If Blender can do everything why do people still use 3DS Max?

News & General Discussion
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I always wonder this.

Why would someone bother using a student license of 3ds max when you could use blender considering there may come a time when you just realized you could potentially sell your game?

It would have been time wasted learning something else right?

I really do not get it!!

I do however find it strange that they even give out all these student copies free of charge. Isn’t that a stupid move since anyone can use the student copy and sell their work commercially? its not like they could find out if 3ds max was even used in Unity?

I don’t get any of this. Autodesk free student copy, blender totally free. Both can do the same thing yet one costs $4000 but they give it away free anyways and are just “trusting” random people to do the right thing and not use it for commercial purposes when most people would just go ahead anyways.

I don’t get it!

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Some of the reasons off of the top of my head:

Different software has different strenghts and weaknesses.
People might be more familiar with the workflow of either program and like to integrate that one.
If something odd happens in 3DS Max you can communicate with Autodesk to resolve the issue if it is important enough for you (and you want to invest money in their services). Open Source software does not follow a trict agenda of a developer behind it - even though blender is an extremely vital project thanks to Ton Rosendaal.
Commercial programs might be tailored to fit into more pipelines and have a chance to be supported by other commercial vendors sooner vor various reasons (support, colaborations, etc).
Autodesk gives out student copies so that people learn on their software and later don’t want to change their workflow. Everything you are familiar with you are far less likely to ditch for something entirely new since it will always cost you a lot of time to relearn.

Also I would not use student versions for any game, if I was you.
Firstly there’s metadata. Second as soon as you make money your name can be checked agains Autodesk’s registered users. Or just in case something else happens … just don’t do it. Desides all the problems you shoudl pay for something that makes you money and other people work. You would not want to have someone else rip off your work, would you?

3

Not sure. 3dsmax’s ribbon is the worst abomination of UI design I’ve ever seen.

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I would say the main reason is UI and workflow. Yea Blender is free but 3DS Max could just work better for some people, or they like the controls. Personal preference I guess (I haven’t used 3DS Max much so I can’t comment on it).

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I guess its safe for me to say that I should instead start using Blender since it will be my first ever 3D modeling software so later on in life I won’t have to worry about relearning anything.

Out of curiosity this metadata thing can autodesk really know even if its been converted into Unity?
Say auto desk questions you and you claimed you built it in blender now?

From what I have seen possible with blender its just as good as high paid software.

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Student licenses are intended for learning purposes. Blender is certainly improving at a good pace, but getting a job with most companies will still require you to know commercial modellers like 3ds max and maya.

If I were intending to go commercial, I’d probably subscribe to the modeller prior to releasing it.

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so hold on a second you are saying its ok to use 3ds max to create all your stuff in student form

And then when time to release just pay a 1 month subscription to release the game? that sounds brilliant except for the fact that autodesk has no subscriptions and they want $4000 upfront or am I wrong?

edit ok I found it

ok so all one needs to do is pay $180 for 1 month right and then cancel it right?

8

ok how about Maya LT its only $30 a month?

And I could use the student version for a couple years and then day before I release my commercial game for money I can buy a $30 subscription for one month and then cancel it right?

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I don’t know. I couldn’t find any statements made by Autodesk that would indicate you could or couldn’t. Searching for it only turned up a post by Teila from a day ago.

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thanks for clearing up that. This indicates to me to stay clear of Autodesk unless I am using it to learn other than that its useless for freelance or hobbyist work

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No - that’s not really okay. Strictly speaking you cannot use things you created in student edition to be released commercially. Logically you would not be able to release a game commercially with tons and tons of art assets created in only a month. So as soon as you want to make money off of it use the commercial version or use something different.

Though keep in mind: I’m only some german dude on a forum telling you something that is probably right. The only real safe legal help you will get from a lawyer or Autodesk themselves.

Judging by your other thread on Unity games, though, you are a student only starting out on anything. So you should probably not worry about these things but rather about learning and improving skills first and foremost. As soon as you actually want to make money you can start worrying about licensing.

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Because Blender is about as intuitive as a brick in the face.

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To be fair … a brick in the face is pretty intuitive. Hold - aim - throw.

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ok thanks guys yes I am a student so I will worry first about learning to model but I have decided I will use blender.

The extra hurdles is a very small price to pay as opposed to 3ds max etc

thanks

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** @ **

Well many 3d artists/graphic designers, including myself, know how to use, more than one 3D software.
In my case, I learnt Maya first in Animation class.

Then I learned Blender a year later.

When I first heard about Blender, and I learned what open source meant. I was not to sure if Blender would be worth learning.
Like alot of people, I thought to myself, “this Blender program must be some sort of casual cheap dud thingy! But I always knew not to judge things.” Lol!
So I gave Blender a shot.
And after learning Blender well, I almost never went back to Maya.
Because Blender sped up and solved alot of problems that I and alot of other graphic designers had in Maya.

Even my 3d animation teacher who worked in the video game industry years back, was slightly pissed off, and laughing at the same time, when we demonstrated to him, Blenders capabilities and easiness.
And he saw, how much easier it was to do “certain,” things in Blender in comparison to Maya etc.

Blender is just as capable as any other open source or paid for commercial 3d software.

The only problem with Blender(like all other open source projects) is that they don’t have a ton of money and resources to pay people to improve it. Or put in more options sooner. etc.
So new features and things, take a while to be implemented. :smile:

Maya and 3dmax are nice softwares too. If you want to learn them, go ahead.

For my work, Blender is more suited for my game design and 3D art work stuff.

But at the end of the day it’s up to the user, not the software.
PS: Another 3D program super favoured in the gaming industry, is SoftimageXSI.
But Autodesk is going to pull the plug on it next year. :frowning:
Lot’s of angry XSI users on Facebook.
I don’t blame those XSI users. That software is pretty cool!

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16

You can check out Blender Cookie for character modelling tutorials.
Here it is: http://cgcookie.com/blender

Also, when you’re learning 3d modelling or character modelling,
“Do not rush.”
Take your time to learn.
Otherwise it’ll become frustrating for you.

They do Unity game engine tuts as well. :smile:

Enjoy!! :smile:

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thanks brandy

I will only be using blender for unity and UE4 though just basic modeling and suff as its for student use.
But I intend to make money later on and don’t want my work to be in vain so this is why I would use blender just to be on the safe side you know.

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Which is why I choose to learn Maya LT. It is only $800.

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I understand perfectly well.
Enjoy using Blender.
It is a really Great 3d software.
Good luck to you and your game project and many Blessings to you too!

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If you are going to learn blender then look on YouTube for the training DVDs. All official blender institute own DVDs are creative commons. :slight_smile: