maxon zbrush shady practices
grand marshal polycounter
i have a legacy perpetual license of zbrush, 2018-2021. I tried to download that the other day.
first i got an error message saying that because of the ongoing conflict in ukraine, they will not issue licenses to anybody in ukraine or russia. Okay? I am in USA.
But lets just think about that odd excuse for a moment. Because there is a war, nobody in the warring countries gets to use zbrush? What is that helping?
Anyway, they give you a link for support, and this goes to 404 error page.
Let's be real, this is most likely just bog-standard corporate tactics to encourage purchase of the new subscription.
Luckily for me in this case, I realized that maya actually has tool to accomplish what I thought only zbrush could do, so no need to jump through the next series of hurdles to download software i bought years ago with a perpetual license.
Only thing maxon will encourage with this type of nonsense is pirating. If I was able to easily keep using my perpetual license i would be more likely to want to upgrade if the tool remains something that i regularly use. As is, I doubt I'll be using zbrush again.
first i got an error message saying that because of the ongoing conflict in ukraine, they will not issue licenses to anybody in ukraine or russia. Okay? I am in USA.
But lets just think about that odd excuse for a moment. Because there is a war, nobody in the warring countries gets to use zbrush? What is that helping?
Anyway, they give you a link for support, and this goes to 404 error page.
Let's be real, this is most likely just bog-standard corporate tactics to encourage purchase of the new subscription.
Luckily for me in this case, I realized that maya actually has tool to accomplish what I thought only zbrush could do, so no need to jump through the next series of hurdles to download software i bought years ago with a perpetual license.
Only thing maxon will encourage with this type of nonsense is pirating. If I was able to easily keep using my perpetual license i would be more likely to want to upgrade if the tool remains something that i regularly use. As is, I doubt I'll be using zbrush again.
Replies
I'm 100% certain that every artist on the zbrush Screensaver has used a pirated zbrush atleast once.
Wish pixologic would have sold zbrush to epic or valve rather than Maxon.
I know of many artists that use pirated zbrush and then claim the output is from blender.
Since you can't really trace the software used in a models meta data, unless you're a larger studio that could risk a lawsuit over pirated software use, I don't feel that anyone who pirates zbrush risks much.
Many AAA companies outsource art to studios in China, India who outsource to 3rd part contractors working out of shoe box apartments for pennies.
I don't think they care about zbrush subscriptions.
Not encouraging piracy just stating the facts.
Bizarre move by Maxon to disallow zbrush use in Ukraine/Russia because of the war
if poor, then need to be a bit of scumbag to get by
if rich, help everybody
but business does it the opposite. when new, give everything away for free to get people hooked
once they are hooked, be a scumbag
the war thing makes no sense, would be interesting if there is some official explanation about that. Imagine being an artist in ukraine and now in addition to your friends being blown up, zbrush doesn't want to help you make a living anymore. wtf?
https://www.maxon.net/en/article/responding-to-the-ukraine-crisis
Not enitrely sure if the subscription model is actually sustainable for companies like Maxon, it clearly hasn't stopped piracy.
they also managed to 'lose' a license once - no solution to it, the license just went away.
i dont feel particularly inclined to complain though - I bought my personal license in about 2005 for 300quid and haven't had to give them any money since.
i was only activating zbrush for a small task that i was able to do in maya so i don't care that much to deal with it at the moment, just triggered my PTSD from dealing with lousy phone companies and similar who make it impossible to do anything they don't want you to do. Like keep charging you after you cancelled three times, etc. And the ukraine thing is just weird.
just tried the portal again and now it has begun the download without issue. It also automatically logged me in, whereas last time I had to enter password. Perhaps some sort of authentication issue? For sake of curiosity still interested about the ukraine/russia message though. Any ukrainians/russians get a message like that?
that also goes the other way, VISA and Mastercard also put thier rules on those which use thier payment systems.
It is Imo not shady practice, more being cautious and adhering to the law be it international law or within the EU.
thanks for the explanation!