classes, and am not sure which software package is better or even why. Why do people prefer one over the other. Is one geared more to game art and one towards films? Is there really even a difference between the two? With all of the collected talent and knowledge here at polycount, what do you guys suggest?

Thanks for any help and suggestions you guys can provide. I know it's a downer reading posts like this all the time.

ZacD · Jun 2010

3DS Max seems to be more popular in the games industry, though most people are comfortable working in a number of different apps. You can always download them both (they are free for students from autodesk) do some tutorials in each one and see which one you like more.

PolyHertz · Jun 2010

Depends what you want to do with it. If your an animator, Maya, if you want it for modeling primarily, Max.

Or for a more complete answer try this thread:
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52652

Karmageddon · Jun 2010

Oh god, can of worms.

PredatorGSR · Jun 2010

You haven't asked anything unique, why don't you read the answers to the 100 other posts asking the exact same question?

Flava-Fly · Jun 2010

At the end of the day you will accomplish the same with both but just press different buttons in the UI to archive it. Like it was said above try the demos and see what is best for you! Having knowledge of both can be useful in the industry these days but everyone has a favorite and its usually the one they used first.

Ghostscape · Jun 2010

Yes, you should use 3DS Max or Maya

ZacD · Jun 2010

Ghostscape wrote: »

Yes, you should use 3DS Max or Maya

Don't you mean Maya or 3DS Max?

eld · Jun 2010

I think you should go with the app autodesk owns, that one will be the best.

IEatApples · Jun 2010

I say go for 3DS Maya.

Japhir · Jun 2010

no it's called Maymax now.

jeramy79 · Jun 2010

Most of the threads I found that are any help were from around 2008. Has anything changed with the new updates to Max and Maya? Basically what I want to do is Game Art, and from what I've seen most people like 3DS Max, but most of the schools teach Maya.

d1ver · Jun 2010

I suggest you learn to do game art. To choose an app, just toss a coin. Srsly.
They're like condoms. One is ribbed the other is dotted and you still don't feel shit.)

Blaizer · Jun 2010

And why not learn both?

Learning a software does not take too much time, what takes time is to be an artist.

crazyfingers · Jun 2010

Max.

Taylor Hood · Jun 2010

My personal opinion : They are just tools. They both accomplish the same thing.
Well, maybe for animation.
Alot of Animators say that Max and Maya are just tools but I think it's a little bit differently for 3D Art - In that case I'd be pointing more towards 3DSmax.

Frump · Jun 2010

I always recommend that you use whichever one is easier for you to learn or which you are more comfortable with.

If you are learning on your own, there are a lot more online resources for Max so I would say go with that.

If you know a lot of people irl who are Maya users and can give you help in person or through IM I would recommend you do that.

You could also just try out both and see which one makes more sense to you and start learning it. Once you learn the principles of modeling, you can start to polish a workflow and decide which software really does it for you.

Good luck!:)

Jeremy Wright · Jun 2010

Del · Jun 2010

~ I learnt Max first, and Maya after. I'm proficient with both.

I'd say learn Maya (even though I prefer Max), simply because it seems easier to learn, and there's a lot of beginner/novice level tutorials for it.

But seriously, it really doesn't matter.

DEElekgolo · Jun 2010

Oh boy here comes the 3 pages of rambling.

Monkeez · Jun 2010

I learnt Max first at uni and then got a job working in Maya. Only took 1-2 weeks to transfer my skills over to Maya. Personal preference I prefer Maya, especially for animation (not a big fan of the max graph editor), once again though you'll never know which you prefer till you try both.

Screw Maya and Max, learn XSI for something different

.

Mark Dygert · Jun 2010

Blender, I hear its the wave of the future! THE FUTURE!

r_fletch_r · Jun 2010

~I hear Quark Express is better than both

jeramy79: if your starting out as a modeller id say max, animation maya.

elte · Jun 2010

wings! so you can fly

Taylor Hood · Jun 2010

Monkeez wrote: »

I learnt Max first at uni and then got a job working in Maya. Only took 1-2 weeks to transfer my skills over to Maya. Personal preference I prefer Maya, especially for animation (not a big fan of the max graph editor),

This I can definitley agree with. When I first started my journey into animation I had Max and I just couldn't understand the Max Graph Editor. I heared that Maya was supposed to be, for lack of a better word 'Better' in terms of animation. And I believe that too be true. I think, imo, that Max is better for game animation but I'd say you need Maya to truley do something 'Pixar-esque' you know what I mean? Say an acting clip with the Moom Rig or something.

ZacD · Jun 2010

Monkeez wrote: »

Screw Maya and Max, learn XSI for something different .

I love XSI, started out learning Maya, then I discovered XSI. I haven't used maya since. XSI to me just seems like what maya could be, the UI, tools, shortcuts, material manager, etc etc all make more sense and work better, IMO. And now I'm trying to figure out this goofy app called 3DS Max.

But I wouldn't suggest learning XSI if you are trying to get a job right away, its not as popular, but its still used in the industry (Assassins creed Fable 2 & 3 and metal gear solid 4).

d1ver · Jun 2010

ha!it's more than a page already) come on guys, I think we can do another ten!=)

Taylor Hood · Jun 2010

Or we can just stop at page two and say 'Choose whatever one you are more comfortable with. Or the one that you HAVE to use if your in production!'

ZacD · Jun 2010

If anyone wants to help add to the wiki page about these packages, we could just link them there.

http://wiki.polycount.com/3D%20Software

jeramy79 · Jun 2010

I'm going to start off with MAX and then try out Maya. Autodesk offers a 13 month license for free on all it's software for students so I should be good. I got a subscription to digital tutors so I can learn both of them and not have to worry about only having access to one type of tutorial.

Thanks for your inputs. I know everyone hates these threads. Most of the ones I found were pretty old and I thought that maybe with the new 2010 and 2011 software packages things may have changed. I also noticed that alot of schools only teach Maya, and I was thinking that their may be a specific reason for that.

Frump · Jun 2010

jeramy79 wrote: »

I also noticed that alot of schools only teach Maya, and I was thinking that their may be a specific reason for that.

It's because they can teach Modeling, Animation and VFX classes in Maya. It saves them money not having to license more than one software package.

attattattack · Jun 2010

Started with Maya, now with XSI.
I think XSI is the best lol.

learn them all and choose what you like or what your company is using.

imb3nt · Jun 2010

I started out on max and its been my favorite but i'm really wanting to get more acquainted with maya in the near future.

j_bradford · Jun 2010

Maya has gained huge amounts of ground in the last few years, slowly pushing Max out of it's seat as a predominant games package. So you're in more of a position where theres a 50/50 chance of using one or the other depending on where you work.

So my advice is flip a coin or try both and see which one sticks more for you.

I personally use XSI in a Max/Maya pipeline and have no problems. Some companies are cool with that, it just depends on where you end up. Autodesk is pushing it's FBX format to make a mixed pipeline as transparent as possible.

Moosey_G · Jun 2010

Once you've learned a 3D program you'll understand the basics which can be used to achieve proficiency in any package. So, to be honest not one program will be easier to use than any other. I suggest you just download and try both, whats stopping you? I don't know why this thread keeps getting posts, you can only choose one or the other and whichever is better for you is completely relative. The choice is arbitrary.

jeramy79 · Jun 2010

It's more of a money issue. At first I was contemplating spending almost $2000 at Gnomon to take an online course.

Autocon · Jun 2010

HEY ITS ONE OF THESE THREADS AGAIN!

I like Max, hes my good buddy.

Maya on the other hand is like a good woman, used her a few times even though she wasnt my cup o' tea. Kicked her to the curb for another but she is always there waiting for me to come back if I so desire.

Progg · Jun 2010

I model with google sketchup

ZacD · Jun 2010

Maya can be a bitch sometimes if you don't rub her the right way, if you know what I mean.

Empty · Jun 2010

<thread>

<hackneyed question>___________</hackneyed question>

<useless statement>_____________</useless statement>

</thread>

oops haha used Empty's computer again...this is Cody

ZacD · Jun 2010

Is Empty's computer chair always empty? :P

3DS Max or Maya

Replies