This was the nicest thing i have read in a very long time.
Thank you for taking the time to put it together, Marc.
Cheers,
Octav
On Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 10:43 AM, Marc Brinkley
<marc.brink...@microsoft.com>wrote:
> Hello folks (sorry for the long read)
>
>
>
> Been reading and thinking about this all week.
>
>
>
> What I realized was that as great a piece of software that is Softimage,
> it has always been about the people. I have been connected to this software
> for close to 19 years in some way. First time was on an SGI Indy just after
> the MS purchase and all the way to today. A few side trips to Max and Maya
> along the way. But even with all the great things I made with this
> software, when people asked me why I stuck with it for so long the simple
> answer was the people.
>
>
>
> Not too long after XSI shipped, we were starting to use it on a new game
> when Gareth Morgan came calling. He sat down with us and asked what can
> they do better for us. What do you need and how can we make things better
> for you. I can assure you, no one from Alias or Autodesk ever asked us.
>
>
>
> We were a small developer back in the day but the fact that someone at SI
> would want to talk with us made all the difference in the world. Alias
> finally came to visit us, only after we were acquired by EA and got
> established as EA Chicago. Alias was told to visit us. The Alias sales guy
> even said to me had they known we existed they would have visited us
> sooner. He then asked what product we used on our last game...which was
> pretty successful (NBA Street). I told him Softimage. He laughed and said
> it probably wasn't a very good game. That was my introduction to companies
> outside of Softimage. Autodesk wasn't much better in their attitude.
>
>
>
> It was always clear that Softimage cared deeply about its customers and
> connected in a personal way. A way that always made me feel that they were
> there as a partner helping me solve problems. Whether it was flying to
> Montreal to meet with the dev team. Visits from Gareth. Phone calls to
> Manny to help us out. Passionate discussions on the beta list with Chinny.
> Christine Charette manning the beta list and licenses. Jen Goldfinch of
> course. Poor Simon Inwood and David that put up with me during our custom
> builds on the dead and buried Marvel project. Siggraph meetings and beers
> until late in the night...Boston! Erik and his wall of toys. Olivier and
> everyone at Special Projects. Countless others that were there along with
> us fighting the fight. Luc-Eric, Dominic, Martin, St Blair, Alexandre,
> Robert, Brent, Marc-Andre...so many others I cant recall them all.
>
>
>
> The day we got shut down in Chicago I reached out to Marc Stevens directly
> to let him know we were getting closed. He asked how he could help. I told
> him I have a lot of artists that need to make demo reels. He offered up 6
> months of SI so that my artists could get their reels done and help them
> find a new job. That was close to 20-30 people. During my job hunting trip
> to EA Montreal, I stopped by the Saint-Laurent office and went out for
> drinks with my Softimage friends. Even Gareth, long gone from Softimage
> came out as well. Late that evening with Jen and Gareth, still knowing that
> here were people that still cared. This from a software company.
>
>
>
> And there was the mailing list. To my first smack down by Kim (still
> stings!) to today, this list has been an integral part of my career. A
> wealth of passion and knowledge, this list has always been something that I
> have been thankful for. The people here have been just as helpful and
> passionate as the people making the software.
>
>
>
> After the acquisition...well we know now. But through all of it. The people
> were the reasons I stayed. My career has me on a new path and while I am
> still in CG and games I have not been hands on in the last 5 years. But it
> was and has always been the community of people that defined Softimage.
> From the people who make it to those that use it.
>
>
>
>
>
> If there was one wish I have, it's that somehow, some way, this community
> carries on.
>
>
>
>
>
> Hope to see everyone on the other side my friends.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> -marc
>
--
Octavian Ureche
+40 732 774 313 (GMT+2)
Animation & Visual Effects
www.okto.ro
