Should I Blender?
Hello Guys. I haven't been that active on the forums and also haven't been making or working on games for some while now. Since Semester tests and exams are coming up I don't think I am going to get back to learning Game Dev for some time but i plan to learn a whole bunch of stuff (or even maybe make playable game) in the nov-feb vacation :D So now I am just doing a bunch of preparation and research in the mean time.
The thing is I like Programming and I am interested in game programming (maybe as a future career). But the thing is I do not have anyone that can do 3D modeling for me. So I always have to go and use assets from other people, but I would like to learn how to make my own models and how texturing, meshes and all those stuff work (maybe also a good skill to have).
My Question is, Should I use blender or other software for this?
Since I have no experience in modeling what so ever I do not wish to jump around 3D editors for now. And I am not necessarily looking for the easiest 3D editor but more the one that I can benefit from in the long term. Hope you guys have some answers for me and if possible throw some Tutorial links on the post as well. Would be much appreciated.
Good luck with your projects and GAME ON!
The thing is I like Programming and I am interested in game programming (maybe as a future career). But the thing is I do not have anyone that can do 3D modeling for me. So I always have to go and use assets from other people, but I would like to learn how to make my own models and how texturing, meshes and all those stuff work (maybe also a good skill to have).
My Question is, Should I use blender or other software for this?
Since I have no experience in modeling what so ever I do not wish to jump around 3D editors for now. And I am not necessarily looking for the easiest 3D editor but more the one that I can benefit from in the long term. Hope you guys have some answers for me and if possible throw some Tutorial links on the post as well. Would be much appreciated.
Good luck with your projects and GAME ON!
Comments
By going with an industry standard program you will find it much easier when working with other artists down the road.
Im personally a fan of 3DSMax, but the foundations are pretty similar in all of the programs.
Another alternative is to download Sketchup and start using it to get a 'feel' for 3D modeling, and from there move onto one of the other programs.
I learned to use it (many, many years ago) by running through tutorials for other packages to get a feel for the workflow and tools used in 3D modelling, then finding the equivalent tools and commands in Blender using what documentation I could find at the time. That sort of hybrid approach served me very well, and I suspect the docs are better and more numerous now than they were ten years ago. I'm no artist, but I can make pretty serviceable programmer art thanks to that. If you ARE an artist, I think you'll be just fine. :P
Plus artists are awesome and get all the ladies.*
*in my experience at least.. :D
I don't use blender myself, but I keep hearing it's pretty good now. I don't think it hurts to check it out and play around for a bit. It used to have a pretty bad reputation, but I know a few professional artists who actually now prefer it for their professional work, which I don't think anyone would have said 8 years ago.
Da heck does "industry standard" mean anyway? Here's an entire Blender showreel from various professional studios:
Blender has been great for years, and I know of devs who have actually switched to it from Maya. Out of the box it supports advanced features like physics/fluid/hair/cloth simulation too. See http://www.blenderguru.com/tutorials/create-a-realistic-water-simulation/
Tutorials there are plenty of. See:
https://cgcookie.com/learn-blender/
http://www.blenderguru.com/
Blender is always improving too. Every few years the Blender Foundation creates a short film using 100% free (as in freedom) tools and use the creation process as a sort of jam/mega-sprint to improve the core software around how the artists are using it.
Their latest is:
On the other hand, if your interest is primarily modelling, then it can also benefit you to learn a dedicated sculpting tool like Sculptris ($0) or ZBrush (OSX & Windows). These can then be imported into Blender/whatever to create normal-maps and low poly models.