What if Softimage died?

[Falam]

I believe it is a promotional offer, the system yesterday showed the $400 slashed from the price. Maybe Softimage isn't do as bad if they can keep the price nearly on par with Maya.

[grendizer]

It's sad to see how Softimage user requests have Evolved.
Some years ago we were expecting Softimage to compete with Maya. We were expecting great features. Now in this thread, the only thing requested to Autodesk is "please don't stop its development, please keep at least 2-3 people to maintain it"! How desperate.

But I do understand why everything looks so gloomy.
Softimage was bought by Autodesk and from this moment, major developments ceased. But this isn't the only reason why Softimage couldn't prevail over Maya. Maya is favored by TD's because its core architecture is more flexible, adjustable. On the Softimage side, it's less flexible, because its core is built on something called "COM", a Microsoft related thing that makes it less "open" to developpers. I'm not a software developper so I don't understand much. But from the Softimage mailing list, I understood that to fix this limitation, Softimage would need a full re-write. And we know it's not going to happen.
Also, waiting for a new software that has Softimage's workflow and Maya's development flexibility is illusory as well.

So that's it, we're trapped in a maze of gloom and doom forever.

[Eugen]

its core is built on something called "COM", a Microsoft related thing that makes it less "open" to developpers.

I'm not sure what the real disadvantage of that is.
Windows after all is still the most widely used OS, especially when it comes to 3d.
Linux is, generally speaking, for people who need to run a renderfarm, and who cares for MacOS (if you insist to use Apple hardware - use bootcamp).

Also, as I understand it, the Win32 API is old (although is has undergone many revisions by now), but it's fast.

You cannot rip the whole Softimage UI down and replace it, that's true. But in the meantime there's PyQt by S. Caron, which is used by quite a few plugin developers.

So what am I missing that makes Softimage so "unflexible"? TDs insight welcome...

[Falam]

I'd like to hear from some of the TD that are on the mailing list, regarding this.

Softimage is obviously the best choice for smaller studios and independents. Maya appears you need to have a dedicated TD sitting beside you, with Softimage, you can be a partial or full TD. IMO Max falls into the similar category as Softimage.

[YKChou]

I voted "Continue using Softimage for a few years to come."

Nothing people haven't said already.
While Softimage is not getting as much attention
and care as its sibling programs. It is a powerful tool none the less.


Unless a revolutionary 3D software is developed,
I would continue to use softimage.

[benoit81]

"Continue using Softimage for a few years to come" +1
Maybe Softimage is already dead considering Autodesk new features development ?
But frankly, Softimage is still very nice to use, with 3rd party render it's a very competitive tool (Redshift !!!).
It could be a good idea to develop more plugin for Softimage as the software basis are good and the users are addicted to this soft even several year after it's potential dead (more than 50% !). If someone develop nex modeling tools for Softimage I'm very interested ! (Better buying new plugin than Soubscription = more value)

[Falam]

Subscription for Softimage is not showing any value.

If an executive from Autodesk would announce what their plans of Softimage are, I'm sure everyone would be very interested.

[Eugen]

Whatever the next features will be, the developers got so piled in requests in the last beta, it became very hard to avoid making at least someone happy... ; p

[angus_davidson]

That must explain no real update to pretty much everything that was requested on the forums / mailing lists and the camera sequencer which surprised pretty much all of us outside of few games studios where apparently it was asked for a lot.

I think people need to be visibly far more vocal about what exactly it is they need as a minimum baseline in 2015. Its become pretty obvious that no one at Autodesk is stepping up to have a vision for Softimage that we can actually share in so if we want something included we have to make very sure they hear it loud and clear.

[Eugen]

You could try to get on the beta.

Being on the beta is a bit like sitting in a restaurant, where the somewhat snobby chef will only cater 2 or 3 fine dishes that evening...
He might show some trace of obedience to the VIP parties on the big tables nearby (studios), and even take ideas from them with their fat wallets in mind, but you as a single guest may have to take what's to come.
Yet if you sit close enough to the kitchen, and shout loud enough, or grab the waiter by his collar, and roar something like this
"Monsieur, the Boudin aux pommes ou Andouillette sauce moutarde sounds delicious, but don't you think Quenelle de brochet sauce Nantua et ses écrevisses would be a better match?"
in his ear, you might even get some response, too.
No guarantees, though.

[Bellsey]

ok, interesting poll, but let me throw a couple of possible hypothetical curve balls in there.

What if Softimage continued as normal, but it was channelled and focused into being a more specialised package for something. Kinda in the same light as something like a Mudbox or Motionbuilder, which are good at doing particular things.

And before people start saying - 'yes but Softimage can do loads of stuff, etc, etc'.......we know that, but lets just say that you're faced with two stark choices, either the product has to die, or it continues but with this particular focus. I'm not saying what the focus might be and it might not be to everyone's liking, but it would suit Softimage and it would mean the product lived on.

Btw, just to be clear here, I'm not trying to conduct a secret poll/survey for Autodesk, I'm just throwing something out there in the light of this thread.

[Hirazi Blue]

I think it would largely depend on the way Autodesk were to treat features they don't want to develop anymore due to the shift in focus. Would they be removed from the product or would they just stop any further development but leave current features in tact?

[Bellsey]

I think it would largely depend on the way Autodesk were to treat features they don't want to develop anymore due to the shift in focus. Would they be removed from the product or would they just stop any further development but leave current features in tact?

nothing would be removed, left in tact, etc.

[Hirazi Blue]

Throw in a lower price for subscription and you've got yourself a convert...

[Eugen]

I could live with that strategy, given one thing:
the SDK HAS to be opened further, as consistently as possible, including bugfixes.
Because it should be possible for 3rd parties to patch on the features that AD itself will not care for anymore. Good compromise, actually!
Even better: devs wouldn't take the risk of writing something that will come from AD itself, without knowing.

We would have to learn, though, what that focus is going to be. Makes me really curious where you guys see Softimage fit in officially...

But PLEASE open all the doors for customizability, and don't cripple anything intentionally or by lack of (a little) action!

[angus_davidson]

nothing would be removed, left in tact, etc.

As has been said before Softimage is pretty much out the box the best all around product around. If you were to leave it predominately as is and really focus on one aspect (most likely ICE) I wouldn't have an issue at all with as long as the following happened.

I think its becoming increasingly obvious that you cant continue to have 3 products all competing in the same space. Making 3dsMax focused on Design and Archiviz makes sense under these circumstances and having Soft say focused on ICE, both of which can then be pulled into Maya when required.

People were not left in the dark as to why it happened or whether it has in fact happened. ie there has to be a very clear communication that says look folks going forward Softimage is going to be developed for this focus.

And depending what that focus was adjust the price accordingly.