All,
I normally don't post on the list given that my experience is way lower in the
use of Softimage than everyone else. However, given I am a subscription user
(for many years) and want to protect my investment, I feel motivated to
comment.
There is a lot of passion for Softimage being displayed here and you would
think that this would be something that Autodesk would want to nurture. But
from my observations, their current approach is doing the opposite and is
actually pushing users away.
I understand the marketing strategy for the suites and admit, if I had
responsibility for growing sales of Softimage, I would probably adopt the
same/similar approach. However, in my opinion there is a flaw in this strategy
in that the targeted marketing of the suites is leaking out into the wider
customer base. It's impacting a wider range of stakeholders than it may have
been intended to impact. For example, potential new entrants into the 3D field
will read the suites marketing material and this will negatively affect their
impression of Softimage and its capabilities. Also, buyers of artists'
services could be similarly affected when considering personnel for jobs or
developing their own pipelines. This all feeds negatively into sustaining
Softimage sales.
Therefore, I believe that Autodesk should review its overall marketing strategy
to ensure that the plan for one stakeholder "type" doesn't negatively impact
another. This is what is happening with the suites marketing and a such
something needs to be done to correct it. Can a suite marketing strategy that
positions Softimage for its incremental benefits to Maya/Max sit comfortably
alongside a more inclusive marketing strategy of Softimage, as a whole product
for customers that don't want suites (for whatever reason)? I think so, but
maybe I'm missing something.
So, in my view the solution to the current concerns of the Softimage user base
is not to stop or adjust the suite marketing, but more to do with ensuring that
marketing for other stakeholders is visible and effective.
Best
Alan
-----Original Message-----
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Graham Bell
Sent: 12 September 2012 13:09
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: RE: In case you missed it..
I think what Maurice was saying was that, we wanted to know what Max & Maya
people thought or perceived the value was of having Mobu, Mudbox and Softimage
in their studio/pipeline, in the context of buying and using Suites. The
company (to the best of my knowledge) is an independent research company, which
means the data is fair and unbiased.
Now the thing is, Softimage isn’t just a particles package, we know it’s a full
3D app, it can match Maya and Max on an equal footing, you know it, I know, we
know it. But to a fully established Maya/Max studio, strange as it might seem,
they perhaps don’t know that, or maybe not full story. Some people have already
mentioned about some people’s perception of Softimage(XSI) and wondering if it
was still going. And again as people have mentioned, it’s about the perception
and showing its worth. They need to see the value, and from the data/survey
Maurice mentions (whether you like it or not) seems to suggest that those
Maya/Max users thought particles was benefit of having Softimage.
Stepping back for a moment, suppose we spin this around, as someone mentioned
about the Softimage Suite. Suppose we commissioned the same survey but instead
canvassed Softimage users on the benefit of having Mobu, Mudbox, but more
importantly Maya and/or Max in their studio/pipeline. What would the perceived
value be, I wonder?
I’m not saying I completely agree with our marketing strategy or the survey,
but on balance I can see the reasoning and a method to the madness. From my
view, all I know is that, I need to do all I can to show Softimage in the light
it deserves.
G
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Rob Chapman
Sent: 12 September 2012 10:29
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: In case you missed it..
wait, Maurice,
you hired a company that used Max & Maya animators to evaluate Softimage for
its benefits to them? then based your entire strategy on this? what about
benefits to the existing Softimage user basel! this is the problem we have you
fool don't you see it?!
pardon the french, calling the head of AD marketing for M & E a fool is
considerably politer than the choice of words I would like to use.
even more incensed now.
On 12 September 2012 09:41, Stefan Andersson
<sander...@gmail.com<mailto:sander...@gmail.com>> wrote:
My first 3D application was 3d studio r4, couldn't get anywhere. Then I learned
Amapi and Electric Image and came a bit further :)
However.... Maya isn't that bad. Gotten used to it over the years and I'm quite
bilingual these days.
People who started with Prism deserve a price though.
regards
stefan andersson
On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM, Andreas Bystrom
<andreas.byst...@gmail.com<mailto:andreas.byst...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> "My regret is only that I
> don't jump onto the Maya wagon back then, but stayed in Softimage|3D.
> I should have switched and learned MEL."
>
> Not I, having to learn something as filthy as maya as my first app
> most likely would have caused me to give up and try something else..
>
> in fact I started out in both max and maya but never got anywhere til
> I tried softimage...
>
> long live the good old days!
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 8:19 PM, Stefan Andersson
> <sander...@gmail.com<mailto:sander...@gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 1:07 AM, Maurice Patel
>> <maurice.pa...@autodesk.com<mailto:maurice.pa...@autodesk.com>> wrote:
>> > this thread http://yfrog.com/h0t6exxtj:
>> > Although I can't say I am particularly fond of that diagram myself
>> > (it's rather ugly), it actually came out of a study commissioned
>> > from a third
>>
>> Funny how everyone from Autodesk tells us they "dont agree" or "think
>> it's ugly". But still they decide to use it.
>>
>> I remember when Discreet Logic was bought. Funny thing happened...
>> the Logic went away.
>>
>> But Autodesk is not the only one to blame. It's the people who ran
>> the Softimage company back in the late 90's. The battle was actually
>> lost the year 2000 with the release of Softimage|XSI. Maya had gained
>> so much popularity, and when Sumatra was finally released we were
>> given a software that could only do Nurbs and only render with Mental
>> Ray. It was totally useless and closed. Maya was the total opposite,
>> useful and open.
>>
>> What we are seeing now is actually something that happened 12 years
>> ago. The battle was lost already back then. My regret is only that I
>> don't jump onto the Maya wagon back then, but stayed in Softimage|3D.
>> I should have switched and learned MEL.
>>
>> Anyhow.
>>
>> As you were...
>>
>> /stefan
>>
>>
>> --
>> stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> Andreas Byström
> Lighting TD - Weta Digital
>
--
stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
