Even with buying 3D Max and Zbrush , it's not that expensive , 3d Max is like $3500 , and Zbrush under $700 (I think). That's a little over $4000, that's VERY cheap , a good pc can run you just as much. Now consider , that the Unreal Engine 3 license was around $750,000 (estimate) to be able to use the engine for commercial purposes. So , that's $750,000 less than you needed to be able to make a commercial game with the engine. That's a fucking HUGE discount. We now all have the technology the professionals have in our hands , and free , what more can one ask for ? For them to make the game for us and send us a check ? LOL

Unfortunately Max is more than 5,000 Euros here (around 7,000 $) in Europe. I dont know why, but maybe they add some service and taxes but it is ridiculous.

But I understand your point.

The blender plugin looks interesting. We have to research this.

No.

3ds max 2010: 4.641,00 Euro (including 19% TAX)
Maya 2010: 4.641,00 Euro (including 19% TAX)

Prices from www.3dpowerstore.de ...

Blender exporter is cool way.
Caus buying 3DSMAX just for playing is very high price !

In Indie domaine there is no professionnal skilled NExt Gen team : You won't see Gears Of War 2 like pictures
Lot of people here are beginners , indies , people not sure to make a game :
A LOT EVEN WILL NOT SALE ANY COMPLETE GAME WITHIN YEARS OR NEVER !

UT3 si really for Next Gen, if you plan to use simple charaters and levels without normal maps, just stick with more indie engines.

Ask you that questions :
- Am i lonewolf or do i have a Next Gen team
- Will i be able to make a AAA game , that needs a AAA Engine
and Big Tools ?
- Do i have great 3D Next Gen Skills , do i have already
showed next gen things in forums ? to need Zbrush and 3DSMAX

To play, and finally sell nothing , Blender exporter for Unreal really sufficient i think.
(people targetting to work on 3D industry, well it's another story and they can buy expensive tools and use UT3 , it's another totally different story !!)

Even with UT2 free to do mods for years , there has been no game made with it that have been on shelves or that have
made talk a lot about it !

I think it will be the same with UT3 : lot of people playing,
only some two or three real little professionnal studios will perhaps show and sell something.
Caus over 5000$ , the price can be fairly hight.

when someone succeed in making the blender plugin work can he let us know.

I haven't try it myself but as soon I came back home I may have a look too.

ratchet, you are a lone wolf but if you were going to tag with for exampel for or five friend and start to work on a game or build a company ( which many people do) 5000 $ would be nothing compare to waht you'll need to invest. But people do it all the time. Small studio keep opening their doors. So instead of spending 1 year building a engine not good as ut3 you could start working directly and find an investor or do preorder or such.

So yea for the hobbyist it's kind of ridiculous to spend that much money on a tool but for others who are aiming to be legitimate game developpers ( I mean in a team and such ) this is nothing compare to what they have to face a month ago.

This deal for sure is interesting for people who want to recommend themselves for a job in the gaming industry later.

I have worked with the U3 engine certainly is more impressive than I've worked with Acknex or I've worked with Unity.

There are many people who want to improve their skills and not build a complete game - and they'll love this offer.

http://code.google.com/p/steam-punk-pirates-mod/wiki/TutorialPage

I haven't try it yet ( I don't have my computer ) but sounds like a beginning.

The way I see it if you're a lonewolf, then modding Unreal is probably easier than making everything yourself from scratch with an indie engine. Particularly if you're making a first person shooter game since it's a fully functional multiplayer shooter to begin with. I don't think any indie engine provides such a solid and reliable foundation to build on. I think it's the right choice for my project so I'm switching to it.