About Us

Fallenswordsman · 05-10-2005, 08:16 AM

As a lot would have realised already, Autodesk, the makers of 3D Studio Max amongst other things have made moves to acquire Alias, the makers of Maya.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servle...6&siteID=123112

Whilst this doesn't directly affect us humble Lightwavers with our less-expensive little package it does make me wonder what the ramifications are for the CG industry as a whole. Two major players now under one roof? Whilst Maxers seem happy, Mayans seem less enamoured by this. I think it is going to be a case of time telling what happens from here. After all, Adobe made moves to acquire Macromedia some months back but we haven't really seen much happening there yet.

Mark · 06-10-2005, 01:36 AM

Nope, but I believe the Adobe/Macromedia merger has now gone ahead. Even so, it will take probably 12-18 months for the companies to merge properly, and probably another couple of years for the product lines to be rationalised.

The Alias/Autodesk merger is very interesting though since they both have a directly competing product - at lease the Adobe/Macromedia merger has a majority of products that will sit comfortably together in the same portfolio.

I'd expect to see one of two thing happen, either a technology merger between Max and Maya with one single product coming out the back end of this - either keeping the 3DS or Maya monikers, or both products continuing as is with some cross development, but one being positioned as high-end and the other as low-end.

Either way, as far as the technology goes, this can only be a good thing. As for the consumer end of things ... well, it's one less fish in a reasonably niche pond - expect prices to go up and customer service to go down.

Fallenswordsman · 06-10-2005, 08:49 AM

Well at the moment, all I can say is I'm glad I'm not a user of either Max or Maya. A quick trip to A.N.Other forum shows that something of a little war has started which boils down to "My app is better than your app". :headbang: ...of course with a bit of Lightwave bashing thrown in every so often. People do seem to get very narked off by an overindulgence in speculation.

admiralbcd · 06-10-2005, 10:43 AM

I feel sorry for the guys that say that......:shakehead

I've seen many 3D work on the net, but I have not seen so many stuff where the limitations of one program opposed to another come into play.
In 3D, software is only as good as the guy sitting behind the computer. :p

Mark · 06-10-2005, 09:17 PM

Exactly. When all is said and done, your 3D weapon of choice is merely a tool. It doesn't matter what tool you use, if you don't have the ability and knowledge to use it, then you're going to get nowhere.

It's exactly the same as saying that UltraEdit is better than Windows Notepad - they both allow you to edit text files, OK, UE has more and better features than Notepad, but the end result from both applications is the same - a text file - the content of which is entirely up to me to put together. Exactly the same principle holds true for the LW vs Max vs Maya vs X vs Y vs Z debate, the Mac vs PC debate, etc, etc.

The unfortunate fact of life is though that people become incredibly partisan in regard to their preferred tools to the detriment of all others. It's silly, it's juvenile, but when all is said and done it's just human nature I guess.

Line the lot of 'em up against the wall and shoot 'em - that's my philosophy :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

mtmckinley · 07-10-2005, 01:11 PM

All I know is using Maya is very easy... using Max makes me want to throw my monitor out the window.

Fallenswordsman · 07-10-2005, 01:34 PM

Hmm...I could do with a new monitor....now all I have to be is good at catching.

Yep, at the end of the day, to each their own. People pay lots of money for their applications so I think they would want to defend what can be quite a large investment. I seem to remember similar arguments between Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis/Megadrive owners.

Mark · 07-10-2005, 10:07 PM

Exactly, the lines have been drawn, so now ... let the bunfight begin :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Warlock 279 · 09-10-2005, 10:42 PM

....yeah its gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out in the next couple years...especially since the two packages somewhat at least cater to different markets [max more to videogames and maya more to cinema]...I can only imagine that they'll eventually be combined into one single package [tho autodesk claims otherwise] as the cost of maintianing two successful developement teams will probably far out weigh the profit brought in by having two similar software packages...especailly if you start crossing developing and adding the features from one into the other...then its really going to become uneccesary and not very cost effiecient to continue both...tho i hear this whole transaction has less to do with Maya and more to do with Studio Tools...

...all i can say is that with the price drop in LightWave and the big things planned for 9 i'm quite happy to be using Lightwave...tho i have to admit...i'm am playing with Blender at the moment just to see what it and i can do...like what's been stated b4...the tool doesn't matter its all about the user...a paint brush in my hand wouldn't be capable of what a handful of horse hair in michelangelo's...i will admit tho...like the "maya mountian" said...the transition does make want to throw my monitor out the window [so swordsman if you're really good at catching you might get a second monitor]...and i've also noticed that i work less and spend more time playing videogames when i'm "using" blender :p ...and i've also got this nagging headache that won't go away...seems another apparent side effect of trying to keep track of what does what in Blender since its about a full 180 from LightWave...

05-10-2005, 08:16 AM	#1
Fallenswordsman Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,702	Autodesk acquires Alias As a lot would have realised already, Autodesk, the makers of 3D Studio Max amongst other things have made moves to acquire Alias, the makers of Maya. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servle...6&siteID=123112 Whilst this doesn't directly affect us humble Lightwavers with our less-expensive little package it does make me wonder what the ramifications are for the CG industry as a whole. Two major players now under one roof? Whilst Maxers seem happy, Mayans seem less enamoured by this. I think it is going to be a case of time telling what happens from here. After all, Adobe made moves to acquire Macromedia some months back but we haven't really seen much happening there yet.

07-10-2005, 01:11 PM	#6
mtmckinley The Maya Mountain Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 654	All I know is using Maya is very easy... using Max makes me want to throw my monitor out the window. __________________ -Mike www.mtmckinley.net 3D Artist at Zombie Studios

07-10-2005, 01:34 PM	#7
Fallenswordsman Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,702	Hmm...I could do with a new monitor....now all I have to be is good at catching. Yep, at the end of the day, to each their own. People pay lots of money for their applications so I think they would want to defend what can be quite a large investment. I seem to remember similar arguments between Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis/Megadrive owners. Last edited by Fallenswordsman; 07-10-2005 at 01:38 PM.

About Us

Beginner Training

Connect with

Need help? Email us

Popular Tutorials

Learning Paths

Useful Links

06-10-2005, 01:36 AM	#2
Mark Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunbury, UK Posts: 2,339	Nope, but I believe the Adobe/Macromedia merger has now gone ahead. Even so, it will take probably 12-18 months for the companies to merge properly, and probably another couple of years for the product lines to be rationalised. The Alias/Autodesk merger is very interesting though since they both have a directly competing product - at lease the Adobe/Macromedia merger has a majority of products that will sit comfortably together in the same portfolio. I'd expect to see one of two thing happen, either a technology merger between Max and Maya with one single product coming out the back end of this - either keeping the 3DS or Maya monikers, or both products continuing as is with some cross development, but one being positioned as high-end and the other as low-end. Either way, as far as the technology goes, this can only be a good thing. As for the consumer end of things ... well, it's one less fish in a reasonably niche pond - expect prices to go up and customer service to go down.

06-10-2005, 08:49 AM	#3
Fallenswordsman Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,702	Well at the moment, all I can say is I'm glad I'm not a user of either Max or Maya. A quick trip to A.N.Other forum shows that something of a little war has started which boils down to "My app is better than your app". :headbang: ...of course with a bit of Lightwave bashing thrown in every so often. People do seem to get very narked off by an overindulgence in speculation.

06-10-2005, 10:43 AM	#4
admiralbcd Full Access Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: belgium Posts: 173	I feel sorry for the guys that say that......:shakehead I've seen many 3D work on the net, but I have not seen so many stuff where the limitations of one program opposed to another come into play. In 3D, software is only as good as the guy sitting behind the computer. :p

06-10-2005, 09:17 PM	#5
Mark Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunbury, UK Posts: 2,339	Exactly. When all is said and done, your 3D weapon of choice is merely a tool. It doesn't matter what tool you use, if you don't have the ability and knowledge to use it, then you're going to get nowhere. It's exactly the same as saying that UltraEdit is better than Windows Notepad - they both allow you to edit text files, OK, UE has more and better features than Notepad, but the end result from both applications is the same - a text file - the content of which is entirely up to me to put together. Exactly the same principle holds true for the LW vs Max vs Maya vs X vs Y vs Z debate, the Mac vs PC debate, etc, etc. The unfortunate fact of life is though that people become incredibly partisan in regard to their preferred tools to the detriment of all others. It's silly, it's juvenile, but when all is said and done it's just human nature I guess. Line the lot of 'em up against the wall and shoot 'em - that's my philosophy :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

07-10-2005, 10:07 PM	#8
Mark Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunbury, UK Posts: 2,339	Exactly, the lines have been drawn, so now ... let the bunfight begin :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

09-10-2005, 10:42 PM	#9
Warlock 279 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Where the wild things are... Posts: 172	....yeah its gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out in the next couple years...especially since the two packages somewhat at least cater to different markets [max more to videogames and maya more to cinema]...I can only imagine that they'll eventually be combined into one single package [tho autodesk claims otherwise] as the cost of maintianing two successful developement teams will probably far out weigh the profit brought in by having two similar software packages...especailly if you start crossing developing and adding the features from one into the other...then its really going to become uneccesary and not very cost effiecient to continue both...tho i hear this whole transaction has less to do with Maya and more to do with Studio Tools... ...all i can say is that with the price drop in LightWave and the big things planned for 9 i'm quite happy to be using Lightwave...tho i have to admit...i'm am playing with Blender at the moment just to see what it and i can do...like what's been stated b4...the tool doesn't matter its all about the user...a paint brush in my hand wouldn't be capable of what a handful of horse hair in michelangelo's...i will admit tho...like the "maya mountian" said...the transition does make want to throw my monitor out the window [so swordsman if you're really good at catching you might get a second monitor]...and i've also noticed that i work less and spend more time playing videogames when i'm "using" blender :p ...and i've also got this nagging headache that won't go away...seems another apparent side effect of trying to keep track of what does what in Blender since its about a full 180 from LightWave...