Quote - I just wonder, if execrable has access to XSI and C4D, why interest in Blender? For average user Blender probably is almost as powerful, but is it not hard to try to master so many apps? 

Oh I have played with lots of software right through from Autocad version 1 in 1990! (I worked as a software demonstrator for Evan & Sutherland when they tried to break into the Automotive industry) I have made my living working with software and what I've found is that some stand still and stagnate while others become more useable or successful and then again some others evolve. 
I work primarily with my hands as a modeler and have been trying all sorts of software to see when I as a modeler might "evolve" from real 3D to CGI-3D.

I guess the short answer is to keep myself current? Hope that explains. I do dabble with animation (badly) and so I like to keep a computer nearby even if it isn't the latest and newest.

LOL, I've uninstalled my copy after the owner was rude to me on his forum. You can have my copy and serial number if you really want to explore it.

If you're serious about seeing it (or it's results) try looking at a guy called Victor Navone or google "Alien Song" - another big thing on the web from Hash was "the killer bean"

http://www.hash.com/gallery

Quote - Blender needs someone from the WIngs3D team to give them an hand with the ui....

MWAHHAHAHAHAHA! 

I think of Wings on the same par as Blender. I've quite a few copies that I've downloaded and not used beyond the first "click" to find out what it does. 

I was told "right click everything in Wings" - so I clicked off.

XSI, Hash, Cinema4D all are more intuitive and descriptive. However thanks for the .pdf link. have downloaded that and going through it now.

Quote - Uhm, I wasn't aware we're fighting. I thought that was a priviledge reserved to some idiots in Washington  LOL

No, I don't want a fight. A disagreement is all. 

Peace.

Hi staigermanus, I was editing and adding to my post when you replied. I'm not aware of other software that would do what it sounds like this guy wants to do. 

Interesting if we argue over the finer points if he never comes back to read or add to his one post.....

EDIT: Here's macromedia Director 3D info over at adobe (remember adobe bought Macromedia) and if you scroll down to Authoring tools you get the companies who have signed up (any poly application will do though) but further down you will find 3D content developers.

List:-
http://www.dreamtheater.com/index_H.html
http://www.candomultimedia.com/games.htm
http://www.forgefx.com/

etc etc etc

As this is a forum and people always disagree with each other, I'm going to disagree with staigermanus - you are already learning one software package (wasn't ever aware sketchup was an animation package lol) and that is an industry standard peice of software. 

Learning a whole new software for each difficult new technique is not the best use of time I.M.O. Stick with the one you're learning until you decide it doesn;t do what you need then learn something new.

Actually isn't this something that either would work as an .swf file (and Max exports .swf format I believe) OR if you are going to do this regularly and professionally - Director (yes, the grandaddy to Flash and .swf) does naturally?

Most people creating flythroughs that users can navigate create polygon models of the environment (in software of choice) and then export to Director MX2003. They are currently working on the new version but there's no shipping date yet.

Director is HUGE and will swallow more learning time than any 3D software so you have to be serious and need to do this exercise repeatedly AND commercially to pay back the time put in.

Hi Rodney, followed the link and it definitely looks like an "own thing" but similar. Checked their other art entries but very little posting on them so I don't hold out hope for their 10 second competition.

Shame

Wow thanks for all the replies guys - will try everything posted and hopefully have some renders for feedback.