If you could switch to Modo today from Max at no cost, would you?

[Morne]

And if there was a stable VRay version that goes with it, would you switch?

A hypothetical I know, just would be interesting in getting some thoughts.

I know we wont have all the plugins like Max, so will it be worth it? I mean if you have Modo, would you need all the gazillions of plugins we have for Max?

[Donald2B]

Nope.

I do like modo, but for the work I do, I heavily rely on modifiers and creating very flexible geometry. Revisions are a very common thing, so I tend to stack many modifiers so I can make most of my revisions at the spline level. Quick and easy.

I do mostly arch viz and LOTS of engineering visualization with engineering data imports. I just started getting into more FX with RayFire and Phoenix FD, but for the most part Max 2014 is really treating me well. I definitely have my gripes, but they are not show stoppers. I recently tried switching to Maya for and engineering visualization project. Viewport couldn't handle the model and Max could with no issues. Major bummer! I figured Maya to have the better viewport performance. I stay on subscription and just keep chugging along.

[Neilg]

Nope. dealing with assets would be a nightmare anyway. as would old scenes, training, scripts, plugins, etc.

I'd use it alongside it if I could learn it on the job. I'd be quite happy to model in modo then move bits over to max. I only know a little of it (not enough for production) but what I do know, I like.
Arranging the final scenes and rendering will always be done in max though, there is absolutely no reason we'd ever have to switch. we've got 4 studios and 50 people using it, and scenes shared between everyone.

edit: if I was doing freelance arch viz, i'd probably start on it. If the jobs ever got more complex than a low rise i'd have to move to max though.

[tooves]

I would consider Houdini before Modo.

[joconnell]

Nope. The modifier stack is great for vfx stuff where you're either doing small revisions and tweaks or want to feed parts of a model into a modifier etc. Max for me is largely a host for the plugins I use too, once they keep maintaining it I probably don't care if it doesn't get that many new features, I'll be mainly using some basics and then maxscript, vray, fume and thinking particles. I'd like it if they improved their file linking systems so you could work in a more modular way - xref and containers both have their issues. Any performance upgrades are always welcome admittedly!

[tooves]

Yeah and once The Carlyle Group sells Modo to Autodesk it won't matter anymore

But seriously everyone likes to bitch about max but it can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go, if you know how to drive it.
And if it can't, there will be a script or plug-in out there that will do the trick.