CompuServe Messages

>>One thing for sure is that the release of Lightwave on the PC will better the entire market, and possibly turn it on it's ear Agreed. >>the $600 Lightwave will be competing directly with the $3000 3DS Ahem. You mean the $995 vs $2995; those are the_list_prices (not street) I've heard. I do think that this will change 3ds's pricing in a similar manner to the Topas/3ds model I described, though probably in the 1500-1000 range. >>With the exception of the IK, I am less than impressed. W/the additional exception of the scripter, I'd agree w/you. However, I_really_like both of them. >>Leaving out the patch modeler really hurts. From what I understand, it was left out at the behest of the beta testers; I'd have liked to judged for myself it's usefulness. >>I disagree that 3DS has better color richness and depth. Fair enough. >>Do you know if the r5 upgrade will be out after the standard 1 1/2 years Based on the current deveopment cycle, it may be out before or by Siggraph, which would prob. have it competing w/4.5. Again, I don't claim to have the inside track on this, just guessing based on what I do know. >>The lens flare IPAS module you referred to is meaningless. Not in context; all I said in that section was a response to your quality comments, and that was one of the things I had to offer into the discussion. If placing it on your hard drive is important (I'm sure it isn't, as you're happy w/Lightwave's), the Digimation set of IPAS should be out by Thanksgiving. >>Off the top of my head I can think of 6 Lightwave users that combined couldn't animate sludge. :^). Went I was at school a few years back, I saw something a friend did in Sculpt 3d on the Amiga that still blows me away when I think about it. I'll decline the challenge to make the dragon availible, because I intend to have a serious bout w/improving him and having a decent animation (plus the fact that, because he was set up for skin, he'd be unusable without a great deal of additional work on my part for use in Lightwave). Perhaps you could make him look better; I know I will. I'd again reitterate that it would be more a function of your skill than Lightwave, whatever the results. I'm going to drop out of this thread, because it looks like it may turn to name calling (not saying it would, but it's been a good discussion and I'd like it to remain as such). There are a lot of points you've made that I agree with, and I hope I've made that clear. However, 3ds still remains the better tool_for_me_, and that's based on my experiences; I too am more interested in what works best right now; for you Lightwave is the better overall tool, for me 3ds. I'm always open to better packages (Lord knows I keep looking ;^). Maybe when Bill Gates releases MicrosoftImage, we'll all have to get a new package :^(. I do look forward to being able to write my own tools w/ the different scripting modules (contrary to popular belief, I can program my way out of a paper bag, provided it's real thin and very wet :^). It's been an interesting discussion; you've made your points intelligently, hope I've done the same. And if I can get the video team to upgrade, perhaps I'll get the chance to use Metaform. John Stetzer JWS