meshes…
<< For East Europe, the price around $250 – $300 is simply unacceptable. >>
Be realistic Pavel, it is a very reasonable price level. Some IPAS routines are
the result of many years of studying, hard work and substantial investment.
People in the West (just like folks in Easter Europe) have to eat, want to have
a good house, need to feed their families, etc. How can you expect them to sell
their know-how at low prices when the market for their products is very
limited?
<<I am sure that there is a way. East European countries are full of very good
and very cheap programmers. There is a great chance to establish development
team for IPAS modules here in Europe. The prices of IPAS modules developed by
this team can be around $50 – $100 here in Europe. The price for US market can
be around $150 – $200.>>
I don't think the price for the US market is higher just because those
companies want to rip off the rich, decadent Americans <big <G>>. You are
forgetting the cost of translation of manuals, different packaging, marketing,
support and distribution. Those costs are substantial in the US simply because
of the distance, the size and the quality of the US market.
<< This is a way how several German and Austrian companies started the software
development in my country. These companies started to develop programs (mainly
database applications) for German/Autrian customers here in Prague. The
investment for establishing such company is minimal (from US point of view).>>
That may be the way German/Austrian developers work but this may not
necessarily be the way in the US. Why don't you give an example of a European
company that produces CAD and 3D software comparable to AutoCAD and 3D Studio.
You need a lot of knowledge & investment for that sort of product. Writing
database applications for small businesses is relatively cheap and easy. There
are many database engines available on the market and you can write a simple
application within a week (or less). The cost of establishing a software
development company is in most cases insignificant when compared to the cost of
development and support of high quality software. You don't seem to grasp the
whole picture Pavel.
<<Now, our company is a full house of peoples, with $7 mil. turnover in last
year. I started to build the multimedia division several months ago and we will
see, if there will be a possibility to sell IPAS modules around $100. And the
whole investment was: $700 for MetaWare compiler and 3 x $400 as a salary for
one programmer. We got the 3D Studio and IPAS Toolkit free from Autodesk office
here in Prague.>>
Ok, tell me why didn't you buy 3D Studio and IPAS toolkit then? You got it for
free and then you expect someone who has to pay the full price to sell their
products cheap? Which planet do you come from?
Your investment in IPAS development was $1900. Mine would have to be aprox.
$12000 (I have to _buy_ 3D Studio and IPAS toolkit). Your costs are low so why
don't you sell your IPAS routines for $47.5? (Thats $12000/$1900 x $300).
I think you should try to live in the West for a couple of years before you
comment on prices, costs and what is acceptable in general. I advise you to go
to the UK for a crash course in the high cost of living.
And one last thing. If you don't like the prices don't buy the products. Using
high prices as an excuse for pirating software is a very effective way of
losing friends in this business.
Jacek Artymiak (Bitmap Studios Ltd.)