#Why I won't upgrade
4 messages in this thread
At heart, I agree the IPAS functions you've been referring to should be
integral to 3DS by now. When I first purchased r2, these features sold
separately was a little more understandable. Two revisions later, I can't
imagine spending money on them as "additional features." You'd think by r4,
they'd be built-in. I can't imagine anybody calling the Yost Group to place
their order for Disk #6's SKIN.AXP or #7's DISPLACE.PXP and, in the same
breath, shelling out another $300 for Disk #1's monochrome filter and now
commonplace lens flare.
Without the spline modeler (which would have been cool), there really aren't
enough integral features to justify a full-version release now — the scripting
language and 3D Editor/Keyframer speed increase, and now the image browser
(which most of us have our own favorite program for already). I'm upgrading
anyway, because I realize compared to other platforms these features are
comparatively cheap, and at least I.K. , fast preview render and 100x screen
redraws are features I personally can find a use for. Still, although I
understand the idea behind the "plug-in upgrade," it would make more sense to
release the current r4 without the IPAS routines as r3.x, and maybe sell the
rest as (eek!) Disk #8.
Mathew B.
Hi Mathew,
->Two revisions later, I can't imagine spending money on them as "additional
->features." You'd think by r4, they'd be built-in. I can't imagine anybody
->calling the Yost Group to place their order for Disk #6's SKIN.AXP or #7's
-DISPLACE.PXP and, in the same breath, shelling out another $300 for Disk #1's
->monochrome filter and now commonplace lens flare.
Funny you should say that, but that's exactly what I just did. 3 months back I
bought #6 & #7, and yesterday I ordered disk #1 with my r4 upgrade because I
needed the Glow Ipas for a project.
What you describe is somewhat of a paradox, if I would've bought disk #1 when
it was released, and then had to "re-buy" it as part of a r3 or r4 upgrade, I
would feel like I'd spent the money twice and would be less motivated to
purchase the upgraded core version.
On the other hand, I kinda wish that development of previously released Ipas
routines would continue like the core 3ds product, so that I could enjoy some
of the new Ipas features (like previews, etc) in older Ipas routines.
-Heinz.
Sure. When you need a feature for a project, I think the cost of its purchase
is irrelevant.
What concerns me about selling these features externally is the first time
buyer of r4, or r5 or 6 or whatever, who finds the same features s/he can get
for "free" on a Toaster or Electric Image are considered extras on 3DS. This
isn't a problem now, but I worry it may be a fault of the "plug-in upgrade"
concept. I thoroughly enjoy animating with a package widely considered to be
the best in the field, and I want it to stay that way.
Would I be upset if the IPAS disk I bought became obsolete when an upgrade
included the same features? Yes, but that's the way the computer industry is.
I'm also upset the first 486/33 I paid $5000 for four years ago isn't even an
entry level system now. But I'd rather have the technology improve than have
my feelings protected. And, in defense of Adesk, while $295 isn't spare
change, I personally feel their pricing has always been competitive in the
past.
Ultimately, though, I'm just theorizing. It will take a year or so to see how
we respond to this new method of upgrading, and which school of thought is
correct. I haven't received my copy of r4 yet; I may (and probably will) love
it.
Mathew B.
My "theory" is that this is not so much a "new method of upgrading" or "new
school of thought" as a way of getting some sorely needed features into 3DS
quick. There were some bugs that needed fixing, some cool new IPAS's that
needed a deeper IPAS interface (programming, not UI), and with other products
coming to the PC platform in the near future I think it was a good move on
Adesk's part to get that functionality and stability in fast, even if
integration wasn't going to be complete yet.
nz Schuller[FBN] 76124,451 (X)
BTW Heinz, what's FBN?