Autodesk forces a decision on 3DS Max vs. 3DS Max Design

Just another reason for this blog to exist:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=2&t=726819

The Future of Lightwave 3D

A few months ago, monolithic software giant Autodesk finalized the purchase of Softimage XSI and pretty much all of its assets. This is big news in the CGI world because Autodesk now owns three of the Big Four animation packages – Maya, Max, and XSI. Only Lightwave 3D stands alone as an independently-developed, all-around effects and animation solution.

Continues here:

www.outside-hollywood.com ARTICLE

LIGHTWAVE CORE:

http://newtek.com/core/techfaq.php

Open Letter to Autodesk Regarding Softimage Acquisition

To XSI users:

>> LINK <<

In 1998 Avid payed toMicrosoft $285 million for Softimage

As it happens, Avid's Softimage team is located in Montreal, Canada, the site where Autodesk's media and entertainment (M&E) division is located. When Avid bought Softimage from Microsoft in 1998, it paid $285 million in cash and stock. By contrast, Autodesk's purchase price for Softimage is a mere $35 million.

Link

Autodesk buys Avid Softimage XSI

Avid Technology is exiting the 3-D computer animation market.

The company is selling its Softimage 3-D software business to Autodesk for an estimated $35 million. It may close the deal by year's end.

About 90 Avid employees who worked on the Softimage business will join Autodesk with the closure of the deal. An additional 410 layoffs are expected at Avid. The combined 500 staffers represent a reduction of nearly 20% of Avid's workforce, which the company said would "better align its cost structure around the core businesses" of video and audio.

Softimage's XSI is one of three key 3-D software programs used in entertainment production. The two others -- Maya and 3ds max -- already are owned by Autodesk, which controls the bulk of the market.

"Softimage is not a strategic fit for our business," said Gary Greenfield, who was named CEO of Avid in December.

Avid bought Softimage from Microsoft in 1998 for $285 million in cash and stock.

Softimage is headquartered in Montreal, where Autodesk's Media and Entertainment business also is headquartered.

On Thursday, Avid reported revenue of $217.1 million for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, compared with $226.8 million for the same period in 2007.

Quoted from: Avid exits 3-D animation business

XSI was one of the finest animation software of all time. Now it has been fagocitated by the dark side of the force; the monopolic empire of Autodesk. Which is the future of animation software if Maya, Max and XSI are made by the same morons?

Cafepress made some grate satirical T-shirts

More info about this sh*t:

Official press release

Autodesk in Wikipedia

Softimage in Wikipedia

XSI users forum (en español)

In autodesk forum

In Newtek's Lightwave Forums

In Polycount Forums

Autodesk is the 12th largest software company

Houdini Responds

The news that Softimage will be acquired by Autodesk marks the end of an era. The past 20 years, developing software alongside Softimage has been a dynamic time, full of innovation and healthy competition. Starting with character animation in 1988, Softimage has advanced the industry in many areas. I would personally like to thank my contemporaries for their past contributions to the CG community.

Since this news was first announced, discussion on the forums has been lively and has evoked a wide range of emotions. In some of the posts, the role of Houdini and Side Effects is being discussed and I wanted to address some of the speculation about who we are and where we are going.

A Commitment to Innovation

As an independent company, our mission today remains the same as it has been for the last 20 years – a focus on innovation and delivering the best tools for CG artists working in production. Our independence allows us to shape our own destiny and we plan to continue working this way.

Link

I loved the image of the 3 faced (like cerberus) dog...

Cerberus- ...In most works the three-heads each respectively see and represent the past, the present and the time yet to come, while other sources suggest the heads represent birth, youth and old age.^[6] Each of Cerberus' heads are said to have an appetite only for live meat and thus allow the spirits of the dead to freely enter the underworld, but allow none to leave.^[7] Cerberus was always employed as Hades' loyal watchdog, and guarded the gates that granted access and exit to the underworld (also called Hades).^[8] wikipedia

Beautiful dog, don't bite... Oh, that Maya face looks really disturbed...