Thank you, finally some positivity! I never participate in
all the rants because they annoy me to no end.
On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 12:50 PM, adrian wyer
<[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hey guys, just wanted to raise some points regarding the
general mood of users and the future of our little group....
Lately the list has been falling into the habit of
turning many threads into a doom saying, end-of-the-world
kind of vibe (not discounting my self here)
When i first joined this list (and the much missed
Discussion list) it was an invaluable resource for shared
knowledge, instruction, encouragement and feedback (both
positive and negative) also it was great place to find
out about cheese and monkeys! (i'm looking at you Ed)
While i still find the list to be a hugely valuable
resource for techniques and news, we are occasionally
running into the doom laden tech equivalent of Godwin's law!
This list is a gift, as many of you know, when compared
with other online forums/mailing lists, in that it's
mostly self moderated and, on the whole, a nice place to
hang out.
There's obviously been some doubt and uncertainty
regarding the future of our software (no different from
many other package's forums, the industry IS constantly
shifting), and believe me i have a VERY vested interest
in the continued use of Soft, i have NO intention of
abandoning ship at the first sign of choppy waters.
(frankly i'd rather step away from the computer, than be
forced to learn an older/inferior application).... But
there IS a future, the app isn't dead, the community
might be smaller, but there is still a wealth of skill
and experience here, and i hope, by force of will, we'll
be able to keep the fires burning!
If anything is going to bring about the end of Softimage
as we know it, it won't be some bean counter in an office
at Autodyne (cyberdesk?) it will be the lack of users....
While we can't 'make' autodesk push soft, our work speaks
volumes for it's quality, and that work is getting better
and more high profile than it's been in ages.
What we CAN do is tell people in the industry how
enabling the software is, how it helps us hit deadlines,
create amazing imagery and break technical boundaries
that other DCC apps really do struggle with. By spreading
the word other software users and students get to hear
what a great app it is, they might try it, they might get
hooked, and then we benefit by having a new talent pool.
If there's demand, then more courses will be taught using
the app and as long as freelancers keep coming up through
the ranks, there'll be a demand for new versions of the
software (and new innovations and features)
I have friends who've come across from other apps to use
Soft, primarily for ICE, but then have realised what a
great all round app it is.... come for the ICE, stay for
the object model/rendertree/passes etc, etc, etc!
I'm not preaching/ranting (much) i just want to put it on
a public space that i love my software, i believe we are
empowered to help keep it alive, and they'll get it off
me when they pry it from my cold dead fingers!!
oh and merry christmas, you cheesy monkey boys (and girls)
a
Adrian Wyer
Fluid Pictures
75-77 Margaret St.
London
W1W 8SY
++44(0) 207 580 0829
[email protected]
www.fluid-pictures.com
Fluid Pictures Limited is registered in England and Wales.
Company number:5657815
VAT number: 872 6893 71
