What about freelancers though? Surely you will want access to healthy freelance pool of people. So good luck finding a "Modo lighter" or a "Houdini Rigger". My guess is Maya is a more sensible option only for that looking from a production/managment perspective.
On 27 February 2014 09:43, Jordi Bares <[email protected]> wrote: > would you give more money to Autodesk after what they are doing to pretty > much *every package* ? > > Let's recap > > Image Modeller = dead > Stitcher = dead > Matchmover = dead > Combustion = dead > Toxik = dead > Naiad = dead until further notice > Softimage = still developed but tiny tiny increments > Motion builder = still developed but tiny tiny increments > Motion builder for mac = stopped development > FBX converter for mac = stopped development > Mudbox = still developed but tiny tiny increments > > The only good news is that Flame v2014 has been a major effort on their > side and gave me the confidence to give Autodesk one more year, lots of > people angry with the changes but at least there was some vision although > my fear is that they will enter now a marketing stage to help boost sales > and engage again and push sales after the debacle of their change in the > library which made pretty much every flame artist angry. > > > Now, what are the alternatives? > > Well, I leant something last year when Apple decision regarding Final Cut > Pro (I am sure nobody needs reminding)... and what I learnt is that Apple's > core market is not pro software, its market is hardware, specially mobile > hardware (laptops, phones, tablets...) > > If you apply the same thinking with Autodesk everything becomes clear... > Autodesk core market is not entertainment, it's architecture and > engineering and they don't really give a $@^$£% about us as the list above > demonstrates clearly. > > The new version of Softimage, Mudbox and Motion Builder will tell exactly > where they stand for third year in a row so eyes open... > > in the meantime I chose to focus on those companies that pro software is > their core business and have market share to gain, and these are the ones > > SideEffects (via Houdini) > Foundry (via Modo) > MassiveSoftware (via Massive) > > So my approach is simple, force myself to transition in an abrupt way > (nothing better than full inversion) and help these companies to polish > their software as much as possible by being in the beta process, report all > bugs, new ideas, pass them information of which things work from other > packages... Exactly what I did with XSI. > > And one more thing, after diving in Houdini I consider it *impossible* for > any software manufacturer to put the necessary resources to compete with > them (I will repeat it... IMPOSSIBLE), the architecture is so advanced and so > well designed it is a marvel of software engineering (and expensive to > build of course)... this is here to stay my friends. > > and its getting easier by the day. > > Jordi Bares > [email protected] > > > > On 27 Feb 2014, at 08:42, Nicolas Esposito <[email protected]> wrote: > > Quick question regadring the switch to another software: > I saw that quite few people are considering Modo or Houdini as an > alternative to Softimage. This is due to the fact that you want to > completely leave Autodesk for good, or because an alternative like Maya > wont suite your needs? > I'm asking because I'm not familiar nor with Maya or Modo, so I was just > wondering what is the main reason > > > 2014-02-27 9:21 GMT+01:00 Sebastien Sterling <[email protected] > >: > >> It's a system that seems to favour massive company's that can afford to >> routinely upgrade their packages, and screws the individual user for any >> sort of brand fidelity they may attempt to maintain; if you know you are >> going to get a discount (where it even 10%) on your next upgrade as a token >> to your brand loyalty, you would feel incentivised to perches upgrades, >> its marketing 101 no different then a loyalty card at your supermarket. >> >> The only reason for doing this is to intentionally loose a demographic. >> In the short term maybe this will allow AD to save money, freelancers are >> "infrequent in their purchases". They actually require a stable and >> competent package out of the box, something big companies usually pays >> their own Devs and TDs to sort out. Unlike big companies they also have the >> gall to voice their contempt of an inferior service. >> >> So yea this kinda makes sense for them in the short term to stabilise >> their key demographic, to the detriment of others probably makes the share >> holders smile as well. of course this also kills any form of growth within >> the potential market, but only time will tell what kind of impact that >> could have. >> >> >> On 27 February 2014 08:16, Angus Davidson <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> On Modo I am really impressed with it. Some tools are not 100% where I >>> want them yet but overall finding it very powerful. Mesh fusion is awesome >>> and saving my pennies to buy myself a copy of it. Stuff like rigging is >>> handled differently so it takes a bit to wrap your head around it. >>> >>> I really love things like being able to edit an animation curve in the >>> viewport or create a custom UI that allows me to key specific things on >>> each frame for the selected controller. Their curve editor just feels more >>> responsive to me. >>> >>> You can see these on the new learn modo videos the posted recently. >>> >>> That being said its not as polished as softimage yet but you also have >>> to bear in mind that things like decent particles and animation have only >>> been around a few years in Modo. If Softimage does go EOL it where I am >>> headed for my personal stuff. Whether we go that way for our students >>> depends on a few more things. >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Daniel Sweeney [[email protected]] >>> *Sent:* 26 February 2014 11:19 PM >>> >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: new upgrade policy >>> >>> I am as quick as I can off the autodesk rollercoaster. A few things >>> have made my choice I will always love soft and use the tool when its >>> needed but I think I need to look for another avenue. Looking at modo? >>> Thoughts?? >>> >>> Autodesk bollocks. >>> On Feb 26, 2014 8:52 PM, "Kris Rivel" <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I read it and couldn't help but say WTH?! >>>> >>>> Kris >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 3:36 PM, Emilio Hernandez <[email protected]>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Seems they need to fill the vault... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 2014-02-26 14:29 GMT-06:00 Kris Rivel <[email protected]>: >>>>> >>>>> So...what's everyone's take on this gem? So if I don't upgrade to >>>>>> latest version now...then when I want that version I have to pay full >>>>>> price? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Frequently-Asked-Questions-about-the-Autodesk-Upgrade-Policy.html >>>>>> >>>>>> Kris >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is >>>> confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please >>>> notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy >>>> or disseminate this communication without the permission of the >>>> University. Only authorised signatories are competent to enter into >>>> agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised >>>> that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the >>>> University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, >>>> which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the >>>> Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and >>>> outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in >>>> writing to the contrary. >>> >>> >>> >> > >
