27 replies to this topic

[Lord of the Rings Junkie]

Does anyone know if an SDK for Gmax will be released eventually, and if so when? I have a mod I would REALLY like to make, but my Max trial runs out in a week, and other then that I only have Gmax and Blender. I can mod the BFME games with Blender by using Gmax as a middle man, but it appears I'm screwed when it comes to C&C3 modding. Any help for a guy without an expensive 3D package?

[Mastermind]

No, GMax isn't supported by Autodesk anymore, so it's pretty much entirely dead.

[Lord of the Rings Junkie]

Yeah, but EA writes the SDK packs, not Autodesk. There has to be something I can do...

[Mastermind]

If Autodesk isn't supporting it, what reason is there for EA to? They don't use GMax, they use 3DSMax. Plus, GMax is so old, that writing plugins for it would require redeveloping everything that was done in the Max plugin. The plugin isn't backward compatible that far. So, unless someone comes along that writes an exporter for one of the free art packages (not impossible, but not likely) you're pretty much out of luck.

[Henford]

Keep turning your system clock back. As long as you stay within the same day, and make sure of this everytime you start 3ds max, you can keep doing this for ever and ever and all eternity.

Problem solved.

[Boomerang Python]

cheap trick

[Lord of the Rings Junkie]

*sigh* Ok. Thank for replying. The mod I have in mind would be a lot better with C&C3, but I guess I'll have to stick with making it for BFME2.

@Boomerang: Cheap and illegal trick, probably.

Edited by Lord of the Rings Junkie, 24 October 2007 - 04:00 PM.

[Mathijs]

There's nothing illegal about resetting your calender every day. And yes, there are indeed other *ILLEGAL* ways of prolonging the use of 3dsmax.

Edited by Matias, 24 October 2007 - 04:02 PM.

[Lord of the Rings Junkie]

True, but for the effect it's having I might as well have downloaded a free warez version. Not gonna do it, tempting though it may be.

Edited by Lord of the Rings Junkie, 24 October 2007 - 04:04 PM.

[Mathijs]

It's not like anyone'd ever find out. I doubt alot of people here have paid the full sum for a 3dsmax program.

Edited by Matias, 24 October 2007 - 04:05 PM.

[Phil]

Keep in mind though that you can in most cases buy a student version which is a lot cheaper than the normal product. Still not cheap, but if you really want to get the full version (legally) this is the way to go...

[Daz]

Also keep in mind that discussing avoiding breaking copyright laws here is frowned upon, and isn't a very good idea on a public forum anyway.

Off the top of my head normal 3ds Max is $3.5k (£1713) and the student version is $2k-ish (£978.85). So it's still silly money.

You could always try a university course in games art, free access to Max 9 whenever between 8am and 8pm (ignoring the fact that it's £3k a year for uni...)

[Henford]

To legally do 3D modelling:

3DS Max = $3500
Adobe Photoshop CS3 = $ 2500

$6000

Better start saving!

[Mighty BOB!]

Mmmm, student discounts FTW. $7,000 of software (12 programs) for $700.

[Lord of the Rings Junkie]

To legally do 3D modelling:

3DS Max = $3500
Adobe Photoshop CS3 = $ 2500

$6000

Better start saving!

And the irony of it all is, I don't actually need it for modeling. I'm perfectly capable in Blender, I just need Max to get the stupid models in and out of the game! *frustrated*

I've been looking at student discounts, but I don't qualify for most of them because:

1. I'm in between high school and college.
2. I homeschooled.

[ambershee]

To legally do 3D modelling:

3DS Max = $170
Adobe Photoshop CS3 = $ 2500

GIMPShop - $0

$170

Better start saving!

There, fixed it for you. 3dsMax 2008 is around £90 at student rates - that's less than $200. Not really that much. GIMPShop can do anything that Photoshop can with the exception of high dynamic range formats, which aren't used in CnC (or indeed any games to my knowledge) anyway - you can even use Photoshop plugins with it.

Edited by ambershee, 25 October 2007 - 07:35 AM.

[Daz]

Can you recommend anywhere to buy the student version?
I googled for it and it seems to all be little sites I've never heard of before which don't look hugely trustable.

I need Max 9 mind, I'm assuming 2008 is effectively Max 10.

[killakanz]

One thing you're forgetting guys.
Student licenses only last 3 years. Mine expired on me recently.

[Daz]

2 years from what I've just read.

[ambershee]

Can you recommend anywhere to buy the student version?
I googled for it and it seems to all be little sites I've never heard of before which don't look hugely trustable.

I need Max 9 mind, I'm assuming 2008 is effectively Max 10.

I got mine via university, it's possible that the colleges / universities you go to may already know where best to obtain such software.

As for it only lasting 2/3 years, well that's just fine. You're possibly not going to be a student in 3/4 years time, and probably not going to be modding CnC 3 then either. Gives you plenty of time to start saving for the full version, or you can just pay a few quid again for another student copy. 2 payments of £90 is better than one payment of £1600. You could keep running on student copies for 30 years for the same money.