Student price available for non-Americans? Misc buyer questions

#1

Hi.
I’ve been using Wings3d for some time, and right now, pretty much all I can say is that I am sick of only being able to create static models… There’s only so much fun that can be had from looking at a grey piece of digital clay :annoyed:

Which brings me here :slight_smile:

Does anyone know if the student price of US$199 is available for non-US residents. Specifically, for Malaysians.
Here’s where I found the price: http://www.creationengine.com/html/action.lasso?-database=manufacturers.fm&-layout=w&-response=mf_focus.html&company=Hash&-search (I followed a link from Hash’s site.)

Does the student priced version come with the same licence as the ‘normal’ version? Is it just the same as the ‘normal’ version (printed manuals, etc)? Does it expire after a while?

If it doesn’t come with the same licence (i.e. no commercial projects), how do I upgrade it to the full licence? At what cost?

Do I have to pay them extra if I want to switch from Windows to Mac or vice versa?

When was the current version released and when will the next major version be released? I want to know whether I should just wait a bit so I don’t have to upgrade so soon.

I get one year of free updates, correct? What happens after that? I don’t get to download updates? Is that it? Or is there some other unspecified nastiness?

Is there a maximum render size?

I played around with version 8.0 on my Windows computer (Duron 850, 256MB, Geforce2Mx 32MB) and it starts to slow down really quickly. As in with just a couple of patches (ok, maybeit’s closer to 200 over patches :p) in Smooth Shaded mode.
So is it because of my video card, or processor?
I intend to do some rather heavy things with it. So should I upgrade my RAM, vid card, or what?
I’m on a really tight budget… 400 bucks tops including A.M. :thumbsdow

How heavy a scene do you think my system can handle right now? Running Windows XP.
Can I hide everything except the model/rig/etc I’m working on to conserve system resources and then unhide then during render, etc?

Thanks in advance. I’ll post anything else I think of later :slight_smile:

Cheers!

#2

Hi
I’m from Switzerland/Europe and I bought it also from there. So it is possible for you to get it.

It’s excactly the same package, only you can’t use it for commercial work.

I think you can update to the full version if you buy a normal update for 99$.

Animation Master is for both, PC and Mac, both versions are on the disk and you can update for both versions. Also you can use for example A:M files which you have done on PC on a Mac.

The last version was realised in winter. It is v10.
Now you can update for free with the v10cd to v10.5
You don’t have to wait till next winter because the newest version is really cool.

After one year you can use the last version of v10.5, in 2004 you only can use the updates for the 2004cd (should be v11)

You can render as big as you like to. Hope your computer likes the work too.

Hope this helps!

#3

Hmm…
Educational price = 199, shipping = 80!
Might as well get the full version if I get it. Although, after some thinking, I think I’d be better off upgrading my computer or something. Just don’t have that much money to spare… :frowning:

Oh well…

Thanks for the reply anyway :slight_smile:
Sorry for bothering you guys…

#4

Get Maya PLE or something. Softimage might be better as far as watermarks and feature limitations. But those are free to dl and i think they can import obj which wings can export.

Or if you dont want the feature limitations, try out Blender. The interface is messed up and i dont like it, but many people have managed to crank out some rather nice work out of it.

#5

But I can’t save or render with those… so what’s the point? (Besides save-disabled learning…:/)

I’ve tried Blender, but it just seems lacking in the animation department. Sure, you can get something animated quick and easy, but what about bone constraints, properly integrated muscle deformations, etc?
Hmmm… :confused:

I’ll find another way :slight_smile:

#6

You may speed-up your real-time performance my hitting the page-down key to decrease the subdivision level.

The versions are keyed to an annual CD, that comes out at the beginning of the calendar year. If you don’t get a new CD you can keep using the one you have and it’s version for ever. If you download updates, they won’t work with the older CD, only the CD that they are keyed to.

Since Wings can export the Hash .mdl format, you may be able to make use of some of the work that you’ve created previously! A:M seems like the natural choice to begin bringing your work to life.

<Shame on Goon for advocating Maya PLE :shame: >

#7

? Why? I was just offering free options.

And yes you can save and render.
PLE has severe watermarks and limited resolution renders. Softimage has smaller watermarks and fewer limitations (plus better animation tools) and saves to the actual XSI format instead of a special ple version. There are other options of course. A:M is naturally the best;) but if you dont have the money there are options.

And since your a student, look into the Cinema 4d deal. It has very nice animation capabilities, rendering, particles, 3d paint…:). It has a few problems but kicks some major ass.

#8

if free is the route you wish to take, I believe Blender is still available. I’m all for advocating AM but it also depends on the kind of stuff you wish to animate.

For characters I 'd go with blender or AM - that order because importing your models into AM won’t always give you clean models. You’re better off modelling them up in AM from scratch, after that you’re then in clean water with AMs rigging tools.

#9

There’s a bug in 8.0 where there are “two” wireframe modes, default and wireframe, in default it really acts like shaded, i.e. it goes through the whole rigmarole of “upating patches blahblah” whenever you add or remove stuff with the mesh. Hit “8” to go into real wireframe mode and you won’t get that slowdown crap.

#10

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