What 3d modeling tool do you recomend?

#1 Not that much available in the below $300 range as far as I know (I can't think of anything at least). XSI seem like a pretty good deal at roughly $500, unfortunately there's no dts exporter for it yet (although there is one in the works).

#2 I'm waiting for the linux version but ...

ToolBox III Pro ~200.00 has torque support.

http://www.greenbriarstudio.com/3D/ToolBox/ToolBox.htm

#3 Wow. Clickified.

If that delivers half of what it claims to, it's worth the price tag! 0_o

#4 Ok, I'm going to have to check that out! For under two hundred greenbacks, it'll be killer if it does what it says on the tin...

Maybe I can scam a demo off the guy..

#5 I've done some lurking and remembering, so I found Caligari's Gamespace. It's 299$. Any advice about it?
It looks nice, and there is place on forums about it, but what do you say?

#6 I seem to mostly hear people complaining about gamespace, but sure; I suppose it works. I haven't tried it myself though so I can't say.

#7 @Magnus and Kirby:
That looks great. I'll try the demo, perhaps I'll have to save some more money.

#8 DeleD; do you have any word of advice about this tool?

#9 Don't use gameSpace. It has nothing but problems with importing/exporting and Caligari doesn't care about all the complaints regarding the issues. I've been trying to get simple fix for .x file imports since March of this year and they still haven't done anything. The forum is littered with complaints and unanswered posts.

#10 DeleD is more suited to making Inside scrutures.. Like quark..but using more tridional modling tools (no real brushes)..

Its nice, and handy, i think it can do boath acutly, but no exporter.. AFAIK.

#11 @Thomas: Thanks. Do you know any issues about .dts exporting?

#12 I tried exporting a static shape and it worked fine. However, when I tried an animated model it didn't import into show tool pro properly. No animations came in. Although I haven't tried much in this area yet, I did try several animated models and couldn't get them in correctly.

#13 @Thomas: The search continues. I had plans for gamespace (nice web site gave me ideas), I need tool for modeling and animating humanoids.

I've downloaded Tool Box III demo and so far I'm reserved.

Edit: missing words!

#14 Personaly. I'd go with Maya. but you're right. there arn't a lot of engines out there that support Maya. all the big name ones do and a few of the small and mid named engines. I'm still trying to find out if i can do environment useing maya and get them into TGE. don't want to use the the TGE world/tarrien editor. the levels would look a lot better I used Maya.

so in my oppion. Maya is the better program. easier to use. beautiful rendering and great fetures and it's becoming moer popular.

#15 Jeremy; It was the little matter of staying below $300 too.... maya is still $2000.
Personally I use max, but I do this for a living so I can afford it. =)

#16 Save your 300$ and cross the hurdle into blender.

its tough but there is lots of info out there.
you can learn pretty much anything with a tutorial if you look hard enuff.

once you explore the interface enough, you can become fairly productive.

Blender gets my vote.

then maybe spend the 300$ on girls.. or beer..

or even a Blender tshirt hat and sweater?
rofl...

#17 I would say that if you cannot get the extra $200 to get Softimage|XSI Foundation then go with Blender and Wings3D along with other free apps. You could always pick up something like Nevercenter's Silo ($110) for modeling, but Wings3D is good for modeling too.

If you are really considering spending $300 though, perhaps you should wait a few months and save up a little more to get XSI. During that time you could be learning the app using the free XSI Mod Tool and make a few objects and characters for Half-Life 2 or Unreal 2k4. It will take you a few months to get the basics of this down anyway and by then the TGE Exporter should be out.

You will have a lot to learn before you even need the TGE exporter, and since Valve used XSI to make Half-Life 2 there is a ton of info on making objects, characters, and even levels for the Source engine. Everything you learn from creating models, UVs, textures, maps, envelopes, rigs, and animations for export to Valve's Source engine or Unreal 2.x will carry over to anything you create for TGE/TSE when the exporter is available and you will be getting a tool on par with Max or Maya when it comes to game development specific features.

#18 @Badguy: It still intimidates me! :)

@Joe: It looks nice, BUT my monthly wage is about 890$. Here (Croatia) it's considered as decent; I have other expenses and plans so my 300$ limit isn't very stretchable.
Also I am fresh meat in my company and I don't except any raise for at least six months.

#19 In that case I would take Badguy's advice and perhaps use the $300 to invest in learning materials like videos and books. Once you learn the tools and interface in a 3D application you will understand how to relate learning materials created in other apps to yours. For example, many of the human modeling books and videos I have been studying recently were done using Maya and Max, but I have no problem following them in XSI after about seven months of using it and becoming familiar with its tools and workflow. There are also plenty of learning materials out there that is not software specific. I'm not sure how steep the learning curve is on Blender, but it looks like a great app and I doubt you will get so many features from anything else in your price range.

Don't let yourself be intimidated. Most 3D apps are very complex and take a lot of effort to learn. Force yourself to read the manual. Even if most of it is over your head it will eventually make sense months down the line. I doubt Maya would be easier to learn than Blender (I tried it and it was a pain). But if I had to I know I could learn either just by focusing on one tool at a time and carrying over the 3D foundations I have learned in XSI. That is why many professionals are proficient in multiple apps. Just realize that it will take months to learn the basics, not days or weeks. Set small goals and complete them just like any school project. Blender has a large community and that will be a plus if you can utilize it.

#20 @Joe: I agree with you in most parts. I have some experience with MilkShape (simple stuff like bridges, swords, furniture, houseware, bugs etc.), but transition to Blender is just long. GUI is to odd... I've played with Max and I like it, but I can't afford it.
I thought if I can buy decent engine for 100$, there must be decent (and somewhat user-friendly) 3d tool for 300$.

Silo and Wings3D, can you enlighten me about them?