cheers for that info tekmonk! i had thought they just had "super" version of maya with their own stuff attached.

i know what you mean about CGTalk being intimidating, i saw some stills and models put up for critique from the Final Fantasy people, after i had seen the demo reel for FFXII, i was flabbergasted by the reel , thought it was just stunning work, but the critique just seemed to be slagging it off "you're clothes are just getting too weird..." and stuff like that,couldn't believe it.

i think if you post there you have to read in between the lines, as most of them are pros, they are all competing with each other to get commissions for game covers and the like, so if you don't read truely constructive critisism, that will actually direct you to improving your image, from say someone who's work you admire, then i think you could interprite it as a kind of jealousy that their comments were meant to put you off posting there( they might see you as someone that could take a commission off of them), you have to be very confident in what you are doing and what direction you are going in to take that stuff on the chin and keep posting, so i take my hat off to those who do post there, as you can't help but get inspired by some of the stuff up there, beautiful site but you won't get your back rubbed there until you are well established.