+1000 Yep, well said Jules. The main reason we started up the London user group again was to try to inject a bit of positivity into the community. Clearly we're long overdue another meeting.
Whoever it was who asked why AD wasn't putting out reassurances to customers about the future of Softimage, probably didn't see this statement from Chris Vienneau from the 3DPro list that I posted on our site last week: http://www.softimagecreatives.com/siclondon/?p=1204 The fact is that they're constantly telling us that it's full steam ahead with Softimage, but people keep on dismissing these comments as Autodesk spin. In such a situation, what are the guys at AD to do? Damned if they do, damned if they don't. What could AD possibly say (legally) that would convince you? There's also a certain amount of wilful misinterpretation going on over AD's motives which I really don't see as being helpful to anyone and certainly doesn't help to push forward the discussion in a productive way. All that aside, I agree that it would be good if someone at AD would take the responsibility to update the Softimage customer stories page. We do stacks of jobs with Softimage at The Mill every year, and I'd be very happy to help with getting some material together from our end. Someone at AD either just has to ask, or let me know who I need to talk to. The way I see it; if something bothers you, why not try to do something about it. Andy On 13 September 2012 at 09:12 Jules Stevenson <droolz...@googlemail.com> wrote: > I completely agree with this Marc. There is so much negative sentiment in this > thread that I'd be surprised if AD is still listening. Some of the folks there > are probably pretty proud to work for them and have a genuine interest in > Soft, so this thread is painful reading. I don't agree with the marketing of > soft at all, but I do still 'evangelize' the product, and will continue to do > so until there is something which for us as a studio works better (we jumped > from Maya to Soft about 5 years ago and haven't looked back since). > If AD were to sink this beautiful ship then so be it. Until that point for > the good of my sanity, my crew and my studio, I will continue to push the > usage of Softimage, and ignore a small graphic that is very hard to find (I'm > on the marketing lists for Max, Maya and Soft, and pretty much every other bit > of AD spam plus my reseller) and never personally received or saw it. > > There is little point in begrudging the AD employees that are doing what they > can do with what resources they have to keep soft out there - these are the > guys that are 'on our side'. Stating that the software is EOL is also > massively counter-productive, it's a lovely juicy soundbite to throw around > the office. Shit sticks, even if it's unfounded. > > The proof of commitment (or not) will be seen in the next release. > > Cheers, > > Jules > > On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 9:36 PM, Marc Brinkley <marc.brink...@microsoft.com > <mailto:marc.brink...@microsoft.com> > wrote: > > > So um, i just thinking that if I were ADSK and was listening to this > > > conversation > > > > My existing customers of the software believe the software is EOL > > > > My existing customers of the software are telling other customers not to > > bother instead of evangelizing the software. > > > > My customers decide not to believe me when i say we are continuing to > > develop the software even when several members of team directly say it. > > > > If I were in their shoes, what do you suppose I would be thinking. Seems > > like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me. > > > > Not directed to anyone specifically. But if we dont believe they why > > should they. > > > > All things will end eventually, sure, and I am tried of fighting an up > > hill battle, sure. But until I get a letter specifically stating EOL and > > here are my side grade (or ahem, down grade) options to other software, I > > will keep on using it. > > > > :D > > > > Sent from my car while driving > > > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------! 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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: Rob Chapman > > Sent: 9/12/2012 1:13 PM > > To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com > > <mailto:softimage@listproc.autodesk.com> > > Subject: Re: In case you missed it.. > > > > So Maurice, > > A brave effort with your rhetoric but sadly the results you achieved are > > letting you down. It is exactly what we did not expect or were used to > > before you are your crew took it upon yourselves to remarket Softimage > > within the given framework of M&E apps at AD. Do you think what you have > > done has improved things for the existing Softimage user base? can you > > account for how Softimage has less penetration now in the market as a fully > > featured Application to base an entire pipeline off** and has much less > > 'perceived' value than before you began your current campaign? > > > > bravo! didnt you do well!? I believe you have failed quite miserably at > > your job and should most definitely be more respectful than 'be happy with > > possible increased sales and deal with it' to those whose value as > > professionals within this industry are greatly diminished than they were 4 > > years ago. Are you at all surprised that those you have sacrificed to the > > greater good that is Maya don't want any further business with Autodesk? > > > > > > **where I work the studio has many hundreds of commercials,3 short > > movies with countless awards and one was bafta nominated this year - all > > made with this measly particle plugin and not a single Maya or Max in sight. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 12 September 2012 20:41, Maurice Patel <maurice.pa...@autodesk.com > > <mailto:maurice.pa...@autodesk.com> > wrote: > > > > > Well, we have said that we are committed to developing and > > > > > marketing Softimage. It might not be exactly in the way you > > > > > expect but that commitment has been explicitly stated by myself > > > > > and others. The discussion has been about our tactics and why we > > > > > do things the way we do. > > > > > > Maurice Patel > > > Autodesk : Tél: 514 954-7134 <tel:514%20954-7134> > > > From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com > > > <mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com> [mailto: > > > softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com > > > <mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com> ] On Behalf Of Daniel H > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 2:59 PM > > > To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com > > > <mailto:softimage@listproc.autodesk.com> > > > Subject: Re: In case you missed it.. > > > Re: "We are very well aware and I and my team work hard to do the > > > most we can with the resources we have." - Maurice Patel > > > > > > Seriously Maurice... you have any-time access to "freely" speak > > > directly to the main vein of the SI community. Does it cost AD anything to > > > make a simple text statement of confidence on a list, blog, or forum? Is > > > Autodesk really committed to the future and continuing development of > > > Softimage? Is Softimage just being used as acquired tech to be robbed > > > from? It's ok if it's the later, although we won't transition over to > > > Maya, we'll just counter by transitioning to Houdini. > > > > > > Do you really want my continued business Maurice? Does Autodesk > > > really want to keep my business? Should we just get it over with and start > > > giving our hard-earned money to SideFX? 3D software isn't cheap ya know. > > > What would you like us to do? Where's a free statement or two of > > > "confidence" to keep us investing in Softimage? > > > > > > Daniel > > > VFXM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
