This sounds like my experience. 1.8 broke my install and I had to do a full un/re-install. Now everything works again but I'm not certain if I'm on 1.7 or 1.8 http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2189830&postcount=106
Definitely check up on Keen's Batch Exporter. It saves tons of time by centering each selected object, reseting the positions to 000 (based on objects pivot point) and exporting each asset based on whatever their names are in max. http://www.keenleveldesign.com/html/misc/exporter.htm
removed the link, it was an artificial benchmark test (48 to 48 000 sided circle) to prove the adversary effect of thin triangles on performance NOT suggesting to use certain layouts for "caps" of low poly, with so little geometry at hands interpolation artifacts are much more dominant...
Heys guys, here's my little personal project. Based on this concept by Nick De Spain: https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/003/052/704/large/nick-de-spain-monster-flame-3.jpg Hope you like it! Artstation link: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/52K6E
Are you positive on this, I've heard otherwise. Also the things pointed out in this article seem to say otherwise as well. Double check with your copyright layer friend to make sure. http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2006/08/25/the-myth-of-poor-mans-copyright/
looks great not sure how you would bake that fluffy collar, maybe try sculpting something more bake friendly like this guy has http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/004/d/2/arenanet_art_test_05_by_nelyia-d5qfrzo.jpg
It depends. It always depends. http://www.rsart.co.uk/2006/11/20/how-many-polygons-in-a-piece-of-string/ http://www.rsart.co.uk/2007/08/27/yes-but-how-many-polygons/ http://wiki.polycount.com/PolygonCount?action=show&redirect=Polygon+Count#Typical_Triangle_Counts
For a 007 style sequence I would simply render 3d models out as silhouettes. Other shapes can be done using Masks in AE. They may well have done their silhouettes with hand drawn rotoscoping, but that is a major investment of time compared to the above.
I like sculptris :) the performance is pretty good for me, this head is about 500 000 triangles pulled straight out the default sphere and doesnt feel slow at all, just been using this piece to try all the features and Im quite impressed.
id say check out pirate baby cabana street fight 2006 its a fake gameplay movie of a none exisiting game do somthign like that with lowpoly 3d models also the machinima ( game engine render) idea is really good !