CompuServe Messages

The real reason you SHOULD upgrade is so the core package is current and capable of supporting ALL the 3rd party plug-ins. The secondary reason is so your 3DS operating environment will run at the most efficient speed for your platform. Thirdly, when you need a suggestion on how to accomplish an effect your support will come from the rest of us using the latest upgrade. The main power in 3DS is that it has become a "shell" to support custom plug-ins for you to customize around your particular needs. I am very glad that I DON'T have to pay for a bunch of features that I will never use. What you feel is very important to have in the package, I might never have a need. We all have different requirements. I don't agree with every decision that ADESK makes regarding what's included and comes as part of the core package but having the latest release of 3DS will allow you the most options in customizing your 3DS environment for your needs with 3rd party options. Today I consider the core 3DS as an operating environment nucleus for all my graphics. Even Photoshop, PageMaker, and Corel Draw have become support packages for 3DS. When I do a new job and it requires something special the first thing I do is examine the collection of IPAS plugins available. Then I build the cost of this into the project. I'm thankful that the Adesk/Yost philosophy supports this concept. The alternative: I would be using something like Design Cadd 3D or similar for one project and LW for another, Imagine for yet another and none of the final projects would be as efficiently developed primarily due to brain saturation/task loading/constant learning curve struggle etc.