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
(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 )

[Hellenic_Hoplite]

thank you.