   Maya or 3DStudio Max?
  I'm trying to create a user interface for a MMORPG.I have a G5 MAC running OSX and would like user input on whether to use Maya or 3DStudio Max to create the models for the user interface.Same ? for the architecture of buildings.Any input would be greatly appreciated.Thank You   
  Well i doubt you can afford either, but there is a Maya Personal Learning Edition.Maybe Blender is more to your liking.Dave   ;Quote:Original post by DaveWell i doubt you can afford either, but there is a Maya Personal Learning Edition.Maybe Blender is more to your liking.DaveNot to mention that 3DS Max doesn't run on a Mac...Blender is certainly your best choice on a budget, but you might consider Modo, Cheetah 3D, ZBrush, or Lightwave.   ;  The maya Personal Learning Edition has a few kinks, though, if you want to use the output for projects.I'd suggest Maya, but others will swear by Max.  It's a matter of which one you're more comfortable using.  Then again, it's true that both have big price tags.Much as I dislike Blender (it's a royal pain to use after using Maya for five years), it does have the virtue of being free.  If you're starting, and on a budget, it's probably the best choice, as you won't be tainted by the UI for other programs.  Wings is another modeling program that might work for you.   ;  Maya would be fairly difficult for a beginner to get an entire grasp of. Im a Max fan-boy and can't get a grasp of Maya, simply because Max does alot more for you initially been a long time since I opened Max actually all those old models waiting for revision. Anyway if you access to Windows consider Gmax it's basically a cut down free version of Max with the essentials only. Things like advanced rendering and post effects have been removed I believe.   ;  Cinema 4d is my prefered modelling software, well worth the purchase price! Very very easy to use too, great tools and interface.   ;  Is the UI actually 3D? Typically you use something like photoshop for UI design.Otherwise it doesn't matter.  Both suites do basically the same thing.  Which is better is a question of religious wars.  Either one will cost around $3,000.00 US-me   ;  And, like frob mentioned a bit back when this was brought up, Autodesk owns both Maya and Max these days, so the differences between the two may not be much of an issue sometime soonish.For better or worse.   ;Quote:Original post by PalidineIs the UI actually 3D? Typically you use something like photoshop for UI design.Warcraft III and several other games actually use a 3D UI.  Kinda strange if you ask me, I've never quite understood why.For a UI, I like going 2D and using Photoshop or something of the sort.   ;  Maya would be more versatile, and also uses the really good, Mental Ray raytracing engine, but i personally don't have either max or maya. I jus use my friends' computers now and then. I usually use Anim8or and PovRay to generate the UI, and then MM-Fireworks to spice it up, and shape.   