Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, Rhino for SKYRIM

[OnlyOneWing]

Hi, I understand that no one program is "the best". But which program is in line to have the best compatibility with Skyrim Nif files. Also which ones more easily produces results that are up to the standards of Skyrim?

 

Are they similar enough that if you use one you can also use the others?

Thank you for your time.

Edited November 24, 2011 by OnlyOneWing

[rgx02]

3DS Max has a plugin to open nif files, but its only for certain versions.The latest one, 2012, has one but it seems its still in beta.

Maya also has the same plugin, but im not sure of how updated it is.

Blender, if im not mistaken, opens nif files by default.

 

Maya and 3DS Max are pretty similar, as they are both from the same company. Maya is better for animations, while Max is for texturing and building designs(it will work as well to modify characters).

Never used blender, but i heard its pretty difficulty to use. You might as well try it, since its the only free one.

Rhinoceros, i dont even know if it would open nif files. Anyway, rhino is used mainly for packages, cars and other non game related stuff.

Edited November 27, 2011 by rgx02

[ThomasAccount]

Take a look at the Price. It can go up to over 4000€ dependin on the version.

Blender 2.49b can handle Nif files with a plug-in and it's free. At the beginnin It takes a little time to learn how to use it, but then it is verry powerfull.

The plug-in for the version 2.5 and above are still under construction because of problems with python 3.

Edited November 27, 2011 by Thomas_hx

[Werne]

Blender in not hard to use, I learned how to make models in blender in a couple of days. It's a solid 3D moddeling program capable of importing/exporting .nif files, simple to use, can make high quality models and free. What I love the most about is simplicity and speed, although I started using blender only lately, before I used Sketchup (much faster and simpler than any other 3D program, but limited). And blender will probably have the best compatibility for Skyrim files, since it's the most commonly used program.

 

3DS Max and Maya are similar since they are made by the same company, Maya is the most complicated 3D program I worked with and it has a "working" nif plugin, 3DS Max is a bit simpler, has a nif plugin, but as rgx02 said, for certain versions, both are VERY expensive (4000 euros for Maya, 3500 for 3DS Max). Don't know about Rhino, never used it, but from what I've seen it's a decent 3D program, expensive too (1000 euros). Blender is a good 3D moddeling program, relatively easy to use, it has good support for .nif files, and free.

 

If you don't have a spare 1000 euros for a 3D moddeling program, I suggest blender.

[dazzerfong]

Amorilla stated that the NifScripts supporting Skyrim's models are most likely for Blender 2.60a. Which is great, because despite the vast changes from 2.49b, I reckon it makes for a much more professional approach.