Maya Beginner Basics: Geometry Basics The following is a 10-Part series on Maya Beginner Basics. The tutorials are set up in-specific to  game environment modeling. Geometry Basics covers how to create and manipulate basic objects in Maya. Tutorial covers: Simple Object Creation How to Turn Off Interactive Creation Wireframe/Shaded/Texture/Lighting Views Polygon Primitive Creation Options How to Scale/Rotate/Move/Select Objects How to Undo Turn On Wireframe on Shaded Object Component Mode   SIMPLE OBJECT CREATION When it comes to game environment modeling, we will be dealing with polygons.  There will be times when we will use nurbs and surfaces, but our final output will almost  always be polygon based. To create simple objects in Maya, go up to: Create --> Polygon Primitives --> Choose a primitive If you placed Polygon Primitives on your Custom Shelf, then you can use that to create your  basic objects in Maya. TURN OFF INTERACTIVE CREATION Interactive creation is not what you want when creating polygon primitives in Maya.  You simply want to press one key and create your primitive. To do that you will need to  turn off Interactive Creation under Polygon Primitives Menu. WIREFRAME/SHADED/TEXTURE/LIGHTING VIEWS 4 = Wireframe View 5 = Shaded View 6 = Texture View 7 = Lighting View POLYGON PRIMITIVE CREATION OPTIONS You have an option box for all Polygon Primitives prior to creating them. This offers more  direct control how the initial primitive appears in your scene. Such as position and size. OBJECT MANIPULATION Q = Selection Tool W = Move Tool E = Rotation Tool R = Scale Tool UNDO Z = Undo TURN ON WIREFRAME ON SHADED Being able to see wireframe on shaded objects will help you modeling. Turn on wireframe on shaded by going up to Viewport Menu List and check Shading --> Wireframe on Shaded OBJECT COMPONENT MODE Object Component Mode allows you to manipulate vertices, faces, edges etc. This is  where more direct modeling control comes into play. Majority of your time modeling will be  using the component mode and shaping your polys. To access Object Component Mode, select your object and Hold Right Mouse Button. While in component mode, you are able to use the hotkeys we covered earlier for  Move/Scale/Rotate and modify the object.