Show and Tell at Autodesk University!

"3ds Max = Entertainment, primarily Games and VFX, where anything is possible and SDK important"

This is great! I know asking that is getting old to hear, and in time I will see that there will be changes made to make life better for animation and VFX people. I just renewed my subscription on Friday, so I do put trust in Autodesk. I guess I just want it all now! 2011 should be interesting.

3ds Max = Entertainment, primarily Games and VFX, where anything is possible and SDK important
3ds Max Design = Design/Vis, commonality with CAD interfaces and data is important, analytical tools (like Exposure for daylight analysis)

Both share the same binary, are 100% data and plug-in compatible.

An interface overhaul is very welcome by me as well. And that includes a modern, clean UI icon re-design. What I would like to get out of the confidential meeting (if I could attend!) would be to see what the plans are to differentiate 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design. What specific industries will they be pushed to, if any?

Great news that you're overhauling the interface - I eagerly look forward to the next release. My advice would be that whatever you go with please realise that by now nearly all Max users are probably using wide-screen aspect monitors, and so vertical screen space is far more valuable than horizontal. For me this is the biggest failing of the Ribbon UI - I end up working with a horrible long and thin viewport. What we want is something more along the lines of Softimage where the tools are placed at the sides.

I'm sorry, we can't do anything virtually, but I hope to have a few surprises to talk about more openly by AU.

We are in the middle of over-hauling our UI which is why it isn't as clean as we'd all like. You don't completely change the UI in one release or you'd really make people upset. Fundamental UI changes need to be introduced incrementally or people will be angry about the relearning required to use the product. Yes, meanwhile it isn't as elegant as we'd all like.

Here's something you may not wish to do, but: What about those of us attending the Virtual AU? Is there a virtual version of this session, for which we might sign an NDA? I guess it's reasonable to show the new toys only to those with enough money to travel to Vegas, but just wondering...

If anyone's going can they please ask Autodesk to completely overhaul the interface to Max please? It's a horrible, in-cohesive mess at the moment, and is really holding the product back. They don't have to look much further than Modo, Maya or Softimage to see how it should be done (Modo being the real stand-out).

Would love to see what the boy's and girls are cooking up Ken but, I have to be prudent in a rough economic year for my shop. Maybe see you all at Sigg if I can swing it.

these are great events and I suggest attending.

Solidarity