Maya for Games: Best learning materials?

[madyak]

I've also noticed that the stuff that comes strait from Alias Wavefront is quite pricey... is it worth it?

http://store.aliaswavefront.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?V1=385089&PN=1&SP=10023&xid=41107&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=66924

Thanks again...

[Kabab]

I got the dvd for poly texturing and its excellent and aimed squarelly at game devlopers.

[wschwisow]

I recently bought "Maya Illuminated: Games" from Mesmer Animation labs (available at Amazon or other fine book sellers, I'm sure). I've just started it, but it's pretty thorough. It doesn't cover 4.5, but the theories are the same. It does go into UV mapping and game specific issues.

[madyak]

Thanks wschwisow. I'll take another look at that one. I stopped by Borders last night but found mostly MAX books.

Anyone else try any of the stuff from A|W? I've run into a couple of other posts that indicate quality can vary greatly.

Thanks.

[mabuffaloe]

here's a link for a good little video tutorial on Maya's unwrap tools: http://trinity3d.com/M4F/M4F_tutorials.shtml Hope this helps!

[madyak]

Thanks mabuffaloe.

I ran into that video too while searching the web for tutorials. Best one I found. I looked at the Maya 4 Fundamentals book and wasn't really blown away.

This reminds me of my time spent learning MAX... I picked up good books and bad. I think the better MAX books, for me, were Professional Character Animation, Inside MAX 4 and that low poly modeling book by P. Steed...

I believe there's an Inside Maya 4 book coming out... that might be the ticket. It all depends on the authors.

Thanks again...

[monotypic]

i know this is gonna sound lame... but i've found that the maya help files are AMAZING... you probibly allready have.. but just in case.. i'd play around with that f1 key a bit.. you can search keywords/ search by names.... and they've got it all divided up into sections...

it might just be that during my 2 weeks of mel our teacher would say.. yeah... and i want you to code something that does "this" and then say .. "oh? you want me to hold your hand? HAHAHA not a chance.. "

f1 is your best friend

[madyak]

I wanted to follow up on this... just in case it proves helpful for someone else.

I went ahead and purchased Maya Illuminated: Games. I'm pleased with the purchase. The book isn't up to date for the most recent versions but Maya's work flow has changed so little that the bulk of what's there is really useful for someone like me, making the transition from MAX.

The book is pretty basic... but at the same time, I think Lane (the author) has done a great job of covering things that ADD to the online documentation instead of just rehashing the stuff you get from hitting the F1 key.

Money very well spent. Hat's off to Mr. Lane Daughtry.

[lanedaughtry]

Thank you :)

More is coming...

*gasp* current material even ;)

-L

[lanedaughtry]

Guess I should add in retrospect I wish the printing quality had been a bit higher (The Art of Maya) but overall I was pleased with the way it came out. I was really trying to add to the available material at the time as opposed to rehashing it.

I've got a LOT more production experience under my belt now and thats all going to play into the new training materials I'm working on. All of it is game production related. I'm very excited about it. I'll post more as it get closer to release.

-L

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