CompuServe Messages

Roger – Again points well taken, there is alot of hype and ironically in the case of 3DS is not needed, its got the goods. Your point about making your money back on your IPAS is very realistic. And it is complicated even more by the fact that there are animators giving work away to build a reputation. They are not covering their costs and at the same time are killing it for others. I especially dislike the production companies that are giving it away as a loss leader to pull in clients. The clients then balk at the price of getting a decent animation. But then reputation and product win out in the end, as production companies like this don't take the time to really learn the art, and end up with less than satisfactory results. There is a give and take in any of this fast moving ever changing environment. So you want to go with the people that provide you with the best product and the best support. I've seen this animation environment change radically in the last 5 years, even more in the last two. I worked with Digital Arts as my primary package, I played with Topas but never liked it. Digital Arts on the other hand was a totally closed system. No third party support, and with the release of 3DS R2 consequently died. DGS was 3 times the price of 3DS and the DGS investment passed into oblivion. If I didn't love what I do, I would have walked away. The points you make are significant and I hope will be addressed, but from my perspective are relative. Things are much improved and if there is an upgrade in 3DS there will be an upgrade in the IPAS as well, with an upgrade price no doubt, but relatively smaller than the price I paid to switch over in the first place. Keep making your points and we all won't lose sight of the direction we want to go. Regards -JE