3ds max

How to Cheat in 3ds Max 2009: Get Spectacular Results Fast (How to Cheat in)
$39.95
This is the worst book I ever read.
If you are one trying to learn 3ds max, you'll never get nothing from the book, if you want to know more about 3ds max you'll never get it from this ridiculous and superficial book.
The topics of the book are very good and should deserve much more explanations than just few very nontechnical words as the writer does.
Example: "if you need to add brightness to your scene add a light in the correct place." What?
Nice thing of the book are the letters, very big and spaced, probably to fit the empty spaces.

3DS MAX 8
$249.99
I utilized Amazon Marketplace to attempt to purchase this item. It is the definitive 3d modeling program, but not user friendly at all. The learning curve is remarkably steep to do even the smallest thing.

Absolutely DO NOT activate and register this product until after you have run it for the first time. None of the documentation disks or anything during the installation and registration process will tell you if you have purchased an Academic Version. You can only discover that information when you run it for the first time. Amazon and the seller have bent over backwards to try and resolve this issue, but Autodesk refuses to co-operate. A complaint has been filed with the Better Business Bureau.

I would have made this review a 4 based solely on the complicated system. Not user Friendly at all. From that, I have deducted 1 star for product mislabeling and 1 star for their lack of customer service and support. Based on customer experience overall, I would like to remove another star, but I feel I must be fair. This is the only program I am aware of that does everything related to 3d modeling. For that reason alone I am rating this at 2 stars.

3ds Max Modeling for Games: Insider's Guide to Game Character, Vehicle, and Environment Modeling
$49.95
Don't get me wrong Andrew 's a really really good modeler. The example are well explained but the only thing's that bugs me It's the pictures in the book. Those are way way too tiny you have to open every .Max scene to see what he did in the book. Also be sure that you've got a good base in 3ds max and Photoshop or else trust me, this book's gonna kill you.

Poly-Modeling with 3ds Max: Thinking Outside of the Box
$49.95
Poly-Modeling with 3ds Max has something for everyone be it a new person using Max or a more seasoned modeler. What I like most about this is the number of interesting and solid modeling exercises Todd presents. He starts off slow allowing you to build basic objects to get the feel for his technique. Please understand, this isn't a typical, out of the technical documentation tutorial. It is a lesson on how to maximize the modeling tools. It is Todd sharing his special insights into the process. I have been using Max for years, but never used some the tools he recommended. When I did, I was delighted and surprised how good the tools were. For tools I knew about, Todd shows you new and effective ways to get the best out of them.

The key projects include making a motorcycle housing. This exercise provides a technical example of modeling. He then moves to a more natural, organic type by having you model an entire lizard. These were fun and effective tutorials. He provides a lot of pictures of each step in full color. The motorcycle was my least favorite because he doesn't complete the entire bike or provide reference materials so you can. The lizard is a different story. He provides reference materials and the tutorial provides enough info for you to complete the entire lizard.

An added bonus, is the tutorials on ZBrush, Mudbox and Polyboost. I have used Mudbox and Polyboost before, but I learned something new when I tried the tutorials. I wanted more on Polyboost. I have never used ZBrush but found it a breeze to learn the basics after following Todd's tutorial. To me, the Zbrush tutorial was the best of these.

This is a very good book about a specific, yet important, skill set. I do have some suggestions on what would make this book better. If Todd added videos on the modeling techniques, it would greatly enhance an already good book. The still pictures are really good, but sometimes seeing someone use the technique in an animated video just helps clarify how it would be done.

I highly recommend this book however. I think anyone will learn something new and improve their modeling skills. Also, there is something here for everyone.