Turbine Games Q&A/Graphics/Q-91

Original Link (now dead) - http://www.turbinegames.com/qa/view_questions.html?id=5323

What 3D Software do you guys use to make models?

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Asked:	2001.01.06
Name:	Zefram Skullbreach
Question Title:	What 3D Software do you guys use to make models?
Category:	Graphics
Question:	What 3D Software do you guys use to make your models? As a fellow game developer this is always a curiosity for me. Given the time you guys built the engine and such I'm assuming its 3DSMax. Would you guys ever be open to user created art? I believe you previously stated that you couldn't open up any of the programming to users because the source code is proprietary, but user submitted artwork would require no source, and if anything it would be precompiled export/import plugins. Given the guidelines you guys use in your production pipeline I'm sure there are a great many people out there who have the software, skill, and willingness to create anything from new monsters to armor. You ultimately have control over what goes or does not, so anything that does not stylistically fit your own artwork is easily disguarded. I just think it would be a kick to get a piece of art into a game I so greatly enjoy. - Michael Long "Zefram Skullbreach" on FF mlong@maxis.com

Answered:	2001.01.10
Name:	Jason Booth
Answer:	For AC we used Lightwave, but have switch the graphics department over to Maya for future products. As for user submitted artwork, it's really not possible, as creating an item or creature is much more complex than simply modeling, texturing and animating the artwork. There are many complex restictions that need to be understood, as well as a lot of other information which needs to be generated for use in the engine. While I don't doubt there are quite a few people who could overcome this barrier to entry, I also know the resource drain of managing the process of integration and selection would greatly overshadow it's benefit.