lightscape for sale anyone?

stephen gilbert · December 17th, 2002

seeing as autodesk isn't having a closing down sale onlightscape as yet [will they ever...] is there anyone out there who upped to viz 4 or max 5 that wants to part with lightscape 3.2..and box plus manuals etc?

i'm in the u.k

steve gilbert

info@cresshead.com

John Dollus · December 18th, 2002

I have an extra seat of Lightscape 3.2 here. Pay for the shipping and I'll give it to you.

John D

Jeff Mottle · December 18th, 2002

I wonder what the laws are on discontinued software. Are licencing issued still enforced? Ie if I need 20 more seats of LS can I just use my one copy on all of the machines? Hmmmm, a questions for Autodesk.

Ernest Burden · December 18th, 2002

Quote:

I wonder what the laws are on discontinued software. Are licencing issued still enforced? Ie if I need 20 more seats of LS can I just use my one copy on all of the machines? Hmmmm, a questions for Autodesk.

Well, a clue would be that just a few weeks ago Autodesk came out with the position that AutoCad users could NOT legally sell/transfer ACAD on ebay. Their point is that when you buy autocad it is bonded to you and you alone. I don't recall any details of the 3.2 licence when I upgraded. That was the only version under Autodesk. As I've said before, Autodesk sees their customes as raw meat, nothing more.

Licence terms would no doubt be in force. Why would either party be released from the licencing agreement simply because one decided to change their future business plans? Check the EULA on LS v3.2

A few months ago I asked Rod Recker if he thought ADSK would ever sell Lightscape, since they obviously had no further plans for it. He said he did not know but did not rule it out either. He gave false hope to a fool. I have been prodding the president of another CAD company to offer to buy it. Funny, he didn't rule it out either. Gee, ya think? More likely these two are laughing their heads off at me.

Frankly I doubt Autodesk would sell it for any amount, because they bought it to kill by dismemberment. It would not be truely dead if they sold it to another company to continue to sell and develope it. Still, makes you wonder what the corpse would be worth, and who could be convinced to buy it. Let's see, if I got 1 million CG artist to kick in $1 each, would that do it?

quizzy · December 18th, 2002

Well....

A long long time ago, when I bought my first MAX copy (max1.2), our dealer bought it a little cheaper in the USA, so he could make more profit. Well back then the licensing also went through Autodesk, and they said you can not license a copy bought in the USA in europe... Our dealer angry, and we were even more pissed......

[Led Zeppelin is NOT dead!!!!!]

John Dollus · December 19th, 2002

People give old DOS programs such as Animator Pro and 3d Studio away on the Discreet forum without rebuke. I would think Lightscape would fall into the same category soon. The issue with llicensing agreements is support and future revenues from the product through upgrades and new seats. With a discontinued product, these issues are moot. There is 0 financial harm to a company by the transfer of discontinued products.

bigcahunak · December 19th, 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Ernest Burden:
... Let's see, if I got 1 million CG artist to kick in $1 each, would that do it?

LOL...
Wouldn't mind putting $10 and get a larger share, but I guess our friends at autodesk don't need charity

Lets see... Led Zeppelin are "dead"... do you think I can make copies of their albums and give away...

bigcahunak · December 20th, 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by John Dollus:
People give old DOS programs such as Animator Pro and 3d Studio away on the Discreet forum without rebuke. I would think Lightscape would fall into the same category soon. The issue with llicensing agreements is support and future revenues from the product through upgrades and new seats. With a discontinued product, these issues are moot. There is 0 financial harm to a company by the transfer of discontinued products.

Not exactly.
Say I'm looking for a renderer for my new firm I'm opening. What would I get... probably LS for free, if it was legal. By doing that I would harm at least one company whom I didn't buy its product, which could even be discreet if I'd picked VIZ.

Ernest Burden · December 20th, 2002

Quote:

I would harm at least one company whom I didn't buy its product, which could even be discreet if I'd picked VIZ.

Imagine the financial ruin to A-desk if you decided to open a bakery instead of a CG firm! Imagine if we ALL did, why they would lose millions!

Ernest Burden · December 20th, 2002

I am wondering what a discontinued niche-market product like Lightscape would be worth. Putting aside the fact that A-Desk would likely not sell it for any amount, would it be within reach for a large group of CG firms to pool some cash and buy it and take it open-sourse? Talk about a long shot, but not COMPLETELY impossible.

There would be no point to anyone buying the program if they were not going to develope it. It will quickly fall back as other products add necessary features. Lightscape was written in C and C++. If one took the Linux model, it could be made into a very capable stand-alone renderer (meaning: NO MAX 3D operating system).

That is really what this is all about. Autodesk does not want rendering systems that are not based on the MAX 3D operating system. The comparison to Microsoft is intended. MAX is an OS for 3D. Even if you use a 3rd party renderer, you will likely need MAX as a platform, so they get you whether you use their renderer or not. That way, other companies can cut the developement cost of imaging software while A-Desk can keep the price of their product artificially high and their market share large. They are protected from pricepoint competition and can dictate terms to others. It's the business model that made Bill Gates the wealthiest man on Earth and A-Desk is in position to do the same for the CG market.

December 17th, 2002	#1 (permalink)
stephen gilbert Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: leicester leicestershire United Kingdom Posts: 55 Name: steve gilbert	seeing as autodesk isn't having a closing down sale onlightscape as yet [will they ever...] is there anyone out there who upped to viz 4 or max 5 that wants to part with lightscape 3.2..and box plus manuals etc? i'm in the u.k steve gilbert info@cresshead.com __________________ steve g 3d introduction video tutorials hosted here for max, lw and xsi www.cresshead.com e n d o f l i n e

December 18th, 2002	#3 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,075 Name: Jeff Mottle	I wonder what the laws are on discontinued software. Are licencing issued still enforced? Ie if I need 20 more seats of LS can I just use my one copy on all of the machines? Hmmmm, a questions for Autodesk. __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

December 18th, 2002	#5 (permalink)
quizzy Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Age: 35 Posts: 1,574 Name: Michiel Quist	Well.... A long long time ago, when I bought my first MAX copy (max1.2), our dealer bought it a little cheaper in the USA, so he could make more profit. Well back then the licensing also went through Autodesk, and they said you can not license a copy bought in the USA in europe... Our dealer angry, and we were even more pissed...... [Led Zeppelin is NOT dead!!!!!] __________________ Michiel Quist http://www.3idee.nl

December 20th, 2002	#10 (permalink)
Ernest Burden Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ossining, NY USA Posts: 4,999 Name: Ernest Burden III	I am wondering what a discontinued niche-market product like Lightscape would be worth. Putting aside the fact that A-Desk would likely not sell it for any amount, would it be within reach for a large group of CG firms to pool some cash and buy it and take it open-sourse? Talk about a long shot, but not COMPLETELY impossible. There would be no point to anyone buying the program if they were not going to develope it. It will quickly fall back as other products add necessary features. Lightscape was written in C and C++. If one took the Linux model, it could be made into a very capable stand-alone renderer (meaning: NO MAX 3D operating system). That is really what this is all about. Autodesk does not want rendering systems that are not based on the MAX 3D operating system. The comparison to Microsoft is intended. MAX is an OS for 3D. Even if you use a 3rd party renderer, you will likely need MAX as a platform, so they get you whether you use their renderer or not. That way, other companies can cut the developement cost of imaging software while A-Desk can keep the price of their product artificially high and their market share large. They are protected from pricepoint competition and can dictate terms to others. It's the business model that made Bill Gates the wealthiest man on Earth and A-Desk is in position to do the same for the CG market. __________________ Ernest Burden III AcmeDigital architectural rendering

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

December 18th, 2002	#2 (permalink)
John Dollus Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tampa Age: 38 Posts: 619 Name: John Dollus	I have an extra seat of Lightscape 3.2 here. Pay for the shipping and I'll give it to you. John D

December 19th, 2002	#6 (permalink)
John Dollus Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tampa Age: 38 Posts: 619 Name: John Dollus	People give old DOS programs such as Animator Pro and 3d Studio away on the Discreet forum without rebuke. I would think Lightscape would fall into the same category soon. The issue with llicensing agreements is support and future revenues from the product through upgrades and new seats. With a discontinued product, these issues are moot. There is 0 financial harm to a company by the transfer of discontinued products.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)