Autodesk Licensing and EULA changes

[JezUK]

Glad it works for you. I am morally against rental only software, regardless of price, so I'm coming to the end. But it was a great 25 year run for me

- Neil

I hear you and I guess we all have feelings about that and AD.

I have been cynical about the introduction of Indie especially with the timing of Blender 2.83, but it's a step in the right direction and Blender is getting easier to fathom and get used to, even for me.

By the way, I remember you from over 20 years back and was in awe of your work ever since that time.

Will you be continuing in 3D in some capacity?

[soulburn3d]

Thanks Jez! I've seen you around as well and you've always been super helpful to people.

I'm a fulltime concept artist now, so less of my day job is 3d than it used to be, but my plan is to keep using my maintenance copy of max 2022 until it dies, then switch over to another app like blender or whatever the best app is at the time. I'd move over now, but to be as efficient as I am with max in an app like blender would take a lot of time, from learning to script writing to porting material assets and such, and I just don't have the time to insert that into my work schedule. But if I am ever in a position to take a sabbatical or something I'll certainly give it a go.

- Neil

[waaazoo]

I would just love to get rid of Autodesk, but, for now, I have to stick with it because of PhoenixFD. I wish that Chaos Group develops that solution on another platform, whatever it is, and I'll make the big jump. I can't wait for news regarding this.

[olly]

Oh, I was under the impression this was fresh off the press news. Is it this issue?

https://cgpress.org/archives/autodes...-software.html

They give you the three year buffer?

- Neil

Thanks for clearing that up Neil.
Not too much to worry about after all....

[soulburn3d]

Thanks for clearing that up Neil.
Not too much to worry about after all....

Well, I would still worry, but at least it's not a brand new worry

- Neil

[flino2004]

It sounds incredible, but I happily paid $6,300 for my ArchiCAD license to replace Revit... I stopped my maintenance fee so I can still use If I need myAD perpetual licenses, instead of accepting their demands to switch to subscription.
For renderings, I will buy Cinema 4D or Vray for Sketchup or Blender.

[JezUK]

It sounds incredible, but I happily paid $6,300 for my ArchiCAD license to replace Revit... I stopped my maintenance fee so I can still use If I need myAD perpetual licenses, instead of accepting their demands to switch to subscription.
For renderings, I will buy Cinema 4D or Vray for Sketchup or Blender.

Thing is, I don't trust any company now, I thought I only distrusted Autodesk, but have to say, Chaos have eaten away at my trust.

I know I'm very late to the Blender party, but boy, Blender is the future (afaic). Okay, I can't say about Fluid Simulations, Network Rendering, Handling Large Scenes (like in the millions, even billions of polygons), but boy, it's worth my time learning it - there's a lot of material out there to do that.

Hopefully, only a question of time before there's a good, free BIM that's open source

[Deflaminis]

2022 is the end for me too. I think I'm simply exiting the entire field, it's caused me nothing but pain and I could turn back time I would never have started. I'm a fool.

[JezUK]

2022 is the end for me too. I think I'm simply exiting the entire field, it's caused me nothing but pain and I could turn back time I would never have started. I'm a fool.

I must say, I'm deeply surprised to hear you say this Deflaminis.... Are you leaving Autodesk ? (Alfred, right ?).

[Deflaminis]

Hello JezUK. I go by AJ but use Alfred when I need to sound smart.

I suppose I was being emotional, my bad. That was a bit dramatic, I apologize. I didn't mean to emote and I try not to these days but dang it, it happened.

I actually had to leave Autodesk a few years ago to help my parents on their farm for about two years, my step father had fallen ill. He has since passed but it was worth it to spend the time and get things prepared for my mother. And it wasn't a rant about Autodesk, please don't take it that way. I have nothing but good things to say about Autodesk, they treated me better than any other place i have *ever* worked and I enjoyed helping (most of the) people. My beef isn't with Autodesk but with the direction of the field and software in general, at least in my area which I am tied to. I still help in the forums as an expert elite and I'm grateful to be able to do that, helping people is something I like to do. (I was a college instructor for 12 years or so as well, but now that job in my state requires a masters and I don't have one.)

The biggest problem for me is, like Soulburn, I dislike the idea of renting software. I suppose I was feeling that a bit strongly when I posted. The thing that gets me the most about the field/computing is the ever growing cost of software in general, not that it was cheap back in the day. For example I like Photoshop and I love substance painter, but for some reason there isn't a package that includes both, so I have to get them separately. I can't buy it outright anymore, I have to pay every month. It's just a matter of time before windows is month to month.

Everyone wants their pound of flesh. And unlike every other type of asset in the world you could invest in, this one has no resale value because you fundamentally don't own it. When I look at the numbers over the years, it adds up to a huge amount. Enough to have positively changed my life in other ways. And since I can't resell any of it, it's basically another tax on doing my job and my state takes a rather big % for 'independent contractors". I mean, over the past 20 years it must add up to at least $100,000 for all the different software and plugins, nevermind the hardware. Invested in anything else (at all) like gold, stocks, etc. that would actually appreciate in value. Yeah I made money and I had some years which were exceptional, but things are definitely winding down and many studios in my city/state have closed.

As far as the pain: Late nights... stressful work environments, ridiculous deadlines, producers who don't understand the field, clients with ridiculous demands, clients that don't pay for long periods of time, pressure from overseas with prices I cannot even come close to matching, etc. Of course it's not all bad, but I've had jobs where I was the only artist on the job (I really don't like that sort of environment) and ones where nobody knew how or wanted to work together. I had a studio owner once tell me to texture for a huge budget project with MS paint and be angry with my results. (I shit you not.) I've had studios ask me to work locally, but refuse to provide software. So I installed my own and they give it to another artist to use. I've had studio expect work on major holidays and the list goes on and on. I think I'm just burned out. Some people can hack it, and I'm starting to think maybe I can't. Maybe I'm the problem, I dunno. I need to find an application for 3D that isn't the mainstream studio grind and so far I have failed to make that materialize in any long term meaningful way. That's on me.

Hope you are doing well my man and best regards,
AJ

[olly]

Deflaminis I can relate to a lot of what you are saying - I think burnout is inevitable in this field.
Don't see yourself as the problem - there are too many variables in CGI for that to be true.
I hope you find a new path that you can enjoy...

[Deflaminis]

Thanks Olly.

I've been making interactive training and assessment software (3D) and it was going well but right now nobody is training due to lockdowns and layoffs, etc. It'll work out in time ,but right now is a pain point. I'm working on an idea now that will allow me to keep making artwork but without the grind. Fingers crossed.

Best,
AJ

[JezUK]

Hi Alfred,

I'm really sorry to learn about all of this.

I'd like to offer my 2 cents worth, as what you say resonates with me very much.....

What has worked wonders for me (relatively recently) was getting a 2nd gig completely out of the world of 3D.

I'll always have a passion for 3D, and still love doing this stuff (even at my age), but feel I still have time and capacity for another career change and chapter....

So I treat and view 3D more as a side-hustle, whilst doing other things to bridge the gap, and that has worked wonders for me.

Before, I was just putting all my eggs in the one basket, 3D, and getting very dismayed / disappointed / stressed out, particularly as I felt things weren't on a level playing field (as you describe).

Once I got another 'career' elsewhere (and which I actually love and which actually pays me more than 3D and for doing less and never feeling burned out by the end of the week etc) - that totally took the pressure off me and 3D.

My life became more balanced.

And guess what ?

I started winning more 3D work as a result (because I no longer came across as a 'victim' or 'desperate' - which I'm pretty sure I was doing....)

(This change I describe has all happened over the last 1.5 years....)

So, maybe getting an ADDITIONAL side-hustle could work for you too ?

Also, how about the Indie version of 3DS Max ? That's what I now have also and I find far more agreeable/palatable (and yes, I too prefer Perpetual, and hold one copy of 3DS Max at 2020 as that).

Will Chaos do the same (i.e. an Indie version of V-Ray) ? I don't know - they didn't participate in Black Friday (whilst other renderers, including Corona did).... but I feel they should and might. I'm quietly optimistic, but am not holding my breath....

Finally, as I've been where you've been with regards to clients - maybe you just need to get a different type of client ? I've been there (where you are), and just thinking differently about that, i.e. just having a completely different mindset, more positive, and being more selective / saying 'no', has helped me lots.

So say no to working late, working all hours, working for less money, etc etc - just say no. Establish what it is you want, how you want things to be for you, lay down your rules, how you want to live your life, how you want to work and if your current clients aren't on board with that way for you, go get others that will treat and respect you in the way you prefer being.

Hope what I've written is of some help.

[olly]

Wise words Jez - I couldn't agree more!

[legi008]

Yep, i was hoping for a black friday sales on VRay but nothings pops up.
But i saw that now, if you buy a perpetual licence for V-ay/3Ds Max you get 5 render nodes. i think few months ago it was still only one render node if i'm right.
Don't know why it's not included in the one year renting by the way.