Hi all,
If you can't be bothered to read some text, the
important bit is in bold a few paragraphs down.
Now that the worst kept secret EVER has seen the
sunlight, while everybody is still shell shocked, I
think it's worth posting this.
I'd like to say I'm surprised, or emotionally drained,
but I'm actually barely upset. Writing's been on the
wall for entirely too long.
Deciding to not use Maya just because it's an AD
product, at least for me, is like cutting one's own nose
to spite the face; then in my domain (character work)
Maya is too significant a player to just outright ignore
it out of principle, not to mention I've been using it
professionally or personally since v1.
That said maybe some of you work in a different domain,
and for you Modo, or Houdini, or C4D are a viable option.
Coming from there, and more on topic, I have little
faith in all these petitions, rage posts and the such,
so I thought I'd start a different line of efforts to
help a community I've been part of for
Idon'twanttothinkhowlongitsscary.
More on topic, if I had to find issue with this
announcement and all it entails it's how badly it was
managed and conceived.
Not only it's an incredibly ponderous decision with
inevitable gravity, it was also announced with barely
any time to spare between its intended date and some
hard dates on its effects.
Of everything I heard and read insofar it's not so much
the killing of Soft I find unacceptable (I guess I was
well resigned in those regards, not that it doesn't
sadden me enormously), as much as what picture it paints
of AD customer management when they do such a thing, and
proceed to aggravate the issue with nebulous information
and an unacceptably short window of time for the user
base to make some rather consequential decisions.
But are the competitors any better? Any more accessible
and transparent in their communication and dealings?
Well, I was having an exchange in private with Brad
Peebler, founder of Luxology, and I put to him whether
the Foundry/Luxology would have the flexibility and
agility to do something about short term.
Turns out they do.
In a few hours they set up everything for a *50%
discount on Modo* purchases. No strings attached, just
because I jokingly challenged him to.
*Go to the online store and use the coupon "raffofkahn"
for half price check-out.*
I'm not a Modo user, nor have the time or inclination
right now to become one. I'm not going to suddenly wish
AD any ill or stop using their products, though they
sure did their damnest to make me even more guarded when
dealing with their PR and promises.
I did really enjoy dealing with the Foundry in the past
though, and I have now to extend that respect to its
Luxology arm. At the very least they are willing to act
transparently and unconditionally on matters all the way
from the top of the product chain.
Cheers,
Raff
P.S.
The actual coupon's text was Brad's idea, not mine! I
imagine he read my signature and thought I was a Trekkie
or something like that.
P.P.S.
I'm not getting anything out of this. I'm not a modo
user, I'm not getting freebies, it has nothing to do
with my employer, what the hell, it barely has anything
to do with me outside the last few hours and this e-mail
itself. I simply thought it was a nice and significant
gesture on Brad's side and decided to help him reach out
on account of his personality and display of good will.
--
Our users will know fear and cower before our software!
Ship it! Ship it and let them flee like the dogs they are!
