Interesting conversation for sure, I might finally have a good look into workflows in houdini.
Also this is the preview to the last email.. I wondered if it was going to be solution to a lack of freelancers...[image: Inline images 1] Simon Reeves London, UK *[email protected] <[email protected]>* *www.simonreeves.com <http://www.simonreeves.com>* *www.analogstudio.co.uk <http://www.analogstudio.co.uk>* On 27 February 2014 12:07, Jordi Bares <[email protected]> wrote: > Training an animator to use Houdini to animate is trivial > Training a lighter to use Houdini is trivial > Training a modeller to use Modo is pretty easy > Training a modeller to texture in Modo is pretty easy > > What I want to say is that if you dive in the correct areas it is easy and > in a week or two you have any of these positions up and running. The only > secret is to have an expert at hand that can easy the pain and guide the > team. > > Obviously a different thing is to get a Houdini FX guy, but we have plenty > of these ;-) > > On the flip side, the less freelancer competition, the more you can charge... > > ;-) > > Jordi Bares > [email protected] > > On 27 Feb 2014, at 09:59, Cristobal Infante <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> > >
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