There was also a sort of a bonus demo of the Alias Motion Builder, which is an accompanying piece of software for the MAYA that deals with animation more than anything else. 

        Another major reason why I attend launches of new software is that I get to meet some new people and catch up with some old colleagues.  Mingling was never really my thing, but events such as this are different in that you can be sure to have something in common with everybody else there.

        Lately, after having been a MAYA instructor at the De La Salle University, College of Saint Benilde, I’ve slowly been having the added gratification of meeting former students who have since found jobs in the industry.

        As a teacher it can be rewarding to see some former students doing well and have one or two come up to talk about old times.  It can also be a tad grating to hear that they’re making more money than me, but then again that’s life, I suppose.

* * * * * * * * * *

        In a surprising move (so soon after the launch), Autodesk, makers of 3D Studio Max, signed a Definitive Agreement of Acquisition, wherein they will be acquiring Alias, the makers of MAYA, as of October 4, 2005.

        When I found out about this my first instinct was to shout “NOOOOO!!!!!”, and pound my desk in futility, as news of this acquisition inspired images of product cancellations.  The sad look on my friend’s face when he told me about the transaction did not help matters, and his subsequent words “MAYA is dead” were terrible. 

        But there is a ray of hope, in the form of prior mergers/company purchases.  Squaresoft, makers of Final Fantasy, was bought out by Enix, another game-developer, a couple of years ago.  Today Final Fantasy is still intact, as proven by the recent release of the movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.  Adobe bought out Macromedia, and their products still carry on as before as if nothing happened.      

        But even with these positive thoughts in mind, the Alias acquisition obviously raises a lot of questions and concerns.  What will happen to me, an Alias customer?  Will MAYA, as a product line, be shut down in favor of 3D Studio Max?  Will the two 3D software packages continue on individually or will they be amalgamated into some sort of super application?

        Autodesk is emphatically saying that there will be no changes in Alias’ product lines and scheduled version releases.  They are also saying that all existing Alias clients will continue to enjoy tech and customer support.

        Personally, as a user of products from both companies, (the Alias MAYA and the Autodesk Discreet Combustion) this sale could very well be a good thing.  While Combustion is an effective compositing package, it occasionally has problems importing .IFF files and picture files which are native to MAYA.  Combustion sometimes crashes, with predictably catastrophic results.

        While I can use .TGA or other formats like .JPG, I do not get the extra Z-Depth channel that I want unlike .IFF files.  Z-Depth, by the way is the part of the file that contains distance information.  It is this information that allows users to add certain effects, such as a blur, onto an image based on the distance from the camera.

        On the other hand, Combustion will readily accept .RLA files outputted from 3D Studio Max.  So with this acquisition I would expect to see closer integration between the two.  Maybe this acquisition will finally get rid of the problem of importing .IFF files into Combustion, or allow MAYA to output .RLA files as well.

        Or maybe 3DSMAX files can be readily opened with MAYA and vice versa, complete with textures and animation? OK, the latter may be a bit farfetched but a guy can dream. 

        We’ll find out how it goes in about six months time, when Alias ceases to function as a separate company and is officially and completely absorbed by Autodesk.  Autodesk and others say that this acquisition will benefit consumers and things will go in a positive direction.  They also have a “Safe Harbor Statement” that basically says that everything they’ve been saying is what they intend to happen, but things can change depending on outside factors.  Fair enough.

        For more information you can visit the autodesk site: http://www.autodesk.com/autodeskandalias