| A 3d Model is a three-dimensional object you put | | | | chance to learn and test before you buy. |
| into a video game. The most common model is | | | | How is a 3D model made? |
| that of the player in the game. But it can also be | | | | There are a few different paths to making a |
| almost anything else you can imagine. Here is an | | | | model for a video game. Here is a generic |
| overview of how you make 3D models for video | | | | overview of the process steps. |
| games. | | | | |
| When you make a video game most of the | | | | 1. You design a skeleton of your model. Think of |
| design is done the same way an architect would | | | | this as the bones and joints underneath. You |
| design a city or a building. It is all very static. You | | | | won't see any of this when you play the game |
| define the shapes of the objects then you insert | | | | but these bones and joints are very necessary |
| textures and colors. But this is just the static | | | | because they tell the game how the model |
| world that everything happens inside. The real | | | | moves. Exactly the same way your bones and |
| adventure of a video game comes when the | | | | joints define how you move. |
| models are inserted into the game. And if you are | | | | 2. You design a colorless and texture-less skin |
| learning how to make a video game using some | | | | around the bones and joints. This is how your |
| of the more common software like Reality | | | | model will look in shape. |
| Factory you don't have a whole lot of options for | | | | 3. You color in the skin to get the exact look of |
| making models. This is where 3D modeling | | | | the model. This is the details of the model. You |
| software comes in. | | | | make the final look here by putting in eyes, |
| To Make a 3D Model you need some 3D modeling | | | | clothes, or anything else. |
| softwareThere are many different modeling | | | | 4. You define how your model will behave. You tell |
| software applications and most of them are very | | | | the model what joints will move in what directions. |
| suitable for making models for games. Some of | | | | This is a big time saver with modeling software |
| the more popular packages are: | | | | because you just tell it the beginning and ending |
| - Maya - A high end 3d modeling package, which | | | | locations and the software draws in all the middle |
| is used by professionals and often, used to make | | | | steps. |
| movies. It also has a scaled down version which is | | | | 5. You export the model into a format that video |
| more affordable | | | | game design software understands. 3D modeling |
| - 3Ds Max - Another high end modeling package | | | | software has this export tool built in and most |
| that is very popular within the game making | | | | programs will export to a wide variety of formats |
| industry | | | | for lots of game development software. |
| - Lightwave - This is a professional package at a | | | | Making 3D video game models is not a really hard |
| reasonable cost. If you are serious about 3d | | | | process and in no time you can make some nice |
| modeling this is a good option | | | | models for your games. But, modeling is a |
| - Blender - This is a free open source software | | | | profession that some people devote full time |
| package that has some amazing abilities. If you | | | | efforts to. If you want to get really good at |
| have no budget this is the way to go. | | | | modeling you are going to have to put in many |
| - Milkshape 3D - Very inexpensive and easy to | | | | hours of practice and you are going to have to |
| use 3d modeling package. They have a nice | | | | develop your talents as an artist. |
| 30-day free trial period which gives you then | | | | |