CompuServe Messages

I highly suggest that you make a list of features that you absolutely will need, and see which package will best fulfill that list. Remember that 3D capable SGI's run from $18,000 (in U.S.) up to $$$millions. And the software is damned expensive, too. If you are creating PC or "game box" games I can hardly imagine needing the capabilities that Alias or Wavefront have over 3D Studio, and with R3 that gap is closing VERY fast. With the new IPAS interface all those goodies like dynamics, kinematics, and more sophisticated morphing will be possible. If you need NURBS, spline based modelling, then Alias may be your best bet (I've only played with it a little, so I'm also going on other people's comments). A PC based 3DS solution will run under $25,000, including multiple rendering machines, software, and recording equipment (probably not important for games work). I know, because I did it. A company that I deal with has multiple SGI's, and one of their Iris stations equipped with Wavefront (including dynamics module) ran them in excess of $60,000 and that includes just the computer and one software package.