I am just wondered how is the function of gmax (freely downloadable from discreet.com) compared to that 3DSmax 4?

gmax is pretty much a level editor...you can make characters as well...but it is very limited from what i understand...if all you are doing is level making...then its good enough

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What?!.......

gmax doesn't have renderer, and particle stuff. material editor is also a lite version.

but maxscript is there, only file export (and rendering related functions) are disabled.

It is a lot more powerful than most people think at first (including me).

If you wan't to learn max, it is a very good start.


cheers,

Laszlo Sebo

It's also powerful enough that with the dev version, it has the potential to become your primary tool for creating almost every visual facet for your game (for both the artists and the designers).

gMax is limited only by the skills of the users and the vision of the company that is using it.

I see, so is its file format compatible/transferrable with 3DSmax?

AFAIK, no.

SM.

Gmax is designed for game development and nothing else really. You can create geometry and manipulate it easily enough to create characters and levels but as was said above it lacks a rendering system. Also Gmax files can not be opened in 3DS Max. You can however download a plugin that will let Gmax open .3ds and .max files. I'd say it's a nice alternative if you're interested in gaming but can't afford 3DS Max.

-The Madhatter
"I think that in creating man, God vastly overestimated his ability." ~Oscar Wilde