Autodesk Canning Gmax Situation.

[Mad Ivan 0]

For those tha have been living under a rock the past few days:

 

"As of October 6, 2005, Autodesk will no longer offer Gmax® software as a stand-alone product. If you are interested in other 3D animation, modeling, and rendering applications from Autodesk please check out Autodesk® 3ds Max® software. You can download a free 30-day trial, view product demonstrations, read customer success stories, and get more information about this powerful, versatile product.

 

Autodesk® 3ds Max® 8 is the latest version of our award-winning 3D software. Designed to provide the most comprehensive and advanced 3D design tools and pipeline workflow, 3ds Max is one of the industry’s most popular solutions for game development, design visualization, and film and video production."

 

The things got worse with Beau Perschall (Turbosquid VP) posting this:

 

Dear Gmax users,

 

I am here today to inform you that Autodesk has officially decided to end its support for the Gmax product and that their company has stopped support for it effective October 6th.

 

Since Turbo Squid is a valuable partner for Autodesk and we've been managing the product and community on their behalf for the past year, they've allowed us to continue to offer the Gmax download until November 1st so that we can effectively manage the transition for this now defunct product. At that point, the ability to download Gmax from our site will be removed as will the ability for users to get authorization codes for the product.

 

These forums will continue to operate for the community for a small period of time beyond that date, and we'll be happy to try and assist the community during that time.

 

Respectfully,

 

-=Beau

 

 

Beau Perschall

VP of Publishing

Turbo Squid, Inc.

 

Browser, Turbosquid forum admin had an update too:

 

Yesterday, I talked to an Autodesk representative on the phone. I should get an email that will repeat what I talked about with them. Phone conversation was a bit hard for me to hear as the Autodesk representative was on a cell. The volume of the conversation wasn't good so I may not have heard everything ok.

 

One of the arguments I have heard before and I think Autodesk repeated it, is that for the past 2 years, no new gamepacks had been created on the game company sides. So this means no money for Autodesk. Also, GMAX is very costly to maintain on the developement side (it is 3d max 4.X based and we are at 3d max 8 now !).

 

Overall, it seams to be related to no new clients and costly developement. Again, I will get a written confirmation as the phone discussion wasn't of a good quality so I might be wrong on a few things.

 

 

As for those that have GMAX now, if you should re-install it, you could either use the registry workaround or change your PC clock to match the registration email you got and re-enter the same registration code.

 

For those wanting to get GMAX before it disapears, registration should still be available at Turbosquid (I think!) via http://www.turbosquid.com/support (and click the GMAX link).

 

After that i asked if GmaX can be put up for download at other sites.This was the response:

 

As for other sites hosting GMAX for downloads, I have no idea if they can. Maybe Autodesk has its saying in it to say who is allowed or not.

 

As for me saying the costs are high to mainting it, I am not confirming this as, like I pointed out, the phone conversation was of a poor quality. At times I couldn't quite make out what Autodesk was saying. I would rather wait for theire text version for the official confirmation.

 

By the way, a license just to create a gamepack is somewhere around $80,000 Cdn. I had asked Autodesk about the possibility of going Open Source just for the plugin point of view. They said something (again, waiting for confirmation) like : short term no, but who knows !

 

My final response was this:

 

I`m from the command&conquer mod community.

I had in mind of putting gmax up for download with the C&C GamePack Pre-Installed.

EA already released Renegade, Generals (+Expansion) and Lord Of The Rings:Battle For Middle Earth. The problem is that the current gamepack supports only Renegade and Generals (LOTR has some changes in the format) and GmaX is the only software we have for models. Banning the gmax distribution will 'kill' modding, because newbie modders wont have a tool for modeling and oldbies sooner or later will leave the community in favour of other games/real life.

 

Inst there a way to talk Autodesk into allowing distribution?

 

Now, I am Asking you, the C&C Community to support me on this one! I am asking you to register at the turbosquid forums and support me on allowing distribution of the GmaX product.

 

This is a link to my site.You will find the links to assist me there.

 

Please, do it, for the C&C Community.

[HKH 0]

I can see why they are stopping support but how are we going to be able to edit our games now EA should give us new tools for 3ds max.

Edited October 16, 2005 by HKH

[killakanz 0]

If Gmax didn't need an authorisation key there would be no problem

[Mad Ivan 0]

actually, it would. They`re stopping distribution and are disallowing third-party websites to put it up for download.

 

Authorisation is not a problem.

[killakanz 0]

Well, if EA released their W3D exporters of 3D Studio Max - which is bloody unlikely - then that would solve our problem...

 

But I understand why Autodesk is doing this. Why continue to support a non-profit, ageing product which costs them so much support?

 

As for us, well, we've got a big problem...

[Tycoon-Master 0]

If GMAX is being 'banned' from the net all together - just do what I do and get an illegal copy of 3Ds Max - I have 7 and it works GREAT! (and since I read this will be looking for 3Ds Max 8)

 

-_-

[Bryant 0]

"After this announcement, Piracy of 3ds Max 8 rose sharply today" :P

[killakanz 0]

What's the point? You can't get models from 3DS Max into Generals without Gmax.

[medicdude 0]

From my sources, I've heard that there's a work-around in progress at PCNC, so you don't need to register.

 

No problem with the download issue, either. See here

Edited October 15, 2005 by medicdude

[Neospecz 0]

Very informative. Ivan, I think this would serve better if you could send this word to other modding communities as well. Thanks for the heads-up btw.

[Captain Miller 0]

This is just another challenge moders will face...This will really affect the cnc community because of the w3d exporter lack in 3ds max. Any half minded moder for most other games use 3ds max, Its just more effecient.

[Monkey 0]

Certain-programs-used-for-"aquiring"-that-shall-not-be-named ftw. ;)

Edited October 17, 2005 by Purplemonkey

[Godwin 0]

Modders have been using all the professional apps for ages illegally already anyway, who really gives a damn? Gmax is only what, 4 years old? It's not the end of the world...

[Silent_Killa 0]

it's more of an inconvenience to the newbies, I understand why they wouldn't want to continue to support the product, but why not allow 3rd parties to do so?

[Mad Ivan 0]

Modders have been using all the professional apps for ages illegally already anyway, who really gives a damn? Gmax is only what, 4 years old? It's not the end of the world...

 

Fact: Only gmax can export to w3d.

 

Very informative. Ivan, I think this would serve better if you could send this word to other modding communities as well. Thanks for the heads-up btw.

 

Banshee is making a community event out of this.PCNC made a big post, posted @ CnCNZ, CnCDen has a small update on this, CnCReneclips has been informed, Sleipnir`s Stuff has the news on the main portal, The_Hunter from CnCReneclips sent the message to a few mod teams out there, DeeZire.net, CnC-Source, CNCReborn and RenAlert (...).I could have missed some :P

[Godwin 0]

As PCNC points out, there are workarounds. Now I guess it's really up to us to keep things alive.

 

Nothing you do or say will turn around the decision of Autodesk, you just make do with the situation.

[Leonardofury 0]

Ok if they're not going to allow Gmax anymore, can you not request a patch to allow 3ds max to convert to .w3d?

[Mad Ivan 0]

As PCNC points out, there are workarounds. Now I guess it's really up to us to keep things alive.

 

Workarounds for registering GmaX, not downloading it ;)

 

  Ok if they're not going to allow Gmax anymore, can you not request a patch to allow 3ds max to convert to .w3d?

 

Banshee is trying to get one from Apoc.Keep yur fingers crossed.

[Yamato 0]

actually, it would. They`re stopping distribution and are disallowing third-party websites to put it up for download.

 

Authorisation is not a problem.

they cant stop all third party sites to putitup for download and from person to person

[Zero_Point 0]

If you need to download it, look for it. It's called "file-sharing". That's what it's meant for.

At any rate, this *kinda* sucks, especially considering the lack of gamepacks (we were supposed to get one for Unreal Tournament, if you recall, and we've yet to get one). At any rate, hopefully some l33t coder will figure out Gmax enough to make a .w3d exporter for 3ds Max, but good luck finding such a l33tist.

[flyby 0]

The effort it takes to make a new plug is not something to take lightly. I actually question the sanity to do so, because we were promised a max/maya plugin with BFME2 or in one of its upcoming service packs.

 

All what needs to be done is get the attention of EA and put pressure on them to release their plugin sooner then what they planned.

[Godwin 0]

Everyone localize copies, get the registration workaround tool as well, keep everything in circulation.

 

I don't see anything would be different, it's not as if Discreet/Autodesk or Westwood/EA has been upkeeping gmax to begin with anyway, all we got was the Renegade tools pack, and that was the first and last version of it.