I am new to the world of 3D modeling and animation and game development. All I want to do is to create a character with a number of set moves (animation). Then import them into Unity to control using scripts. I don’t need anything fancy, really just a character moving on a static background.
Now consider that if I don’t get something up an running soon, my boss (my wife) isn’t going to be impressed. She thinks because I am a developer I should be as rich as Bill Gates by now… This means I need to get something up quickly. I am looking for a 3D modeling and animation tool that is basic and “EASY TO LEARN and USE” + is able to import into Unity. Price is not too big a concern since my marriage is at stake.
I’ve read up on the following options:
Maya: steep learning curve, overkill for what I need.
3DS Max: as above
Blender: as above
Cheetah: OK, animation is complicated
Cinema4D: OK
Dim3D: OK - not sure if it is supported with Unity
Poser: Not sure
Is the above a correct summary? Can anyone suggest a quick and easy tool for character modeling and animation? Any constructive comments will be appreciated.
First misconception that beginners make: That the “tool” determines the end product.
Second misconception that beginners make: That there is a “short cut” to learning how to do something.
All the tools you list (with the exception of Dim3 and Poser) as well as a dozen other 3D tools will do what you want, in the right hands of a skilled artist.
There is no fast and easy way to become a 3D artist (or programmer, or anything else related to game development) it takes years of focused effort and dedication.
The only fast and easy way to get to where you want is to hire an artist or buy artwork already created by an artist.
So I am really interested in Cheetah 3d because it is well integrated with Mac/Unity and cheaper than C4D.
However, I’ve read posts saying that it is difficult to animate using Cheetah3D. Is it still the case? Which would you choose if you had to buy Cheetah vs Cinema4D in terms of animation?
this program has the easiest and artist friendliest userinterface and documentation i have ever seen. still you will have to invest a week or two to get started.
unfortunately, there is no way to get data from animation master into unity. it is a great jump start into the process of character animation - and in principle all animation packages are the same, AM is just a lot easier. so for unity you’ll end up having one of the programms you named, i personally like softimage xsi over all of them and sidefx houdini should also be mentioned.
be careful to read the license before, if you buy content - most model providers do differ between usage in animations and in games
you should also have a look at n-sided’s quidam 2, you still need a animation package, but you can use it to quickly create fully animatable figures and then export them to your favourite 3d package through the n-sided plugins. this saves a lot of time and they have a very fair per figure pricing politic for indie game developers.
but maybe its smarter to not rush into anything and explain your wife that bill gates is just one lucky sonf of a … and there million of developers that are still no millionaires
yes it is still the case, and the answer must be: i’d choose cinema4d (although i have never worked much with c4d, but it can’t be as bad as cheetah for character anims)
The downside on Cinema4D right now is that a good part of the imrovements MOCCA introduced (Mocap and Animation Tool) - namely the joints - arent compatible to Unity yet. Also there are a few other minor things that make life harder in C4D in combination with Unity in comparison to other software.
On the other hand - from a pure “how to learn 3D” point of view I’d recommend C4D immediately. It is subjectively the easiest profesional tool out there. Unity has a tight integratio to Cinema (regardless of its problems) you won’t get from many other engines out there. So if you stick to unity it’s also a good tool to learn.
Personally I don’t like its modeling tools regarding organic meshes so my workflow is modeling in Blender - getting over to cinema for UVlayout and texturing and animating in blender again. Environmental modeling I do completely in Cinema.
Still it’s what works for me. E.g I downloaded Cheetah’s demo this monring and it doesn’t look bad, either. A little restrictive if you’re used to the overwhelming buttons and options of other 3D software but I only tested it for like 1 hour - that says nothing.
Go ahead and try the various demos of the tools. That’s the best thing you can do. Seriously.
I’ve kind of been waiting for a developer to ask that kind of question … it reminds me a bit of artists asking for “just learning how to create the code for a little game within a day or … maybe two”.
I hope you were just kidding with your marriage being at stake! Learning and developing under pressure tends to be very frustrating.
Kidding or not - I wish you good luck and quick learning (seems like Cinema4d really is the tool of choice for you … I’ve played around a little with Cheetah3D which gives you really quick results but feels a bit limiting to me … now I’m learning Modo and … well, I do understand the artists having a hard time learning programming … this all takes quite a bit of patience and practice … fortunately I’m in the situation that I don’t need characters or animation for my game, so I can focus on “beginner modelling tasks” …).
Cheetah3d Rocks, you can animate with it, and its got a new animation system in the works (Think like your backing a kick-ass racehorse that no-ones heard of yet and his first race is coming up).
I find it really user friendly in terms of general stuff also.
Alternatively get blender and makehuman (Both free) export a mesh from makehuman, import to blender. Then find a free .bvh file online (motion capture). Somewhere in the external tools forum I posted a video of how to convert all this into a unity friendly animated character in about 30 seconds.
Thanks for your feedback. I was kidding about my marriage being at dependent on this project - but sometimes the meaning is “implied” - women. I will print these posts out so she too doesn’t misunderstand the time and effort it will take to get a game up and running. Even when the game is finished in a couple of years, there is not guarantees that it will make me a fortune. I think I will keep my day job.
As for your suggestions, I will download the trial versions and see which ones suit me - although 30 days is hardly enough time. I’ll Probably buy Cheetah because it does sound easier to pick up. Its also cheaper which might be important if I decide its all too hard.
Correct me if I’m wrong. But to do character animation in C4D you need more then the base package… which brings it up to near the cost of Maya Complete no?
If you truely want just to have an animated character then I would probably take the time and learn Blender using one of the cheap training dvd and rigs. As blender’s character animation is very good and there is a lot of support. So the method I’d probably go with is finding a good free blender character rig, learn to apply it to your own model and then animate. IMHO.
Also just because an app comes with dozens of animation tools doesn’t mean you have to use all of them. Most of the time you’ll only be using a handful. I’d still implore you to check out Blender since it’s animation tools are sound, it plays nice with Unity, and it won’t cost you a thing (aside from learning time)
base c4d has enough character animation for stuff you may need in unity, only enhanced features like a muscle system… and… cloth (whatever that has to do with character animation) are in the character module.
