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Discreet - synonymous with today's greatest 3D studio packaging
has now released the newest chapter in their long and proud legacy of
the 3DS Max titles - version 5. As a 5th generation animation and modeling
solution, 3ds max 5 has increased its rich functionality to further inspire
the world's best animators. Based upon its current award-winning toolset,
3ds max 5 has major feature advancements in the following areas, Animation
Enhancements, Texturing Enhancements, Scene Management Tools, Modeling
Enhancements, Lighting & Rendering Enhancements. Ever see all those
cool Fox Sports screens on television? You bet - they used this product.
Check out the screenshot from the Discreet website by clicking
here.
Brief Description of Technology
3DS MAX 5.0 is the latest in the world's most widely-used 3D modeling,
animation, and rendering software, contains the essential high-productivity
tools required for creating eye-catching film and television animation,
cutting-edge games, and distinct design visualizations. Some of the new
technologies include:
- Multiple global Illumination solvers
- Vertex weight table
- Significant polygon modeling enhancements
- Unwrap UVW
- Render to texture
- Set Key animation system
- Revamped curve editor
- Photometric lights
- Dope sheet editor
- Ink ‘n paint
- Weighted controllers
- Draw curves
- Interactive dynamics
- Auto tangents
- Advanced animation controllers include reactors for event-driven
animation, blocks for reusing animation clips in non-linear fashion,
and expressions for establishing dynamic relationships between
parameters
- The Midi motion capture controller enables ability to drive
animation with a midi-enabled input device
- Flex modifier enables soft-body dynamics with option for collision
detection
- Curve editor and dope sheet control every animated parameter
with filtering to isolate relevant data
- Audio Waveforms displayed in track bar and curve editor
- Key management includes Bezier function curves, ease and
multiplier curves, out-of-range animation control, keyframe
reduction, waveform support, constant velocity, text notes, time
tags, move/scale/randomize time segments and sub-frame editing
So there's definitely a long list of benefits to upgrading from the old
version. What does this mean for 3D artists? More tools, better production,
better output. What does this mean for people who watch television, play
video games, or watch movies? It means cooler effects, more realistic
animation, and more ability to let your imagination go wild!
Practical Uses of 3DS Max 5
Video Games
3DS Max is the top choice of game developers, known for
its proven reliability, extensibility, and rich toolset for creating real-time
and pre-rendered games and cinematics. When I stopped by the Discreet
booth at E3, I ran into a few artists from Blizzard Entertainment (of
Warcraft III and Diablo II fame) raving about the new features of 3DS
Max 5 - what better endorsement could you hear than from the game designers
that you respect the most? So you want a list of titles created with 3DS
Max? How about Command & Conquer: Renegade, Diablo II, Dungeon Siege,
Grand Theft Auto III, Halo, and Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind! With Discreet's
new features specifically designed for those creating games such as Render
to Texture, Vertex Weight Table, Transfer Animation Data, Improved UV
Editing Tools, Light Maps, Hardware Shaders, gmax pipeline (which offers
customization to new or past game titles with gmax).
Design Visualization
3DS MAX 5 offers designers and engineers professional
high-quality results with its advanced animation & rendering tools
for visualizing industrial, mechanical, and architectural designs.
With the ability Achieve photo-realistic results for product
designs, marketing launches, virtual building layouts, or corporate presentations
with 3DS MAX, there really is no substitute for this powerful design tool.
Film & Television
With such a wide spectrum of uses from blockbuster films
to television episodics, this is the world's most widely used professional
3D software used for sophisticated and high-impact film and television
animation and effects. Users can stun viewers at home or on screen with
riveting CG and live-action animation designed by the world's best 3ds
max animators. Curious about films that used this product? A short list:
Xmen 2 (release date 2002), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Tomb Raider,
The Mummy Returns, X-Men, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Armageddon,
and Lost In Space.
That's a pretty damn impressive list of special effect intensive
movies that can wow anybody's list. Now imagine using this product yourself.
This product can certainly enhance any mid to small sized company's projects
- from design to production in film, television, or the ever emerging
interactive CD-ROM markets.
Who Would Use 3DS MAX 5
Realistically the average Joe wouldn't necessarily use this product to
kill time with. This isn't a product one simply and intuitively masters
- it takes time, patience, skill, and discipline to master such amazing
depth. Nevertheless, aspiring film makers and video game enthusiasts would
be well suited to learn (if not master) this product if they wished to
break into their respective industries.
Performance
I had
minimal experience with version 4.0 and have never considered myself a
guru when it came to developing 3D material. Nevertheless with the help
of a very nice walkthrough from Discreet this bumbling artist was able
to actually piece together some decent artwork and even an animation or
two within the first several sittings.
Make no mistake, this can be a very intimidating program
for those that have never taken a step into the 3D world - however the
rewards are well worth the risk as this program wows people like no other.
You can create ANYTHING - which is saying a hell of a lot to me at least.
From where this reviewer sits, there's really no "serious" competition
that has the widespread support, knowledge base, performance, and general
acceptance in the workplace like 3D Studio Max does, and with all it's
new features, edition 5.0 looks to be yet another quantum leap into the
3D development world.
Value
Okay - I have to get this off my chest - HOLY COW this program
is expensive. I'm not sure if the price point is quite targeted for those
who use this professionally (obviously) or to provide grief to those that
really want to break into the 3D industry.
Can you make a wealthy living mastering this product? Yes.
Can you create programs and videos that can make you and your entire company
a BOAT LOAD of dough through using 3D Studio Max 5? Yes. Will companies
pay? Yes. Well, the laws of economics then say that this program, priced
just over three grand is worth the value.
Usefulness / Longevity
Like I've been saying before and will say again, this program is as
useful as they come. I was taught by my father long ago that:
"If you go with the best, you'll never be disappointed"
That quote is so true about 3D Studio Max here... this is
as useful an application in a professional setting as they get. For students
who wish to break into the video game or television/film industries, there's
absolutely no better product to master to get your foot in the door. It's
as useful as they come.
Technical Support
I can never rave enough about Discreet technical support... I didn't
encounter any problems at all with 3DS Max 5, but I did call to check
the wait time which amounted to 7 minutes. I can live with that!
Conclusion
Alright - this is not a program for the average Joe to go out and buy
at the local electronics store. No kidding - but for firms looking to
create top notch special effects and animation or even design companies
that want the top conceptual design artwork created, then the only solution
is 3D Studio Max. Version 5.0 brings so many new features to the table
that any company looking to stay ahead of the competition would be well
suited to purchase this product immediately. For students and aspiring
members of the 3D community - this is your one stop solution.
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10 / 10 |
OVERALL SCORE
98%
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10 / 10 |
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9 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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9.8 / 10 |
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