what software is used to make 3d models in games?

[googlefest1]

what kind of software do the game houses use to make thier 3d models

do they all have somekind of custom software?
is there an industry standard software?

does any game company use Solidworks?

ive seen a feature once done on some game company once and they had created thier own custom software - but it was an old company so i would expect something like that.

I dont think all the new companies poping up create their own software

[jajaja]

3D studio max and Lightwave are used alot.

[Humanoid]

3ds max is pretty much the most used, but I've heard of indy game makers using Maya.

[robotriot]

Maya is actually used a lot professionally, it's actually even more expensive than 3D Studio Max ;)

[googlefest1]

do you know whats so special about them?

basicaly what are the features that make them apealing for game designers to use


one thing im trying to find out is what makes the other software better than a modeling software like Solidworks that has "realview" imaging and super acurate modeling (and easy to use once exposed to it)

for those of you that know solidworks and the other software mentioned

i gues my objective is im trying to find out is where can i expand job searches to if i ever got laid off and couldn't find another engineering job (becasue the market is getting worse and worse). So i was asking becasue i know solid works and autoCAD and have alot of expereice in making computer models that i could use that experiece makeing models of imginary things for games aswell -- thats why im asking

the software already mentioned ive seen for sale and it never crossed my mind that thats what game companies used becasue they are so cheap - compared to the engineering modeling software im used to

i havent seen maya

[Sosage]

Max and Maya are the two most popular commercial modeling/animation programs you'll see in the games industry. Depending on who you talk to, one is supposedly dominating the other. All I am going to say is that both are worth learning if you're looking into game modeling (no matter what anyone tells you from this point forward...just remember that they are only tools...neither one has a "make look good button"...good art assetts are 90% the artist, 10% the tools imo...end sleepy rant).

For alternative commercial products, check out Lightwave and Softimage. I have never heard of Solidworks.

[jajaja]

Ah yes, totaly forgot about Maya :)