Maya price reduction
by Simon Windmill · in Artist Corner · 03/28/2002 (9:11 am) · 12 replies
Well I posted about the LW price cut, I should do the same for Maya. This one is BIG NEWS.
Maya Complete will be $1999. This includes Artisan and all the animation goodies and Paint Effects and dynamics and the basic NURBS + polygonal modeling toolset.
(For fur, cloth, subdivision surfaces, advanced NURBS tools, and match moving, you'll need to pony up for Unlimited, which will be reduced to 7 grand.)
Unless there are hidden support fees or this is an annual license, 2 grand for Maya is a big, big change.
Maya Complete will be $1999. This includes Artisan and all the animation goodies and Paint Effects and dynamics and the basic NURBS + polygonal modeling toolset.
(For fur, cloth, subdivision surfaces, advanced NURBS tools, and match moving, you'll need to pony up for Unlimited, which will be reduced to 7 grand.)
Unless there are hidden support fees or this is an annual license, 2 grand for Maya is a big, big change.
#3
03/28/2002 (9:30 am)
Thank you Simon for the vote of confidence ;)
#4
03/28/2002 (9:40 am)
Simon: any word on a price drop for Maya builder ? since thats in the
#5
I'm betting they're dropping Builder.
03/28/2002 (1:03 pm)
I don't know; I don't see Builder mentioned in their store, but I didn't look heavily.I'm betting they're dropping Builder.
#6
Having said that however i've noticed a lot of the resellers don't mention builder so maybe they just don't advertise it so much. I may give them a ring tomorrow and see whats going on or post to the mailing list.
Maya builders original scope was for games and it'd be a big shame to see it die off.
03/28/2002 (1:30 pm)
Yeah thats the conclusion i've come to as well which is a shame as they could have sold a lot of seats at $1000 or below. Would have tempted me to get rid of the student license for a full one.Having said that however i've noticed a lot of the resellers don't mention builder so maybe they just don't advertise it so much. I may give them a ring tomorrow and see whats going on or post to the mailing list.
Maya builders original scope was for games and it'd be a big shame to see it die off.
#7
03/28/2002 (5:48 pm)
so now maya is cheaper than max? holy shyte!! 
#8
If the companies that have cut their software do not get drastic increases in the number of liscenses that they sell, we will probably see the end of a couple of packages unless a new "investor" comes in to bail out the packages.
It is also important to note that there are some "hidden" costs involved in 3D software such as service contracts and upgrade prices. Plus what happens if a company decides to jack up its price because they realize that the discounts were a bad decision? You're stuck with a piece of 3D software that you cannot migrate from without some serious pains.
My best suggestion for everyone is that you sit back and wait to see what happens. The smoke has yet to settle on this and it likely will not for a while, and until you get a clear picture of what is going on you cannot make a proper judgement.
Logan
PS: My personal opinion is that Discreet is probably in the best situation of most of the big companies. Autodesk is very profitable, investors love it, and Autodesk uses Max technology in a wide range of profitable products (such as Viz, gMax, I believe Inventor uses some, and likely a new program called Plasma). With all of these factors, Discreet probably has the best chance coming out of this situation very strong and possible even come out better than before. They likely will not make a reaction until NAB, Siggraph, so we will have to wait and see if my thoughts on Discreet are accurate (which is one of the reasons why I recommend waiting).
03/28/2002 (9:47 pm)
The next six months will be interesting for the 3D software industry. Every company is already hurting financially and they are only still around because they have a large parent company supporting them. Most of the companies have already essentially laid off their R&D development teams and most are doing serious restructuring of their companies.If the companies that have cut their software do not get drastic increases in the number of liscenses that they sell, we will probably see the end of a couple of packages unless a new "investor" comes in to bail out the packages.
It is also important to note that there are some "hidden" costs involved in 3D software such as service contracts and upgrade prices. Plus what happens if a company decides to jack up its price because they realize that the discounts were a bad decision? You're stuck with a piece of 3D software that you cannot migrate from without some serious pains.
My best suggestion for everyone is that you sit back and wait to see what happens. The smoke has yet to settle on this and it likely will not for a while, and until you get a clear picture of what is going on you cannot make a proper judgement.
Logan
PS: My personal opinion is that Discreet is probably in the best situation of most of the big companies. Autodesk is very profitable, investors love it, and Autodesk uses Max technology in a wide range of profitable products (such as Viz, gMax, I believe Inventor uses some, and likely a new program called Plasma). With all of these factors, Discreet probably has the best chance coming out of this situation very strong and possible even come out better than before. They likely will not make a reaction until NAB, Siggraph, so we will have to wait and see if my thoughts on Discreet are accurate (which is one of the reasons why I recommend waiting).
#9
They also have Aura and Video Toaster and according to some studies, the most overall marketshare of the big 4. Also they are the only private company in the lot. The others are at the mercy of their investors. Who may not be very happy at the prospect of reduced revenues.
What I'm hoping for is the chance to mix and match different programs. A seat of Maya for its programability. Lightwave for it's modeling and render abilities, etc.
Now we have the chance to use multiple programs like the big studios do. Even if they use one program a lot, most of the big CG houses keep Maya, Lightwave, MAX and Houdini on hand because each has unique strengths.
03/28/2002 (10:07 pm)
I don't think Newtek will be exactly hurting either. Lightwave is already 500$ cheaper and the upgrades are only 400$ (Maya's are 699$), without the 1299$ to 1499$ yearly Maya service contract.They also have Aura and Video Toaster and according to some studies, the most overall marketshare of the big 4. Also they are the only private company in the lot. The others are at the mercy of their investors. Who may not be very happy at the prospect of reduced revenues.
What I'm hoping for is the chance to mix and match different programs. A seat of Maya for its programability. Lightwave for it's modeling and render abilities, etc.
Now we have the chance to use multiple programs like the big studios do. Even if they use one program a lot, most of the big CG houses keep Maya, Lightwave, MAX and Houdini on hand because each has unique strengths.
#10
As an one time employee of an autodesk effort that is now sharing office space with discreet, I wish the whole multi-headed enterprise ill - for reasons that are purely petty and personal.
As a Mac developer I wish them ill for reasons that oughta be evident.
Having used each of the programs under discussion here, the differences seem to me largely personal. I have not known a person who got their start with Maya, Max, or Lightwave who has happily switched. My eyes glaze over when I hear someone lambast Maya's mesh editing tools. I've seen people's eyes glaze over when I rail against max's interface.
All of these programs rock, and the output of any of them would be more than enough for the needs of our community provided we could actually get that output in to our games reliably and predictably.
03/28/2002 (10:34 pm)
Great news on the Maya exporter Sam, and the price drop. I'd certainly be interested in taking a look at the code and seeing if one of my team members can't help a Mac version along.As an one time employee of an autodesk effort that is now sharing office space with discreet, I wish the whole multi-headed enterprise ill - for reasons that are purely petty and personal.
As a Mac developer I wish them ill for reasons that oughta be evident.
Having used each of the programs under discussion here, the differences seem to me largely personal. I have not known a person who got their start with Maya, Max, or Lightwave who has happily switched. My eyes glaze over when I hear someone lambast Maya's mesh editing tools. I've seen people's eyes glaze over when I rail against max's interface.
All of these programs rock, and the output of any of them would be more than enough for the needs of our community provided we could actually get that output in to our games reliably and predictably.
#11
Very possible, but there's also one likely change in the industry that you haven't touched on - diversifying, and going after niche/vertical markets. If you're a small software company with only a single, general purpose 3D package, watch out!
Btw, I'm still trying to get confirmation from someone about the Maya support contract being mandatory. I've a feeling that even if it is mandatory right now, it might not be on April 4th.
03/29/2002 (8:07 am)
Quote:
If the companies that have cut their software do not get drastic increases in the number of liscenses that they sell, we will probably see the end of a couple of packages unless a new "investor" comes in to bail out the packages.
Very possible, but there's also one likely change in the industry that you haven't touched on - diversifying, and going after niche/vertical markets. If you're a small software company with only a single, general purpose 3D package, watch out!
Btw, I'm still trying to get confirmation from someone about the Maya support contract being mandatory. I've a feeling that even if it is mandatory right now, it might not be on April 4th.
#12
I would suggest Maya to anyone it is hands down the best package out there. and since it has everthing you need @ $1900 where as for max it is gonna cost youwell over $4k after you pay for Character studio. "wich sux IMHO" you can safely say that for what MAX cost you could buy maya nad pay a profession programmer to make you Torque tools for it. prolly with a little cash left over!
Just out of curiosity has anyone ever considered adding other file formats to Torque? I mena Lightwave support is suposed to be built into UT2k3 "yes I know it comes with maya PLE" but that was only becasue LW did not get their LWlite version done in time. Lightwave was actually used for UT2K3
anwya I guess I could prolly start a new thread for that question
09/24/2002 (2:38 pm)
The only one I know hta thas extrat service cost that you have to get is Softimage and that is built into the price as the software itself is leased and cannot be used without a contract. Well them and side effects Houdini but I doubt that package is a relavent subject for here since it is about 20k for it I would suggest Maya to anyone it is hands down the best package out there. and since it has everthing you need @ $1900 where as for max it is gonna cost youwell over $4k after you pay for Character studio. "wich sux IMHO" you can safely say that for what MAX cost you could buy maya nad pay a profession programmer to make you Torque tools for it. prolly with a little cash left over!
Just out of curiosity has anyone ever considered adding other file formats to Torque? I mena Lightwave support is suposed to be built into UT2k3 "yes I know it comes with maya PLE" but that was only becasue LW did not get their LWlite version done in time. Lightwave was actually used for UT2K3
anwya I guess I could prolly start a new thread for that question
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