Havent played with it but just stumbled over it tho i thought i’d give a Heads up…as it also hints to a nearing SP2 doesnt it 
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/mform?siteID=123112&id=10083915
Regards,
Thorsten
Yes, I believe today was the official release date for 3ds Max 2009. We are working on SP2 for V-Ray that will support it, should be out in the following days, if nothing major comes up.
Best regards,
Vlado
wow… amazing !!!
thanks for the heads up!
Well 2009 came early, I was thinking it would be released around the end of April!
Happy new year !!!
Best regards..
We just had an Autodesk reseller in the office, and they hadn’t even heard this yet. Good news for us since we will finally be making the jump from VIZ to MAX!
whats new in it?
For now I see a new frame buffer that looks interesting, the same I can say for the rebuilded composite maps and color correction one; (I know, not great news but it’s good to have these tools bundled with max without additional plugins); new navigation tools a-la design review and mr addition like promaterials.
I’m just waiting the crossgrade “creative” pricing from viz to max; in usd it’s very aggressive but I don’t expect it will be the same in euros!!! …and, not to forget, new pricing for the subscription fee ;-(
Thanks for the heads-up Thorsten.
930 megs of download for all versions.
Could have at least split 32-64 bits…
Oh, here are the videos with the new functions:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=11007364
oooh, spline mapping is a nice add, was not expecting that one.
How does it perform? Does it handle greater sets of polys over Max 9?
Max 2009
My vendor said my VIZ 2006 seat to MAX 2009 will me nominal… I should find out later this week.
It is
From March 31, 2008 to July 17, 2008, existing Autodesk VIZ 2008 software Subscription customers will be able to cross-grade to 3ds Max Design 2009 for US$249**. During this same timeframe, Autodesk VIZ 2006, 2007, and 2008 customers who are not on Autodesk Subscription will be able to cross-grade to 3ds Max Design 2009 for US$895**, if they purchase Autodesk Subscription for 3ds Max Design 2009.
Autodesk Subscription will be available for purchase simultaneously with the product purchase or upgrade. The Autodesk suggested retail price for Autodesk Subscription for 3ds Max or 3ds Max Design will be US $495* per year.grrr, upgrade from Max 9 is $1795 and does not include subscription, only 2 versions out and I paid more than you to begin with…
MAX 2009 is out. Well, ok… hooooray, whooo-hooo,…
The old bugs are boring me anyway. Let’s see some new, exciting and clever ones! 
Best regards,
A.
this is not a 1april thing ? hehe
If I wanted to be really sarcastic, I would say, over the years, the whole MAX thing has become an aprils fool thing… 
Best regards,
A.
the new version is way to soon with even less “update/upgrades”. bit of a easy way to make money if you ask me.
thats the good thing about max; you get new but get to keep the old ones also. I say it´s the most backward compatible software I ever tasted (bugwise)
Definately. I don’t know anything about Autodesk’s future plans, but I feel the whole MAX product line will be replaced soon by something else. Or they will continue to loose some serious market.
Best regards,
A.