I’m a solo game developer that dips into VRay every now and then for rendering out assets like skyboxes, UI art, promo art and sometimes small Phoenix simulations that get put into texture pages for effects little smoke bursts or explosions etc. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like any of the current licenses provide good value for money given how I personally use V-Ray. The Solo option doesn’t have Phoenix, and the Premium option which I purchased last year, just does not get used enough to justify its price tag. There’s no point to buying the monthly option because my needs throughout development change so I require the flexibility of rendering out something quickly and then perhaps won’t use VRay for like a month or even more.
I paid £564.00 for the full year and probably used VRay during that time for less than 6 weeks. So basically, I want to use V-Ray (because I know how to use it and it therefore saves me time) but the cost is simply outrageous for my specific requirements. I really feel like the current pricing options are unnecessarily excluding people like myself and that there should be more options available.
Just offering this feedback in the hope Chaos gets a little more realistic and/or creative with their pricing plans.
Yeah, I am with you. I went from Solo to Premium for Vantage, and then they removed Vantage from Premium. Once in a blue moon, do I need Pheniox and PSD Player so it doesn’t warrant the Premium? Alacart would be a solution, and the reason they don’t do it has to be financial.
Just replying to this to confirm that Chaos will unfortunately lose my custom this year and for the foreseeable future. My premium plan ends in 8 days and I will not be renewing because it simply isn’t worth it for me. As previously stated, the inflexibility of your pricing plans mean that I feel no option but to switch to using other software. For clarity, there is nothing emotional about my decision, I’m simply surprised that you do not wish to fairly monetise your products for more casual users.
I personally know very few who still use V-Ray. I think most went to Corona, and unfortunately, they used the cracked version. Like Blender, Autodesk created an Indie license to help slow down the bleeding. Perhaps Chaos will have to do the same; however, I think Chaos is now aligned with the larger studios that are already part of the V-Ray ecosystem, and it would be too costly to change.
Thank you both for the constructive feedback shared, much appreciated.
I understand the point you are bringing up and believe that there can be an appropriate solution from a subscription plan perspective that can meet your needs.
That being said, I will reach out to both of you individually over email to discuss further, if this sounds good to you as a next step.
It seems to suggest that there are other pricing options that are available that are not on offer publicly, which
I think every long term user would be horrified to learn was the practise.
Thank you for the feedback and apologies if the message has come across like this, as it is not the case at all.
The pricing options available on the website are the only available ones but there can be combinations of options in the case of every individual customer (based on their current subscription plan) that might not have been explored.
For instance, V-Ray Solo annual subscription and Phoenix subscription on a monthly basis for those projects that require Phoenix (assuming not all of them do but this is exactly the type of insight that needs to be discussed separately over email to determine if there is potentially a more suitable option for any given customer based on his/her needs).
I appreciate that you replied. It’s nice to know that Chaos are at the very least aware of how some of us feel but more importantly, that the current options just aren’t realistically workable when alternatives seem easier in the long run. I understand fixeighted’s concern and also feel there just needs to be more choice. Ideally, something that enables flexibility for more casual users but is also priced fairly. It’s not often I say this but Autodesk did the right thing with the 3DS Max Indie license, for example. I’d be happy to discuss more ideas for future licensing options if you do reach out.