Character Modelling - Where Do I Start?

[archvilell]

I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do in XSI. I know I won't be able to render it since I only have the Mod Tool, but I think it would be cool if I made a Max Payne-style shootout between two characters, complete with bullet time effects and such.

I have no idea on how to create the characters. Do I use polygonal, spline, or NURBS modelling. Does XSI even have have those three. I watched a tutorial for spline modelling for MAX, and the narrator said spline modeling was the best because it was smoother since I wouldn't have to work with straight edges.

So my question: Do I make a character with polygons or surfaces. If surfaces, how do I even start. I have only experimented with polygons, nothing else.

Tutorials would be great, especially videos.

(PS, I'm still trying to learn how to texture my models, but I haven't figured it out yet. Those of you trying help, I thank you.)

 

[Gray Fox]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6485

 

[archvilell]

Okay, you're right. I deserved the shun to Tutorials thread. I apologize.

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

I don't think you did, You were asking a perfectly legitimate question about the best way to go about character modelling from scratch using XSI.

I don't know the answer though...

 

[Gray Fox]

Okay, you're right. I deserved the shun to Tutorials thread. I apologize.

Lol, no need. It wasn't meant as an insult, it was jus the best I could do, you wanted tutorials
And I think you should use polygons, because that is what games use I think, thats what games use, or was it triangles, or is that the same.

 

[mindless_moder]

he was reall just asking for advice on the matter.
you should use plygon based modeling for games unless ur considering normal mapping in which case use whatever technique u wish to make it high res and then make the lowpoly one with polygons.
if ur comfortable with splines its a really neat way to model but i dont recomend it for lowpoly work. its usualy used for making organic things or objects with curves like cars so it would be good for a character.

 

[crackhead]

find or draw a good reference picture and then start making it part by part from 8 sided cylinders adding lots of subdivisions and then selecting the edges and moving them and resizing them to fit with you concept and you should have a character in no time. the more you do it the better you will get.

 

[archvilell]

Cool. okay guys. Thats what I needed to hear. I'll get to work sometime.

 

[desty]

Splines is 3dsmax specific, forget that. Nurbs is just pointless. Go for polygons if you plan on putting it in-game, or subdivision surfaces, if you plan on rendering it.

 

[archvilell]

Ah, okay. Thanks Desty.

 

[simon]

how i start of with a character:

1. set up a plane as reference with a picture on it
2. create a cylinder (14 sides) and devided about 6 to 8 times (thats for the leg)
3. shape up the leg as the ref. then add a symmetry modifier on it
4. do the hips/middle part so it fits/joins nicely with the symmetric model
5. start the feet/shoes
6. and then jacket/body/arms/ whatever, this just goes on and on

so basicly i start with 1 cylinder (leg) 1 block (shoe) 1 cylinder (body/jacket)