I sent the following to DAZ Platinum Club C Service.

I purchased Hexagon 1.0 from Eovia on May 17th, and was to get Hexagon 2.0 for free.  Now I, a DAZ Platinum Club member, can download Hexagon 2 for $1.99 - after paying $199! Considering that I am presently unemployed (a laid-off Hanford Nuclear clean-up planner – thanks to our Presidents nasty little war).  I had stretched a bit to purchase Hex1 – to get Hex2.

Do you think this is going to give me incentive to continue as a Carrara/Hexagon/DAZ customer? Think again!

I've been contacted by a representative from Maxon, and they have made me a very good offer on the C4D Studio bundle. C4D is also available in a 64 bit version, so my workstation with 4GByte of RAM can be fully used (when I get MS Vista).  When I get back to work, I’ll likely take them up on their very good offer!

I understand the strategic nature of the Eovia acquisition, but the tactics, designed that way or otherwise, have many of your loyal troops thinking that they shot themselves in the foot!  Some communications to your customers were in order, and you could have done a bit of cross-referencing and communicated to those existing DAZ – Platinum Club/Eovia customers.  As it is, this did not happen, and I’m left smelling the carcass of a dead rat!

Did Maxon contact you in response to the Daz / Eovia news, or was it just a coincidence?

 really think that the anger should be directed at Evoia shouldn't it?  They knew about the merger and should have done something with respect to orders past a certain time don't you think?

I just don't understand the anger at a compamy for buying a program and then selling it their way after you bought it form another company?  I would be not buying from Evoia int eh future not blasting Daz.

I'm not "blasting" DAZ, and I'm not sure that the DAZ deals can be separated from the Eovia deals -- since the Eovia Management team is now with DAZ.  I'm simply voting in the democratic marketplace.

I was with Fractal Design/Metacreations/Eovia for years.  Right now (never say never) I'm through with all the nonsense.  The special DAZ Platinum deal for Hex 2 is possibly good marketing – just possibly, since it might turn Hex 2 into a semi-shareware product.  But this is an inverted model.  The rule is that excellent shareware products eventually become for-sale only products.  I’m now concerned that the commitment to a constant improving of Hex and Carrara will take back seat to using them as DAZ marketing tools.  If your main concern is content sales, then this will take Hex and Carrara out of the tough 3D application competition that drives constant improvement, as content sales will relieve that necessity.  The dramatically reduced price for Hex 2, for Platinum Club members, is already evidence of that happening.

No matter how cheap the 3D tools become, there is a very limited market for any of them.  You will not see many C4D or Rhino users switching, because Hex and Carrara will become so cheap they will simply add them to their tool box.  They will be too busy creating with their main tools they spent years getting comfortable with to switch.  The cost of a 3D application is one thing, but the investment in time tends to be the biggest factor in going to a new 3D application.

This “seeding" plan may backfire, as those who paid top$$ for their product tend to be the more committed, hardcore users.  Many of those who purchase the $1.99 PC Hex2 will likely putter with it, then put it away.  The hardcore/productive users (many who have been with Eovia for years) may be angry enough to take their future $$ elsewhere, as many of them will have little interest in joining the DAZ Platinum Club.  I paid $100 to join the PC, but I will not join again – certainly not to get Hex or Carrara on the cheap (if it comes to that).

I wouldn't mind it if Eovia/DAZ had recognized the fact that many DAZ PC members are Eovia customers, and acted accordingly, but they didn't bother!

I was contacted by C4D before all this dizzy DAZ/Eovia stuff started.

To my knowlege this sale is at best a few days long then the product in question goes to the higher numbers, hence it is not going to be shareware I shouldn't think.  Secondly, there has been posted that Daz tried to get Evoia to reconsider their pre-order stance to not avail.  If I can find that I will repost it for you.

Hopefully C4D will work for you, I myself have never tried it.  I wouldn't dream fo changing your mind, just offering my 2 cents.

The link is here, the first post by Mclean is the one I meant..

http://market.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2645507&page=2

Quote - To my knowlege this sale is at best a few days long then the product in question goes to the higher numbers, hence it is not going to be shareware I shouldn't think. 

Promotion says till 5/31, I think.

What's the promotion for C4D?  Giving it a second look is on my 'to do' list.

would be interested in the C4D promotion... although I'm not sure I could afford it.

Quote - I'm not "blasting" DAZ, and I'm not sure that the DAZ deals can be separated from the Eovia deals -- since the Eovia Management team is now with DAZ. 

Goosh, I hope not.  I vowed never again to deal with Eovia over past dealings with them.  I was really upset when I read Daz was going to use them to market their product.  I thought to myself this isn't going to be good as Eovia and Daz are polar opposites in the way they treat their customers.  I am really happy that Carrara and Hexagon are both part of Daz now.  I am also happy that they are passing on their good forture and selling Hexagon for $1.99 to their user base.  I just hope that they pass along a great price on Carrara Pro soon.  Thank-you Daz!

I can't see any C4D promotion . Is it user based or a global one, a kinda switch and save from Maxon ? Does anyone has the link please ?

The special will only last until the end of may it will not be forever $1.99 and DAZ has just more than double the Hexagon userbase.  It is good marketing.

I also don't think Maxons offer is going to be that good of deal. Tell me is it better than  me having ot upgrade  my C4D rev 8 a  full bundle to C4D Rev 9.5 for $1,200.00 bucks not including the new Hair module that  will cost $495?  Man such a great deail.

 Ringo

Quote - I'm not "blasting" DAZ, and I'm not sure that the DAZ deals can be separated from the Eovia deals -- since the Eovia Management team is now with DAZ.  I'm simply voting in the democratic marketplace.

I was with Fractal Design/Metacreations/Eovia for years.  Right now (never say never) I'm through with all the nonsense.  The special DAZ Platinum deal for Hex 2 is possibly good marketing – just possibly, since it might turn Hex 2 into a semi-shareware product.  But this is an inverted model.  The rule is that excellent shareware products eventually become for-sale only products.  I’m now concerned that the commitment to a constant improving of Hex and Carrara will take back seat to using them as DAZ marketing tools.  If your main concern is content sales, then this will take Hex and Carrara out of the tough 3D application competition that drives constant improvement, as content sales will relieve that necessity.  The dramatically reduced price for Hex 2, for Platinum Club members, is already evidence of that happening.

No matter how cheap the 3D tools become, there is a very limited market for any of them.  You will not see many C4D or Rhino users switching, because Hex and Carrara will become so cheap they will simply add them to their tool box.  They will be too busy creating with their main tools they spent years getting comfortable with to switch.  The cost of a 3D application is one thing, but the investment in time tends to be the biggest factor in going to a new 3D application.

This “seeding" plan may backfire, as those who paid top$$ for their product tend to be the more committed, hardcore users.  Many of those who purchase the $1.99 PC Hex2 will likely putter with it, then put it away.  The hardcore/productive users (many who have been with Eovia for years) may be angry enough to take their future $$ elsewhere, as many of them will have little interest in joining the DAZ Platinum Club.  I paid $100 to join the PC, but I will not join again – certainly not to get Hex or Carrara on the cheap (if it comes to that).

I wouldn't mind it if Eovia/DAZ had recognized the fact that many DAZ PC members are Eovia customers, and acted accordingly, but they didn't bother!

I was contacted by C4D before all this dizzy DAZ/Eovia stuff started.

Quote - also don't think Maxons offer is going to be that good of deal. Tell me is it better than  me having ot upgrade  my C4D rev 8 a  full bundle to C4D Rev 9.5 for $1,200.00 bucks not including the new Hair module that  will cost $495?  Man such a great deail.

 Ringo

I know I haven't upgraded my XL9 but I did buy the Toon Module for $495.  The cost of upgrading my C4D has gotten me to stop.  Maxon has a fast development cycle coupled with high upgrade costs.  Plus any realy big advancements aren't included in the upgrade and will cost you a separate module cost which is usually another $495.

Too rich for my blood!