Help with 3DS Max 2013

[Tarkan]

Okay I have a few choices, to download an older version which I can download plugins that adds the possibility of opening DDS files, or are there any other work around this? Also what would be the best Autocad/autodesk software to create or edit models? I really don't know which one I would choose over another. I've had some experience with some of them before, maybe a few months of practice, but I think that's enough for me to create models from scratch after if needed.

Yes I am asking this so maybe I could team up with a programmer to make a mod of some sort. Anyways please help me on this one, any plugins or just going back to 2012 version?

Also should I use Maya instead? I'm quite curious about that one in the aspect of learning.

[neronix17]

I have no idea what you are actually asking, DDS files are textures, Photoshop can deal with them and so can gimp too I think. Autodesk and AutoCAD are two very different things and I would NEVER use the latter for game modelling. I personally find Cinema 4D to be the easiest to learn and best out of the lot but the problem with modelling programs is that everyone prefers a different one, my suggestion would be to try them all out (Cinema 4D, 3Ds Max, Maya, Blender, etc) and just use whichever one you do best in.

I tried making a simple wooden table with glass centre in all of those programs and just chose the one which gave the best result. If you are looking to make more organic shapes, like people, monsters, aliens, etc. Then try ZBrush, it's a little difficult to get used to but gives great control.

For which one is best for games? All of them. It entirely depends on the model file type you need and most of the programs have support for pretty much all of the important file types. Good luck, hope I helped in some way. Even if your chosen programming doesn't support the right file type it takes only a minute to export as .OBJ, import that into a programming which does support the target file type and then export from that programming into whatever you need.

[Tarkan]

Sorry, the reason why people can't understand what I'm talking about is because I tried to make it look like I'd know some shit, all I have is experience with AutoCad, I noticed that it is really different than blender, maya etc. If it's not too much asked, but could you make a small "tutorial" with pics to help a retard open the files? Doesn't mean I'll make a shit happen with it, but you'd still make my day by giving me a new hobby instead of consuming alcohol or my money on some stupid useless shit I don't even use. Thanks!

[neronix17]

I truly suck at making tutorials, and I've customized the programs I use to the point their interface is completely unrecognizable so pictures wouldn't do much good in that case. There are plenty of YouTube videos for all of this though, really depends what software you need help with, I'd suggest a channel on there to help but I used DigitalTutors.com to learn a year or so back instead as I couldn't stand the voices the YouTube people had. If you can't find anything on YouTube then a Google search generally comes up with at least a couple of useful pages, even just searching exactly what you need to do like 'how to open .dds files' for example should come up with something.

[islesofurth]

all I have is experience with AutoCad

if you only know how to use autocad then i suggest you start from scratch, simply because autocad is really only used for construction and industry type modeling.
I am however only talking from second hand experience, but i take my brothers word seriously as he owns a drafting company.

I learnt to use 3ds max for media design, it can do game design but from what i hear others are better.
if you do want to learn 3ds max tho heres some pointers.

1. unless you are using it professionally or you should be able to find some torrents only a few version back.

2. First get a feel of the program, try to make a house or something extremely basic (most tuts expect you to know atleast some basics)

3. Now you have a bit of a feel for it, try some basic tuts
http://www.maxbasics.com/

4. My teacher loved getting us to recreate things, and i think it was a great test of skill.
so try taking uploading a picture into MAX and recreate it as best you can.

5. When you feel up to doing more advance tuts you can try these
http://cg.tutsplus.com/articles/web-rou ... tutorials/

My final assignment was to recreate a street landscape as realistic as possible.
this meant getting all the lighting correct, cloud effects perfect, The sun. (the modeling was the easy part)
If you can recreate a scene and it looks almost as real as when you look at it. You have something to start your portfolio and get a job in the industry

[neronix17]

-snip-

Well now I know why most forums have rules against resurrecting dead posts (as in older than 30 days).

[Tarkan]

-snip-

Well now I know why most forums have rules against resurrecting dead posts (as in older than 30 days).

Well now I know why comments like these are not needed.

Islesofurth, I really do appreciate the time you took to give me some direction on how to train with max. I'm currently using the student version of the MAX, as it's free and legal to use. I've been playing around with it, but there's no way on world that I'd ever become so good that I'd be able to create something such as you did in your last assignment. For me I'm doing these for fun, like some people do paintings or carvings. Once again thank you!

[islesofurth]

your welcome mate,

If its just for fun, then this tut is probably exactly what your looking for to make some simple games
http://gamedev.tutsplus.com/articles/ro ... tart-here/

it gives you all the programs you need and takes you thru step by step with plenty of details and pictures.
The program you get with the first tut (Multimedia Fusion 2) is a 2d game creator.
The demo is free and lets you do mostly everything.