Learn Maya in The Metaverse

Guy named Xenius Revere teaches Maya in Second Life, in a school building (left) that showcases his talents at 3D content creation. (Unsurprisingly, the instructional emphasis is on using Maya for content within SL.) Here's his course calendar. Tuition for each three session course runs from between L$16K to 32K -- around $60-120, which seems like a pretty good deal for a student (and for teaching an 8 person class, a pretty good income for a teacher with skills to impart.) More key, Ms. Ryker Beck (who is no slouch in the graphic instructions department herself), calls Revere "an overall fantastic instructor to be in a class with." Image credit: www.xeniversity.com

Comments

[Damien Fate]

Xenius is a genius!

[qarl]

Xenius is a genius!

[FlipperPA Peregrine]

What an awesomely programmed web site interface to allow registration and payment in world! ;)

[radar]

I took the basic 101 maya class and I thought it was a good value. I'm a beginner so there were some things I took away that were very helpful.

Unfortunately, the texturing and advanced sculpting classes are a little out of my price range at the moment. I can't justify the cost. Frankly, recouping expenses in SL through product sales is something that takes more time and effort that I have time for.

But if you have the spare cash, these are well taught classes, and Xenius knows Maya in and out.

[Ann Otoole]

well what a deal! Now if only I was rich and could afford Maya. Anyone going to start a 3D school for poor folk using the open source tools?

[Kevin Tweedy]

I have taken several of his courses and they totally rock. Best time i have ever spent. These are serious courses.

[Kriss Lehmann]

I can personally vouch for the quality and value of Xenius' Maya classes. The classes are very well structured, and not only do you get to benefit from the teacher's vast knowledge in applying Maya to content creation in SL (the practical application aspects of the classes cannot be beat), You also also get the advantages of peer review in a friendly classroom environment. I've taken all his courses from beginning modeling and texturing to specialized focused classes and the quality of the items I can create in SL via Maya is beyond anything I could have hoped for. Compared to non SL centric training and even online tutorials, the classes are very much worth the price. Xenius is a real life instructor, and that expertise in classroom instruction is immediately evident. Taking Xen's classes is easily one of the best decisions I ever made in Second Life.

[Gaius Goodliffe]

Wow! I had the great pleasure of working with Xenius some time ago on a project, him pumping out beautiful objects while I wrote code to make them move. Definitely one of the most talented people I've ever met, and a great guy to boot. If I were looking for instruction in Maya, he'd be my first choice, definitely.

Alas, I'm a coder, not an artist. Any plans for a "Blender for Dummies" course for those of us who might want to dabble in 3D tools a bit but aren't 3D pros for whom a Maya investment would be overkill? (Not that I mind using a nuclear powered fly-swatter if I have one, I'm just cheap. XD)

[Nexus Burbclave]

Like Gaius and Ann, I would love to hear about a course like this for Blender if such a course exists.