well not really, just a comparison.
http://www.insidecg.com/feature.php?id=136
Lightwave get's a pretty good wrap. I wonder if the guys who reviewed each software were users of diferant ones or what.
For 3D apps, based off the end of last years stat rounds in the "entertainment industry" (broadcast, movie, games), 3dsmax 4 and 5 are the two highest used applications, a little out in front of Maya, which is then followed by lightwave which is quite a far way off.
For just games, the stats weren't that comprehensive, but max was streaks ahead of everything else, being more than triple the amount used of the nearest package which was maya. Looking forward to seeing what the new stats are this year if they get done again for 2004
I think it has always been this way. Max is used an exceptional amount in games because it's polygon modelling toolset is almost unbeatable. It is also quite easy to use. In the film industry I think Maya is the dominating software because it's NURB modeller is unbeatable. Some aussie companies use lightwave, i think tantalus does. But there are a few companies switching to maya now as well.
Although Maya does have one of the best implementations of NURBS, not that many people use it anymore. Very few people still use true SubD now. Most people prefer polygon modelling whether it is for low poly or high poly work. So Maya isn't becoming more popular for that. As Inglis said, Maya was based around Film Studio's workflows. This is one reason why many game studios don't use it. A game studio will have a few dozen artists (at most) working for them. A film company has a few hundred. They need different workflow solutions based on that.
A lot of larger games companies are hesitent to change as well, as they have a large amount of money invested in their software and training. If companies just decided to switch like that, they would have to buy all new software and liscences, and either get in new staff or train all their older staff. That takes a lot of time and money, that a lot of companies can't afford.
I will be interested to see figures for this years sales as well. Especially considering that Maya Complete costs less than 3DS Max. I didn't actually realise that Max was still that expensive though.
http://estore.discreet.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry?CID=0&SID=37482&SP=10007… I'm guessing that the prices are US, seeing as it is the US store.
http://store.aliaswavefront.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry16?SP=10024&PN=29&xi…
Which ever one you can use best.