All the events of the last couple of weeks have obviously created a lot of frustration and even anger with some of us Softimage users, who are rightfully fearful that the future of their beloved software isn't all that bright, now that most of the development team jumped ship collectively. Venting frustration and even anger can be a good thing. Someone, however, suggested per PM that we closed the "sightings" thread because it was critical of Autodesk. I already told the person who wrote this, that this is most definitely NOT the case (we closed that specific thread because it seemed evident that it was spiraling out of control). I am specifically opening this thread as a place to discuss the future of Softimage and to show that I think it's not a bad idea to vent your frustration in times like this (as long as everyone remains respectful). I would however ask (very strongly) to keep it all civil... (I will close down this experiment at the first sign of trouble.)

My own opinion:
In the end we'll have to accept there being a new team of developers & I for one wish them well...
Or as Chinny put it "Softimage is mature enough now and in very capable hands."

Discuss...

Well, let me be the first to help the matters a little bit. The question i have raised about education center not recommending softimage has been cleared by EricTRocks and an autodesk employe, Jen Goldfinch.

It turns out, student site is coded so it does two things:
1. not recommend the software you've already downloaded
2. and to list only first five applications on the front page

So that puts that to rest.

The other point i would like to make is not as pleasant.

Hirazi just reminded me about Chinny's famous "the future is bright" massage. It came early 2010 i believe. As we now know, it was around that time they started the big migration plan (might have been earlier, but definitely not later). I'm torn about what to think of it.

If i remember correctly, he even said that one of the options to increase the revenue for softimage was to raise up the license/subscription fees which is not preferable way. Well, the fees have increased in europe and they decided not to offer silver subs for softimage (which is ridicules).

And now, suddenly, a completely new dev team. Might turn out well, or it might not. In my experience, such a drastic change is a very risky move and i cannot comprehend how it came about.


Yeah, the frustrations have been piling up, that's for sure...

About the price increase in Europe. That wasn't part of any strategy, and the price didn't change elsewhere. There was a EU price exception in place for Softimage at acquisition time to transition existing customers, and after a certain date (2 years after acquisition closed I think?) the price reverted to the standard rules Autodesk uses for all products (including CAD), which are based on some formulas an US dollars. Autodesk products are.. more expensive in EU.

Pricing in the EU is always an issue for Autodesk, due to the trading conditions and competition laws. I don't know all the rules, but whenever a company is acquired like with Softimage, imposing a limit (like the 2yrs mentioned) stops Autodesk from simply increasing prices straight away and exploiting customers. But then after the limitations have past, companies have to revise the pricing structure, so there's more of a balance between the products.

Also, with trading in the EU, we're not allowed to 'favour' a particular country and/or reseller. So if a UK customers wants to buy their software or subs from another EU country, they are free to do .

I think bottleofram also mentioned the infamous "silver subs" (and rightfully so...)

Yeah, well I don't have an answer to that one. I'm not privy to the types of decisions made in that respect. I can only speculate, which would only fuel the fire, so I won't.

I think the info is out there to figure out the subscription thing. Someone already posted that the majority of Softimage clients are on subscription and getting the software that way. It's what makes Softimage work.

One thing that can mitigates that for individuals is that many also need a copy of Max or Maya, and for a Premium Suite subscription is 1000$ for the entire suite (ex: Max/Maya+mudbox+motionbuilder+softimage, and apparently sketchbook designer), vs 800$ for just Softimage.

Majority are on a subscription therefor no silver subs? Not sure i follow.


Do they really? What for?

Im sorry, but this is just typical. First, autodesk molds the customers the way they want them to be, than use that as an excuse for their decisions. For example, Softimage creation suite is available in Japan. Obviously, there are quite a few people out there who think its a complete 3d package, self-sufficient and capable... But thats not really what AD needs, is it? They need an expensive plugin for max and maya so they sell it and promote it as one. Finally, when people get on board with that, you say a lot of the customers also use max and maya. Well, big surprise.

The sad thing is, i can only see this getting worse and worse. Milking the last dime out of customers is what big conglomerates do and AD is becoming an expert in its own right.

Also, consider the following: Softimage users who opt for Entertainment Suite in order to use mudbox and motionbuilder, are also financing the respective developments of max and maya. This is just brilliant considering how Soft just donated its development team to one of those two.

@bottleofram - I think our frustration with the financial escapades of Autodesk is quite legitimate. The reasons "they" think they have for doing it "their" way, while valid in their own right, aren't really sufficient to explain away our idea of "injustice" in this manner. Luc-Erics Suite argument probably is the way the people at Autodesk are thinking, as they do seem to have adopted the Suite idea as their main way of doing business, but it doesn't really explain why there still are "silver subs" for Max & Maya. If there is a good reason not to offer it for Softimage, there seems to be no good reason to keep on offering to Max & Maya users.


PS As a quick reminder: this is still the "frustration" thread, not the "silver subs" thread. Feel free to jump in with other "frustrations"... In the mean time there's no reason NOT to continue this line of thought, as far as I am concerned...

I think the whole think simply comes down to legacy. Softimage has always had a level of support that equals Autodesk's Gold and they've just kept it like that, for now anyway. Going forward, who knows, Autodesk itself is going through many changes right now, kinda like a company reboot you might say.

But I think you're right, Suites are probably the main driver here, as it is a big focus for Autodesk. And they may have kept things as they are so they can get the pricing on the Suites right without breaking rules. To some Suites look just like a 'bundle', but they're not. They're listed as specific products and therfore have to follow similar rules. You can't just through software together and slap a price on it - this was one of the reasons why they had to rename Toxik to include it with Maya, Max and Soft.

I think what Luc-Eric was meaning was for anyone who might have the need to use the other products, then the Suite does make sense. When you look at the products you get and the price of Subs. The Suite Subs price on 4-5 products is only just a little extra than paying Subs on just one. From a financial point of view, the logic is sound and makes sense.