SI Technology Previews

[SreckoM]

I think Houdini had pre-announcement.

[Daniel Brassard]

I like technology preview and I do understand the fine line the Devs follows (giving news to their clients on what they are working without giving too much to the competitors).

It least, what I am getting from this is that Softimage is still being developed and improved. Autodesk has a plan for Softimage in their portfolio (whatever the plan is, is pure speculation, they won't tell us and that is fine, don't want a competitor stealing ideas).

I think the frustration come from the lack of recognition of Softimage by Autodesk … I don’t see much when it comes to advertising and promotion, Autodesk has to own that, it’s their 32 million + that they are not pushing well.

Since the acquisition, I have read on various threads on that subject: lack of books, lack of quality training, loss of visibility on the Autodesk site, lack of promotion and advertising, misinformation from dealers abroad, once in the blue moon blog post in the Area (which sucks by the way), timing in advertising that suck, school switching their curriculum to other software, lack of knowledge in the industry about Softimage in general, specially the entry level, Softimage being perceived as too complex to be covered by magazines, and the list goes on. Frankly, for a Grand Dame that help build this industry, Softimage deserve more respect.

Unfortunately that won’t change quickly; the software does not drive the industry, the industry do and they normally don’t throw all their eggs in one basket if they can afford it. It’s all about money and the bottom line in their books (better, faster and cheaper … did I say cheaper!).

Artists and TDs are creature of habits. We have trained hard to get where we are, the competition is stiff, the entry level generation is quite capable and willing to compete. We need an edge and fast!

Does Softimage provide that, I surely hope so, and I have seen lately a demonstration of the will of the community and the Developers to demonstrate just that … we are capable, versatile, knowledgeable and more. Some of our competitors are seeing it and frankly are worried … Don’t wake the beast (Autodesk), they say, keep it low key or they will throw at us the best piece of software they have and it won’t be pretty. Keep working and improving until it matter no more, … shut, …. quiet …. I ear something in the shadow … I think they found us … run for the hill…. ICE Compound coming!

To the Softimage developers, Hat’s off! You are the most unrecognized bunch of people at Autodesk! They should give you the right to brag once in a while!

My 2 cents! I know I’ll get some flames on that one but I care about Softimage and it’s developers!

You get my subscription (I hope)!

Cheers!

Dan

[ActionArt]

I agree Dan. Two points I'd like to add.

1) Word of mouth and results go farther in selling a product than ANY amount of advertising. If something is good, the people who need to know already know. SI will do just fine

2) SI is the most solid, best thought out piece of software I've ever used and I think the development has been stronger than ever lately. Others have flashy new features that may or may not work - Modo - (some of which we've had for years) while others are the price of a new motorcycle - Houdini - so I think the future is brighter than ever for SI. It's gaining traction but things don't change overnight. Just takes a bit of time...

[Daniel Brassard]

Totally agree, ActionArt.

If we look at all the major players in the field, there are not much that difference between them. The only way to distinguish one over the other rely on some features that influence marginally the Industry. The killer feature is harder and harder to find.

We are afterall storytellers! Our stenght is how we tell the story, the software is just a tool, but what a tool .....

[Nizar]

I think the some, but, don't want offend anyone dear friends, I reading the some post every SI release. This aspects of SI situation was well discussed before and we didn't resolve nothing. Don't seem to me AD care about us.

AD marketing and ideas for XSI was just ready.

[Memag]

Don't seem to me AD care about us.

It's business, they care about themselves.
On the other hand, I don't think they would develop SI further, if they didn't care about customers (ergo - themselves).

[SreckoM]

I read on some forum that Dassault wanted to buy XSI, and that it was primary reason for Autodesk to buy them, is there any truth in this?

[Memag]

I read on some forum that Dassault wanted to buy XSI, and that it was primary reason for Autodesk to buy them, is there any truth in this?

I don't know about Dassault and XSI, but I think it's irrelevant now.
We can speculate and fantasize about what would happen and how XSI would be developed if it was purchased by another company
but in the end it helps no one and it only generates frustration and doubt. There is no turning back now.

[ActionArt]

I can't imagine why Dassault would have any interest. It's not their business at all. I think Autodesk was the best solution for SI. I'm not an AD fan but just being a part of AD has given SI a far better foundation and made it a much more legitimate solution for most studios. If we want to talk about bad marketing, look back at Avid! They almost completely ran it into the ground!

(On a completely different topic, I wish the F@#$%g Avid Media Composer programmers had learned something from SI while they were there but they didn't. It's a wretched thing compared to SI but I have to use it from time to time. OK, enough ranting.)

Just being part of AD, like it or not, has given SI a boost and AD has very cleverly packaged it with other suites so that it ends up in the hands of people who will likely test it if they have it. That may be the best marketing yet. All the splashy website and print ads do very little IMO as far as actual sales. Studio heads know about it and will test it as needed. That's all you can do!

[gustavoeb]

http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/graham/s ... sneak_peak am I too late?

I did not see anybody posting this here... yet

[gustavoeb]

Ps1: Looks much better in context Bellsey, nicely done video
Ps2: Click and drag re-ordering is great. Maybe we can see it used elsewhere in the software. I particularly would like having it on the exposed ports of compounds, as they now are a pain to reorder...
Ps3: There is an easter egg... you can read Crowds inbetween Conversion and Curves in the list of ICE Nodes (2:20)... Oops (of course this coud always be justa a plugin or somebodys custom compounds)

[Hirazi Blue]

There is an easter egg...

And it's not even the first time this happened: something similar happened almost a year ago.

[Nizar]

Thanks Gustavo, I'm impressed...

[Bellsey]

Ps1: Looks much better in context Bellsey, nicely done video

This is what I had originally intended but thought that seperate videos might work better, but after peoples comments I though it better to go back and do this single video instead. The text could be clearer, but I am only using Camtesia Studio for quickness.

[Memag]

Ps1: Looks much better in context Bellsey, nicely done video
Ps2: Click and drag re-ordering is great. Maybe we can see it used elsewhere in the software. I particularly would like having it on the exposed ports of compounds, as they now are a pain to reorder...
Ps3: There is an easter egg... you can read Crowds inbetween Conversion and Curves in the list of ICE Nodes (2:20)... Oops (of course this coud always be justa a plugin or somebodys custom compounds)

Might be a coincidence,and probably interesting to some, but in the Exocortex Alembic plugin info,they calim they have tested it with

• Exocortex Momentum (rigid bodies, soft bodies, ropes)
  Exocortex ImplosiaFX (ICE modelling)
  Exocortex Species (animated meshes)
  Exocortex SlipstreamVX (points)
  Polygonizer / Mootzoid emPolygonizer (meshes)
  Lagoa Multiphysics (points)
  ICE-based Crowd Simulators (meshes)

Exocortex Alembic page

[McNistor]

I really hope that these little UI/interaction improvements (I wouldn't call adding 3dsmax nav mode improvement, but I digress) are the tip of a huge ICEberg.