Well, seems like the deal is done, we are now part of the big Autodesk and will sure get a lot of good things and a lot of bad things while the whole deal settles.
I must admit Autodesk, although strange at first, is a better player than Avid which never understood 3D too much and let’s face it, is way healthier.
And yes, I have my worries, specially interesting is going to see how the more modern and capable XSI fits onto the product line Autodesk has, how is support going to work given that Softimage support has always been excellent, how development and strategy are going to be planned, etc…
In short, as an open letter to Autodes, do your homework fast and make sure there is;
- A clear product line
- A clear market strategy
- A big support revamp on Autodesk side to match Softimage level
- A clear development commitment for Softimage products
- A sensible independence on the Softimage camp
- A crosspollination path for key technology like FBX, Fluids, Muscles, etc…
Indeed this Siggraph I hope I can see all these things very clearly in order to really commit to any of the products, my time you know, I really want to invest it on something that is going to be there for a while.
And please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you feel I missed something or there is an opportunity to help.
