free alternative to 3ds max?

[Hellenic_Hoplite]

I am a semi-experianced modder and wanted to get into making models but they all require 3ds max and I don't have $3,500 dollers to spend of a piece of software so I was wondering if anyone knew of a program with similar features that was free or at least alot cheaper?

Thanks in advance.

[Red Spot]

options are;

-2nd hand 3D max (I have v3, 5, 6 and all perfectly legal for under €100,- in total, like I recently got v5, much needed, for €30,-)

-trial versions (still have v9 trial on disk just incase 3, 5, and 6 cant handle it)

-G-Max

-GameSpace (Light) "GSL"

though iirc you need max to be able to export the model (or something, I just recall there is some need to actually have max)



G

[Myrddraal]

Exactly, the CAS extractor is only available for max, so though you can model in other programs, someone you needs to export the models in max.

[Hellenic_Hoplite]

I heard of a program called "blender" is that any good?

[max_minimod]

Yes it is: Its a free, open source prog, can do all things 3dsm can do, BUT:
-the interface is arkward (they did reinvent the wheel and thought to make things better, so it is not like any other common interface).
-Sadly the .cas exporter is only for 3dsmax, there is no .cas exporter for blender or other free prog :wall:
(it would be very good to have a simple prog that converts files, lets say .3ds to .cas but there is no such one, so all is clued to 3dsmax :embarassed: )

[Hellenic_Hoplite]

thank you.

[Horton III]

Gmax will handle the .CAS exporter, in fact it is 3Ds Max without the $$, made by the same team after a rift with Softdesk. I only use gmax and can import/export .CAS with the 3dsmax script.

[max_minimod]

Can you post what gmax and cas script version you use?
I hear often it works, but on my gmax version I can only import cas, if I try to export I get an 'fopen' error and only an empty file.

[Jubal_Barca]

I actually can't find a working link to the cas importer script. Does anyone know of one?

[Makanyane]

link for verc's cas importer/exporter
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=141

[Ossie The Great]

Gmax will handle the .CAS exporter, in fact it is 3Ds Max without the $$, made by the same team after a rift with Softdesk. I only use gmax and can import/export .CAS with the 3dsmax script.

Yes, i heard this to . The last time since i tried exporting with gmax i got an error but i belive they have released a updated version ( since then i have only used 3ds max ).

What i will do is experiment with different things this weekend and get back to you with the results, ( as it would be great if we could get the cas. exporter working for gmax , as it would mean a whole lot more modelers for rome total war ). but it will mean re-instuling gmax once again. :grin: :smart:

[max_minimod]

Yea, even better would be a little converter prog that can convert a common format (.3ds or .wrl?) into .cas
That way we would not be clued to $$$-companys and could freely choose our tools.

If one has knowledge of definition of .cas and can explain me, I maybe could write an exporterscript for anim8or ( http://anim8or.com/ )

[Squid]

Just open the .cas importer/exporter and look at the script, looking at that will be the easiest/best way to figure out the internal makeup of a .cas file.