Customer Reviews

3D Game Animation For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

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I purchased this book hoping it would help me show a novice how to start modeling for games. While the author covers the overview and technical terms, the essential modeling instruction is severely lacking. The book talks about creating detail but fails to deliver quality examples.

I bought this title because I own a few of the author's other works including the 3ds max bible. This was a dissapointment because it fails to provide the information on technical skills while it raises false hopes of earning money from games, if folks use this resource. (Read back of book cover)

The up side to this book is in the overview. It does introduce the information and resources needed for the game industry, and it covers the basic concepts of animation and modeling, but does not mention many important pit falls common to many an aspiring beginner.

Sure, you won't be able to land a job at Electronic Arts just by reading this book, but it's a great way to explore the topic. The author does a great job introducing animation lingo and techniques to novices. If you don't know your NURBS from your keyframes, this book is a great place to get educated. It may even whet your appetite for a more detailed book, such as the author's 3ds max Bible.

On p. 2 in the book "3D Game Animation for Dummies" it says, "the examples are taught using the free version of Maya." In the next paragraph, it says, "The Maya, Personal Learning Edition that is used for the examples in this book can be downloaded for free from the Alias Web site, www.alias.com, This version of Maya is not a limited trial version, nor is it a feature-disabled version. It includes all the features of the actual shipping version of Maya, except that the images are rendered with a watermark and the saved files are limited to this version."

After I bought the book and encountered a problem, Wiley Tech Support replied:
"The issue is not with your operating system or with the text. The issue is that you are using the non-commercial version of Maya, the Personal Learning Edition (PLE). Per the PLE FAQ at the Alias Products site (http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/faq.shtml#D):>>File Format and Data Input/Output: You cannot write standard Maya software files (.ma, .mb); only the Maya Personal Learning Edition file format (.mp) can be saved; however, you can import standard Maya software files.<< Thus, to fully utilize May along with the book, you would need to own the Maya Complete Edition of the software. We recommend you visit the URL given above and read the FAQ to familiarize yourself with the limitations of the version of the software you have so that you can make the necessary accommodations when reading our book."

A word of warning to potential buyers.