Quiz for Graphic Artists (3D)

[ramlambmoo]

I\'ve recently been doing some programming writing code for my own 3D engine.  At this stage most of the basic framework is done, except there is no way to import models into it except by manually entering the 3D co-ordinates into a text file and loading it.  I want make my program able to import in models that are saved in popular 3D formats, so a graphic designer can make a model and import it into my program without having to worry about how my program works, or even using it.  However, since i have pretty much zero artistic inclination, and have never really worked with 3D models, i dont know which file formats (extensions) are the most popular and accessible.  So i though i\'d conduct this poll, and it would be greatly appreciated if you could spare a few mintues to reply.  Oh, and you dont have to be a very good 3D artist, as long as you\'ve worked with some 3D modelling program a bit and you can answer the questions, its all good.

1) What 3D Modelling program do you primarily use?
2) How much did it cost to buy the program?
3) What are the main file formats it exports to?
4) Which of these formats do you use the most?
5) How experienced are you making 3D models / how long have you been using modelling tools? (0 total newbie - 10 Guru 3D modeller)
6) Another other comments / help would be appreciated.

Cheers, and thanks for you time.

[Nightrogue]

1) 3ds Max 5

2) Nothing. I was given it as a gift. Average price is around $3500

3)The main file type it exports is .3ds, but other popular types include .obj, .dxf, .w3d and .xml

4).3ds defianately. Not the best question really as most major moddeling programs have their own default file format.

5) Err, im not sure. 5 or 6 maybe?

6) Many 3d engines use some variant of .obj, so that is where i would start.

[rosmerelmer]

1: blender
2: 0,- ( ah, i love open source)
3: main file is .blend but can export to all kinds of stuff and can also import loads.
4: .blend i don\'t use other programs with it
5: well, blender has a cal3d exporter.( but no importer, aaaah)

[Nightrogue]

i might be wrong rosmelmer, but isnt .blend a project file rather than a model? e.g you save it rather than export it. 3ds Max saves files in .max format, but exports with 3ds. I think that blender saves in .blend and exports mainly with .obj. If so, then .blend format is completely useless to anything other than blender itself.

BTW, check what question five is again. I think you misread it

[Drey]

1) n/a
2) n/a
3) n/a
4) n/a
5) 0
6) I like cereal


(sooooo bored, and hungry.)

[Keyaz]

1) 3DS Max 6
2) we be findin treasure, arr!
3) .3ds/.max
4) ^
5)it would depend on what your making, but i say im a 1 the guru newbie
6)turn off the lights when you do that o.O

EDIT: all quizzes have prizes, where is my prize?

[Thenior]

1) Maya 3.0 Unlimted commercial/maya 6.0 academic
2) $45/$250
3) .MA (Maya ascii) and .MB (Maya Binary)
4) .MB
5) 5-6
6) Support the new .FBX format, and support .3ds. Those two are very important

[rosmerelmer]

Originally posted by Nightrogue

BTW, check what question five is again. I think you misread it

i misread it i think im good for such a short period of modeling/texturing, but i\'m far from pro

.blend is just a file where you save everything(lamps,models,scenes wtc.)
it\'s only used for the program itself. it can also export to .obj

[edit] see for yourself if you find me good(it\'s not finished)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/gnomkiller/maskofillusion.jpg

[Nightrogue]

Nice. Did you model everything yourself?

[JellyWerker]

1) blender, wings
2) free
3) .blend, .wings
4) .blend
5) 6 ( I have gotten *much* better since I last posted anything here )
6) I think the best formats for it to support would be .3ds, .obj, and .md2 or 3

Edit: btw, I\'m back...

[ramlambmoo]

Thanks for all the info, it looks like i\'ll start with .3ds and .obj, as those two seem pretty common and accessible.

[kang_holion]

1 - Cinema 4D XL 9
2 - $320 student version
3 - .3ds and others with the right plugins
4 - none since I don\'t export
5 - a 4 maybe... I have been using it for 4 years now, but I don\'t practice often enough to master
6 - Are you planning to sell this or are you trying to gain some incite before going on?

I need sleep...

[ArcaneFalcon]

Max6 - max, 3ds, obj and of course CS - max & CS - low to moderate, 3 or 4 I\'d say/been modelling almost a year - if you need any help I have many friends, one who is making a game engine strictly to test ai for rts\'s on, last I checked he had heightmaps working

:emerald:

[ramlambmoo]

6 - Are you planning to sell this or are you trying to gain some incite before going on?  

Definatly not planning to sell it, im just kind of programming my 3D engine and seeing where i end up.  There are alot of high quality 3D engines already out there so i would need to make it very professional to actually make a profit from it.

one who is making a game engine strictly to test ai for rts\'s on, last I checked he had heightmaps working  

Hmmm yeah ill probablly get around to adding support for heightmaps sooner or later... knowing me probablly later

[Aldaron]

1) Blender

2) It\'s free software released under the GNU GPL, .Both \"free as in freedom\", and \"free as in free beer\"

3) .blend (Blender native format) its a Scene file format, but blender also native import and export for DXF, Inventor and VRML files, and througth python scripts many other 3D formats, like .3ds, cal3d, CristalSpace ( XML world files)

4) .blend. Maybe ( I hope) in the future .cal3d and  CristalSpace ( XML world files)

5) between 0 and 1, closer to 0

6) maybe my opinion it;s not so valuable, because I\'m using blender mainly in a hobbyst way, i\'m not a pro, only a entusiast whit delusions about being an 3D Gaphics Artist

PD: For the blender maniacs & PlaneShift artist out there, a new project is born : CristalBlend  enjoy!

Sorry for my bad english.