Video Games. Call them a hobby, a passion, a lifestyle. Just don’t call them a trend. Even in their formative years in the dark, smoky excitement of the video arcades of 1970’s and 80’s it was clear that video games were far more than a flash in the pan. Those cavernous yet crowded arcades, lit only by neon and CRT screens, not only provided entertainment and community, they also provided a new world to inhabit. Each cabinet was a whole universe unto itself. And, though many of these early games were referred to as “quarter munchers,” consuming allowances and minimum-wage earnings alike, they paid out just as much as they took in. They accepted currency and returned it with dreams of all kinds. Deep space travel, fighting fantastic monsters with swords and spells or, even cruising in a sweet sports car; all of it and more was possible with video games.

Those youth who cut their teeth on the classic arcade cabinets went on to create the tools for the next generation as the market moved to home consoles seeking to bring the energy of the arcade to the home television. And the kids who grew up on the slew of consoles that flooded into homes across the world are now the ones creating new games for the next generation to enjoy, to continue the dream.

But what about the video games of today? The tools used in current game design far surpass those of the past, leading to more realistic and immersive experiences than ever before. And this is where Autodesk software comes in.

 

Autodesk offers many tools artists need to create expansive, detailed worlds, full of realistic characters, and immersive experiences that enliven the imaginations of players. So, let’s take a look into the software Autodesk has created to bring forth the future of game design.

Autodesk Maya

Maya is professional 3D software for creating realistic characters and blockbuster-worthy effects.

  • Bring believable characters to life with engaging animation tools.

  • Shape 3D objects and scenes with intuitive modeling tools.

  • Create realistic effects—from explosions to cloth simulation.

From the Hogwarts Legacy game to The Avengers movies, Maya is working behind the scenes to deliver the vision from the minds of the designers. Whether you’re animating lifelike digi doubles or lovable cartoon characters, Maya has the animation toolset to bring your 3D assets to life.

Autodesk 3DS Max

3ds Max professional 3D modeling, rendering, and animation software enables you to create expansive worlds and premium designs.

  • Breathe life into environments and landscapes with robust modeling tools.

  • Create finely detailed designs and props with intuitive texturing and shading tools.

  • Iterate and produce professional-grade renders with full artistic control.

Whether you’re building expansive gaming worlds or visualizing intricate architectural designs, 3ds Max has the modeling toolset you need to bring your 3D assets to life. From high-quality renders to realistic 3D designs, 3DS Max has the creation tools necessary to fuel the imagination.

Autodesk MotionBuilder

MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software used to bring loveable characters and ferocious creatures to life. You can:

  • Capture, edit, and play back complex animations

  • Work faster and more efficiently in an interactive environment

  • Seamlessly exchange data between 3D content creation tools like Maya and 3ds Max

MotionBuilder has a real-time 3D character engine which automatically creates believable movements for biped or human skeletons. With easy to use manipulation tools, it’s simple to change the position and orientation of a character to create or alter animation.

Autodesk Mudbox

Mudbox software is a digital 3D sculpting and painting tool for creating detailed characters and environments with beautiful textures.

  • Bring 3D designs to life with intuitive sculpting tools.

  • Add final touches to models with flexible texture painting capabilities.

  • Work faster with an easy-to-use layer-based workflow.

Mudbox features an intuitive digital toolset, including sculpting tools and accurate texture painting workflows which enable the creation of realistic and stylized models.

 

As you can see, the tools which help create the modern game landscape always have to stay up to pace with, if not ahead of, game designers. Autodesk is providing some serious muscle in the software they’ve developed for 3D design and animation. Utilizing Autodesk products will ensure the best end-results with their cutting edge, industry-specific workflows.

For more information, be sure to head over to Autodesk’s site for Video Game Design & Development. There’s a lot to see and experience, just as there is in the video games themselves.

Whether your experience of video games ended with the days of the chunky, arcade-style cabinets or continues today with the high-powered home consoles and PC’s, it is clear the world of video games and the profession of game design aren’t going anywhere. I, for one, am very glad of that.

See you in the future!

-Luke

Useful links:

https://www.autodesk.com/compare/3ds-max-vs-maya

https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/3d-modeling-software

https://www.autodesk.com/industry/3d-animation