Hi Maurice, Can you comment on the future of this mailing list? Are you guys pulling the plug in 2016?
Regards, -- Alan On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 12:01 PM, Maurice Patel <[email protected]>wrote: > Over the past week there have been many rumors about the future of > Softimage posted on various forums and social media sites. Many of you have > been looking for an official confirmation or denial from Autodesk. > Unfortunately, we were not in a position to respond until today as we > needed to finalize all the details of our plans. But yes Softimage 2015 > will be the last release of the software. I wanted to share some of those > details with you: > > - Softimage 2015 will be the last release of the software > > - We will continue to support the software and develop hot fixes and > service packs for two more years > > - If they wish to, customers on Subscription will be able to transition > to Maya or 3ds Max at no cost while retaining the right to continue to use > Softimage in production/ > > - Existing customers will be able to purchase additional seats and/or > rental plans if they need to scale production > > Below is a copy of the letter that was sent electronically to Softimage > customers today. I have copied it here as our email distribution lists not > allow us to send it to those who have opted out. > > > > Because several of our partners have started posting the news early, we > are responding now but please note our web sites have not had time to > upload all the information yet. > > > > As early as possible but by no later than 3pm EST, we will have loaded all > the information including a detailed FAQ on www.autodesk.com/softimage< > http://www.autodesk.com/softimage>. In the interim I have also copied and > pasted it below > > > > Within the next 15 minutes you can also visit > http://area.autodesk.com/softimagetransition to register for a live Q&A > webinar on Marc 18th at 12pm EST. as well as see the full documentation of > what is new in Softimage 2015. > > > > Maurice Patel > > Autodesk > > > [Description: Autodesk] > > > Autodesk Softimage 2015 Last Release Announcement > > > To discuss your transition options Contact a Reseller< > https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/etrack.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&FORMID=bbdca7c18a1535b1ffbc24725fe642a3&INTID=08f974dac32ba2380b1348731c570ede&AUDID=dc482f8407033a7eeebee55a40d54b838da4a93ff9131343&DECODE=1&URL=https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/delivery/linktracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=a1ede08e74ba134ecee55317ea02deb4 > > > > > March 4, 2014 > > Dear Softimage Customer, > > We are committed to providing our customers with the most technologically > advanced products and highest quality customer service possible. After > careful consideration, it has become necessary to make some changes to our > software portfolio in order to continue to do so. > > We therefore regret to inform you that the upcoming 2015 release will be > the last one for Autodesk(r) Softimage(r), which is expected to ship on > April 14, 2014. Autodesk will continue to offer product support until Apr > 30, 2016. We will also provide any necessary hot-fixes and service packs to > all customers, at no cost, until Apr 30, 2016. > > We understand that you will now need time to re-evaluate your production > capabilities. To help you, we are offering Autodesk(r) Subscription > customers special no cost options to migrate to either Autodesk(r) Maya(r) > or Autodesk(r) 3ds Max(r) while continuing to use Softimage in production. > These options will be available until Feb 1, 2016. Upgrade paths are also > available for customers who are not on Subscription. > > As of March 28, 2014, Softimage will no longer be available for sale to > new customers. However, we will provide existing customers with the option > to purchase either additional software licenses or new rental plans until > Feb 1, 2016. Our goal is to give you the flexibility you need to continue > to use, and scale, Softimage in production during the transition to either > Maya or 3ds Max. > > The Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite (ECS) Premium will no longer be > available for sale as of March 28, 2014. ECS Premium customers on > Subscription will receive Autodesk ECS Ultimate, at no additional cost. We > will also be reducing the price of ECS Ultimate software and Subscription. > Softimage 2015 will remain part of ECS Ultimate for a transition period of > two-years, after which it will be removed. > > Although this decision is a difficult one, we do believe that by focusing > our efforts we can better serve the needs of the media and entertainment > industry and provide customers with better products, faster. Autodesk wants > to continue its relationship with you into the future. We regret any > inconvenience that this may cause, however we believe you will find our new > transition product offerings very attractive. > > We understand that you may still have questions about this transition and > invite you to join us on Monday, March 17, 2014 at 12PM EST for a live Q&A > webinar. Please register and submit your questions here< > https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/etrack.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&FORMID=bbdca7c18a1535b1ffbc24725fe642a3&INTID=08f974dac32ba2380b1348731c570ede&AUDID=dc482f8407033a7eeebee55a40d54b838da4a93ff9131343&DECODE=1&URL=http://area.autodesk.com/softimagetransition > >. > > For more details please refer to the Questions and Answers section below. > > Sincerely, > > Marc Stevens > Vice President Film & TV Solutions > Autodesk > > Diana Colella > Sr. Director M&E Industry Strategy & Marketing > Autodesk > > > Questions & Answers > > * > > Autodesk(r) Softimage(r) 2015 will be the last release of the software > > * > > Autodesk Softimage 2015 is expected to ship on April 14, 2014. > > * > > Autodesk will provide Softimage customers on Autodesk(r) Subscription with > support services until April 30, 2016. > > * > > Autodesk will provide all Softimage customers with any Hot Fixes or > Service Packs issued until April 30, 2016. > > * > > Autodesk will provide Softimage Subscription customers with the option to > migrate to a transition offering that includes either Autodesk(r) 3ds Max > or Autodesk(r) Maya(r) software at no additional cost. > > * > > Customers that migrate to a transition offering will still be able to > continue to use their Softimage license for the length of the transition > period. > > * > > Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite (ECS) Premium will be discontinued > and customers will receive Autodesk ECS Ultimate, free of charge. > > > 1. > > What is happening to Softimage? > Autodesk Softimage 2015 will be the last version release of the software. > As of March 28, 2014, customers will no longer be able to purchase new > standalone licenses. For Softimage customers who are currently on Autodesk > Subscription, there will be options to migrate to transition offerings that > include either Autodesk Maya or Autodesk 3ds Max for no additional cost. > (see question 5 for details). > > 2. > > How long will Autodesk provide support services for Softimage? > Autodesk plans to provide support and maintenance services to Softimage > customers with active Autodesk Subscription contracts until April 30, 2016 > or until the end of their contract in cases where an existing contract has > a later expiry date. Customers renewing Subscription contracts will be able > to continue to do so until April 30, 2016. Where necessary, contracts after > March 28, 2014 will be prorated to end on April 30, 2016. > > 3. > > What about Service Packs? > Ongoing maintenance development (Hot Fixes and Service Packs) will > continue for all customers (Subscription and non-Subscription) for a > two-year support period (until April 30, 2016). All customers will be > entitled to any Hot Fixes or Service Packs released for their version of > software. However, an Autodesk Subscription contract will be required to > access any additional customer support services. > > 4. > > Why is Autodesk discontinuing new releases of Softimage? > This decision is necessary for Autodesk to keep pace with the industry's > rapid rate of change and to better serve our customers during this highly > turbulent transitional period for both visual effects and games. We need to > innovate faster while balancing our investment in the development of > features and functionality needed to support new and existing customer > workflows. We did not make this decision lightly. Many factors were taken > into consideration during the decision making process, including the impact > on the Softimage user base. Although the decision is a difficult one, we do > believe that by doing this we can better serve the needs of the industry as > a whole and provide customers with better product choices. > > 5. > > I am on Subscription. Is there a migration path for me? > Yes, if you have an active Softimage Subscription contract you will be > able to migrate to the latest release of either Maya or 3ds Max, at no > additional cost. In order for you to continue to use Softimage while you > transition we have created two special offerings which will be available to > you for a limited time only (the transition period*): > * > > Maya with Softimage: includes Autodesk Maya 2015 and Autodesk Softimage > 2015 > > * > > 3ds Max with Softimage: includes Autodesk 3ds Max 2015 and Autodesk > Softimage 2015 > > This way, you can still use your license of Softimage for production work > while learning either Maya or 3ds Max. > > > *The transition period is expected to last until February 1, 2016, > approximately 2 years. (Autodesk reserves the right to change this date at > any point in time and without notice) > > > Please note that the right to use the Softimage license will terminate at > the end of the transition period if you are still on Subscription. You will > be transitioned to the latest release of either 3ds Max or Maya depending > on your initial choice. If you want to continue to use your Softimage > license after Feb 1, 2016 you should not renew your Subscription contract > for a period beyond that date. You will be able to continue to use > Softimage but will forfeit any future updates to either 3ds Max or Maya. > > > [Description: Transition paths] > > 6. > > Do I have to migrate? > There is no requirement to migrate. Softimage customers who are on > Softimage 2015 or earlier versions (with or without Subscription) can > choose to remain on their last version of Softimage. However, if you are on > Subscription, you can transition to either Maya with Softimage or 3ds Max > with Softimage and keep using Softimage 2015 and earlier versions while > learning either Maya or 3ds Max respectively. > > 7. > > Can I purchase new seats of Softimage? > As of March 28, 2014 only existing Softimage customers will be able to > purchase new or additional seats of Softimage by purchasing either the Maya > with Softimage or 3ds Max with Softimage transition offerings. These > transition offerings will be available for purchase at the cost of $3,675 > US SRP* for the duration of the transition period (approximately two years > (see question 5)). These transition offerings will also be available as > rental plans for purchase at the cost of $575 US SRP quarterly, or $1,840 > US SRP annually. After the two year transition period customers will no > longer be able to purchase or rent new Softimage licenses from Autodesk. > > 8. > > Can customers who did not previously own Softimage purchase these bundles? > No. The Maya with Softimage and 3ds Max with Softimage licenses are not > available to customers who do not currently own Softimage licenses. > > 9. > > I did not renew my Subscription. Can I transition to Maya or 3ds Max? > If you have purchased a new license or upgraded your Softimage within the > last 365 days you can late-attach Subscription by paying the Late Renewal > fee. Once you are current and on Subscription you will have access to the > transition offerings previously described in question 5. > > 10. > > I am on an older version and wish to transition to Maya or 3ds Max. Can I? > To be eligible to transition to either 3ds Max with Softimage or Maya with > Softimage you will need to upgrade your software to the latest version of > Softimage using standard Autodesk upgrade paths. Versions older than 6 > versions back are typically not eligible for upgrades and other limitations > may apply. Once you have upgraded to the latest version, you must also > purchase a Subscription contract to gain access to the transition offerings > described in question 5. > > > Please note that after February 1, 2015, Autodesk will no longer offer > software upgrades for purchase for all of its software products. > > 11. > > I recently purchased Softimage software/Subscription. Can I get a full > refund? > Standard Autodesk refund policies apply. Contact your reseller or, if > purchased on-line, refer to the following guidelines: Return and > Cancellations< > https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/etrack.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&FORMID=bbdca7c18a1535b1ffbc24725fe642a3&INTID=08f974dac32ba2380b1348731c570ede&AUDID=dc482f8407033a7eeebee55a40d54b838da4a93ff9131343&DECODE=1&URL=http://store.autodesk.com/store?Action=DisplayReturnAndCancellationsPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=adskus > > > > 12. > > Who can I talk to if I have questions about this program? > If you have questions about this program please contact your Autodesk > Reseller or local Autodesk Representative. > > 13. > > What changes are you making to the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suites? > As of March 28, 2014, Autodesk will make the following changes to its FY15 > Entertainment Creation Suites (ECS) portfolio: > * > > Autodesk Maya ECS Standard - NO CHANGE > > * > > Autodesk 3ds Max ECS Standard - NO CHANGE > > * > > Autodesk Softimage ECS Standard (available in Japan-only) - 2015 will be > the last version release. > > * > > Autodesk 3ds Max ECS Premium - will be replaced by Autodesk ECS Ultimate. > > * > > Autodesk Maya ECS Premium - will be replaced by Autodesk ECS Ultimate. > > * > > Autodesk ECS Ultimate will be reduced in price. > > > 14. > > What is happening to Entertainment Creation Suite Premium customers? > Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2014 and Autodesk 3ds > Max Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2014 will be the last releases of > the Premium suites. All Premium suite customers on Subscription will be > automatically fulfilled with Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate > 2015. If you are not on Subscription you may be able to upgrade. > > 15. > > Will customers have to pay more when they are automatically fulfilled with > the Ultimate Suite? > We will be re-pricing the Ultimate Suite (for both new licenses and for > Subscription) to be at similar prices to the previous Premium Suite. See > the question below for details on new Ultimate Suite pricing. > > 16. > > What is happening with the Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate offering? > Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate will remain with the same > product composition for two years: Softimage 2015 and whatever the latest > versions of 3ds Max, Maya, MotionBuilder and Mudbox may be during that time > period. The Ultimate Suite will also be re-priced to match the previous > price of the Premium Suite at $6,825 US SRP*. Ultimate Suite Subscription > prices will also be reduced to be close to the price of the previous > Premium Suite Subscription with Advanced Support offering at $1,090 US SRP* > (a $75 difference). After two years, Softimage will be removed from the > suite. > > 17. > > What is happening with the Softimage Entertainment Creation Suite (Japan > only) offering? > Autodesk Softimage Entertainment Creation Suite customers on Subscription > will be offered a free transition to either the Autodesk 3ds Max > Entertainment Creation Suite Standard or the Autodesk Maya Entertainment > Creation Suite Standard. Support will provided for two years. There will be > no new sales of Autodesk Softimage Entertainment Creation Suite after March > 28, 2014. > > > To discuss your transition options Contact a Reseller< > https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/etrack.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&FORMID=bbdca7c18a1535b1ffbc24725fe642a3&INTID=08f974dac32ba2380b1348731c570ede&AUDID=dc482f8407033a7eeebee55a40d54b838da4a93ff9131343&DECODE=1&URL=https://leads.autodesk.com/aprimoportal/delivery/linktracking/lmark.aspx?DSN=7f98cd601ea567f8649a5d74b1958a30&LID=a1ede08e74ba134ecee55317ea02deb4 > > > > > > [Description: industry image] > > (c) 2014 Autodesk, Inc. 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Other terms and conditions may apply. Autodesk > reserves the right to alter the SRP, product offerings, and specification > of its products and services at any time without notice, and is not > responsible for typographical, graphical, or other errors that may appear > on this site. > > Autodesk, Inc. * 111 McInnis Parkway * San Rafael, CA 94903 > > If you do not want to receive commercial emails from Autodesk, please > click here<http://www.autodesk.com/optout> > > Please do not reply to this email. Replies to this email will not be > responded to or read. > > Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, Maya, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, Softimage and > 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or > its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All > other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective > holders. 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