Making the Right Choice between 3ds Max vs Unreal Engine

3ds Max, developed by Autodesk, is an ideal choice for professionals who demand hyperrealistic pre-rendered creations like special effects and architectural presentations. However, those looking for a versatile and robust option should opt for Unreal Engine, a cross-platform graphics engine designed for various game genres and the film and television industries.

Key Differences Between 3ds Max and Unreal Engine

• Creator: Autodesk developed 3ds Max, while Epic Games developed Unreal Engine.
• Usage: 3ds Max is used for high-quality pre-rendered productions, Unreal Engine is ideal for various game genres and multimedia industries.
• Price: Unreal Engine is free for all, charging 5% revenues for products generating more than $3,000 quarterly. 3ds Max employs tokens for a pay-as-you-go basis.
• Platform: 3ds Max runs exclusively on Windows, Unreal Engine supports multiple platforms, including mobile and VR.

What Is Autodesk 3ds Max and Who’s It For?

Autodesk 3ds Max, previously known as 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max, is a powerful tool developed by Autodesk Media & Entertainment. This software is specifically designed for creating 3D animations, models, games, and images. With its advanced modeling capabilities, flexible plugin architecture and compatibility with Windows platforms, 3ds Max is a preferred choice among video game developers. Similarly, it is a sought-after tool for pre-rendered productions, like movies, special effects, and architectural presentations. Whether you’re a student learning the ropes or a professional in architectural and engineering design firms, 3ds Max has something to offer.

Pros of Autodesk 3ds Max

• Wide array of modeling capabilities and supports import and linking of .dwg files.
• Flexible plugin architecture with specialized plugins available for purchase.
• Widely used by video game developers and pre-rendered production houses.
• Regular updates rolled out with enhanced features and performance improvements.

Cons of Autodesk 3ds Max

• Complexity of features might be daunting for novices.
• Some specialized plugins are purchasable separate from the main software.
• Highest compatibility is with Windows 10 and Windows 11, limiting users still on earlier versions.

What Is Unreal Engine and Who’s It For?

Unreal Engine (UE), developed by Epic Games, is an acclaimed series of 3D computer graphics game engines. Introduced in 1998 with the game Unreal, it initially catered to PC first-person shooters. However, the engine has since expanded, being used in a variety of game genres, as well as industries like film and television. Written in C++, Unreal Engine supports a wide range of platforms including desktop, mobile, console and VR platforms. With Unreal Engine, game developers, students, and even professionals from film and television have a platform on which to build immersive experiences.

Pros of Unreal Engine

• Supports a wide range of platforms including desktop, mobile, console and VR platforms.
• Offers basic project templates serving as starting points for first-person or third-person experience.
• Unreal Engine Marketplace allows users to sell their creations or purchase others’ work.
• Unreal Engine is free for schools and universities.
• UDK updated to include support for creating iOS games and apps.

Cons of Unreal Engine

• Epic charges 5% of revenues over USD 1 million for commercial use.
• Requires proficiency in C++, which might be challenging for beginners.

3ds Max vs Unreal Engine: Pricing

The key differentiation between 3ds Max and Unreal Engine in terms of pricing is the former focusing on pay-as-you-go basis and requiring separate purchase for specialized plugins, while the latter follows a 5% royalty model for commercial revenues over USD 1 million, but waives this in some circumstances and offers free usage for educational institutions.

3ds Max

Autodesk 3ds Max utilizes a pay-as-you-go pricing model with the availability of certain services on premise of tokens. Additional functionalities or specialized plugins are available but require a separate purchase. Considerable usage in educational programs indicates possible discounted or free licenses for academic institutions.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine, developed by Epic Games, implements a 5% royalty model for commercial use, applying to revenues exceeding USD 1 million. However, this model is waived for games published on the Epic Games Store, indicating a strong push towards their own platform. There is also a provision for free usage by schools and universities, demonstrating an investment in fostering younger talent. Additionally, the Unreal Engine Marketplace allows users to sell or purchase created content, with Epic ensuring content creators receive an 88% share of the generated revenue.

Code Examples for 3ds Max & Unreal Engine

3ds Max

This 3ds Max code example demonstrates an ambient occlusion setup for enhancing the realism of your 3D scenes. Ensure that your MaxScript environment is ready for scripting and that you have marked the relevant dependencies.

    global AO_setup
    rollout AO_setup "AO Setup" width:162 height:54
    (
       button AO_Button "Setup AO" pos:[5,5] width:151 height:43
       on AO_Button pressed do 
       (
          newMatte = ShellMtl() --> finding our ambient occlusion
          newMatte.name = "AO_Mtl"
          newMatte.bakedMaterial = mental_ray_Ambient_Reflective_Occlusion()
          newMatte.falloff = false
          sceneMaterials.append newMatte 
          mtl_layers = [ (findItem sceneMaterials newMatte), (findItem sceneMaterials mental_ray_Ambient_Reflective_Occlusion())]
        
          for mtl in mtl_layers do
          (
             newMatte_layer = ShellMaterialThg ()
             newMatte_layer.Mtls = #()
             newMatte_layer.Mtls.append (sceneMaterials[mtl])
             newMatte_layer.BakeEnabled = true
          )
       )
    )
    createDialog AO_setup

Unreal Engine

The subsequent code snippet for Unreal Engine creates a splash damage effect, which is a staple in multiplayer shooters. You must have your Unreal Engine scripting environment ready and the associated Actor class available.

    FVector Start = GetActorLocation();
    FVector End = Start + FVector(0.f, 0.f, -1.f) * 200.f;
    FHitResult OutHit;
    TArray<aactor*> IgnoreActors;
    
    APlayerController* PC = Cast<aplayercontroller>(GetController());
    if (PC)
    {
        IgnoreActors.Add(PC->GetPawn());
    }
    
    UKismetSystemLibrary::SphereTraceSingle(
        GetWorld(),
        Start,
        End,
        200.f,
        ETraceTypeQuery::TraceTypeQuery1,
        false,
        IgnoreActors,
        EDrawDebugTrace::None,
        OutHit,
        true);

    TSet<aactor*> OverlappedActors;
    OverlappedActors.Add(OutHit.GetActor());

    if (OverlappedActors.Num() > 0)
    {
        for (AActor* OverlappedActor : OverlappedActors)
        {
            UGameplayStatics::ApplyDamage(
                OverlappedActor,
                100.f,
                GetController(),
                this,
                UDamageType::StaticClass());
        }
    }
    </aactor*></aplayercontroller></aactor*>

Each code segment might require extra packages or dependencies based on the end-user’s environment. Thus, always verify that you have a compatible development environment. Be thorough with identifying and rectifying any potential environment inconsistencies prior to running the code.

The Crowning Verdict: 3ds Max vs Unreal Engine

Thrashing out a verdict hinges on fine-grained evaluation of use-cases and task-demands. Our audience, it must be remembered, differ in demands and skill-sets.

Game Developers

Unreal Engine overtakes 3ds Max here. With its wider platform support, from desktop to VR, coupled with the ability to create iOS games and apps using the Unreal Development Kit, Unreal Engine provides an unbeatable advantage in game development. Further, Unreal Engine’s cores are coded in C++, opening up better integration possibilities.

Film and Special Effects Creators

On the contrary, the film and VFX industry would sway towards 3ds Max. Its superior capabilities in creating pre-rendered productions, meshed with a razor-sharp focus on detailed animations and special effects, propel it to the forefront. With its stellar historic performance in high-profile films, 3ds Max resonates seamlessly with this audience.

Architectural Designers

Architectural and engineering designers would lean towards 3ds Max for its advanced capabilities in presenting smooth, geometrically sound, and complex spatial structures – all courtesy of the Non-Uniform Rational Based-Splines (NURBS). Autodesk Vault’s consolidation function for managing 3ds Max assets reaffirms its place as the unquestionable choice among design professionals.

Simply stated, Unreal Engine reigns supreme for game development due to its broad platform support and C++ foundation, while 3ds Max dominates in pre-rendered productions and architectural visualizations due to its robust rendering and geometric modeling capabilities.