SI 2013 sightings

[Nolan]

What Autodesk should have done with Maya & Softimage:

Softimage has most of what Maya users want except in the SDK and SDK compatibility. So Autodesk should have created a Softimage meta SDK underneath SDK's for Maya and perhaps Max so that those teams could implement their SDK’s on top of it. This way studios get to keep all their custom development and Softimage gets an even better SDK. They get one app with the very latest in modern SDK's, without a complete rewrite. Convert the Softimage GUI to QT and modernise the OS calls so it runs across all main OS platforms. To make the largest crowd happy, change the look and call the app Maya and see how happy they are with: New modern modeling workflow, symmetry, ICE, mental ray integration, rendering workflow, less workarounds, overrides, supra keys, multiple attribute editors open at once, etc

[Bellsey]

I totally agree, people should complain, or at least raise their concerns and also report bugs too. The problem is, that I suspect many customers don't do any of these things. I go and see customers all the time and it never surprises me how little contact or awareness people even have of Autodesk. I always say to people that they should try and dialog with Autodesk however they can, in whatever means they can. There are several ways, but personally I don't think its clear on the best way.

[Bellsey]

Read the article in full and even in the snippett, Marc Petit quite rightly says that the migration will be way more difficult for Autodesk's M&E products , so I think it will be some time yet before we see Carl's vision in our space.

Maybe he'll be replaced by then. We can only hope.

Actually I like Carl, having met him and I've seen him talk, he's had some interesting things to say. Personally, I certainly find him more engaging than some of the other execs. I agree with Ken though, Carl is being taken too literally, but at the same time perhaps he should of elaborated abit more on the context.

Speaking of Ken, in the same way many appear to be prophesying the end of Softimage with the advent of Chinny and the iother deves moving on, many Max users said the same thing about Max when Ken and others moved on from that team. Just saying

[McNistor]

Isn't 3dsmax gonna get axed when XBR project will be near complete?

[McNistor]

What Autodesk should have done with Maya & Softimage:

Softimage has most of what Maya users want except in the SDK and SDK compatibility. So Autodesk should have created a Softimage meta SDK underneath SDK's for Maya and perhaps Max so that those teams could implement their SDK’s on top of it. This way studios get to keep all their custom development and Softimage gets an even better SDK. They get one app with the very latest in modern SDK's, without a complete rewrite. Convert the Softimage GUI to QT and modernise the OS calls so it runs across all main OS platforms. To make the largest crowd happy, change the look and call the app Maya and see how happy they are with: New modern modeling workflow, symmetry, ICE, mental ray integration, rendering workflow, less workarounds, overrides, supra keys, multiple attribute editors open at once, etc

I agree but I speculate that whoever makes the big decisions at AD looks at some numbers, talks to a few field people and that's the best application for them so there goes the R&D money. Oversimplified sure, but...

[ActionArt]

Actually I like Carl, having met him and I've seen him talk, he's had some interesting things to say. Personally, I certainly find him more engaging than some of the other execs.

He might be fine personally but this notion of making everything online only is just wrong. If that happens it will immediately be the end of my SI use.

Believe it or not, not everyone wants their work machine to be online.

[EricTRocks]

Having apps online doesn't make sense to me. What if the internet goes down? Typically, these days people just get frustrated they can't stream music or check facebook but can continue to work. When the internet goes down with hosted apps then everything stops? Doesn't make sense.

[ActionArt]

Damn right! Or you get a virus. Or your comp is hacked. Or the guy across the hall trips and breaks the router (actually happened here), or a car runs over the junction box on the street (also happened here), or your clients want real security for the projects you're working on and won't allow any transition whatsoever, or you want to work away from home with no internet access or....I could go on. It's a STUPID idea plain and simple.

And Bellsay, if you see him you can tell him I said that.

[bottleofram]

On the other hand, with a cloud based application you get instant updates and bugfixes. So, instead of waiting half a year to get disappointed at how nothing changes, you can watch it happening in real time! Hurray!

[Clagman]

Bah

[EricTRocks]

That's not how that works.... hahaha

[bottleofram]

Of course its not. I just cant believe on how many forums is this being discussed on.

Would you rather go back to Autodesk marketing? Alright. Heres another one for Bellsey and co.

This is what M&E students see on their hope page of students.autodesk.com:

studadsk.jpg

Notice how Softimage is mysteriously not being recommended? Well, you might be thinking: "surely they cant fit all apps in there, its like the official homepage, so its alright." Nope, on this students account, only two more applications are being recommended if you go to Download Centar. Smoke and Softimage.

Beautiful world of AD marketing, you can always find something interesting to ponder about

[Nizar]

You are the usual defeatist. You must read correctly the subliminal message. I help your limited perception:



Seems clear to me: Select Softimage

[Hirazi Blue]

Brilliant, Nizar... You managed to make me smile (not a small feat these days)!

edit: censored the rest of my post, as it would've probably incited another needless riot...

[McNistor]

Mr. Bellsey?

[Kerro Perro]

Well i couldn't help myself and return to this thread to see where it was at.... Damn, i can deal with the dev's leaving and the update seeming a bit thin on the ground but reading what Kenneth Pimentel said about a rental model has me worried now!

And yes i can read when he says that you'll still be able to use your desktop license but (being really paranoid now) something about the rental ideas has me spooked. I shelled out big time last year for my SI license but that is not an investement i'm willing to make every year. I might be able to afford it but i just don't want to when there are other options out there.

I'm gonna keep a close eye on this but this but right now like Nizar it's only the greatness of the SI workflow is keeping me with AD...
In fact i know a guy who switched from XSI to Blender some years back and who does some cool works so might be dropping him a line for some thoughts on this!

BTW: when i say i'm able to afford i mean in the sense of not going on holiday that year - just to clear that up ;)