3D modelling software

BattlingCheese

Dark winter nights will soon be upon us so I've decided to mess around with 3D modelling.

So, does anyone recommend a software package?
Free or otherwise.
Bear in mind I've done nothing like this before and will be trying to make models for games like Fleet Command (ships,planes..)

Thks

Wes

satchmo

I'd recommend Truespace if you've never used a 3D modeller before. It's very simple to use and has a nice interface, as well as being quite powerful to boot. You can download a trial at http://www.caligari.com but I'm not sure what the trial restrictions are. It's probably a fairly hefty download too.

Given that this is the Game Editing forum, you should also look into Milkshape 3D (http://www.download.com probably has it) which is a low-polygon modeller originally designed for designing & animating Half-Life models. It supports lots of other formats too, and if you're into 3D programming there's plenty of tutorials out there on how to import them. This is probably your best bet.

Of course the professional tool is 3D Studio Max. It's the grand-daddy of them all, and with good reason, but costs a bomb and has a steep learning curve.

Others include Lightwave (I've never used it, but it's meant to be quite good - it produced the effects from Babylon 5 & others), and POVray - the scripting modeller I started out on my 486sx-20, which didn't even have a gui. It's still around and now has an interface in the form of Moray. These are both still free as far as I know, and can be gotten from http://www.povray.org

Enjoy!

BattlingCheese

Thanks Jazz.

Did you ever use a program called Anim8or.
Found it yesterday on the web.
It's free and from a quick look at it in work it looks OK.

Dazzer

www.discreet.com and get gmax, its a free version of 3DS Max but can only be used for game modelling.

phaxx

Just for kicks, I'll mention the other end of the scale - Maya.

Amazing 3d modeling app, used for the likes of the sea scenes in A Perfect Storm and others.

Developed by Alias|Wavefront, http://www.aliaswavefront.com I think, and it costs - wait for it -

Standard version: ~£7,000 STG

But wait! There's more!

Full version: ~£15,000 STG

I used it at a Computer Arts Live show in London about a year ago... it ruled.. it REALLY kicked ass.

Now... you can either save up for a copy of Maya, or a machine capable of running it!

DeadBankClerk

edit

BattlingCheese

Been using gmax and....wait for it... I made a cube. (woohoo)

This 3D modelling is a breeze:)


I may have bitten off more then I can chew. O well.

Thanks fo the replies guys.

just_somebody

RE: 3D Studio Max.

"costs a bomb and has a steep learning curve. "

I agree about the steep learning curve.... but for a demo version ( that's got very few restrictions ) just go to their site and fill out the form . It'll be posted out to you in about a week....