How similar is gmax to 3DS Max?I'm thinking about buying a 3DS Max book if there is enough similarity... the tutorials that come with it are fine but I doubt they cover nearly enough!Thanks,Andrew

I don't have 3DS Max, but I think someone said it's about 90% similar. Mainly some extra "advanced" functions that you can do in 3DS that aren't provided in gmax.

Hi Andrew,I think basically it is 3DS Max without the filter and render enhancements, so all modelling aspects are the same. It's free and built for the game developer, not professional graphical model animators. I got a book on 3DS Max and it's been quite a help. Same with modelling tutorials for Lightwave funnily enough.Rotorhead.

Here is a screen shot of the user interface of 3d Studio Max r3 circa 1999 when it was published by Kinetix. Not a whole lot of difference from gWax but even for its age a lot more powerful. Just wish I could export directly for FS2002. I can export to an .x file with a plug-in however, the axis' are messed up... Y and Z seem to be reversed.

Basically gMax is 3DS Max minus anything to do with rendering (because your model will be rendered in a game), NURBS (a way of modelling using splines) and a few other more minor things. If you're modelling a real-time object for a game I'd say you get 99% of 3DS Max in gMax (I was amazed when I first loaded up gMax). Bear in mind though, if you buy a book on 3DS Max it will have a substantial chunk on rendering.Have funFinnPS Firestriker: you can get exactly the same interface (less rendering, etc) running along the top in gMax.

This is good info...Perhaps I'll look to the web for modeling guides on 3DS Max before I drop 30-50 bucks on a book!Plus, I use form-z, which is a killer modeler and from what I've read, gmax can now import DXF....Thanks againAndrew

http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/tut3ds.asp

gWax is sufficiently similar to 3DStudio MAx that you can use a 3DS book - but like it's been said, 3DStudio Max was errr... "chopped and channeled" so if you can't follow something your tutorial says, then that's probably been taken out of gWax..Another "generic 3d modelling link" with tutorials:http://www.webreference.com/3d/indexa.html

Well...although the differences appear to be few...there are differences that I find make a huge difference.First off, 3dmax operates substantially smoother and faster than gmax. As was also mentioned, rendering is also a factor, but I feel it is a very nice feature for creating some beautiful shots with extremely clean cut effects.But from what I have seen so far, I'd say the biggest difference is in the method of applying textures. 3Dmax has the gmax method of applying textures and then it has a cropping method, very powerful feature. This I find makes it so much easier to apply textures and alot more accurately (alot like FSDS's way of applying textures). I wish I could explain it alot better, but it's one of those "the best way to describe it is by using it" type things.Aside from that and things like lighting effects and movie making features, I'd say Gmax can compare.Lee

Which part of texture mapping are you missing? As far as I know this is pretty much identical between gMax and 3DS Max. The main difference is that you need to use a workaround involving the Tempest gamepack (free from the Discreet site) and Unwrap3D ($29) to actually save out the bitmaps.One last thing that's worth mentioning though is plugins, 3DS Max plugins don't work in gMax (although some scripts will).Have funFinn

Well, I'm guessing that with the amount of support gmax is getting, it will be a good alternative to dropping a few thousand bucks ;)Rendering is nice but I suppose that's not the point. Now, if some other software I have could read gmax files... mmm... Well, off to play.Andrew