Is there a point to buying 3ds Max?

#1 The fact that you are not granted license to use gmax for anything... at this point, I'm pretty sure they don't even do gmax any more - but when they did, it was only valid for modding a specific game that it had been licensed to allow modding for.

#2 You can't export anything with GMax and it's incredibly outdated/unsupported. You'd be better off going with Blender.

#3 Keep in mind too that gMax is based off of the 3DS Max 4 code, as such its pretty outdated and doesn't have anywhere near the cool features and tool to make your work better and more productive that you will find in Max 5 thru 8.

In regards to games development there are a plethora of new features from modeling, to texturing and rendering that will apply that you simply cannot achieve in gMax.

#4 According to autodesk it has been abandond.

which if I am not mistaken means it is now publi domain.

The Trusted One

#5 No, Abandonware is not legally public domain. They have to explicitly release it into the public domain. In another 70 years or so, it will be public domain.

#6 Doesnt TurboSquid own Gmax now?

#7 Thats who I got it from.

The Trusted One

#8 Turbosquid are simply the guys who are in charge of providing the downloads & support. The code is still Autodesks.

#9 Yeah there is a point to buying 3ds Max, the same reason people buy Porsches. It works better than your standard free model, thus giving you an advantage, and you won't be in legal trouble for being seen driving something that's been stolen. Not to mention, the ego boost involved with being able to say you bought it at full retail price. I would love to own Max, but that's just a fanciful dream, really.

:edited for spelling:

#10 :) for the record I do own MAX

the trusted one

#11 Here is some parts of the EULA

1. Grant of License.
a. Installation and Use.
Autodesk grants to you a personal, nonexclusive license to use the Software for the purpose of designing, developing, testing, and producing game content provided that you are the only individual or entity using the Software and provided that you do not modify or alter the Software. You may also make personal copies (either in hard copy or electronic form) of any electronic documents included with the Software only for your personal use on your premises. This license may not be licensed by you to any third party without Autodesk's prior written permission.
b. Storage/Network Use.
You may install and operate the Software on a storage device, such as a network server, used only to install or run the Software on computers used by an end user subject to this license. A single license for the Software may not be shared or used concurrently by other end users.
c. Support.
You acknowledge and agree that Autodesk is not obligated to provide technical or other support of any kind for the Software. You acknowledge that Autodesk shall have the right, in its sole discretion and without incurring any liability, to modify the Software or discontinue its use or distribution at any time and for any reason.

3. Restrictions.
You agree not to rent, lease, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software except to the extent permitted by law where this is indispensable to obtain the information necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created program with the Software with another program and such information is not readily available from Autodesk or elsewhere. You may not decompile the Software if such information is available by licensing any Autodesk Software Developer's Kit or other Autodesk software product. You agree not to distribute the Software, the Software's installer components, or any sample files provided by Autodesk for use with the Software without the prior written permission of Autodesk.

The Software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and treaties. Autodesk or its suppliers own the title, copyright, and other intellectual property rights in the Software. The Product is licensed, not sold. COPYING THE SOFTWARE EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF YOUR COUNTRY. IF YOU COPY THE SOFTWARE IN VIOLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT THEN YOU ARE VIOLATING THE LAW. YOU MAY BE LIABLE TO AUTODESK FOR DAMAGES AND YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES.


Does not seem to limit what we can do with this software, it does not specify it can only be used with one game.

The Trusted One

#12 Well, if you want to be stuck in Max 4 forever, you can use GMax. I believe that was the version it was feature-cripped from and then never updated (could be 5, though).

#13 @ The Trusted One

Just some friendly advice. It's gets really tiresome to see all of your posts ending with "The Trusted One". Perhaps its just me, but yikes, its anoying.

The Chosen One

#14 @Duncan

Sorry, I thaught it was polite to end correspondance with your name?

...

#15 Thats generally true in emails, letters, etc.. but in Internet forums, the posters name is displayed right next to their post so its redundant.

#16 Okay, I have been playing with GMAX for a day now and have come to a new workflow. I love the speed for modeling, so I will use it for modeling, export as .obj bring it into max 8 then rig it and export for torque or render for a cut scene.

I would recommend that people give this a look at, let Autodesk know there is interest. Was at my lawyers today, had him look over the eula while I was there and he gave the green light.

Michael

#17 Thats interesting. You prefer Gmax over max 8?

But to answer your question above... is there a point to buying max? Yeah, the people/company who made it deserve compensation if you are benefiting from their work.

#18 @Adam,

I agree, and I did shell out for Max 8, most expesive piece of software I own (Adobe CS2 being second). I prefer GMAX for modeling because of its raw speed. It feels like I am not carrying a two ton dead elephant on my back when modeling. I will still use my copy of max for the post modeling stuff, except possibly for bones. They seem to work in GMAX too, so I might do some rigging in there.

#19 You should try working with the EPoly class object if you want some raw modeling speed, its disgustingly fast and easy to work with and has a plethora of tools at your disposal which optimizes your workflow irregardless if you are using Box modeling, Edge loops or whatever you learnt and liked.

#20 @L Foster

Is epoly free, or is there a demo?

Cant find a link to download it, can someone provide one please :)

Thanks guys