Journal #8335

The one that i can really think up that is free is blender, from experience you either like it or you don't.
The obvious standard in game modelling is 3ds Max, personally i would use Maya, but that comes down to choice neither are free nor cheap.
Not sure if Autodesk Softimage (XSI) Modtool is still around, that is a free version of XSI or whatever its called now with some limitations.

I recommend blender. Free, open source, fully documented and tutorialised online.

Used it to make some very basic models for The Core. It's quick to learn and I would no doubt be using it for more complex models were it not for me being a giant, ham-fisted, man baby.

...Well, at least you're honest.

I didn't like blender's u.i. though I loved some of its features like weight paint. I think blender is good for animating your models and especially organic ones. I hate 3ds max's u.i. though I've hardly used it. I'd just browse youtube videos of various programs to see if you like them.

I use rhino 5.0 for modeling bc it's u.i. is extremely similar to hammer but it isn't good for organic modeling unless you get tsplines and other plugins. Rhino is around 130.00USD I think for student version, you have to have a student email.

btw you should just try blender since it's free... I remember picking it up pretty fast.