Maya now Free for Personal Use

TeknoBilim writes "Alias announced today that their leading software, Maya has become a free download for non-commercial applications. Thanks a lot, Alias. Now I can record the video for my next game. :)" This makes me wish I had talent. At least now I (and many like me) won't have to pay any money just to dabble with Maya.

Comments

Nothing new here

[mmp]

Alias has offered this personal learning edition version of Maya for years now; they're just announcing that the latest release of Maya, 5.0, is also available in the PLE form.

Don't get me wrong--it's great that they do this. There's just no real news here.

The PLE version has a few limitations compared to the version you pay for, but they're really amazingly small in the grand scheme of things.

Linux Version?

[gmuslera]

What happened with the linux version? AFAIK Maya have a version for Linux, but don't seem to be included in the "for free" offer.

Maya PLE was already free...

[agent oranje]

At least several months ago, I downloaded Maya PLE... the free version, for those who want to learn how to use this powerful tool. Basically, the only thing that has changed in the past several months - aside from the upgrade from 4.5 to 5.0 - is that there's a neato newspaper article about it!

Strangely enough, I downloaded v5.0 last night from the kind folks at Alias... no slashdot effect for me :D

Re:almost every feature

[_xeno_]

The two most important features you lose in the PLE is the ability to save "professional" Maya files and the ability to use plugins. (Mind you there was a deal with UT2003, so you did get the UT2003 plugin with the PLE included through that. That's where this information comes through, my playing with the PLE included with UT2003. You can't use "professional" plugins and I don't think it's possible to write any new ones without some deal with Alias, but I'm not 100% sure.)

I think some other features are missing too, but those are the two biggest that I can remember seeing. The other biggest "feature" you lose is the ability to render without a "watermark" or to model without a "watermark" on the screen at all times.

Basically, this edition is exactly what it says it is: a version for learning Maya on. It's "shareware" in the commercial world - try it before you decide to buy it. Learn on it and then convince your boss to buy it, I guess.

Useless? no, TRY PRICLESS. My industry perspective

[MrCaseyB]

Useless? Its called PERSONAL LEARNING EDITION, Not the personal profit edition. There is absoltely nothing preventing an interested user from learning the basics and beyond of Maya. It's not like a nag box pops up EVERY time you want to open hypershade or outliner.
Watermarking is annoying of course but if this product is intended to give users a free method to LEARN, a watermark isnt going to interfere with that. You will still see accurate results of your render.

If you claim it is useless I really need to ask what it is you are trying to do with it? If you want to use it for billable hours, yes it is uselss and this product is not for you.
On the other hand, If you are trying to put together some work for a demo reel to get a real job in the business this PLE will do just fine.
As someone who receives and views artist reels every week, the watermark does NOT bother us. We are judging the quality of your work which will shine even through a watermark. In fact If I saw a reel come through that was watermarked to shit, it would tell me that this artist chooses to use legal software rather than cracked copies like everyone else. I would admire that kind of integrity in a prospective employee.

When I was teaching myself 3d animation it was with an educational edition of 3dsmax which I actually had to pay for from the University bookstore. When I later got into the business and I expanded our CG dept, we stuck with 3dsmax because it was what I knew. Had Maya Personal Learning Edition been around during my self teaching days, I would have given it a shot. If that were the case perhaps I would have a shelf full of Alias software now where all our Discreet boxes are.

Alias knows that the future 3d artists of tomorrow are young kids with no money. They choose to embrace them and provide free software and tutorials and learning resources. They are expecting a return on that investment and will probably get it. It also stregthens the community, now many more people can write "maya for beginners" books or publish online tutorials because maya is available to everyone, the audience grows.

Brilliant scheme that is so simple. Try before you buy, get em hooked while they're young. Win their loyalty now and they will come back as paying customers in the future.

Everyone wins in this situation.

Re:There is only one problem with that

[danila]

Do you think all those great marble statues of the Ancient World and the Renaissance were made with undo enabled? :) Undo is for wimps!