Well I got UT3 and I hate the available characters, so I'm not putting off an urge I've had for the past 10 years. I want to learn to 3D model and I'm looking for advice.

What I want to model; Weapons, vehicles, characters, levels, you name it I want to get off my bum and learn how to do it.

What I got; I have the Adobe Creative Suite Premium; Keep in mind I have no clue how to use it. Maya(downloading the personal learning addition now)

Any software advice is welcome; I have heard allot about Maya but I want to pick your guys' brains and see what tool you guys suggest. I'd say I'm going to be working with the UT3 engine mostly but will venture onto other systems, I know that auto desk is big into add ons so if their are any you think I should get let me know.

Hardware; I have 2 pretty powerful computers at my disposal. A dual core and Quad core. Main thing is suggestion for input devices.
Ya a mouse and Keyboard but I've always wanted an input digital pen/pad thing so please if you have any experience with a professional grade or really good one share it.
I've also look at the Logitech NuLOOQ thing. I may get both as I'm left handed and use a mouse right handed so I can use both. I know I can get by with just a mouse and keyboard but I'll get turned off by that and not achieve my goal.

Books, online tutorials; Got one share it please, I do have the collectors edition of bot UT2k4 and UT3 so they have some pretty long tutorials but those are UT specific.

My First goal. Well Since their finally making a movie about on of my top two favorite heroes Ironman I figure he'd be a kick a$$ guy to have in UT3 and wouldn't be overly challenging character to do and you could do his different armor variants for the armor selection. I would like to get good enough to make anything I dam well please especially my other favorite hero Spawn.

Thanks.
Advice on anything... really.

Creating good models, especially for FPS games, takes a very long time and lots of practice. One of my uni mates from last year, spent 6 months just learning how to animate speech properly, like lip syncing and stuff...

I would definitely get the latest version of Maya if you can afford it, its pretty much the industry standard.

Ya I'm very much aware of the time and effort. I'm very serious about this I just don't have a clue where to start.

I currently work as a cad tech/computer guy for an architecture firm, so sitting at a computer for endless hours is one of my talents. I sure that's not a rare talent to find at PCA.

I should have PhD in sitting at a computer for endless hours...

Before you learn a modeller make sure it exports to the format UT3 does or has a plugin that will do it. I've been trying for years to figure out 3d modelling and I still can't make heads or tails of it.

Blender is free. It's really powerful and has lots of tutorials and videos. The user interface is kinda wacky however but it can work with just about any format. I don't have the links but google it and you'll probably find plenty of info.

Quote: Originally Posted by Morion Before you learn a modeller make sure it exports to the format UT3 does or has a plugin that will do it. I've been trying for years to figure out 3d modelling and I still can't make heads or tails of it. Blender is free. It's really powerful and has lots of tutorials and videos. The user interface is kinda wacky however but it can work with just about any format. I don't have the links but google it and you'll probably find plenty of info.

Absolutely compatibility is a huge thing I'm looking at.

Every on I know says I should get a job making video games as I have at least 2 full notebooks of ideas and designs and I'm working on the 3rd.

Quote: I should have PhD in sitting at a computer for endless hours...

Ya I got a PHD,an MA,a BA, and am a BMF besides.

Of all the things you listed, making maps is most likely the easiest, since 90% of it is just designing the levels, instead of creating complex models, skinning etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Creating good models, especially for FPS games, takes a very long time and lots of practice. One of my uni mates from last year, spent 6 months just learning how to animate speech properly, like lip syncing and stuff... I would definitely get the latest version of Maya if you can afford it, its pretty much the industry standard.

Good luck making anything in Maya man.

Maya has more menus than cells in your body.

Oh yeah? Well did you know there are more possible moves in chess than there are atoms in the universe?

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Oh yeah? Well did you know there are more possible moves in chess than there are atoms in the universe?

Ya its like binary 2 characters and look what you can do with them.

As far as menus I love em. If been working with Sketch and dam I hate it. I'm trying to convince my boss its a bad direction but he doesn't believe me.