A survey about modeling

Tekku

aa
Aug 31, 2008
723
873
Hello, I need everyone who is involved in modeling or is just looking forward to it, do this small survey, it is a part of my scientific research about modeling. It would be really great to have as many answers as possible so the more people will do this survey the better. Thanks!

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What modeling application do you use?
What pluses and minuses does it have?
Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?


How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)

(If you haven’t made anything yet, its not a must to answer these)
How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
Which was your first model? How long did it take to make? (A picture would be really nice!
 
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Feb 18, 2009
640
629
What modeling application do you use? Blender. versions 2.48 and 2.53
What pluses and minuses does it have? It's free but still is a fully functioning tool that can easily lead you into professional tools like 3ds or Maya. Because of its operating language, Python, I doesn't quite have the power or in some cases precision of the professional tools, but it does mean the community can make scripts for it much more easily.
Why would you suggest it for a beginner? Much the same as above :)
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? The basics are dead easy. More specific functions just take time to remember, but stuff like lighting and texturing can be tricky to grasp. Fortunately you don't need lighting for Source. :)
Does it have a big community that helps? Very. There is an online "manual" for v2.49 and earlier and they are building one for v2.5, there is an official forum, generally for bugs etc, and Blender artist forums can provide anything from beginner advice to highly advanced concepts.


How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now? Don't really notice, I'm not in that kind of loop :p Gaming does seem to be the main purpose of modelling within the community, but Blander has really been used for short films in the past.
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games? I don't have any experience of this, but with 3D films there has been an increase in interest in modelling for film. Other than that, there isn't a great deal else. It can be used to create graphics and logos so I would advise photoshop artists to learn the basics in any software they choose.
Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it? Undecided. Would definitely love it to be, but I'm not chasing it too intently.
If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great) N/A

I'm not going to answer the last ones. I don't make models to finish and release them, just to practice. More like learning an instrument than being in a band if you catch my drift :)
 

Omnomnick

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 16, 2009
335
111
I've only do a small bit of modelling but I'm hopefully going to do more sometime soon.

What modeling application do you use?
Maya 2011

What pluses and minuses does it have?
Pros:
-Large variety of features and configurations for complex tasks
-Simple interface

Cons:
-The large variety of features and buttons can be confusing for beginners like myself.

Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
-Probably not, as I said theres so many buttons and features its hard to find where to start.

How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
-As I said, it's pretty difficult because of the complex amount of features. The easy to understand layout is pretty good but theres just so many buttons and features.


How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
-Modelling is very important in gaming. Sometimes brushes just can't produce the same level of detail as a nicely rendered model. Most models are strictly necessary, but for aesthetics it's hugely important!

Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
-Modelling is in CGI, TV and advertisements. Almost always used with animations to portray a message (TV ad) or for cool visual effects (TV and Film)

Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
-I'm hoping to become a game developer after taking a Computing Science and Game development course at University, at some point during that course I'll be doing some kind of modelling and of course I would be doing a lot more of it in a real game development career.

If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at?
-I think theres enough Universities in the UK that do modelling or modelling based courses.

Survey done.
 

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
1,372
Well since you asked so nicely...


What modeling application do you use?
None.

(Skipped those that were irrelevant)

How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
From the point of view of a Source mapper - Some, but probably not as much as if I were to use something like the Unreal Engine. Still, for level design, models are essential to create the level of detail a player expects, and models often allow you to create gameplay environments with a little more interesting geometry than if you were to use simple brushes.

Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Yes, it definitely is. For instance, cartoons and animations of different kinds (movies, commercials and more) very often use models these days.

Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
If I choose to take the path of game design; yes, probably. It appears to me that use of models is much more important in modern game engines.

If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
If I want to learn game design or something similar at a university, there is only one in Norway. That is not enough. However, if I looked for a university with modeling as a standalone subject/degree, I would probably not have any problem finding one.
 

Steff0o

L6: Sharp Member
May 31, 2009
295
132
What modeling application do you use?
Maya 2008
What pluses and minuses does it have?
Plus: Simple Interface, easy to understand, logical buttons, many features (so you dont need other applications to make certain things.)
Minus: Some bugs(old version)

Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
Its easy to learn, the controls are really simple. It also has options like auto-uv, these arent good enough for proffesional work, but work really well when you begin.
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
Its really easy, but no there arent much people talking about maya. thats sometimes hard but most is still findable on google

How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Isnt moddeling 50% of a game?!
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Movies, commercials, construction etc?!
Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
Yes, i want to go to the International Game Architecture and Design course at the NHTV BredaIf you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
International Game Architecture and Design course at the NHTV Breda

(If you haven’t made anything yet, its not a must to answer these)
How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
I forget time when im model
Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
I started easy so not really hard, trying to make a cement mixer was hard though.
Which was your first model? How long did it take to make?
The Propellor model for Tf2. It took about 5 hours to make, mostly because i had no idea what to do with a ambient occlusion map
 
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Tapp

L10: Glamorous Member
Jan 26, 2009
776
215
What modeling application do you use?
Blender, v2.49

What pluses and minuses does it have?
Missing a few good tools, tricky interface to learn, fine once you've got the hang of it. Plus? It's FREE!

Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
When did I do that?! Anyway, I'd say the benefit of blender is all in its price. If you give up, you can just uninstall it and forget about the whole ordeal. My first foray into modelling was actually with 3dsmax, and during the year I possessed the student version all I had learnt to do was carve (granted, I was about 10 at the time). The point is, free software takes the pressure off the learning experience.

How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
I wouldn't say it's the easiest to learn,there are a lot of easier programs for a price, but the blender community is there, and helps when it can.

How big an effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Games are getting a lot more model-orientated, so I believe that eventually, modelling will be something in high demand for designers.

Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Of course, there's numerous jobs in design, architecture, engineering and especially the movie industry

Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
I'm hoping to land a job in the games industry, and expect it to be a great help

If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
I haven't really been looking much, so far all I can recall is the Sydney academy of interactive entertainment.

(If you haven’t made anything yet, its not a must to answer these)
How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
About 3-4 hours, stretched out over about a week-a fortnight

Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
I can't say I've done anything too complex yet, but if I were to choose it would be my WIP space resupply locker. More so struggling with what is should look like than anything else.

Which was your first model? How long did it take to make? (A picture would be really nice!)
My first attempt at a model was a poorly conceived, subsurfed gear. My first complete model was a jackhammer, which I've pretty much abandoned.
jackhammer10005.jpg
 
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AgeNt_

L5: Dapper Member
Aug 12, 2009
236
88
What modeling application do you use?
I have been using 3ds max for a good 3 years now. I have always loved 3ds max, easy and simple for me to use.

What pluses and minuses does it have?
It can bake good normal maps from high to low poly meshes, almost converts to any format, and it has a simple interface.

Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
3ds max can be very simple for a beginner. version 2010 simplifies all of that it does very nicely and can be put to good use. Besides the fact that this is the overall choice in modeling programs for game design companies all around the world.

How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
For a beginner, anything they need help with will have a tutorial on it, and for the community... well... of course there is! ask anyone on a 3d modeling forum for help and they will give you answers...if they know it.

How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
modeling is the skin on the human (heart being programming[also brain]) you need it unless its a 2d game.
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Heck yes there is. Ever heard of this company named Pixar? yeah them. also you can do commercials, ad's, etc.

Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
Of course, as a game design student, it will be a must.
If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
I believe so. It all depends if were you are and if there isn't any, then you will want to move. I happen to be close to a few like Devry and Brown College(whoop whoop!). I currently attend Brown College.

How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
It all depends on, where in the level, what is your budget, and how much detail it has. something like a simple light can take me 5 minutes to model where as a container(pic soon) can take about an hour or more. Mainly because it has an LOD and had to fix a few things. So on average, a small unnoticable model takes about 20 to 40 minutes, a greater detailed can take as much as 2 hours. (depends on the engine)

Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
The hardest model up to this point had to have been my 5k poly model with a 10k poly baked normal on it. even though I had an easy concept to work with the normal map was a bitch to do.

Which was your first model? How long did it take to make? (A picture would be really nice!
I believe my first model was a PPK (http://www.moddb.com/mods/army-guys/images/walther-ppk#imagebox)
but recently I have been doing some UT3 work for class

nickd_3_20100818_1335913387.jpg

nickd_2_20100818_1982990288.jpg

nickd_1_20100818_2030422726.jpg


everything in this level is what I made, and modeled, and textured. total of i think around 50 hours into it.
 
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Ginger

L4: Comfortable Member
Jun 29, 2010
151
56
What modeling application do you use?
Google Sketchup >.< (Learning Blender) Im 14 so i cant afford expensive shiz.
What pluses and minuses does it have?
Pros: Easy to use, gets a free rendering plugin and can be exported largely.
Cons: Simple, drag and enlarge, More aimed at mechanical and architectural modelling, sorry no smooth models.
Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
It's easy to get your head around, hell my sister got the hang of it a nearly 9 :D
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
Very easy, has a nice, unjummbled layout with simple and easy to use tools. The community's a-bit 'naf but it's simple enough to learn in an hour.

How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Very, a game can be transformed by the smallest model, or the biggest model, it doesn't have to have thousands of Poly's it just has to fit nicely into whatever you'r adding it to.

Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
CAD, CAM, Architecture, Films, Engineering, Illustration, the list goes on and on.

Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
Im aiming to finish school with an Art A level and go to Derby University to study Computer Games Modelling and Animation :D

If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
Not in the UK, only Derby University offers anything Computer games as far i have have learnt.

How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
On Sketchup, anything from 1 to around 4 Hours

Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
Hmmm, Either a Thommy Gun, or Some building i made for Geography.

Which was your first model? How long did it take to make?
Urm, no idea ^^ Dont have many anymore due to them cluttering my pc, ill have a rummage, Euuurgh, i deleted them all :O Sorry, if i make one i'll post it up.
 
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eyefork

L3: Member
Oct 27, 2008
130
186
If you're a student, you can register at http://students.autodesk.com (requires school email).

You can download almost all their software (including Maya and 3Ds) with free 6- to 13-month licenses, depending on the version. Handy if you're taking a class or want to give something a test run. Downloading Maya right now :)
 

gamemaster1996

L13: Stunning Member
Sep 30, 2009
1,064
134
If you're a student, you can register at http://students.autodesk.com (requires school email).

You can download almost all their software (including Maya and 3Ds) with free 6- to 13-month licenses, depending on the version. Handy if you're taking a class or want to give something a test run. Downloading Maya right now

I didn't think the liscences were that long.
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
What modeling application do you use?
3DSMax, ZBrush, Sculptris for quick mindfarts. Used to use Blender but no more.
What pluses and minuses does it have?
Max has a few quirks but overall it's industry standard stuff.
Zbrush is great for sculpting though it's UI is the single worst experience I've ever had on a PC ever. EVER. I seriously hate it and want it to die in the most painful way possible. Imagine how much harry potter hates voldemort, then quadruple it and that is close to how much I hate blender's UI.
BUT when it isn't getting in your way and you're just sculpting merrily it's a dream.
Sculptris is lightweight with an ultra simple UI, no complex features (yet) and you can pull an entire model from just one sphere and not have any rediculously contorted polys (not possible in ZBrush)
Blender sucks, don't use it. The only pro is that it's free.
Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
This assumes that I would, and I wouldn't. There is no beginner level software, it's just pricetag. Blender and sculptris are free, max and zbrush cost multiple arms and multiple legs. The beginner needs to know they actually like and have an ability to model before committing money to it, so always go for free/trial software first.
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
Large communities are good for perfecting, but getting into it initially you want a single or a few people who are willing to give you lots of pointers and link you to tutorials they used etc. It depends on the background of the beginner as to how hard they'll find it. someone who has traditional sculpting background will get into zbrush in a matter of minutes and be producing semi-decent stuff. Someone who has no background in sculpting will likely take much, much longer.


How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Uh? No models = No games. Source is old fashioned in that it's still mainly BSP based and not static meshes.
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Never seen avatar? Every film that has CG employs dozens of modelers.
Architecture, product design all use models in their concepting stage
Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
I imagine so.
If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at?
I'm doing a 'proper' degree, Physics. One thing my chemistry teacher said in regards to 'forensic science' degrees was that people actually in the field of forensics value graduates from 'Chemistry', 'Biology' and 'Physics' degrees waaaaay more than they do 'forensic science' degrees because it shows that they have the basework understanding which will enable them to learn about forensics far easier. And then on top of that if your career goes tits up and you don't do forensics, your degree is still very valuable for a vast range of other fields.
Same with game design the way I see it.

How many time on average, do you spend on one model?
Hah, average. It depends entirely on what the use of the model is and your method of making it. This took 4 days on and off work to finish, a portfolio piece made by subdivision modeling a high poly, making a lowpoly then baking a normal map.
But these (all three) would have taken under a day if I'd done them back to back, because they're for a different purpose. TF2 requires no normal maps so I don't need a high poly version and TF2 already has plenty of textures so I can quickly use those as a basis for mine.
If I was to make a proper character model of any current gen game quality level I'd be spending at least a week on it if not more like two.
Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
I hate trees, they're a damn pita to model.
Which was your first model? How long did it take to make?
The alligator cutout from the first swamp pack was my first model. It took about two days because I messed up the first time and started over.
Well, technically it isn't my first model, the first one I made when I was about 9 or 10. I can't remember what the software was but I made a whale from one of it's tutorials. Then there was a 7 year gap where I did no modeling at all.
 

Tyker

L5: Dapper Member
Jun 1, 2009
232
142
What modeling application do you use?
3dsmax
What pluses and minuses does it have?
It's tough for beginners but a dream for professionals. You really have to know how it works to make beautiful things with it.
Why would you suggest it for a beginner?
You have to start somewhere.
How easy it is for a beginner to learn? Does it have a big community that helps?
There are millions of tutorials in text and tutorials in video for 3ds max. The community is immense.


How big effect on gaming does modeling leave right now?
Coding and modelling make a game. You cant go without either.
Is modeling useful anywhere else then in games?
Anything that goes onto a screen. Movies, tv shows, commercials...
Will your future profession be linked with modeling? Or is it already linked with it?
Yes it is. I need to perfect it to get better job :p
If you have chosen modeling as your future profession is there enough universities to learn at? (One or two examples would be great)
Too much to count. But always make sure you read reviews on the school, because some have no idea what they are doing and just exist to fill up the market.

How many time ,average, do you spend on one model?
Depends entirely on how big something is. And if you do something for the first time.
Which was the hardest model you have made till now?
An american diner with subd. Still working on it, and it is very frustrating sometimes.
Which was your first model? How long did it take to make? (A picture would be really nice!
I think it was a tiberium plant I made for my first TF2 map. cp_hourglass.