If Discreet releases a free MAX version, it's probably not because they want to stop pirating. The W4r3z d00dz don't even bother pirating 3DS VIZ, which is cheaper than, but almost as powerful as MAX R3. (Well, I've seen it out there but not much)
Flame me if you want, but... I've been using 3DS since release 3 for DOS, following all releases up to MAX 3.1 now. R3 got my attention, MAX got me into this professionally. Some of my closest friends have already bought it because they used the pirated version to check it out. More sales for Discreet!
I think they're doing this to capture customers... 3D Studio has always been a standard in modelling low-poly 3D for games. Now, Alias|Wavefront is in the game with Maya, as well as several other companies (dunno if Blender is targeted at this). I think they want to keep their customer base, and capture some new ones that maybe will advance to better and more expensive versions. Get them on the hook first...
Don't get me started on Carrara. OK, it's a nice app, can do most things reasonably well, but it is not half of what 3DS or Maya is... some of us actually need some of the more advanced functions in MAX. But for a quick fun experimental scene or something, Carrara is great... Always use the best app for each task, whether it is Photoshop, Maya, MAX or Illustrator
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If Discreet releases a free MAX version, it's probably not because they want to stop pirating. The W4r3z d00dz don't even bother pirating 3DS VIZ, which is cheaper than, but almost as powerful as MAX R3. (Well, I've seen it out there but not much)
Flame me if you want, but...
I've been using 3DS since release 3 for DOS, following all releases up to MAX 3.1 now. R3 got my attention, MAX got me into this professionally. Some of my closest friends have already bought it because they used the pirated version to check it out. More sales for Discreet!
I think they're doing this to capture customers... 3D Studio has always been a standard in modelling low-poly 3D for games. Now, Alias|Wavefront is in the game with Maya, as well as several other companies (dunno if Blender is targeted at this). I think they want to keep their customer base, and capture some new ones that maybe will advance to better and more expensive versions. Get them on the hook first...
Don't get me started on Carrara. OK, it's a nice app, can do most things reasonably well, but it is not half of what 3DS or Maya is... some of us actually need some of the more advanced functions in MAX. But for a quick fun experimental scene or something, Carrara is great...
Always use the best app for each task, whether it is Photoshop, Maya, MAX or Illustrator