Indeed. This decision does make one wonder if this will be a "CUBICOMP" moment for AD M&E.
Trust is not something sold like a software maintenance agreement. It's earned. I started using Softimage 20 years ago this very month. In all those years not even Avid or Microsoft put the production methodology I use in such jeopardy. The work I have been doing in Soft is so heavily dependent ICE now it can't be done the same way or even transferred to Maya or Max. How am I to replace this? There is no current Autodesk equivalent to Softimage, especially in regards to ICE. I understand that softwares mature and new paradigms emerge. I've been through the whole Picturemaker->Vertigo->Picturemaker, Quantel->Express V, PowerAnimator/TAV->Maya, 3dStudio->Max, and SI3D->XSI paradigm shifts. I even suffered through the demise of Aurora, Matador, and Shake. But why isn't there an equivalent alternative to move to before Softimage is terminated? Even if I do migrate to another AD M&E software, can I trust that AD won't abandon it as well? Sketchbook anyone? Can anyone at AD give me a concrete assurance that this kind of abandonment, and loss of investment, won't happen again? -- Joey Ponthieux __________________________________________________ Opinions stated here-in are strictly those of the author and do not represent the opinions of NASA or any other party. -----Original Message----- From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Jordi Bares Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 12:35 PM To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com Subject: Re: Softimage 2015 Last Release Announcement This is probably the worst decisions Autodesk has taken. Looking back a the Gold Lion at Cannes, VES awards, the BTAA awards over the last few years where the work done by this close knit community has been recognised I am shocked you really think you by killing Softimage you are " committed to providing our customers with the most technologically advanced products and highest quality customer service possible" My feeling is that you as a company have not gauged correctly how easy is to loose the trust of an entire community and how hard is going to get it back if at all possible. Good luck Jordi Bares jordiba...@gmail.com On 4 Mar 2014, at 17:01, Maurice Patel <maurice.pa...@autodesk.com> wrote: > Over the past week there have been many rumors about the future of Softimage > posted on various forums and social media sites. Many of you have been > looking for an official confirmation or denial from Autodesk. Unfortunately, > we were not in a position to respond until today as we needed to finalize all > the details of our plans. But yes Softimage 2015 will be the last release of > the software. I wanted to share some of those details with you: > > - Softimage 2015 will be the last release of the software > > - We will continue to support the software and develop hot fixes and > service packs for two more years > > - If they wish to, customers on Subscription will be able to > transition to Maya or 3ds Max at no cost while retaining the right to > continue to use Softimage in production/ > > - Existing customers will be able to purchase additional seats and/or > rental plans if they need to scale production > > Below is a copy of the letter that was sent electronically to Softimage > customers today. I have copied it here as our email distribution lists not > allow us to send it to those who have opted out. > > > > Because several of our partners have started posting the news early, we are > responding now but please note our web sites have not had time to upload all > the information yet. > > > > As early as possible but by no later than 3pm EST, we will have loaded > all the information including a detailed FAQ on > www.autodesk.com/softimage<http://www.autodesk.com/softimage>. In the > interim I have also copied and pasted it below > > > > Within the next 15 minutes you can also visit > http://area.autodesk.com/softimagetransition to register for a live Q&A > webinar on Marc 18th at 12pm EST. as well as see the full documentation of > what is new in Softimage 2015. > > > > Maurice Patel > > Autodesk > >
