Some pricing info from the Autodesk Store


Note: Autodesk store prices are always for Standalone licenses. Network licenses are usually about $750 USD more. Also, when comparing Subscription, make sure you are comparing the same levels of Subscription.

Softimage versus Maya. Softimage is cheaper, but if you go for Subscription, it always includes Advanced Support (which costs extra). The store offers only the slightly cheaper Basic Support for Maya Subscription (but you can buy Advanced Support for Maya).
autodesk_store_soft_maya

Suite pricing. For the Ultimate Suite, you have to take Advanced Support.
autodesk_store_suites

Current Softimage upgrade promotion:
autodesk_store_soft_upgrade

Word cloud wednesday


Autodesk Quarterly Report, 31 July 2013
autodesk_quarterly_report_31_July_2013

A few tidbits from the report…

For the six months ended July 31, 2013:

  • Revenue from flagship products was 53% of total net revenue
  • Revenue from suites was 33% of total net revenue
  • Revenue from new and adjacent products was 14% of total net revenue

During the six months ended July 31, 2013, net revenue for M&E Animation decreased 10% primarily due to a 12% decrease in revenue from our flagship product, 3Ds Max, a 19% decrease in revenue from our M&E suites, which was driven by our Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite and a 9% decrease in revenue from flagship product, Maya.

Flagship—Autodesk flagship products are our core design products. Flagship includes the following products: 3ds Max, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD vertical products (such as AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD Mechanical), Civil 3D, Maya, Plant 3D, Inventor products (standalone) and Revit products (standalone).

New and Adjacent—Autodesk new and adjacent products include Autodesk’s new product offerings as well as products that are not included in flagship or suites. New and adjacent includes the following services and products: Autodesk Alias Design products, Autodesk Consulting, Autodesk Buzzsaw, Autodesk Constructware, Autodesk consumer products, Autodesk Creative Finishing products, Autodesk Moldflow products, Autodesk Navisworks, Autodesk Simulation, Autodesk Vault products and all other products.

Getting ICE attribute values with greater precision


As you know, in Softimage all scalar (aka floating point) values are displayed with 3 (or sometimes 4) decimal places. For example: 0.333 instead of 0.33333333333…

One way to display the attribute value with greater precision is to use the Log Values node, and multiply the attribute value by some power of 10 (to get more digits). Hat tip to Leonard Koch for that suggestion.
ICE_attribute_values
The above Log Values outputs this:

# INFO : 4000 - elt 0: 3333333504.000000

You could also use scripting. But note how I get 0 for the attribute named _tmp, even though it is clearly set to 0.3333333333333 in the ICE graph.

x = si.Selection(0)
y = x.ActivePrimitive.Geometry.ICEAttributes( "tmp" )
if y.IsDefined:
	print "tmp = %.10f" % y.DataArray[0]
	
y = x.ActivePrimitive.Geometry.ICEAttributes( "_tmp" )
if y.IsDefined:
	print "_tmp = %.10f" % y.DataArray[0]

# tmp = 0.3333333433
# _tmp = 0.0000000000

Finally, here’s a quick hack using a proxy parameter and the SDK explorer:
ICE_attribute_values2

Screenshots of the week


Softimage Creatives London user group

Gear Eyelids

More Making Of from RodeoFX
ICE used for the MGM ground crowds, the falling money (and some of the bills being sucked into the vents) and the fancy motiongraphic’y “projection” animated cubey stuff on the walls of the building shot.

https://vimeo.com/rodeofx/mgmgrandexplained

https://vimeo.com/rodeofx/nowyouseemesimulation

https://vimeo.com/rodeofx/nowyouseememotiondesign

Space Invaders

Icy Conditions

Strands through surfaces
by caledonian_tartan
strandThroughSurfaces

Friday Flashback #139


Softimage back then
In fiscal years 1998, 1997 and 1996, one customer, two customers and one customer, respectively, accounted for 27%, 36% and 23% of total revenues. [source]

G. MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

In fiscal years 1998, 1997 and 1996, one customer, two customers and one customer, respectively, accounted for 27%, 36% and 23% of total revenues.

Softimage markets its products worldwide. Revenues are grouped into three main geographic segments: North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and Europe. Financial data by geographic area for the fiscal years 1998, 1997 and 1996 is as follows (in thousands):

                                      1998      1997       1996
                                      -----     ------     ------
Net revenue:
   North America                     $9,754     $10,288    $8,471
   Asia Pacific and Latin America    17,931      18,111    11,280
   Europe                             9,175       9,356    10,218
                                     -------    -------    ------
      Total net revenues            $36,860     $37,755   $29,969
                                     =======    =======    ======

Operating income (loss):
   North America                   $(12,144)   $(20,334) $(30,962)
   Asia Pacific and Latin America       122         119       173
   Europe                               248         257       333
                                    -------     -------    ------
      Total operating loss         $(11,774)   $(19,958) $(30,456)
                                    =======     =======    ======
Identifiable assets:
   North America                   $ 19,724    $ 22,433  $ 23,241
   Asia Pacific and Latin America        53          75        62
   Europe                               910       3,075     5,868
                                    -------     -------    ------
      Total identifiable assets    $ 20,687    $ 25,583  $ 29,171
                                    =======     =======    ======

Autodesk today
Thirty percent of company revenues come from 1% of customers. [source]