How do I start? I looked around for some software, and search around these forums. XSI apparently was used in development for Fable 2 - how do I get started with that? Or do you recommend anything else for a beginner?

Do you need be a freehand drawer to do 3D Character Modeling, or Environmental Modeling? I'd appreciate the help, thanks in advance.

Well, I don't know of any free 3d modeling programs, chances ae they'd be dismal in terms of what you could do anyway. But 3ds Max is a great program to use if you can't draw very well, And their is a  free trial that you could get. then you could grab a tutorial, or use the pre-provided autodesk one. Then make a model, If your still wanting to do 3ds after that, then you could find another tutorial, which includes texturing ,unwrappng, Physiquing , then either exporting or attaching animations... Then use that as a guideline to make your own model. 

Then if you still want to make 3d models, keep trying, maybe create some of your own custom animations ect..

 

btw, sorry for the lack of linkage.>

 

 

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Gradius:: If I could get our lead designer in here to quell this once and for all about why we do it and why it's    then I would...and he is a 6 foot 6 American who eats small children for breakfast, and picks his teeth with er...flaming axes

Blender is a free 3D modeling app - http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/ . I haven't used it personally (I use Max) but I heard it is very for being free. I think Maya, which is an awesome 3D app, might have a learning edition. You are limited with the things you can do, but it might be enough for what you are trying to do.

Edit - As far as being at freehand drawing, I'm not at it myself but I seem to be able to do 3D just fine. You can find blueprints online to use for reference as you model, which is really important. However, drawing up concepts of what you want to model is extremely useful so you can get some ideas of what you want your model to look like.

3D modeling isn't something that you can learn overnight.  With that warning www.3dtotal.com is a place to start with modeling challenges which even if you stink at it you learn something new with each model you make.

That being said personally I use 3D Studio Max however I need to try Blender becuase I've seen it in action and the feel of modeling seems like it would be much more natural.  I would suggest using Blender from what I have seen of it plus its free otherwise you have to pay alot for 3ds max or obtain it in a less then legal way.  It's also worth mentioning on most job application's they mention maya / 3ds max mostly.

3ds max I normally use to produce a rough shape of the model beyond that I use Zbrush 3.1 which is a sculpting program and feels completely like sculpting IRL.  I also use it for topology which is basically using it to set the polygons up better but you will learn more about that as you go.

Maya is generally used for animation becuase it's ALOT easier to use then 3ds max for that so it's worth mentioning.

yes  i agree that 3d character modeling is not as easy to learn in a day or 2 through free software . You should join some multimedia classes and get training from some professional trainer ....

I don't suggest getting too articulated with character design right away.

There are basic procedures to follow in modeling when working with character design, and animation, which entirely depends on your ability.

If I were to make a suggestion, it is to get comfortable with basic modeling in about as many programs as possible.

Most programs will use different names for tools and techniques, versus other programs which when it comes to character design in modeling, is really handy if you are working between two or more programs.

Such as Maya/Blender, or 3DS Max/Blender.

If you want to go at your own pace, I suggest DVD training videos, that versus a class, well, you just wont get the kind of ease in class you will with DVD's. Most DVD's will explain thoroughly through specific training points.

Most from UI all the way up to rendering.

The reason I suggest this, is because there are many different forms of character designs, from organic, to mechanical, etc.

I agree with the other guys, character modeling really isn't the place to start.  You'll find yourself getting frustrated pretty early on.  You can grab a 3D modeling book for about $30 at the store, then just work through the tutorials... find tutorials online... work through those.  The more you model, the more familiar you become with shapes and the software you use.  I personally use 3DS Max, but wouldn't recommend it to a hobbyist unless you get the educational version.. which I think is still a pretty penny.

I have a co-worker who's been using Blender at home and says things about it, so I'd say that's your best place to start.  They should also have a bunch of blender tutorials floating around the internet. 

Best of luck!

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Life isn't about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.

I recommend this tutorial.

http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/max/joanofarc/joanmenu.asp

I also recommend this free 3d program. Though blender may be (alot)better, I hardly used blender, so I wouldn't know.

http://www.anim8or.com/

I do environmental design in 3ds max, by displacing a 2d plane with a premade heightmap. not too difficult.

But there are programs that specialize in it. Vue 6 is one. but I don't know much about it.

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Blender is rather hard to learn, but it is free.

There are probably two programs that I know for sure that gaming companies use:

Bryce - Landscape and it is also rather easy to learn and use

Maya - The standard industrial Animation and Design Program

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I started learning to model in 2004 using Autodesk 3D StudioMax, however I found the interface to be too cluttered so I quickly moved to Autodesk Maya, which I've been with ever since. In 2006 finished top of class in the FD Computer Visualisation and Animation at Ravensbourne College of Media and Communication in London, which is an awesome course if you want to learn about 3D and animation generally. Next year I start on my final top-up to BA Animation at the same uni. The course content is brilliant and you get to either create your own proper animation or game concept dependant on what you want to do. Ravensbourne also have a lot of close links with Rare and most of the leading VFX studios in London like Framestore CFC.

However by and large most of my skill I was self taught by reading and following tutorials. I would personally recommend a lot of the tutorials on CGNetwork and the Autodesk Community websites. Also next year I am launching my own complete set of free Modeling in Maya tutorials on my domain at http://idrive.z01.co.uk. They will cover everything from basic box modeling to the more complex organic NURBS and SubD techniques. The first tutorial goes live on 26th January 2009, and their free.

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--->T3RMINAL KAOS<----

Well I use blender becuase I carnt afford any of the expencive 3D design programs, But blender is pritty easy to learn and is quite user freindly, plus its free.

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"IrishMorn"
If Adon and Sagat step in....ah, what the hell, I'll get drunk and join in on that one.

I use Blender and Anim8tor however Maya is deifnately a great one to use once you become a much more advanced 3d graphic designer

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Gangly_Creature:

Well, I don't know of any free 3d modeling programs, chances ae they'd be dismal in terms of what you could do anyway. But 3ds Max is a great program to use if you can't draw very well, And their is a  free trial that you could get. then you could grab a tutorial, or use the pre-provided autodesk one. Then make a model, If your still wanting to do 3ds after that, then you could find another tutorial, which includes texturing ,unwrappng, Physiquing , then either exporting or attaching animations... Then use that as a guideline to make your own model. 

Then if you still want to make 3d models, keep trying, maybe create some of your own custom animations ect..

 

btw, sorry for the lack of linkage.>

 

 

Google SketchUp is a free 3D modelling programme. Its only downside is poor texture capabilities.

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Well I was probably stupid and started with the XSI mod tool, but I've learnt to model with it and some basic animation, rendering on the other hand, I just can't get quality ones.

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Why do you think that was stupid?  I've used 3ds Max and Blender and just recently started using XSI, from what I can tell it's extremely powerful and I'm preferring it over the other two. 

The only downside so far is the community seems a lot smaller than some of the others, 3ds max has a huge community/tutorials/books etc...  but I think thats just because its been around since the DOS days, doesn't mean it's any better.

Plus if you know XSI it's pretty easy for you to start getting involved in Microsoft's XNA and start writing your own games, or team up with a programmer who uses XNA.  XSI has an XNA addon that from what I can tell so far is basically a custom content pipeline to get your XSI assets into an XNA game very easily.

Don't get me wrong, XSI is by the far the most powerful tool at there, but it is very hard to find decent tutorials for up to date versions of the software than programmes like Blender or 3dsmax, so for starting out and learning XSI probably wasn't the best route and took a lot longer.

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