Ah, terrible but true laethyn. If I could afford Photoshop I would get it. It was the cost of PS(alone) and 3DsMax that led to me find GameStudio. For that I am lucky, and can live without having the best. I use gimp as a learning tool.
Finding out now what I have been missing all these years with 3D graphics
. I'll learn to live within the confines of the "GameStudio and Friends" environment as much as possible, hence this post. As you say, "find yourself needing something you just don't have". Don't have enough hair to be pulling out of my head nowadys.
Using Gmax now as a learning tool as well. I love the 3D modeling. It is like scultping, something I have always wanted to do, except no chipped pieces all over the floor when you are finished!
Maybe my motivations are bit different than most who start creating games, since I could care less about making piles of gold, I still want to create awesome games. Maybe create games that really aren't games but people play with them anyway, and especially start fiddling around with AI. If I can make a few coins along the way... even better.
Is it true that someone will pay me a billion dollars (read it in a post here) if I can come up with an efficient bot management system that needs no navemeshes?