If this buyout is anything like their previous buyout (in 1999) then we'll see a merge.

Autodesk (founded in 1982) originally had developed 3D Studio (along with AutoCAD). They bought out the company Discreet in 1999 which were the developers of a program called MAX. Those two products merged to make what it is today, 3D Studio Max.

Now with the buy out of Alias (and if it's like their previous buyout), we'll see 3D Studio Maya Max (or #D Maya Studio Max)! (oh yes!!!!)

I'm sorry but that's not the way it happened. 3DS Max was not written by Discreet Logic at all. It was written by Kinetix a division of Autodesk because they knew that their DOS program 3D Studio couldn't last forever.

Later Autodesk bought Discreet Logic which was the maker of video tools like flame and merged the company with Kinetix and called the result Discreet.

I'm so sad, Maya is such a well designed tool and now the hacks at Autodesk are going to mess with it :(

I've worked extensively with both products and there APIs and Maya is sooooo much better to develop with for innumerable reasons.

Unless Autodesk doesn’t mess with the Maya formula and lets the current teem continue development... PLEASE!!!

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Original post by Wolfmanyoda I see what you're saying but I just don't get it. If they make both programs exactly the same, but with different UI's, it's a waste of money. They will be selling two versions of the same thing, and that just doubles their packaging and marketing costs. If that's the case they could just make one program and offer the user a choice between two themes. The accounting department would have fits if they doubled their costs with no return.

Yes, it costs more, but if both products are profitable then there is a net gain to be had by maintaining both.

Just look at this thread for an example of why keeping Maya going is a good idea:
"I am saddened... Now autodesk has destroyed [Maya]."
"Hopefully Autodesk will want to be faithful to the maya community"
"I'm so sad, Maya is such a well designed tool and now the hacks at Autodesk are going to mess with it :("

And this is from a handful of posts on a programmer-focused forum before anything has even been announced. What do you think the actual Maya community would do if they heard Autodesk was going to get rid of their program? People become attached to their tools and they become loyal to the developers. Making Maya into a button to switch UI's in Max would be equivalent to simply discarding the program in the minds of many people and a tremendous amount of business would be lost.

As expensive as these programs are, not everything is about one-time sales. Building a community is far more important and influencial in creating success.

Additionally, just because they have the same features doesn't mean they use the same code base. Merging Max and Maya would be no small task and likely less time effecient than simply updating them both seperately. Time can be more important than cost, sometimes.

Quote:

Original post by Codexus I'm sorry but that's not the way it happened. 3DS Max was not written by Discreet Logic at all. It was written by Kinetix a division of Autodesk because they knew that their DOS program 3D Studio couldn't last forever. Later Autodesk bought Discreet Logic which was the maker of video tools like flame and merged the company with Kinetix and called the result Discreet.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051005-5394.html

To everyone that's putting 3ds max down, Shame on you! I use both programs and I absolutley HATE using maya. It's very unattractive and drains too much resources. The Learning curve is over one year because of all the badly implemented features and menus. Yeah most sucessful companies use it because it's the most complete package but it's not very user friendly. That's why I prefer 3ds max. It's a better allround software due to price, learning curve and properly implimented features. If you don't believe me look at the sales statistics for this year only. It more than doubles the sales of maya. Yes autodesk bought the rights but that is a good thing! Unlike people who put it down like it's such a bad thing, and "oowww they are going to kill maya". That's not going to happen. It will be the turning point in the graphic industry! So stop complaining ppl, it's a good thing.