Professional tools for professional people, I know that sounds silly; but while I use Maya and Mudbox (having to learn ZBrush for work now), just because someone like myself can do something with these products that generally wows people.. doesn't mean it is because of what I use.
The reason I use the tools I do is because I find them easiest to get the results I want quickly with tools I've been happily using for over a decade.
Most who get ZBrush, Maya, Max, Softimage, etc.. Look at what the professionals can do and purchase based on this fact.
Not to be harsh or owt, but most who get them for that reason believeing that the tool makes the artist REALLY need to sit down with a peice of paper and pencil.
Those creating amazing results, not only have been using these tools (or similar) for a very long time and/or have huge artist talent to begin with. I would wager highly that I could model circles around someone who bought Maya/Max simply because it's used in top-end games using Milkshape3D. Simply because I know what the hell I'm doing and have a natural artistic ability particularly with 3D; which I've practised for a very long time now, and from a much younger age than even the youngest on this board.
A tool means nothing if you can't get on with it properly. This is why whenever the question of "what is the best" comes up one of the first answers is "try them all, it depends on the user".
Some of you will at some point just have to face facts too, that no matter how much money you spend and how much time you put in; you will never reach the level of those producing the showcase work for any of the professional level products.
Just because you pay pro prices, doesn't mean you automatically get pro talent. Start with something in a more realistic price range that you won't feel upset having spent. If someone honestly has the $3,000 odd to drop on an art program they'll end up hating when they finally give up and feel that's cool; then god I wish I had your funds. Seriously, I work damn hard and have to get quite a few products to keep up with the industry and keep learning them on my own time not company time where we are constricted by deadlines.
I certainly as hell don't feel these products are worth more than what I spent on getting myself a car, and I felt that was a bloody struggle enough.
Seriously for the love of god try-before-you-buy. I don't mean pirate it either, because it just adds to the number and means these companies then push the prices up cause they can claim piracy is cutting in to their profits. It's why they're so damn easy TO pirate. If there is no trial, then don't touch it.
Trials tend to last 30days, use that time and cram. Don't piss about for a couple of hours in total, because that really isn't the attitude to take towards learning a product to see what it can do. Don't go into huge ass projects like modeling a person, most of you will do it bloody wrong anyways and end up with a box figure that has some remote resemblance that everyone here will tell you is the best thing since sliced bread; then the poster gets upset when I tell them it's a sodding box and they need to try better.
This might seem like a long ass rant, but seriously read it. LISTEN to what I've said. Take it in. I'm checking these boards more often again, and I feel like pushing people to do better like I used to again. Those from RGT days will know exactly what I can be like with this.. and you'll soon learn if you weren't around then.
The same goes for those who seem to have taken up my old role, and you know who you are. Pots calling kettles black. I'm going back to my old respect is earnt not given nature; so you best have earnt that respect to get decent treatment.
