The Game Artist's Guide to Maya

The Game Artist's Guide to Maya
by Michael McKinley

The Game Artist's Guide to Maya
List Price: $39.99
Our Price: $13.00
You Save: $26.99 (67%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.28 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Michael McKinley
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-01-21
ISBN: 0782143768
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Sybex
Product features:
  • ISBN13: 9780782143768
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Book Reviews of The Game Artist's Guide to Maya

Book Review: Hard stuff made easy!
Summary: 5 Stars

First of all, this is a great book. I read it cover-to-cover twice within the first 24 hours. Now don't get the title wrong, 3D modelling will never be easy, and no book can ever make it so. What a book can do, and this book does very well, is to get you started.

After the first chapter, which is a very interesting and useful tour around the "what's" and "how's" of the games industry, the book goes on to describe every step in the creation of a game character, from the initial concepts are made to the textured, animated model is finished and ready for the game. The book is built around a tutorial for a fantasy creature, but with comments on each step in general included where this is different from the character the book deals with.

Being a novice modeller myself, I had several "so THAT'S how they do that" experiences while reading through the book, but I'm sure even experienced modellers would learn something. The first chapter on how to get a job in the games industry and what to expect once you have it is worth the price by itself.

A basic knowledge of Maya is required to get the full benefit of this book, but using the built-in videos of the free "personal learning" edition included with the book as well as free tutorials from sites mentioned in the book will give you these skills in no time.

As I said at the beginning, no book can ever make this area easy, but difficult to master does not mean it can't be relatively easy to get started, and if you (like me) have a dream to one day become a modeller, I can't recommend this book enough.

Now go buy it!

Summary of The Game Artist's Guide to Maya

The Definitive Resource for Up-and-Coming 3D Game Artists

Alias' award-winning Maya 3D animation and effects software continues to lead the industry in technological innovation and is being adopted by more and more console and computer game developers. The Game Artist's Guide to Maya is an official introduction to creating 3D game art and animations with Maya, brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Alias and Sybex. Written by a production artist at a prominent game company, this detailed book focuses on the skills real game artists use daily to create stunning characters and environments.

By following the discussions and tutorials, you'll bring a concept through the entire game art development pipeline, learning everything from modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation, to special effects. You'll also glean insights from industry professionals and see how Maya has been used in popular games. If you're a 3D game artist, or looking to become one, this book will help you master the skills and techniques you'll need to excel in the competitive games industry.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

  • Create a game model using a concept image as your guide
  • Model with predetermined real-time polycount limitations in mind
  • View martial arts videos on the book's CD to animate your character more realistically
  • Prepare a model for texturing with UV mapping and layout techniques
  • Create different kinds of textures
  • Master the rigging process, from setting up a skeleton to preparing blend shapes
  • Practice techniques for creating animation clips to work with in the Trax Editor
  • Use particle effects, such as sprites and animated geometry, to add pizzazz to your model

Games & Strategy Guides Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Games & Strategy Guides Books
Bulletstorm Prima Official Strategy Guide with Bonus Videos: Prima Official Game Guide ImageBulletstorm Prima Official Strategy Guide with Bonus Videos: Prima Official Game Guide
by David Knight
Prima Games; Published: 2011-02-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops: $19.99
WWE '12: Prima Official Game Guide ImageWWE '12: Prima Official Game Guide
by Matt Sumpter
Random House/Prima Games; Prima Games; Published: 2011-11-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $19.99
Alan Wake Illuminated ImageAlan Wake Illuminated
by Jorg Neumann, Tony Elias
Prima Games; Published: 2010-05-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $45.00
Pokemon Pocket Pokedex Vol.3: Prima Official Game Guide ImagePokemon Pocket Pokedex Vol.3: Prima Official Game Guide
by Prima Games
Prima Games; Published: 2010-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops: $14.99
Lost Planet 2: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) ImageLost Planet 2: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
by Stephen Stratton
Prima Games; Published: 2010-05-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.96
Price in other shops: $19.99
The Warcraft Civilization: Social Science in a Virtual World ImageThe Warcraft Civilization: Social Science in a Virtual World
by William Sims Bainbridge
The MIT Press; Published: 2010-01-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.00
Price in other shops: $27.95
Dr. C.Wacko's Miracle Guide to Designing and Programming Your Own Atari Computer Arcade Games ImageDr. C.Wacko's Miracle Guide to Designing and Programming Your Own Atari Computer Arcade Games
Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc; Spiral-bound; Book
Student Solutions Manual for Quantum Chemistry ImageStudent Solutions Manual for Quantum Chemistry
by Ira N Levine
Prentice Hall; Published: 2002-09-21; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $40.20
3D Game Engine Architecture: Engineering Real-Time Applications with Wild Magic (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive 3D Technology) Image3D Game Engine Architecture: Engineering Real-Time Applications with Wild Magic (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive 3D Technology)
by David H. Eberly
Morgan Kaufmann; Published: 2004-12-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $48.90
Price in other shops: $89.95
New Super Mario Bros (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) ImageNew Super Mario Bros (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
by Fernando Bueno
Prima; Prima Games; Published: 2009-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $91.89
Similar Books and other products
Photoshop for 3D Artists, Vol. 1 ImagePhotoshop for 3D Artists, Vol. 1
by Andrzej Sykut, Fabio M. Ragonha, Zoltan Korcsok, Richard Tilbury
3DTotal Publishing; Published: 2011-06-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.06
Price in other shops: $49.99
MEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya ImageMEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya
by Chris Maraffi
New Riders Press; Published: 2008-12-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.96
Price in other shops: $50.00
3D Game Textures, Second Edition: Create Professional Game Art Using Photoshop Image3D Game Textures, Second Edition: Create Professional Game Art Using Photoshop
by Luke Ahearn
Focal Press; Published: 2009-06-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.03
Price in other shops: $49.95
Game Character Development ImageGame Character Development
by Antony S Ward
Course Technology PTR; Published: 2008-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.37
Price in other shops: $44.99
How to Cheat in Maya 2010: Tools and Techniques for the Maya Animator ImageHow to Cheat in Maya 2010: Tools and Techniques for the Maya Animator
by Eric Luhta
Focal Press; Published: 2009-12-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.97
Price in other shops: $44.95
Maya for Games: Modeling and Texturing Techniques with Maya and Mudbox ImageMaya for Games: Modeling and Texturing Techniques with Maya and Mudbox
by Michael Ingrassia
Focal Press; Published: 2008-10-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.47
Price in other shops: $49.95
The Animator's Survival Kit, Expanded Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators ImageThe Animator's Survival Kit, Expanded Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators
by Richard Williams
Faber & Faber; Published: 2009-12-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.98
Price in other shops: $35.00
The Game Animator's Guide to Maya ImageThe Game Animator's Guide to Maya
by Michael McKinley
Sybex; Published: 2006-07-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $34.99
Price in other shops: $39.99
Game Character Development with Maya ImageGame Character Development with Maya
by Antony Ward
New Riders Games; Published: 2004-12-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $143.20
Maya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props ImageMaya Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props
by Michael McKinley
Sybex; Published: 2010-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.74
Price in other shops: $49.99
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories