Topic awaiting preservation: gmax

any of you guys played with that yet? 100% free, it supplies some nice tutorials, its all supported. I'm making the mace right now. Its basically 3dsmax 4 trimmed down and geared toward low poly game graphics

where can i download it if it is free? do you have a link?

http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/

Sounds perfect for my needs as 3DS Max is too much program sometimes. I can't wait to give it a spin.

I'm sorry, I was tired when I posted that... thanks wj

NP, Gix.

I like it. Seems to have everything that I like for basic modeling and skinning. Although I do find the Material Editor a bit different. Just a period of adjustment is all.

The tuts -- excellant! They cover all the basics and few other Nuggets of Joy. The Power Charger tut is a great example of box modeling with a few other tricks tossed in.

No render. I like to look at models sometimes with a render, but that's fine. I can survive with just Smooth + Highlights. I find this kind of weird because you can add lights.

No Import/Export. All about GMax files. Major downer. I think I'll try dropping some of my 3DS Max Import/Export plug-ins into GMax just to see. [A few minutes pass...] Nope. Maybe if I drop in some Max 4 plug-ins...? I'll hit the site later and look for more answers.

Over-all, I like it. All I really need to do is get past this Import/Export thing and it's a keeper.

Well, this officially blows. GMax is good only in native GMax format or with a game pack. Those are the only ways to get meshes into and out of GMax. No 3DS, OBJ, etc. No Import/Export plug-ins that will work (they were rather deft about this). I've been up and down the support, FAQ, and rather weak forums, and that's that.

Course, the folks over there will be the first to tell that GMax Dev is the way go...

:sigh: Another bites the dust. ZBrush anybody? Heh.

edit: Not a total loss, though. I do think the tuts are worth downloading for a regular 3DS Max user.



[This message has been edited by warjournal (edited 09-30-2001).]

No export or import?
Well that really sucks. Back to metasequoia le and rhino

basically I think they make money from the game developers that buy it. But with the drawbacks that wj stated. devolopers might shy away from it.. But I think it has some great advantages. Its free, it has support, great for the beginner. drawbacks are a kicker though

I had no idea about this, but I love 3DS, so I'm going to download this when I get home and check it out.

I'm not sure how modeling works, I'm just getting started, but you guys said you can't put files into gmax, so does that mean I can't put my photoshop skins in the program either? or is the unnecessary in one way or another....

Hmm... this might help you:




They never said you can't get *any* at all into gmax. They just said it's not possible to take your existing 3DStudioMax files and import them into gmax. (3DStudioMAX and GMax is *not* the same, just to make sure )

cheers, Tw!ddleFinger

_________________________
Who is General Failure, and why is he reading my disk?

You can do all that with GMax. Make a model from scratch, UVW, and skin (well, do the skin in PS to apply in GMax).

But you have to remember that GMax is very specialized and Discreet is going to keep it that way. It's only good with itself and with games that have game pak plug-ins. No real use for GMax outside of that. But for what it's for, it's great. (I must admit that I am very interested in GMax Dev.)

quote:

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I'm just getting started

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That's cool. We could use a few more 3D heads around here. But that brings up the question: What are you looking do to with 3D? Mods for games? Pretty scenes? Animations? Maybe we can steer you towards a better, more versatile 3D prog solution.



-back to basics

I want to make images for websights, wall papers, basically use it as another art medium. I did (probably still do) have the option to get an older version of 3dsmax for pretty cheap, I guess 300 bucks is pretty cheap. But I do want to use it for game use. So gmax will fit that bill perfect.

To get your feet wet with general 3D rendering, try TrueSpace 1. It's free!

IMHO, I think you would better off getting an older version of 3DS Max if it's in your budget. You can use it for game mods and still do other things.

What version of Max is it? Don't buy it if it's below version 2.x.

IMHO Max versions 3.1 and 4 are the best ones (but that hardly depends on you personal preferences, I currently use 4). Man, this gmax topic...I'm starting to get intrested in that prog.... *heads-over-to-discreet*....*downloads-gmax*

cheers, Tw!ddleFinger

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Who is General Failure, and why is he reading my disk?

It's been a while since I've touched a Max product... where is the tool to render? I've checked all the menus (I think) but can't find anything to let me see something I've created when rendered.

HS, I couldn't find a render either. I mentioned it above. I guess there is no need for rendering when you are developing for a game. Man, they really tightened GMax down to keep it focused on game development.

Sorry about that, read right over that post.

Well, you could always try pressing [F9]. That's the MAX shortcut key for quickRender.
It might work, I'm not sure.

I was able to install Gmax, but I cannot register it, I am on a Novell network with a proxy server, and I am using internet explorer 6, any one else have any problems with this?

There is plenty of room on the bottom.