learning how to model environments for games

[nbrooks]

Hi

I am new to this very new!!! and I want to learn how to model so I can creat some cool environments that could be used in a games environment. can anyone suggest any good was to to start learning and I mean from the begining like the basics of polygon modeling so I can wrk my way through until I get to a point where I can model my own stuff with confidence.

Hope you can Help me

nbrooks

[dermaeher88]

Cgtuts+ | CG and 3D tutorials from beginner to advanced.
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Let me google that for you

[Black_Stormy]

How free do you need your programs to be? The most common free "suite" is blender and the GIMP, which I have been using, but Blender has quite a learning curve and the GIMP can be a bit frustrating and is very inferior to photoshop when it comes to actually painting your own textures. Although Blender's latest update has a new UI which is very confusing to the people who learned the old UI (a'la me) so if there ever was a time to learn Blender now it is.

3DSMax and Maya are the most commonly used industry programs so if you want to make a career out of it learn one of them. Blender is COMPLETELY different, but you can still get the same quality out of it. You'll find that everybody swears by their chosen program but it just depends on what you can afford and what you like using. I can give you some good sites for Blender, they are:

blenderartists.org - THE blender forums
Blender.org - Download and some documentation
wiki.blender.org - Blender wiki
Blender 3D: Noob to Pro - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks - All the tutorials you'll need to start off and get good (I haven't completed them, I really should)

I will point out that it will take a good three years at LEAST to get anywhere near as good as most of the material on this forum, these guys are working in the industry and studying at college. You're probably better off finding a more intermediate level forum (blenderartists.com is where I post my stuff that I am not impressed with in myself, and then if I get it looking good enough I put it up here) and ask around on that. It just saves putting up stuff that will get lost in the wave of awesome that is this site.

Don't give up in the first two years and you'll be pro very... eventually!

[Chewy Gumball]

Originally Posted by Black_Stormy

.. You're probably better off finding a more intermediate level forum...

I would say if you want to learn quickly, the best way is to realize your stuff is not very good and be willing to take any and all (sometimes harsh) criticism. The best criticism will come from industry professionals, so why not post it here? I've been lurking this site for a long time and I have never seen anyone be overlooked if they are willing to take the criticism offered.

[stocko2k]

i'll agree with chewy i post my work here no matter how bad cause i want that honest opinion. sometime i can get to attached to a project so dont see the glaring flaws and it takes someone to say that is F***ing crap to make you realise and improve.

[Urnemanden]

Originally Posted by Black Stormy

3DSMax and Maya are the most commonly used industry programs so if you want to make a career out of it learn one of them. Blender is COMPLETELY different, but you can still get the same quality out of it. You'll find that everybody swears by their chosen program but it just depends on what you can afford and what you like using

So I suppose that you have to stick to one program? I've been walking between Gmax & Rhino3D, and I still don't know which one would be most useful for me. In school I find Rhinoceros good because of the fast way you can create objects with the correct measurements, while Gmax is much easier for me to go freeform with.