Brazil

[joconnell]

Hi Boosted,

I can see scotts point but I can also see your side of things. I started off learning 3d stuff when I was 16 on a cracked copy of 3d studio max 1.2 and through all the stuff that was available on the internet and books that I bought I was able to learn enough to be able to make a small demo and get a job teaching an introduction to 3dsmax course. The place I worked in had legit licenses of max 1.2 which they then upgraded to 3.1 - Based on the work that I did there I was able to get a job in a post production company that has all legit commercial licenses. For the past 6 years I've only used legit stuff but I had to make the initial step on dodgy software. I now have access to commercial licenses of most stuff I need to use and own a max license at home.

I think that as CG becomes far more popular the companies that make the software should make it as easy as possible for users to get and learn their software. Thankfully they are making moves towards this now with all the various PLE editions and learning materials - Access to this type of software shouldn't have any aura about it nor should it be the right of the "elite". While it probably takes a lot of effort that mightn't get a financial return for the makes, I think every software should be available to try and to learn as in your case.

On scotts side however, I've been lucky enough to be able to beta test a few plugins for max over the past few years and I know some developers very well. Most if not all of the teams that make max plugins are tiny and are selling a product at quite a low price point - They need to have a profitable business to put food on the table :) To be able to keep their business going and keep furthering the technology they need to make sales so if everyone was using a pirated copy of their software then they'd die a death in no time. Fine for someone like autodesk you'd think since they're the fifth largest soft company in the world but the same rules apply. For a software company that's taking a risk in going out on their own with only three staff - One sale makes a big difference - thats food for 2 weeks for the company ;) . Hence you might get a better idea why they react to people using cracked versions of the software and flaunting it on a cg forum. Also if you ever need favours from legit users who had to work for ages to pay for their softs, you'll find it a bit tougher.

It's true that studios that do high end 3d warranting using a product like brazil can afford to pay for it. As well as paying for the technology though, they're paying for the support and help that you get with brazil - that's a huge reason why it's worth buying. They give you great learning resources and real time support to solve your problems - Man hours are the biggest priority in cg production so the quicker you can get a problem solved and have a scene rendering the better.

I'm really not sure if I believe you about not using brazil 1.0 but I was in the same situation once - Just don't ask any questions like "I've put no effort into doing a google search to solve my how to make a photorealistic car in 3dsmax - please help me or I'll just use maya" ;)

[Boosted]

joconnel,

I totally understand where he is coming from.
Like I said, I harbor no ill will and this was a warranted response from him.
I just want to put it behind me and move on, so I can use this forum as the great resource it is.
I certainly don't need this 'rap" as I currently work in game dev.

Boosted.

[Pyro2301]

I can only imaging all the stress you went through and all the fustration that Scott must have felt because of you saying 1.0 as oppossed to a beta build of Brazil. I do believe your story about the version number mistake and I know you'll never make it again.

I really wanted them to release a demo but they seem to be pretty deep into working on features for 2.0 that seem really really cool. Maybe one day they'll do the Vray thing and have a normal and advanced version. The normal version being a bit limited but at a reduced price that peolple on a limited budget could afford.

Scott, cheers on the restraint in the email. I'd like to think I could do the same in your shoes but I probably would have used more "colorful" words.

-Victor

[Boosted]

Well, I just feel kinda stupid, not so much stressed.
Judging from his email, I don't think he was all that stressed out either, but I get your point.

As far as his level of professionalism, it was way up there. I too don't think I would have been able to keep that nice guy tone.

I do agree about the need for a different build but I guess people can just keep using the older beta's.
It's pretty hard for the avg beginning 3D Artist to shell out $1200.

I just got off the phone with Discreet about Mental Ray and it's price is outrageous. Didn't mental ray used to be free?

Well, I hope Scott reads this thread, I haven't heard from him since. If you do read this Scott, I'd like to know if you can accept this apology.

[cptvideo]

Hi Curt,

Cool - thanx for the quick reply... and I really appreciate your understanding.

joconnell: I'm willing to buy that Curt's not using the 1.0 version. The question he posted was cool, it was only because he had stated, in the thread, that it was an unlicensed 1.0 version.

So anyway - it's cool - no offense taken here - we just wanted to get in touch with you. Our policy is simply that we have to follow through on the reports that come in.

sk... (aka scott kirvan from splutterfish) :)

[Boosted]

cptvideo,

Great, thanks to you as well for understanding.

With this, I will put this behind me and move on.

I will have a new post soon asking some opinions on another rendered object.

- Boosted

[joconnell]

Indeed - A demo version would solve a lot of these problems I'd say but as mentioned that comes after version 2.0 - Splutterfish are cool about doing a 30 day demo license but I don't think a lot of users would make the initial step of getting in touch. They've put a lot of work into their product and it'd be great to see everyone know exactly how good it is.

[Boosted]

Are there any renderers out there that have an unlimited demo?

See, with 3ds max, I have yet to get a render that I feel has a natural style of light as easily as I could with Brazil.

I model game props and weapons and I usually don't have a need for super elaborate lighting setups, yet don't want a super simple looking render to show off the prop.

With Brazil, its clicky click click render and with 3ds max it's...umm, hmm, this looks like crap but I'll render anyway.

[Khepri]

well you can allways use the public test version :)

its unlimited(xcept for resolution)

:)

[Boosted]

What was the last public test version?

Do they still have it on site?

[rkgibbons]

Frankly, I'm a little sickened by Scott's reply to your post.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but at one point he was actually trying to blackmail you into purchasing his software (or at least that's what I assume when he suggests you "clear up" the problem by contacting the sales-desk at Splutterfish).

If Scott had any understanding of piracy, copyright infringement, or blackmail laws, he'd realize that he's obliged to report you if he has knowledge of your actions -- and that any subsequent conditions he places on reporting you (i.e. "I won't report you if you buy the software") constitutes illegal blackmail.

The courts frown on blackmail, and they enfore it -- way more than they do on private-person software piracy. In fact, the chances of actually being investigated as an individual for software piracy are slim to none -- so I wouldn't worry too much even if you are reported. They would need to prove that you're using an illegally obtained version of Brazil -- which they know is next to impossible -- and frankly not worth the time and effort on an individual basis.

Don't take this as a endoresment of software piracy. I'm a bit of a militant anti-piracy proponent myself. But if I were Scott, I'd be a little more cautious in the future.

Keith.

[Boosted]

Not to refute your post or to hold Scott's nuts, but it's all a moot point since I wasn't.
If I were Scott, in the same situation, I may have demanded that someone using my software illegally purchase it too and the only logical way to clear that up, is if the 'thief" purchases the software, restitution if you will.

[rkgibbons]

I certainly wasn't intending to take sides in the matter. I fully support Scott's intentions -- and I sympathize with the software developer's endless struggle to thwart piracy. I've marketed several software utilities, and was stunned at how quickly piracy can destroy a "popular" product. Several of my apps are still in wide circulation, but I receive almost nothing for my efforts.

However, I've witnessed similar "threatening" scenarios played out, and the results are often very different from what the "piracy enforcers" set out to accomplish.

I posted my message more as a casual warning -- to both sides.

Keith.

[mlykke]

http://www.splutterfish.com/download/Brazil_test_0_4_53.zip

Now... lets stop this... and remember how much the fishes have been supporting the max community for years, with all those free plugins.

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