About the discontinuation of Softimage

Blond

I knew Autodesk stopped the developpment of XSI long ago however I'm still wondering why they didn't just sell it.

Is there any way I can download it now? Even previous verions.

JedTheKrampus

I heard you could still buy Softimage as part of a bundle with 3ds Max or Maya.

Nox

You can download it from http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/softimage/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-C2-AE-softimage-C2-AE-2015-service-pack-1.html

Why would they sell it? It's the only app that can compete with Max/Maya. They don't want some other company to hurt Max/Maya sales.

WarrenM

It's the only app that can compete with Max/Maya.

JedTheKrampus

Is it time to be that guy?

Who am I kidding. It's always time to be that guy.

Odow

Blond wrote: »

why they didn't just sell it.

Because it's kinda stupid to keep 3 software that does the same thing the same way.In a few years i'm pretty sure maya and max will merge in only one software an the competition will be with modo.

pior

It's interesting how the latest Softimage service pack is actually the full program. Does it even require a license to run ?

ZacD

I wish they'd just strip it down and release it as freeware. Wishful thinking on my part though.

Dataday

Blond wrote: »

I knew Autodesk stopped the developpment of XSI long ago however I'm still wondering why they didn't just sell it.

Is there any way I can download it now? Even previous verions.

The reason autodesk picked it up in the first place was to remove a competitor from the marketplace. Naturally, if they resold it or released it for free, that would defeat the purpose of them buying it in the first place.

Can almost promise you that their ultimate goal will be to have only one primary 3d application (most likely Maya). Lets just hope Autodesk doesnt manage to acquire any other 3d packages which they can kill slowly as part of the process.

ZacD

Talk about anti competitive business practices, buy out a piece of software, don't update it, and let it slowly die before actually killing it off. Is that even legal? Autodesk pretty much has a Monopoly on the industry.

oXYnary

ZacD wrote: »

Autodesk Xpretty much hasX wants to have a Monopoly on the industry.

Fixed.

Bellsey

I don't think its simply as simple has just selling Softimage itself to another party, or stripping it down. Contrary to what people think, Softimage was continually developed from it's Autodesk acquisition in 2008 to the 2015 release last year.

You can go the wiki and see a full list of features and developments during this time. As such alot of technology/IP was implemented and so it's not so easy to rip that out.

As for Service Packs being the full program, they've always been like that. Previous updates and service packs have been full installs and not incremental. They still need a license to run though, as they're updates to the version that's been licensed.

Taken from the FAQ - Autodesk plans to provide support and maintenance services to Softimage customers with active Autodesk Subscription contracts until April 30, 2016 or until the end of their contract in cases where an existing contract has a later expiry date. Customers renewing Subscription contracts will be able to continue to do so until April 30, 2016. Where necessary, contracts after March 28, 2014 will be prorated to end on April 30, 2016.

Anyone can buy extra seats of the Maya or Max + Softimage bundle until Feb 1, 2016, you do not need to be on maintenance.

ZacD

Yup, Autodesk really added a lot to Softimage, what would of 3d artists done without a viewcube? Most of the features were better 3ds Max, Maya, and FBX integration, high quality viewport, improved existing features, and added tiny things from Max and Maya that weren't really missing, like apply thickness and cap hole. Felt more like shuffling around and copying over feature sets more than actually improving the tool (besides ICE which got a decent number of improvements).


I also noticed this when looking through the view history Wiki: http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/history/xsidocs_whatwasnew/new_Version75.htm

Interface and Tools
Rebranding

SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® is dead! Long live Autodesk® Softimage®!

Bellsey

Yes the name was changed, although even now people still call it XSI.

And there's been alot more stuff added than what you say. This has been debated many times on si-community and the user list.

ZacD

I'm not saying Autodesk didn't touch it, but from the day I heard Autodesk bought Softimage, and with every update, I had a bad feeling in my gut, knowing Softimage wasn't going to be around much longer, obviously that came to fruition.

NegevPro

3D art packages are very difficult to create and maintain. I'd imagine it would be beneficial for artists in the long run if Autodesk eventually eliminated all but one of their software packages so their engineers can focus on improving a single piece of software.

Deathstick

Not necessarily, a lot of amazing work comes from competition, a la the space race. Now making all 3D packages a bit more standard in interfaces would be nice but imo it's pretty easy to jump from one to the other already.

Unless you're doing animation, in which case I gather things are a bit tricker to go from one to the other.

iadagraca

pior wrote: »

It's interesting how the latest Softimage service pack is actually the full program. Does it even require a license to run ?

Thats what i want to know...

Thoss

JedTheKrampus wrote: »

I heard you could still buy Softimage as part of a bundle with 3ds Max or Maya.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=softimage&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

Denny

NegevPro wrote: »

3D art packages are very difficult to create and maintain. I'd imagine it would be beneficial for artists in the long run if Autodesk eventually eliminated all but one of their software packages so their engineers can focus on improving a single piece of software.

Cars are very difficult to create and maintain. I'd imagine it would be beneficial for drivers in the long run if Car Manufacturer X eventually eliminated all but one of their car models so their engineers can focus on improving a single car model. :poly121:

SonicBlue

Deathstick wrote: »

Not necessarily, a lot of amazing work comes from competition, a la the space race. Now making all 3D packages a bit more standard in interfaces would be nice but imo it's pretty easy to jump from one to the other already.

Unless you're doing animation, in which case I gather things are a bit tricker to go from one to the other.

This is more like a F1 Team or a Cycling Team, there's someone who have to sacrifice himself to have more chances to make the team leader win.

In this case, without a real competition they gained market share without innovating, acquiring Alias|Wavefront, they got Alias Studio Tools, Alias SketchBook, Alias MotionBuilder and many other technologies like FBX.

The only real alternative to Autodesk Softimage is SOFTIMAGE|XSI


If Autodesk releases Softimage as a PLE, what happens to the mental ray license? Softimage doesn't have a software renderer besides that.

Denny wrote: »

Cars are very difficult to create and maintain. I'd imagine it would be beneficial for drivers in the long run if Car Manufacturer X eventually eliminated all but one of their car models so their engineers can focus on improving a single car model. :poly121:

Many car models are based on the same mechanics and chassis, what changes is the body design.

kanga

Denny wrote: »

Cars are very difficult to create and maintain. I'd imagine it would be beneficial for drivers in the long run if Car Manufacturer X eventually eliminated all but one of their car models so their engineers can focus on improving a single car model. :poly121:

Actually yes. If all cars were standardized you could have one for 10 dollars. The maintenance would be insanely efficient and you could probably do most of it yourself due to a modular plugin approach, pretty much how people who service their own computers do it now (the ones who dare to open the box ). You could assemble the model you needed from blocks be it spots model or station wagon, or pickup or whatever and even change the config on a need basis, 3d print your own shell, or even design your own shell and mount it.

That would make sense though. We still need a Jaguar XJS 150 series sports to show the length of our financial willy.

Bellsey

iadagraca wrote: »

Thats what i want to know...

I already answered that above.

Zack Maxwell

Dataday wrote: »

The reason autodesk picked it up in the first place was to remove a competitor from the marketplace. Naturally, if they resold it or released it for free, that would defeat the purpose of them buying it in the first place.

Can almost promise you that their ultimate goal will be to have only one primary 3d application (most likely Maya). Lets just hope Autodesk doesnt manage to acquire any other 3d packages which they can kill slowly as part of the process.

Modo's been getting sold quite frequently. I'm legitimately concerned about Autodesk picking them up as well in the future.
Luckily though, they can't touch Blender.

gnoop

Something weird is going on with software. Almost every bright , game-changing tool goes nowhere while mediocrity rule the software world.

XSI is probably most convenient set of 3d tools ever existed. I am missing a few UV tools from there which since never been replicated. Imo Maya is a utter mess in comparison. Modo is not even close.

There are few in 2d field too. Do somebody remember Creative house expression? Microsoft bought, castrated it and then just abandoned. It had best brush system, truly non repetitive and flexible + a true vector/raster hybrid.

Painter shared a lot with it and then also went nowhere. Not a single thing worth an upgrade during last 10 years. Now it's so behind of current needs I moved to Photoshop completely.
While Photoshop is mediocre in everything as all Adobe products. Not sure why I pay its rent.

I loved Xara but it seems dying slowly too while being one of most time saving 2d tool.

Another one http://www.fxguide.com/featured/tandent-lightbrush-engineering-an-image/
Lightbrush . I tried their demo. It was absolutely revolutionary tool . Too expensive although. But then just disappeared.