Life After Pi Documentary Released

[Hirazi Blue]

Funny, adding QED to something doesn't constitute proof automatically... ;)

[xsi_fanatic]

Wonder if anybody will bother to make a documentary like that about Softimage...

I'm sure there's a plan for that

[MauricioPC]

@Letterbox - while it's always nice to hear from you, I would very much appreciate it, if you could tone down your insults at our expense just a little.

Re: What if Softimage died?
I've been on the lookout for Softimage and recently found this forum.
Now, seeing this is the most popular thread, kind of makes me steer away to even try to get into Softimage.

Q.E.D

But knowing the reality of stuff is also important. After seeing the documentary, I now realize that all CG/VFX Studios are just like all companies in the world. They don't care for their employees ... you pass the 30-35 mark and you are old meat, etc etc. At least here in Brazil, if you are over 35 and you aren't a Manager or something bigger, you worth nothing.

That's why I'm putting together a idea of business with my wife. And that's why, maybe if Softimage gets canned, I'll probably continue using. I mean ... come on!!!! If you saw the work of Whiskytree and The Mill on the PETA commercial, you know that even 10 years from now, this quality of work will still be impressive. So in 10 years I'll still be producing great quality work. And in 10 years I maybe can change for something similar.

Hell ... Lord of the Rings was done in 2000 and I still think it has better VFX than lots of current films. The only thing I'll miss is a proper FX solution (Softimage is good, but not the best). Yes ... I could go with Maya or Max, but if AD does this, why would I want to give them more money? So I'll look for Houdini ... I guess that would be the best solution.

[owei]

@letterbox
...you are saying, that discussions about the future of our loved software has driven people away from it so much that AD decided to shut it down?? Really??
First of all, not every thread turned out into that "negative" direction. We had some kind of focus to the "What if..." thread and it is GOOD to have something like that.
Shouting out "The future is bright" does not help anything, because with the acquisition of Soft by AD it was so clear, it won´t be, it can´t be, because it was AD who bought Soft.
To me, it´s the vendor, the owner of a package that is the one who should trie to get users for its software to make money! For seom reason, AD DID NOT! It was not to the userbase to gain attention or a certain forum like ours. AD did not show any interest in marketing Softimage, that´s what we always pointed out and complained about.

Maybe the overall plan got a little clearer now:
- buy Soft
- rip off all the patents, try to put inventions and forces to Maya
- develop Soft on low speed and level = low costs
- fulfill the contract ("leave Softimage alive for min 5 years after acquisition..")
- stop development
- try to draw Softimage people to Maya by giving them a license after killing Soft
...and they might do the same with Max soon...would make sense..

Soft is the best out of the box out there, and NOTHING comes even close by now. And honestly, I don´t see anything at the horizon. I will stick with is as long as possible but also look into other direction...if possible, no AD product ever again ;)

Once again, we have great community and fearing the dead of our software may drove some potential users off. But most who ever tried Soft, began to like it or love it. So, I don´t think that we had such a large impact on seeing Softimage vanishing in the coming years. Its AD fault, an no one other is responsible for that. Don´t blame US for their faults ;)

cheers,
oli

[xsi_fanatic]

I agree with owei. Driving away a new potential Softimage user does not have an impact on the future. Such a person does not play a key role in making Softimage grow. It's like saying a pack of peanuts will satisfy my hunger and cover my nutritional needs. Right now we are making noise towards the root cause of the problem which is the right way to go.

I would only value a new potential user and his/her opinion if I'm feeling insecure about myself and rely on other people's opinions to stand firm. But that's just me.

[angus_davidson]

In many ways if it is confirmed its fairly freeing. We have been under this cloud for a long time and once we know it finally allows people to say okay this is what we do from here. Uncertainty is massive killer for just about anything.

[ryanroye]

Wonder if anybody will bother to make a documentary like that about Softimage...

I don't know ... I have a feeling that people simply moved on. And that's sad ... Looks like nobody misses Softimage.

I feel the whole SoftImage scenario is having a different effect on the community compared to Life of Pi. A different impact, and hopefully one that will either catalyze some kind of change or at least provide awareness of software companies that actively utilize "buy and dissolve" tactics that destroy innovation and leave users cornered in the end.

When the plug is pulled on software... typically it falls under one of these categories:

- Poor marketing
- Poor planning
- Not enough funding for meaningful development
- Inability to address core user needs
- Inability to keep up with competitor(s)
- Market shift

Softimage falls under NONE of these categories. It produces profit, innovates, has a strong userbase and competes well in the marketplace... yet somehow none of these things matter to Autodesk. Having been curious about the reactions to this from the perspective of people who use other production packages... believe me we are all just as disgusted.

If a production package is going to cease development, I'd rather it be because the developers didn't do their job... or marketing wasn't up to par... or something that makes sense. This doesn't.

[xsi_fanatic]

Wonder if anybody will bother to make a documentary like that about Softimage...

I don't know ... I have a feeling that people simply moved on. And that's sad ... Looks like nobody misses Softimage.

I feel the whole SoftImage scenario is having a different effect on the community compared to Life of Pi. A different impact, and hopefully one that will either catalyze some kind of change or at least provide awareness of software companies that actively utilize "buy and dissolve" tactics that destroy innovation and leave users cornered in the end.

When the plug is pulled on software... typically it falls under one of these categories:

- Poor marketing
- Poor planning
- Not enough funding for meaningful development
- Inability to address core user needs
- Inability to keep up with competitor(s)
- Market shift

Softimage falls under NONE of these categories. It produces profit, innovates, has a strong userbase and competes well in the marketplace... yet somehow none of these things matter to Autodesk. Having been curious about the reactions to this from the perspective of people who use other production packages... believe me we are all just as disgusted.

If a production package is going to cease development, I'd rather it be because the developers didn't do their job... or marketing wasn't up to par... or something that makes sense. This doesn't.

It's simply because Softimage is very effective. If a project needed 10 people to get the job done in Maya, then Softimage needs only 5 if not 4. Which is more profitable to Autodesk ?

Now you know their dirty tricks.... I feel like I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown ... I haven't been feeling well, the past 2 days have been wasted building up negative emotions ...

[MauricioPC]

It's simply because Softimage is very effective. If a project needed 10 people to get the job done in Maya, then Softimage needs only 5 if not 4. Which is more profitable to Autodesk ?

Now you know their dirty tricks.... I feel like I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown ... I haven't been feeling well, the past 2 days have been wasted building up negative emotions ...

That's true. If you take a look at the PETA ad, the 3D team was of 11 people. ELEVEN! And they created that amazing work.