Re: [GD-General] Blender

[<ga...@nl...>]

On Sun, Dec 22, 2002 at 06:59:18PM -0600, brian hook wrote:
> Anyone use Blender as a modeling tool and have any comments on it, e.g. 
> comparing it to LW, Max, Maya, etc.?

It is definitely the most powerful GPL modeler currently available,
as it used to be a commercial product.  It's UI is cryptic, but fast
once you learn it (like vi). Probably fine for most of us professionals
who focus on a fast day-in day-out workflow and are willing to invest
time up-front in learning the tool, instead of needing an extensive
self-guiding point-and-click menu system.

Good animation features, though animation data is not (yet) directly
exportable (bones, weights, etc), but since it is GPL you could hack
this in yourself. Workable, but not perfect or exhaustive, palette of
modeling tools, including lattice deformation, extrusion, beveling,
booleans. Also contains other useful editing features - hierarchical
parenting, temporarily hiding geometry, layers, linking meshes or
materials between objects, default uv mappings (cube, sphere, from window,
etc), flexible and saveable window layout, etc.

It has somewhat limited export formats, though VRML and DXF are supported.
Limited Python scripting for extensibility, which is somewhat unstable
right now since the product just became GPL.

There is no undo feature.

It has a built-in real-time game engine, not a workhorse, but good for
rapidly prototyping ideas or making small productions.

My executive summary is that for games, it has enough to get the job done.
I use it (with a host of custom back-end scripts) as the geometry and
level editor for our upcoming coin-op production. Blender is not without
its quirks, but for making games, it has enough features that you can
always get the job done. And it's GPL with source code, so you can hack
on it all you want.  But expect to spend some time learning the GUI, and
writing external scripts to get the data from Blender into your engine.

Norman Lin
nl...@nl...