reccomended modelign program

[ffmaster]

Yer all right that maya;xsi;3dsm etc are good apps, but if you wanna do just the modelling part I suggest that u use zbrush!
This prog is built to give you the same ease as if you were playing around with clay! All the other progs are to complex because they are also used to create physicmodels;weathereffects and other insane complex things.
So just go try Zbrush you won't be dissapointed!

[Athlete{UK}]

Yer all right that maya;xsi;3dsm etc are good apps, but if you wanna do just the modelling part I suggest that u use zbrush!
This prog is built to give you the same ease as if you were playing around with clay! All the other progs are to complex because they are also used to create physicmodels;weathereffects and other insane complex things.
So just go try Zbrush you won't be dissapointed!

I would have to dissagree entirely with that. Zbrush is designed entirely for high polygon modelling. You can create low polygon models but they just don't work out as well.

It also lacks a lot of features when it comes to modelling for games.

I would say only use Zbrush to create normal maps when it comes to modelling you are far better using an all round app. My personal Favourites are in this order. 3DSMAX cinema 4d lightwave XSI maya.

[slayera]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents, but there is also trueSpace/gameSpace at
http://www.caligari.com and http://www.caligari.com/gamespace/. You can also download trueSpace 3.1 / gameSpace 1.5 (with restrictions) for free. With trueSpace you will need something like Milkspace http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/, (free trial for 30 days) for converting to a .smd and to skin. gameSpace directly supports HL2 and some others, like Quake and UT2003. I have not personally tried out gameSpace, yet, but looks like a all in one tool for supporting many games and formats, too bad it is a little steep in price ($399), but much cheaper then Maya or 3DMax. Plus you can design and export your level from inside gameSpace. As far as I know, no other modeler supports that.

[Athlete{UK}]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents, but there is also trueSpace/gameSpace at
http://www.caligari.com and http://www.caligari.com/gamespace/. You can also download trueSpace 3.1 / gameSpace 1.5 (with restrictions) for free. With trueSpace you will need something like Milkspace http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/, (free trial for 30 days) for converting to a .smd and to skin. gameSpace directly supports HL2 and some others, like Quake and UT2003. I have not personally tried out gameSpace, yet, but looks like a all in one tool for supporting many games and formats, too bad it is a little steep in price ($399), but much cheaper then Maya or 3DMax. Plus you can design and export your level from inside gameSpace. As far as I know, no other modeler supports that.

Milkshape des.

And yeah this is a really good recomendation. If you just want to model for games and are just starting off get have a go wwith things like this.