I have recently been looking at different 3D software. I currently use Strata 3D which is great for packaging design and POS but not as good at organic modelling. I have dabbled with a few free 3D packages and also tried out Lightwave, which I found the interface way too complicated. I found Animation Master (Hash) and decided I would like to give it a try and emailed asking for a demo. They replied that there wasn’t one but the software was only $50 for a years subscription. I don’t know about you, but I like a demo just to see what the interface of a design program looks like, but the general idea of subscription based software as an alternative to a full purchase sounds like a good one to me.
There are countless times I have downloaded demo design software and had a quick look at it aiming to come back to it later, only to find I get busy. I come back to that demo software when it gets quieter again only to find the demo has expired. Wouldn’t it be good of you could just pay a fee to extend it, by a month, 6 months etc? This would give you long enough to decide if the software really was for you, or alternatively allow you to use software which you can not afford to buy all in one go.
To cut a long story short I bought Animation Master which is designed for 3D character design and animation, now I just have o learn how to use it.
I think some of he mainstream design software producers should consider offering subscriptions monthly/quarterly/yearly as an option. What do you think?
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10 Comments
Subscription based sales are very profitable if done correctly. I think that business model would work well for any market. Software is the perfect product to do this with. A lower entry price to test the product will encourage more customers to give it a try. If they don’t like it they can cancel without having spent the full ticket price. Automatic updates of products and the potential of hundreds if not thousands of regular recurring payments year after year.
In a previous life I spent some time making computer games. Almost all the games studios out there use either 3DS MAX or Maya, but I think 3DS MAX is the preferred choice.
They’re rather expensive, but if you are ever interested in a change of career and fancy modelling the latest 3D monster or whatever, it would certainly do you good to get your head round either of those two. I tried and must confess, they were rather beyond the meagre amount of time I was prepared to put into them.
Tara, I’ve too also spent some years in 3D modeling. Like Land Projects UK mentioned, 3D Studio Max is great and that’s what I ended up using for years. I absolutely adore Maya and Lightwave (the company bought out Bryce and integrated it). There’s also SoftImage, which many cinematic studios use. The interfaces of those are beautiful, but I understand as a newcomer what it may seem like.
I highly don’t recommend Cinema4D for the Mac. If you’re looking for a cheap solution at the moment, TruSpace is a great option. It isn’t powerful and will crash, but the interface proves to be a great lesson for beginners. I always used that for years then transitioned into 3D Studio Max. It will help you learn the basics and it will be easier to transition into a more powerful software in your future. Try that out! http://www.caligari.com/
monthly subscription for design software would be excellent idea. in my office sometime we often realize that the software we are using is not perfectly suitable for some jobs, but I do not feel like spending big bucks just to find out that either the new software is not good enough or that our designers simply will not get used to it or will not like it …to pay monthly fee for few months to try it out and then either consider purchasing it or continue on monthly basis, that would be awesome … I would definitely be interested …
3dmax or maya rocks
Thanks for he suggestions Land Projects and Hometown and John’s perdele draperii Insurance
Thanks for the 3D suggestions Louisa, I am looking for something Mac based. I have subscribed to Animation Master to have a try as it doesn’t cost much, but will experiment with other solutions too.
BizGiftGuru – maybe some companies will start using this idea more – I hope so.
wow, i think monthly subscription great idea
Yeah, I think, they should give that offer. I guess that could help a lot for them to get more customers. a monthly subscription I think could be the best.
I think it’s definitely better than having to pay 1K for a professional design software (not telling about the upgrades).
This is my personal opinion. try open source software called blender3D. Free to download and free to use commercially. Huge support, with regard to the learning curve. check http://www.blender.org