So I know people keep saying, Sketchup sucks, and Sketchup is useless for Halo. It's a noob's modeling software.

What exactly is actually wrong with Sketchup? If I had the Pro version, (500 dollars -_-) and I could export as .3ds, would it still be a sucky software?
Edited by Xoronatus on May 3, 2011 at 12:47 AM

If your using it for visualization (which is it's intended purpose) it's fine and the ease of use along with the price (free) make it a pretty decent application to use.

However,

Sketchup is a bad modeler because it ignores the topology of your model, meaning when you do export you'll end up with lots of N-Gons. It's not intended to be a modeler for game assets, so getting a free version of 3DS Max or Gmax will be easier in the long run and also give you a better understanding of how to work in 3D.

Also to mod with Halo you'll need a .JMS exporter which to my understanding is only available for Max softwares, so one way or another your going to end up needing Max.

N-Gon = 5+ sided polygons.

= Errors in BSP... and fall through the ground in collision geometry

Ok, so how many of you guys actually have Sketchup on your computer. Do you actually use it...ever?

To be honest, i've never used sketchup; this post has just brought it to my attention. I have used max and gmax and hate both of them which is why i use CAD programs; they do not allow for open sided figures in 3d and as far as i know, they export files the same way max and gmax does. Anyone is more than welcome to correct me on these points but i'd like to see your explanation from the technical perspective rather than the half-hearted: "Uh no..."

When I first started working in 3D I used it but, not anymore. For me it's quicker just to work in Max or Maya since I know their interfaces. Sketchup is on my comp though.



Don't allow open sided figures? I'm not sure what that means.

The only reason I have sketchup is because my school has no idea about Halo Custom Edition, and professional computer modelling tools. Which reminds me, I've gotta remove sketchup from my comp.

It means that if you are making a 3d object from scratch( a wall or building) the points of intercection will be automatically adjusted to connect; leaving no open figures.

If you create a primitive in Max, it's edges/vertices will be automatically connected but that's because it's a 3D object, but a plane for instance (yes it's a 3D object also but it has no volume) will automatically be surrounded by open edges.

Max will not automatically connect anything, if I put a two planes next to one another they're still two planes until I tell Max to weld them together.

I hope that helped, I'm not a CAD user so I can't give you a more direct comparison.

But for the sake of thinking in 3D, everything that exists should be a closed object (figure). Take a glass bottle for example it's interior is hollow but the glass itself is the object. If it weren't a closed object in side of the bottle would probably be the end of the universe...

Yeah, well I have both Gmax, and the free version of Sketchup. I'm good at doing very boxular work in Sketchup. Gmax, I've been fooling around with. So far, trying to export maps is a pain, but modeling is going slow but steady. Sketchup seems like a very good tool, fast, easy, looks decent. Not so many tools splattered on the screen.

I actually tried out 3DS Max 2010, and I didn't like it that much. It's UI was dark and ugly, there were so many tools scattered everywhere, and I just didn't like the feel. It felt so fat and too complicated. Gmax has a prettier UI, less stuff (of course), and feels kind of cool, like, "wow, look how good this freeware is, I got it for free, pretty good deal." And Gmax loads faster too Yeah, simplicity in software attracts me. That's why I kind of like Wordpad better than Word now. It's free, and it accomplishes the task just fine without so many different tools and clutter around the UI.

Those tools are really helpful though!

I can understand the ease-of-use appeal, but realize 3DS Max is a very powerful program, and once you learn the UI and tools it's not scary or difficult!

True, but isn't it like 100 dollars or something, and you have to fill out tons of registration and get a student license and all kinds of complications? Gmax was nice and easy to get, while not super powerful, it's nice. I could just torrent 3ds, but I wouldn't feel good doing that. Using a keygen and a crack, I'm a nice guy, it just wouldn't feel right. I'm fine with torrenting something, as long as I don't get all of the features. Like a cracked game where you can play single player, but not multiplayer. This way it's more like: "Here, try out the campaign, if you like it, then you should go buy the game and play multiplayer." Rather than buying the game and realizing you don't like any part of it. And besides, I feel like if you are torrenter, you deserve not to have all the same features as someone who actually paid. (I used to have CE with a Youtube cd-key, it wouldn't let me play online, so I didn't. I deserved it. Now of course I'm so happy I bought the game for 20 bucks.

After seeing this post, I kinda feel like making a "What's wrong with blender?" thread.
-Zekilk

Nope, i mean TurboCAD Delux 12. XD

Where there's a model theres a converter; you just need to figure out what the file extension is (ie- cad files mostly end with ".cad" or something similar) and what it needs to be converted to. (ive found with some file types that you can just change the file extension to convert them to whatever you want. I'm not suggesting that you try it though, things may go very badly if you do.)

I heard about one called FBX Converter from Autodesk.

try the programs and make your own judgement on them.

some of us use gmax/3ds/blender/wings/sketchup blah blah the list goes on.

collada plugin.

i love SU personally. Lol.
use blender to import .daes and export .objs/ .3ds's

inb4newpost

could i like possibly take a sketchup model, fix open edges and THEN put it into CE as bsp?
Edited by Spartan 279 on May 11, 2011 at 08:23 PM

Yes it just needs to be linked to a frame and exported as a JMS.