Aha -- this is what I was trying to zero in on, namely C4D's strengths
and weaknesses in making the small animator happy and productive.
Are there any 3rd party plugins which address this weakness? I know
Maxon has incor****ated the functions of a few aftermarket plugins into
earlier releases, but if they want to make a dent in Alias' dominance
in the animation market then they have to heed their influential users
in academe. Even giving away C4D or selling "at cost" (whatever that
means in the software world) is a losing strategy if learners inside
and outside colleges cannot do some basic things.
Thanks again,
alexs
> The other really big area which will hurt C4D is that is probably the
> worst 3D tool on the market in terms of games and machinima. You can not
> believe the hops we have to go thu to 'attempt' to get a rig into Torque
> or something and then it never gets completely in: textures, lights,
> bones, etc.
=================
Henry wrote:
> I think a couple times Maxon re-released a previous version for $99
> (download or single CD, electronic do***entation, minimal extras.) This
> might be a good compromise.
>
> Henry
>
>
> I just got Vue 4 D'Espirt for $69 on just such an offer.
>
> "Thom Kevin Gillespie" <thom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:d7qr01$ktk$3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Henry <henrytj@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > > I am no expert by any measure. I just dabble. I would love to work
in
> this
> > > field, but I waited too long and at my age im sure no animation
house
> would
> > > hire me. Anyway, this is what I have to say.
> >
> > > I downloaded several tryout and demo programs. Without manuals I was
> able to
> > > do the most with C4D just from intuition. I was unable to do
anything
> with
> > > LW without do***entation.
> >
> > Same thing happened to me about 5 years ago. I was scheduled to teach
a
> > class with Animation Master and before the class began I noticed this
> > Cinema 4D thing and opened it and realized I could do more with this
> > program with out do***entation than I could with the thing I knew how
to
> > use. When I got back to IU I contacted Maxon and they gave us a lab
price
> > of 50 seats for $500 so I quickly canceled formZ which I was also
using
> > and we haven't looked back since.
> >
> > > Anyway, I found C4D to be much easier than other software to start
> making
> > > things happen. If I had a choice of software to teach for 3D it
would be
> > > C4D. Its not the most powerful, but for a non-career path single
course
> in
> > > 3D, I think it would be an ideal choice. Especially if Maxon dropped
the
> > > academic price down again to what it was a couple years ago.
> >
> > The ed pricing used to be $195 and when it was 2/3 of my class bought
> > legal copies which is not normal in the time of Kazza and BitTorrent.
They
> > have now raised the price to $295 and almost no one bought the program
the
> > past 2 years. I call them on a regular basis and tell them the price
it
> > too high but Maxon does not listen well. At one point last fall the ed
> > pricing on Maya Unlimited was $237 which 'all' my students pointed out
to
> > me. I also told them this but again they don't seem to realize that
Maya
> > has now come down and is intent on seriously playing in the ed market.
We
> > have Maya and are looking more and more into switching from C4D to
Maya
> > for the beginning cl***** just based upon price. The interface to C4D
is
> > the best on the market and version 9 is right there with Maya in terms
of
> > cinematics even though their render engine is slow.
> >
> > The other really big area which will hurt C4D is that is probably the
> > worst 3D tool on the market in terms of games and machinima. You can
not
> > believe the hops we have to go thu to 'attempt' to get a rig into
Torque
> > or something and then it never gets completely in: textures, lights,
> > bones, etc.
> >
> > Still I love C4D but I'm close to pulling the trigger on switching
Indiana
> > University to Maya. Maxon may be winning in the commercial market but
they
> > are close to losing in the ed market which is where it all begins even
for
> > the 'old' guys who design houses will hire if they are as good as the
> > youngsters. 8-)
> >
> > --Thom
> >
> > \\\\//// tHoM gIllEsPiE, maitre d'Igital, CafeTechnos@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > /ww ww\ Indiana University, Telecommunications Dept
> > 6 (*][*) ? 1229 E 7th St Radio & TV Bldg
> > \ .7 / Bloomington, IN 47405-5501 USA
> > ( --') thom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
812-855-3254 (v)
> > WWWW The MIME Program in newMedia Design
> > / WW \ www.mime.indiana.edu
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > "The game lasts 90 minutes. That's a fact. Everything else is just
> > theory." -- Run, Lola, Run
|
