I'm looking for a rather simplistic model making utility. I've never modeled before, but I am VERY experienced with Valve's Hammer Editor. However, none of the modeling programs work in a similar way, which I guess is to be expected. However since the models I am looking to make (Mecha mostly) and animate are machines in nature, they tend to be made up of simple polygons which is what hammer is excellent at. Also, I have a very limited budged (close to zero) so I can't spend any money on the expensive utilities nor do I have any need for them. So here's the question(s): Is there a way to make something in Valve, import it into a model maker, strip away certain faces, and then animate it? (That would be IDEAL, I mean, really, really awesome) If not, which editor would best suit my purposes and be easiest to use? This is specifically for use in XNA as well.

We have a list of free and not-so-free apps going on the wiki right now: http://xnawiki.com/index.php?title=Useful_Software#3D_Modeling_Software. Might start your search there.

i dont know Hammer but if it can export to FBX or X then you can just use that if it can export to 3DS then you could use Blender to import, animate, and export to an XNA friendly format (FBX or X)

Another option is see if there is a custom importer out there for a format that Hammer exports (for instance the OBJ importer on the custom importer sample) but this option is harder and may not work...

Hammer is not a model utility. It is a map utility for the Half-Life game series and has been adapted to other uses. (it makes .rmf and .map files) I think I may go with Google SketchUp, however I can't tell if it can handle animations. Is anyone familiar with the program?

Well, I'm using Excel and Notepad. Seriously, I am. I'm using Excel to create a table of vertices, and its graphic features to see how a particular "slide" looks like. Then I use Notepad to write the "X" file for XNA.

It is painful. But Notepad is free, and Excel comes included in Microsoft Office.

Wait, are you kidding? That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard. 

Tarh Ik:

Well, I'm using Excel and Notepad. Seriously, I am. I'm using Excel to create a table of vertices, and its graphic features to see how a particular "slide" looks like. Then I use Notepad to write the "X" file for XNA.

It is painful. But Notepad is free, and Excel comes included in Microsoft Office.

 you have to be kidding ahahaha

I'm afraid I'm not kidding, I'm using Excel and Notepad.

However, I do agree with you, it is not the most practical approach. Still, I do this for fun, and I like plotting with the drawings I make and scan.

Wow. You, sir, are insane.

In a good way. :D

lol, ive done stuff like that b4 :P

but iv also just written my own 3d renderer

Dexar, we might be addressing this using similar techniques. I also wrote a 3D engine some time ago. Now I'm exporting the models I did (with excel) for this engine to X files. Unfortunatelly, only Notepad and C++ can help me here. I haven't gotten the results I wanted, but I think I'm in the right path.

Cheers!!!

Tarh ik

you guy can get GameSpace free, it's a great modeler and yes! you can get it FREE no more making models with excel and notepad..HAHAHAHA!!

I would HIGHLY recommened that you pick up Wings 3D, its a free modeler, it cant do animation yet, its still in a beta phase, but it is very full beta version, ive been using it for years, it was the first modeler that I picked up and said, "You know i can actually do this!" Other programs drown you in the amount of complex things that you can do. Wings is very intuitive, and the better you get, the more you can do up to the same level as blender(which is the first one i tried, at least 3 seperate times). My 2 cents.

 

-Merc

Tarh Ik:

Well, I'm using Excel and Notepad. Seriously, I am. I'm using Excel to create a table of vertices, and its graphic features to see how a particular "slide" looks like. Then I use Notepad to write the "X" file for XNA.

 How do you do this?

You might want to add Caligari's trueSpace 7.6 to the list of free 3D modeling programs. They just announced it. You can go to www.caligari.com for the details. Their tutorials are free as well.