So Long, Softimage. It was great while the fun lasted, Then it was a long slow slide into oblivion. Anthor
On Tue, 4 Mar 2014 17:01:12 +0000, Maurice Patel 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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