So, I'm basically looking for any insight and opinion.

I've done a large amount of modelling, rigging, and skinning in Autodesk 3DSMax, and was wondering how I could use these files in GS, what would be the best format, etc.

Personally, I find MED to be a little confusing to use.

I think you export max animations to FBX file format, and then import the FBX
from MED and finally convert that to .mdl

I'd actually done something like that, however when I imported the model into MED as an FBX, it didn't read any textures, so it was just a blank object, made me figure FBX wasn't supported.
Could that be a problem with the format of the textures? (.TGA)

export from 3ds max with fbx (2006)
it is good when model and texture are in the same path.

then in MED go to texture format and see what is checked.
when 32 Bit set to 24 and may be uncheck the alpha channel.


Also you can check in 3ds max the Z for the right align in MED.

Good luck.

here is a export/import video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/quadraxas#play/all/uploads-all/0/7Lxft1ML05U

Thanks for the tutorial.
Just out of curosity, whats the general consensus among people here when it comes to polycount/triangles of a player?
I've been working on my player model, and its hit almost 4,000polys, and it has a HQ version used for CG videos thats 10,000polys.

4-6k is ok for main player model i guess.

mh, when i model a human person, i always get much more - i use cinema 4d to models

Ok, lets say the main model is about 6k give or take a little.
What would you aim for when working on secondary characters, or items inside of levels? Or enemies.

Using 3DSMax seems to be my downfall, haha, everytime I work on something I want it looking good, so it ends up being 11k

But you can optimize your model in 3DSMax or C4D, though it will destroy the object shape even for 50% poly count...

Me myself used to work everything in MED...