Autodesk - We help bring good things to an end

#101

How about the CEO Carl.Bass@autodesk.com I just emailed him, will let you know if he replies.

#102

www.projectmessiah.com is offering a cross-upgrade for people stuck with Motionbuilder for their Messiah:studio product. It looks like a good alternative (depending on how you look at it, and your needs). I remember PM back in the LW days as a plugin, which they stopped supporting after they came out with their standalone version. Maybe AD assumed users would automatically upgrade to Pro. Prove them wrong, if PM:Studio fits your needs.

(not a paid advertisement)

#103

Pixelmonk- I for one don’t want to switch. Our team has 4 people on a motionbuilder pipeline. It works, we like it and we don’t need an upgrade, or even support. All we want is to know we can keep using our software without having an uncertain future dependent on even the slightest hardware change.To expect everyone to either pay up 2 grand or make a switch to another animation package and redo all the work to get it in our pipeline are not positive options for us. From what others are saying there are more people that feel the same way…the best thing that has come out of this so far is your suggestion to just keep our serial numbers in a safe place cause then we wouldn’t have any problems at all. Wow, If we had your extensive experience an advice in here at the beggining it could have saved all the stress. :thumbsup:

#104

Trouble is, serial numbers are no good without the activation code, which Autodesk Evil Empire will no longer give out.
Do I know anyone viewing Autodesk in a good light at the moment, nope, not a single person.

#105

colkai- hehe…yeah, i know we’re pooched…A while back I added a storage drive and that was enough to cause a need for reactivation. I was being sarcastic about his comments in another forum about how simple it was for us to keep using our software and that we should stop whining about Autodesks decision… :smiley:
Oh, and there was also some accusation about cross posting on too many forums and how i could be reported…still waiting for you to link me to those so I can delete…when you get a minute pixelmonk. :wink:

#106

trolling the forum pixelmonk???

I’m sure your a decent guy, but some of us are a little pissed off at Autodesk, for NOT ISSUING ACTIVATION CODES nothing else. You may not be affected, and we don’t expect you to care (I probably woudn’t if I owned MB7).But I have already reactivated MB6 like 3 times, so I face the real possibility of losing the software I paid for, backing up the liscense may help…but if there is a hardware failure, then what…search for a hack? You kinda made the suggestion that you google’d it and there were a lot available. Well I didn’t buy it to go get a hack…if I wanted a hack I wouldn’t have bought it.

Anyhow, I wrote my sarcasm about you (the maya forum troll) in my deluded state of anger over the situation, so I apologize.

We are a little bit whiny,even though Autodesk is being unfair, in my opinion…

Have a good day

#107

I don’t think we’re being whiny at all. We bought the software in good faith with an agreement that stated PERMANENT LICENSE and now they’re saying that if we REALLY want a permanent license we have to spend $1995 to get it. And then of course what if they decide to eventually discontinue the product (or change it into something else) and tell all users that they no longer support Motion Builder and you have to upgrade to software X? Considering how Autodesk has handled this situation with its customers, it is highly probably that they will do the same thing again in the future - unless we fight back.

I agree with you that we bought the software and shouldn’t have to search for the hack/crack - I have NEVER, EVER condoned using cracks but this is one instance where I would love to be able to distribute it to everyone who is being screwed by Autodesk. I wonder what they would do about that? If they take you to court it would essentially put them into the spotlight concerning their business practices which is most likely something that they would not like.

Something to thnk about…

Megalodon

#108

Let’s take em to judge Judy or small claims court. I’d bet she’d bust them up. LOL.

It is disgusting what they are doing, and whether you own the software or not, I think you could provide your support because one day they may buy your software…and then…
your screwed.

Imagine a world where they bought Adobe out…Pixologic…Newtek…Maxon… bought out every tool you love and cherish, then bumped the price.

I say if you bought this program and they will not activate, just crack it. It’s yours, you bought it and I think this justifies it.

You shouldn’t have to change your pipeline because of their evil. They are dirty and disgusting.

Messiah is a great app to switch too, but even then folks shouldn’t be forced to go to another app, when they bought and paid for the app already.

I hope CG World does an article on Autodesk.

#109

megalodon…

i totally agree that this is absolutely terrible business and customer relations, and we have every right to use our purchased software…

I should have said ’ I was a little whiny ’
cause in the big sceme of things the canadian government is screwing me 10 times worse in taxes every year.

not that I’m giving up, I totally support this fight, I just think it’s gonna be a slim chance for victory…
Autodesk is the 4th largest software company in the world…if they lost 1000 MB users they probably wouldn’t bat an eye. The best thing to do is to approach someone high up calmly.
If i’m tearing into fellow CGtalkers just hoping the president of Autodesk is trolling the forums
that strategy will only lead to disappointment. I may still try to email the president and try to appeal to his conscience.

That being said if they don’t go for it…we go down there and torch there main headquaters,and kill everybody inside:twisted:

kidding of course…

#110

I completely understand where you’re coming from m.d. It can be (and is) VERY frustrating. And you’re probably right - if Autodesk lost 1000 MB users they probably wouldn’t even notice.

It’s a shame that we have no US lawyers among us who could tell if we actually DO have a legal leg to stand on. I would LOVE to be able to provide a crack for all MB users who have legal licenses.

Megalodon

#111

Anyone going to Siggraph? I think maybe it would be good to address them there during the Q&A on a more public forum. Let them explain the liscensing while potential clients are watching.

#112

Howdy Crew,

just had an email from Jim at 3Dworld and they are going to give the issue some coverage in issue 81, and probably more than just their “mailbox” column. So sounding better all the time. Also posted Softdistortions petition link in their forum and Jim’s going to make it a sticky for a while so it gets seen.

Have emailed the forum leader in the general forum here too to see if they’ll make the petition thread I posted there a sticky also, but no word from them.

Softdistortion, I don’t think I’ll try and create another poll - just dilutes the one you created. Better we all post threads that point to it in as many forums as possible.

#113

Sounds Good Duffdaddy.

#114

Has anyone considered contacting the Better Business Bureau? This seems like dishonest behavior to me.

We all know, deep down inside, this is why so many software companies have moved to an activation scheme. It allows them to one day just stop activating and telling you that you have to re-purchase the software if you want to use it. It’s more about revenue stream than piracy.

#115

I, for one just read about this. I certainly didn’t get any emails. Not too long ago I had to do another activation because of a fried hard drive. I had tried to use an old activation code and it didn’t work. I wasn’t aware it was hardware dependant. I really don’t have any reason to upgrade so why should I. This certainly makes me rethink my attitude on cracked software. I was a little suspicous when Kaydara was first sold. I had been impressed with Kaydara’s customer support. I haven’t been impressed whatsover since it was sold. I can certainly appreciate the value of a hardware key, Now.

#116

not true.

nope. it’s all about piracy and the thought that by defeating it, they can force those people to buy the software. A side effect of activation is, yes, cutting off access to older versions of the software they no longer want to support but that’s not the main reason for using these dumb activation or licensing schemes.

#117

So rude, so very rude!

Its just these kind of policies that encourages software piracy, not defeats it!

#118

Cutting off support is one thing, that is normal for old software. Preventing it from running any longer is another matter. The only motivation that CAN exist for that is to generate more revenue.

#119

most definatley. NO one is asking for support, they are just asking them to be able to use their own software.

I know people still using 98, and when it breaks down they can install it again with their serial number. Microsoft does not support it, but they do not have anything in place to deny them being able to use it. And even if they did, it’s only a 300 dollar upgrad, not a 4,000 dollar one.

#120

Old or unsupported software go by the same rules. They aren’t preventing your installed copy from running any longer. They aren’t hacking your machines and disabling your existing license key files. Getting a new key is a different story, and that goes back to the fact that it isn’t being supported by the company any more.

So, by knowing that a large percentage of the users of MB Standard will not upgrade to Pro (the only supported MB now), how is considered a motivational factor for generating more revenue. They didn’t expect everyone or even half the MB Standard user base to upgrade. Again… how is this a motivation for generating more revenue?

If they wanted more revenue, they would’ve kept developing MB Standard. Then again, they could’ve done a c/b analysis to see if was more adventageous to continue developing 2 products versus just having one, and in the end dropped standard. For example, what if only 10 new licenses of Standard were purchased in a 6 month time span? So then yeah, they decided they would make more revenue by killing off a version that makes them no money. AD is just like any other company… they sell products to make money. But all of that has nothing to do with your reasoning concerning revenue and an activation scheme.