What are some programs that can do what Bryce 4/5 do AND have an easy UI like all of Metacreations' software does (did)? I love Bryce, but I don't like some of its limitations (e.g. only has primitives). Another feature would have to be a price below $500 (It's only a hobby). I generally make scenes, but some I also do some object modeling when I need to. Thanks!

You might want to take a look at World Builder or Vue d'Esprit. They both have support for Poser (if you're into that sort of thing), demos so you can test-drive the interfaces, and versions that sell for well under $500. As an added bonus, both programs have forums here at Renderosity.

Also, Bryce 5 -does- have metaballs, which are great for organic modelling...

landscape tools dont no many terragen there is a free version of it another witch is nothing like bryce but good render is softcad more of a design tool fow

if you want to make your own models you might want to try Rhino. It doesnt have an interface like Bryce but its still easy to learn and the Rhino forum here has may talented people and lots of tuts. You can get it here for $570 I think or if you're a student--or you could buy it for your favorite student :)-- its $180. The student version is the same as the other so theres no limitations. There is also a demo @ Rhino3d.com with no limitations except ou can only save 25 times. you can still use it after that but you cant save anything...

I concur with Wadus, keep Bryce for rendering and buy Rhino3D as they make an excellent duo. I've been using both in concert for many moons now and I am completely satisfied. This Rhino forum at Renderosity is the largest and most active on the net so support isn't too far away.

Quikp51 I wasn't saying get rid of Bryce lol I meant to get Rhino to model with and still use Bryce, I like Bryce and mostly render my stuff with it also...

Wadus that's what I said, use Rhino in concert with Bryce. Rhino being the primariy modeller and Bryce as the texture/renderer.

rhino seems to me to be a great app that its very easy to creat very good organics look at how well teyon has done with it ! only draw back is if you intend to move to a higher modeler down the road that uses polys because a lot of people have trouble moving from nurbs to polys and vice versa though some make the trasition well

You can always check out http://www.xfrogdownloads.com/greenWeb2/Templates/start.html as well. Makes trees and other organics, one month time limited demo onsite.

Nendo, it sells for $99 U.S.

Try Amapi. There is a free version w/ no restrictions on saves and no timeout avaliable at http://www.critical-depth.com/amapi_download.asp There is a forum here and om 3dcommune that has some great guys who love to help out people new to modeling ( like me ). It's interface is very different and comfortable. Hey for free you can't go wrong. Actually, try them all that allow you to demo, then decide what feels more comfortable to you. SmoothG Electron Forge

blender, and pov ray are 2 more free choices... also, computer arts 67 has a full version of poser3, so now you cant go wrong...

From what I have seen and heard on the forums (fora?), Vue d'Esprit is very competitive to Bryce in almost all aspects, with the biggest advantages being render speed, vegetation and price. I am thisclose to getting Vue! For what it's worth, Rhino and Truespace look like excellent modelers. Truespace is also an excellent renderer. I have Terragen and POVRAY (both free). Terragen is easy and photorealistic, but lacks flexibility. POVRAY is much harder (you have to code everything) but infinitely flexible.