No more upgrades (from 2015 onwards)!!!

[Hirazi Blue]

Autodesk today said it would discontinue the ability to purchase software upgrades on February 1, 2015. The move is part of its long-term strategy to move revenue from purchases to subscriptions and rentals.

(Quoted from here).

[Daniel Brassard]

The plan is to shift customers away from single product purchases toward suites, and to move from buying perpetual licenses to acquiring software on long-term subscription or short-term rental.

Now we know AD long term plan ... Cloud computing, purchase suites, short-term rental and long-term subscriptions.

[BenR]

Given the current penalties for upgrading without subscription, it doesn't seem like that much of a change. At first I thought it was going to be rental only Adobe-style.

[Falam]

Adobe system stinks as it is, when you stop paying for Subscription, Adobe products stop working, easy as that. With news like this, I'm awaiting the "No more" and with Softimage name involved, somewhere.

[MauricioPC]

I guess if Maxon, Foundry and SideFX develop a good update service, with good prices and all, then I think they can gain some customers. Or they'll follow the same business model.

[Daniel Brassard]

I was curious to see which suites would be a potential cross-grade to Softimage and stumble on this. (P.S. I am in North America)

Could be an attractive offer for those with the money and that don't mind remaining or want to stay with AD products!

[Daniel Brassard]

To compare (North American market, package with similar features, price from their respective website, does not include subscription where applicable, price subject to change at any time)

* Lightwave 11.6 ...... $1495
* Houdini Artist edition single license .... $1995
* Maxon C4D ..... Studio ($3695), Visualize ($2295)
* Modo 701 ...... $1495

* Blender ..... Free (a Donation would be appreciated)

Oops! Did I do that!

Note. Does not apply to owner of one of those packages. AD offer is for those that own Softimage and are on subscription. The cost impact is for those who do not own any of above software and are entertaining moving away from AD altogether.

To be competitive, I would like SideFX and Maxon to match or better AD offer, feature for feature.

[luceric]

To compare (North American market, package with similar features, price from their respective website, does not include subscription where applicable, price subject to change at any time)
* Houdini Artist edition single license .... $1999

it doesn't make much sense to buy Houdini without dynamics, particles, fluid, and cloth.

[Daniel Brassard]

it doesn't make much sense to buy Houdini without dynamics, particles, fluid, and cloth.

A agree, it's their lowest package for commercial work and it does not match features for features. AD offer is quite attractive for a freelancer or small studio considering what you gain (Maya/Max/Soft/Mudbox/Motion Builder etc.)

[MauricioPC]

If you buy Softimage 2014 + Subscription [(3145 + 850) I was told 850 is the subscription] and than adds this 1575 offer you could get the Entertainment Suite for 5570.

If there isn't any restrictions as you have to have Softimage 2014 for a least 6 months before you upgrade to the Ultimate Suite, that's a incredible deal for what do you get in comparison with the competition.

You may not like Maya or Max ... but it's undeniable that Maya + Softimage + MotionBuilder + Mudbox + 3ds Max (and plugins because there's a 3k difference so you can buy Thinking Particles and FumeFX or Krakatoa) is way more powerfull than buying Houdini. Cinema 4D doesn't even qualify for this comparison.

Who knows ... maybe I win the lottery this saturday.

[BenR]

What are the subscription prices for the suites which include Softimage? (North America).

[iamVFX]

To compare (North American market, package with similar features, price from their respective website, does not include subscription where applicable, price subject to change at any time)
* Houdini Artist edition single license .... $1999

it doesn't make much sense to buy Houdini without dynamics, particles, fluid, and cloth.

Procedural modelling is worth it, for architectural work on linux for example where Rhino with Grasshopper is still not available

[Daniel Brassard]

What are the subscription prices for the suites which include Softimage? (North America).

The price for the Maya/Max/Soft Ultimate full is $8395 and subscription is $1345 annually (New Single License).

So assuming your current subscription of Softimage is $850 and not due for renewal soon, you would pay $1575 to upgrade to the Ultimate suite and maybe $495 to upgrade your subscription, then at renewal time renew your subscription at $1345 annually.

That would have to be confirmed by your reseller. AD may exercise to waive the $495 to upgrade the subscription renewal as part of the deal until you are due for renewal.

All price without tax/vat

http://store.autodesk.com/store/adskus/ ... .264668300

Edit

Another scenario could be that you have to opt for the subscription if you choose to take the upgrade deal at $1345 annually, resetting your renewal period to the date of the upgrade. This scenario is only attractive if you are due for renewal during the offer period or getting close. Again talk to your reseller for the best offer.

[Nizar]

I'm absolutely against the rent. Now I have no more doubts, stop with ADSK (and adober, my photoshop and sofitmage copy will live for long time on my PC before I switch to others not rent software)

[Lord Futzi Voldemort]

It's funny, because subscriptions with poor upgrades are the reason for dropping revenues. Rental eliminates the need for good development. Also a subscription for a suite earns them about only 50% of what 4 good upgrades get them.
I say, this is another step towards oblivion for M&E.

[angus_davidson]

This being a purely personal viewpoint. I will pay to own software, but I will never personally pay money to a company for the rental of their software. I would rather have to pay a steeper fee to upgrade / buy new every now and again then fork over a monthly rental.

People will pay good money for great software that is actively and openly developed, is easy to license and has good support. Problem is Softimage has been very poorly developed (this more from management then the actual developers). A great deal of the support comes from the community as well.

There is no way people are going to fork out a monthly rental where they cant see any decent development, or get any roadmap of whats coming . Its about one of the few things adobe has gotten right (definately not security of late) is that they keep the users excited about what is to come. there is a definite path from here to there. Not just the WTF revels that we had for say the camera sequencer.

Its Like the M&E Division is lining themselve up for people to kick them in the nuts