most commonly used modelling software?

[marnamai]

I am looking to get started with modelling and I honestly don't want to waste my time learning one of the less commonly used programs, I know the techniques can be used is probably all of them. But things like interfaces, controlls, shortcuts and such aren't.

I'd also like to know what the biggest differences (focus) are between the programs, while they are all owned and developed by autodesk?

[korge]

From what Im told by actual pros who were employed by studios, they say Maya is what is required.

Other than that, its always nice to always know max as well.

[Plague]

I think this is an opinonated subject.

Why It seemed at one time 3DS Max was more common for game development, I believe all the tool sets bring more or less the same stuff.

The real difference is how they work.
Some say one has better UI other say one can do something better.

What I used to hear was Maya for Animation, which people agree it does more or less better.
Valve uses XSI, and Hammer is related enough to XSI to make it easy to work with.

So just figure out which one looks better in YOUR opinion.

[marks]

Industry is roughly 45/45/10 split between Max/Maya and in-house 3d tools. This is from a large number of industry contacts I have. Personally, I seem to see mostly Maya listed in job adverts though, or "Max/Maya" which seems to imply the studio uses both (or perhaps simply wants to know that you can use one pro-level package so you know enough to be trained on the package they use?).

The biggest differences are that Max has a stronger modelling workflow and tools (in comparison to Maya) whereas Maya has some minor other cool gubbins, and is supposedly better for rigging and animation. Really though, they do pretty much the same thing. I think Max has more (better?) plugins / scripts.

[Gary]

3Ds Max and Maya are used a lot as far as I know.

[Plague]

Industry is roughly 45/45/10 split between Max/Maya and in-house 3d tools. This is from a large number of industry contacts I have. Personally, I seem to see mostly Maya listed in job adverts though, or "Max/Maya" which seems to imply the studio uses both (or perhaps simply wants to know that you can use one pro-level package so you know enough to be trained on the package they use?).

The biggest differences are that Max has a stronger modelling workflow and tools (in comparison to Maya) whereas Maya has some minor other cool gubbins, and is supposedly better for rigging and animation. Really though, they do pretty much the same thing. I think Max has more (better?) plugins / scripts.

Exactly, in the end the studio just wants a good modeler.
If you can master Max you can master another program in half the time. (Probably less)

I'm personally going with Max, more support(In a way) and nice plugins make it a slightly easier package to learn.
(I have the EDU suite, so in the end it does not matter :\)

[marks]

Yeah, just as an example here aswell the university I went to chose Max over Maya because "the UI is more intuitive and its easier to learn". Apparently. And the guy who ran the course seriously knew what he was doing so I don't doubt that this is the case.

[cheesemoo0]

Just check the amount of tutorials for each one to see which is more popular. If you base it off that number then 3ds Max is far more popular.

[srredfire]

I use Maya because that's what I'm being taught to use in Uni. So.

[Mr. Happy]

Well personnally I think XSI has the best UI, max felt clunky to me and maya looked overwhelming. Max is probably more commonly used among modders though maya is probably more commonly used among pros. At least from what I've seen.

Im about to start learning modo as it looks pretty cool.

[Phott]

I'm actually having an easy time learning 3DS Max, I tried XSI, Maya and Blender and neither really appealed to me.

I guess the fact that we're using Max in school also plays a part, I sincerely hope the knowledge I gather from 3DS Max is going to be useful when I get working.

[poisonic]

i use all of them... first i used maya then 3dsmax then i got some education in autocad(got my certificates 2d&3d advanced) but then i tought lets hop into XSI but i hate it!!!! first i used a XSI/MAX combo work flow but that sucked... then i tought why am i so stupid using max to texture and xsi to model... then i tought eureka!!!!!!!!!! lets hop back in to max.... so nowdays i use max only and for complex models i prefer to use autocad!!!!!!

[Noodles]

Yeah, just as an example here aswell the university I went to chose Max over Maya because "the UI is more intuitive and its easier to learn". Apparently. And the guy who ran the course seriously knew what he was doing so I don't doubt that this is the case.

He's right. Maya has come crazy shit UI. Expecially when it comes to the Curve Editor. Trying to work out how to move keyframes around and adjusting the curves took a long time, and involves a lot of alt clicking and weird stuff.

Unlike Max, where you can just drag 'em around.

Also the version of Maya I used just didn't look very aesthetically pleasing - I know that sounds a bit silly but it's true, I just look at the interface and I'm like, "I JUST DON'T LAIK IT".

[marnamai]

I 'll be starting with Max then

[Dr. Delta]

Maya here on uni, but I personally prefer 3ds max. So I end up learning/using both.