This is a good list of options you mentioned there. But to be honest: I would not use them all. This would create a lot of confusions. It is much better to master one of them perfectly. Since I have bad experiences with Truespace I would rather learn Blender. This alone can take a few years but will be worth it. Another unwrapping and animation tool is not needed. But maybe Milkshape and Fragmotion can be used for export.

Regarding the UI: I worked with MED, Gamespace, Lightwave, ZBrush, Blender, Modo, an older Max version, Cinema4D, Reflection, Monzoom, Milkshape and UU3D. It always takes time to learn the UI. Truespace has a very unique UI and takes some learning. Lightwave took me some time but was absolutely worth it. Blender and ZBrush takes time. The most different UI is the one from ZBrush but still it is the most used sculpting tool among artists. So this was not a big barrier for the ambitious people out there.

I have to say something about modeler since I used many of them at my work. I started with blender when I was In hi school 7 years ago ( it was the beginning of blender I guess) and then I switch to lightwave which is crealy morre powerfull and handy, after lightwave I was a bit stuck with the texturing. I Started game modeling and it wasn't this easy to texture my character. After two year I started working with 3dsMax at university. I learned it just to do my project and get my grades. I finished by learning maya for my job and I find it really handy and the ui more controlable than lightwave and 3dmax. Of course without the need for my job I wouldn't afford such a price.

But What I've learn is more important than the UI is the modeling process, the texture workflow and the animation can be learn in any of this package. Then It will depend on how good you are to use the tool in a proper way.

I have to say if you just start you won't find any diference between lightwave and blender or blender and maya. Even if the diference is huge( I mean it)

It's better to learn from something free first because by the time you'll learn how to model an organic model maybe the product will be in another version already.

I use modo and as frank says it a great tool.

@frank --- I would learn Blender for sure and because its free to use. I here that the Interface will change starting version 2.50. So hopefully the learning curve wont be so high. Either way the pipeline from blender to Gamestudio is very good.

There is also a program that you can buy that doesnt need uv mapping , you just paint straight onto the model and save it and then export to gamestudio. Something to do with auto uv mapping.

http://www.blacksmith3d.com/ check it out!

Yes the interface is the most time spent on when it comes to any software package.

Finally here are a few more tools you could try : strata3d, rhino3d, realsoft3d the list can go on and on

@sueds

no matter what happens all i know is the easier the interface the quicker we can achieve the goal of being a good modeler. I started with Wings3d because it was the easiest to understand interface wise, and being able to do something quickly in the program without being bogged down by the interface to learn first. Afterall its game models we want to create for our games in the first place. In the end my dream of making games is becoming reality, a bit more practice and bringing the skills together will have the game i have been waiting to make for a long time reality.



One last note: Anyone seen this creation tool? I am sure some have ,even this can bring game ideas to life quickly. All one needs to do is create the models and the level design and your done within a week or maybe more depending on how slick you want your game to look www.fpscreator.com

cheers

Moggy