http://www.gfxartist.com/general/general_news/9025 Copyright 2000-2008 GFXartist network / Brothersinart http://www.gfxartist.com http://images.gfxartist.com/gfx/GFXartist_64.png support@gfxartist.com en-us GFXartist Engine 1.0 60 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:38:43 EST http://www.gfxartist.com/general/general_news/9025#14357 The opening comment is pretty inflammatory, I question the motives behind singling 3DS max out as an example of defective software. ALL packages have their problems, to argue otherwise would simply demonstrate a lack of experience. some other points of contention: Game companies ARE in fact in the business of buying and selling engines. I worked at a company which derived significant income from the licensing of its engine. On the subject of software costs: $200,000 a year for a giant like activision is peanuts. The costs of yearly Max upgrades for my studio is far less than what we spend on staff lunches and dinners. Software development: $100,000 a year will get you maybe 2 programmers (if we don't include overheads). Discreet has over a dozen programmers working on Max as we speak. In which bizarre alternate dimension could you get 2 mediocre (if they're only getting 50k ) programmers to out-perform the work of 12? The argument presented shows a total lack of understanding of software development costs. Blender is great for what it is, power to the people and all that, but to suggest it as a threat to the pro packages is a bizarre contention. It's been a slow day...... MS malleus