Just How?

[masterofmadness]

I'm new to modding and reading your prerequisites for an applicant something popped up in head immediatly: Just how is a young person supposed to get his hands on a legal copy of EITHER 3DS Max, Maya OR XSI. These are pretty high hurdles for anyone wanting to join. What do you think?

[Seraph]

School licenses go out for cheaper than the full license. Our contributors are often coming from either that scene or are already working with them anyway.

[Pytak]

And there are many free or open source 3D apps, such as GNU Blender and freeware Truespace. I don't know about what MWLL modelers actually used, but I personally use TrueSpace, it's easy and intuitive (for me) and works just fine.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Use the free stuff as a young person.  Become familiar with the vocabulary and the tools and graduate up into the more complex stuff as you can afford it.

[Landros Radick]

Autodesk has a Free version of Softimage|XSI that is compatible with Crysis: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?id=13571257&siteID=123112
There are also tutorials and user help on Crymod.com for importing objects from it. 

[(TLL)CapperDeluxe]

blender is THE free tool. Learn it!



http://www.blender.org/

[~SJ~ Karuik]

im just saying what i know, devs correct me if my memory has gone poot.

the devs use 3DSmax, you could use other programs but they would be less able to help you out with issues and such.

is i rite?

[Alexander]

Just how is a young person supposed to get his hands on a legal copy of EITHER 3DS Max, Maya OR XSI.

Pretty simple: They don't xD

I think the way most users of 3DS Max get a hold of a copy is via employer sponsorship - ie, your employer buys you a copy while you work for them. This of course requires having an employer who thinks you need it to do your job, in the same way that sales execs sometimes get given a car, phone and laptop.

There is of course the other method, which is people who are exceptionally good modellers with a "lesser" program making silly money from some suits, and buying it for themselves

This all requires mucho practice though, just like any technical art - grab a copy of Blender and practice til your fingers fall off

Also a degree n stuff would probably help... but I'm not exactly an expert on that sort of thing >.>

[(TLL)KitLightning]

There are cheap Student or Trial versions of Autodesk softwares that can be downloaded, the only thing is that they expire after x months.

[(TLL) Heretic]

Blender is a little harsh on a newby, Truespace is much easier to grab the concepts and use them.

The Softimage XSI is probably your best bet once you've learnt the basics from Truespace or Blender (it's just that Blender will probably take you a lot longer to get to grips with), Softimage XSI works well with a lot of different games engines (something that Truespace and Blender can not claim).

If you mess around on the free programs and enjoy them, but don't have a corporate "sponsor" handing you a copy of Max or Maya for free then your only choice is saving up your pennies and getting a students copy of Max or Maya.

[Askis]

Wings3D is a fun little modeling tool and free. Quite easy to use and with a bit of practice you can get good results too. Still need something else to render though.

And yes, prices for the professional programs are quite high, but when you're buying a full license, you're basically allowed to make as much money with them as you want.

As for overpriced student licenses... Well, there are certain ways around that, especially if you need more than one program...
And if you don't have a few thousand bucks just lying around, you simply don't have much choice

[Freakazoid]

I have a very hard time believing not one person on the team has a pirated copy of 3ds max.

Of course, they wouldn't admit it in public, so here is your wink wink, nudge nudge.