| A 3d Model is a three-dimensional object you | | | | 30-day free trial period which gives you then |
| put into a video game. The most common model | | | | chance to learn and test before you buy. |
| is that of the player in the game. But it can | | | | |
| also be almost anything else you can imagine. | | | | How is a 3D model made? |
| Here is an overview of how you make 3D models | | | | |
| for video games. | | | | There are a few different paths to making a |
| | | | model for a video game. Here is a generic |
| When you make a video game most of the design | | | | overview of the process steps. |
| is done the same way an architect would | | | | |
| design a city or a building. It is all very | | | | 1. You design a skeleton of your model. Think |
| static. You define the shapes of the objects | | | | of this as the bones and joints underneath. |
| then you insert textures and colors. But this | | | | You won't see any of this when you play the |
| is just the static world that everything | | | | game but these bones and joints are very |
| happens inside. The real adventure of a video | | | | necessary because they tell the game how the |
| game comes when the models are inserted into | | | | model moves. Exactly the same way your bones |
| the game. And if you are learning how to make | | | | and joints define how you move. |
| a video game using some of the more common | | | | |
| software like Reality Factory you don't have | | | | 2. You design a colorless and texture-less |
| a whole lot of options for making models. | | | | skin around the bones and joints. This is how |
| This is where 3D modeling software comes in. | | | | your model will look in shape. |
| | | | |
| To Make a 3D Model you need some 3D modeling | | | | 3. You color in the skin to get the exact |
| software | | | | look of the model. This is the details of the |
| | | | model. You make the final look here by |
| There are many different modeling software | | | | putting in eyes, clothes, or anything else. |
| applications and most of them are very | | | | |
| suitable for making models for games. Some of | | | | 4. You define how your model will behave. You |
| the more popular packages are: | | | | tell the model what joints will move in what |
| | | | directions. This is a big time saver with |
| - Maya - A high end 3d modeling package, | | | | modeling software because you just tell it |
| which is used by professionals and often, | | | | the beginning and ending locations and the |
| used to make movies. It also has a scaled | | | | software draws in all the middle steps. |
| down version which is more affordable | | | | |
| | | | 5. You export the model into a format that |
| - 3Ds Max - Another high end modeling package | | | | video game design software understands. 3D |
| that is very popular within the game making | | | | modeling software has this export tool built |
| industry | | | | in and most programs will export to a wide |
| | | | variety of formats for lots of game |
| - Lightwave - This is a professional package | | | | development software. |
| at a reasonable cost. If you are serious | | | | |
| about 3d modeling this is a good option | | | | Making 3D video game models is not a really |
| | | | hard process and in no time you can make some |
| - Blender - This is a free open source | | | | nice models for your games. But, modeling is |
| software package that has some amazing | | | | a profession that some people devote full |
| abilities. If you have no budget this is the | | | | time efforts to. If you want to get really |
| way to go. | | | | good at modeling you are going to have to put |
| | | | in many hours of practice and you are going |
| - Milkshape 3D - Very inexpensive and easy to | | | | to have to develop your talents as an artist. |
| use 3d modeling package. They have a nice | | | | |