Alias made Maya as their next gen app...like Softimage made XSI before that it was Alias (power modeler/power animator packages available for additional cost) Wavefront was its own company that was bought out by Alias prior (i believe) to Silicon graphics buying Alias in response to Microsoft buying Softimage. As I understand, prior to the acquisition of Wavefront, Wavefront had in turn purchased another company had purchased TDI (Thompson Digital Image)...and I think Evans and Sutherland was in there someplace too...maybe purchased by TDI...it all starts to get foggy.
I have used Maya in the past for years on end, and it never gets any less painful and convoluted to use...I am very competent at using it, but it doesn't lessen the pain :) Blender is very intriguing, weird interface, but then again Houdini has a wonky interface too ;) I'll stick with Soft as long as I can as life is too short to be miserable. I really don't think that Autodesk cares much which app comes on top as long as they keep raking in the money and control enough of the market to create and effective monopoly while skirting close enough in the gray area to not invoke the wrath of antitrust litigation. Cheers, -=Eric On Thu, Jan 2, 2014 at 11:03 AM, Stephen Davidson <magic...@bellsouth.net>wrote: > I am extremely lucky to work freelance, so that I am not directed to use > any > particular software for any particular project. As long as it looks good, > my customers are oblivious to what software I am using. > > Whenever I did work for a production facility, on site, I have always > managed > to justify their license purchase. It has a lot to do with the length of > experience > that I have on Softimage. > > So... I use what works best for me ... Softimage ... has since version 1.0 > At least, with all my 3D work. I have tried 3D Max and Maya, just to see if > they could improve my workflow. I guess I am too entrenched in Softimage > to be able to wrap my head around other 3D app's interface. The others > just seem so clumsy. I realize it is because I am used to a certain > ingrained > workflow that I have developed over the years. The recent addition of > RedShift3D > render software has improved the render speeds, and quality, immensely. > I doubt RedShift would put that much effort into supporting Softimage, as > well as > Maya, if they thought Softimage was going away any time soon. > > If Softimage goes away, which I doubt it will, I will probably learn to > work > Blender, as open source seems to live on forever. It probably has something > to do with the cost. :) > > BTW... didn't Maya used to be called Wavefront ? > > Happy New Year, all! > > > On Thu, Jan 2, 2014 at 10:46 AM, Mirko Jankovic <mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com > > wrote: > >> taking refuge in Maya?? >> No thank you! better slow but painless death in never improved SI, like >> falling asleep slowly.. then looong torture and painful life in Maya! >> No thank you! >> SI.. I'm going down with you.. in the next 10-20 years... >> >> >> On Thu, Jan 2, 2014 at 4:42 PM, Jeffrey Dates <jda...@kungfukoi.com>wrote: >> >>> I'd think whomever makes the suite of scripts and plugins for Maya for >>> the Softimage refugees soon to be converting over would certainly have a >>> built-in base of users. >>> >>> I also think there is an opportunity for a Fabric Engine Developer to >>> capture some of the refugees with the same thinking... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Jan 2, 2014 at 6:22 AM, Szabolcs Matefy <szabol...@crytek.com>wrote: >>> >>>> Actually, I am fairly experienced with Maya, yet I feel that it's a >>>> wheelchair with square wheels compared to Softimage. However, I see >>>> development in Maya a lot more than in Softimage. Houdini is quite out of >>>> my scope, being a character artist :). >>>> >>>> The fact is, if I want to get hired by a game development company, I >>>> have to learn Maya and Max, and I have to promote it. So my current project >>>> of Vinnie Jones went into Maya, and yes, it's quite painful, because some >>>> things are rather clumsy in Maya...:( But I want to get hired, and the >>>> companies who I want to work for are mostly Maya based companies. Max is >>>> pain in the ass, really, clumsy, mediocre, etc. >>>> >>>> UK is on my list to get a job there, but last year I was too >>>> lazy...This year I want to change a lot, and take my family to a better >>>> place :) >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> >>>> PS. >>>> >>>> I hope that new Softimage will have a lot more for us, and will kick >>>> some Max and Maya ass. Chris Chia, will it? >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto: >>>> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Tim Leydecker >>>> Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 11:37 AM >>>> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com >>>> Subject: Re: rumor, Soft dead within the next year >>>> >>>> Hey Szabolcs, >>>> >>>> even with your credentials? Fauna, a Tutor, etc. >>>> >>>> Judging on your email address, I would have thought you´d be 3DsMax >>>> centric at work, due to the Z-up preferences of the Cryengine and the >>>> tools/plugins available for a solid 3DSMax>Cryengine workflow. >>>> >>>> Here´s a few Maya secrets I´d like to share: >>>> >>>> Embrace Maya accepting that you will need a high treshold for pain to >>>> do so. >>>> >>>> Invert your favourite Normalmap´s green channel for use in Maya. Will >>>> make you feel home. >>>> >>>> There´s a huge community of hungarian 2D/3D artists in London, a friend >>>> of mine just went there and is now happy bitching about the insane costs of >>>> anything involving living a modest life but also straight out glad he did >>>> it, there was not enough work in either Budapest or Berlin. >>>> Both would have been the better cities to be at but I can really >>>> understand that a man wants to work :-) >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> >>>> tim >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 02.01.2014 10:11, Szabolcs Matefy wrote: >>>> > I’ve lsot my positive thinking in the last year, so from now on, I’ll >>>> > move to maya. Why? Because as a Softimage artist I couldn’t find ANY >>>> > job. I am skilled in maya too, but having Softimage as my primary >>>> tool, I was always rejected saying that they want somebody who knows maya >>>> on an expert level. So, from today I’ll learn maya secrets. At work I’ll >>>> use Softimage. Seeing no development really, makes me sad. >>>> > >>>> > *From:*softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com >>>> > [mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of *Aloys >>>> > Baillet >>>> > *Sent:* Tuesday, December 24, 2013 5:25 AM >>>> > *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com >>>> > *Subject:* Re: rumor, Soft dead within the next year >>>> > >>>> > C'mon! You have to trust that "Everything is Awesome", with the LEGO >>>> > movie entirely animated with Softimage! >>>> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ_JOBCLF-I >>>> > >>>> > Merry XMas everyone! >>>> > >>>> > On Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Arman Sernaz <arma...@gmail.com<mailto: >>>> arma...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > Such a Great Work Walter ! It was a pleasure watching this :) >>>> > >>>> > 2013/12/20 wavo <w...@fiftyeight.com <mailto:w...@fiftyeight.com>> >>>> > >>>> > Merry Xmas and a happy new Year: >>>> > >>>> > done with one of the last version of softimage: >>>> > >>>> > http://www.bang-awards.com/en/movie/362-mite >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > *Walter Volbers* >>>> > Senior Animator >>>> > >>>> > *FIFTYEIGHT*3D >>>> > Animation & Digital Effects GmbH >>>> > >>>> > Kontorhaus Osthafen >>>> > Lindleystraße 12 >>>> > 60314 Frankfurt am Main >>>> > Germany >>>> > >>>> > Telefon +49 (0) 69.48 000 55.50 >>>> > <tel:%2B49%20%280%29%2069.48%20000%2055.50> >>>> > Telefax +49 (0) 69.48 000 55.15 >>>> > <tel:%2B49%20%280%29%2069.48%20000%2055.15> >>>> > >>>> > _mailto:w...@fiftyeight.com >>>> > http://www.fiftyeight.com >>>> > _ >>>> > >>>> > -------------------------------------------------------- >>>> > ESC*58* >>>> > Eine Kooperation der escape GmbH und der FIFTYEIGHT3D GmbH >>>> > >>>> > _http://www.ESC58.de <http://www.ESC58.de>_ >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > www.lhvfx.com <http://www.lhvfx.com> >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > >>>> > Aloys Baillet >>>> > Lead Software Developer >>>> > >>>> > Research & Development - Animal Logic >>>> > -- >>>> > >>>> > /Eat Real Food! I buy my sustainable produce from local farmers >>>> > through Food Connect Sydney. http://sydney.foodconnect.com.au/ >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> > > > -- > > Best Regards, > * Stephen P. Davidson* > > *(954) 552-7956 <%28954%29%20552-7956>* sdavid...@3danimationmagic.com > > *Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic* > > > - Arthur C. Clarke > > <http://www.3danimationmagic.com> > -- -=T=-
