SmithMicro is currently selling Silo 2 at a discount (although I found out from contacting support they are actually a reseller for Nevercenter) for $109.00. I've been looking for a modeling program, I do have Hexagon, though I've mostly used Maya, but it is so old (Maya 6) that a lot of the tutorial videos call for things it doesn't do, and I cannot afford to upgrade. I would be using it primarily for clothes creation. The models in the videos I am mostly using actually were made with Silo, so I figure, it has to be decent for that, but I thought I had read somewhere that the program hadn't been updated in years and it wasn't worth it. Any opinions? I couldn't find a forum on here specific to the program, which makes me wonder.

Oh and I have Poser Pro 2012 and am running it on Windows 7 64bit.

Thanks

Haven't used it but it's well respected. At the end of the day, as with any app, does the UI suit you? Assignable keys is always a plus point.

Do you have a link to the sale at SmithMicro?

There are some fine tutorials on clothes-making/modelling by Fugazi specifically for Silo available here in the marketplace. I'd say that alone makes the process/cost worth it. I have Silo and Blender and each have their strong points and weaknesses. I'd say that depending on your machine, Silo is going to be more stable than Hexagon but not as stable as maya or Blender (which to me was a really huge issue - Silo would crash all the time: again, this was on my machine). But other people report a very stable experience with Silo, so please don't take my word for it.

The biggest issue I have with Silo is that it's probably end-of-life: NeverCenter is not developing it any further. Which is sad. I wish they'd sell it to the Open-Source community and watch them turn it into like a Poser-with-modelling-capability... :biggrin: - well, a girl can dream, can't she? :blink:

Those are the tutorials I have, and there were some things like falloff that my super old Maya won't do. That was more my worry about Nevercenter not updating it, especially if it might crash a lot, but i guess technically as long I could import the model in, do the step, and export it, it could work. I had been doing that back and forth between maya and hexagon.

I'm not sure if you need to be a member or anything for the sale, it was in my email, but it does'nt have a code or anything:

http://mysmithmicro.com/marcom/eblasts/Silo/20121025/index-web.html

I'm going to download the trial first, see what I think. I hadn't thought of that at first since there is nothing listed at SmithMicro, who I found out are only a reseller.

I just hope there are a lot of other tutorials and forums, I hadn't really looked, I just knew he used it for the videos.

In terms of tutorials on creating clothing for Poser figures, Fugazi pretty much stands alone. LadyLittleFox over at RDNA has created a good set of tutorials on the same thing, but she uses modo, which whilst it is an awesome program is definitely far beyond most people's budget (mine, certainly).

I do agree with you on the whole thing with tutorials: how quickly I am able to progress initially depends much much more on the number and quality of tutorials than any manual... the manual invariably explains "you can do such-and-such" but it is out of any context so knowing when and where "doing such-and-such" is appropriate is where tutorials shine.

Unfortunately, that can also be their limitation, since tutorials will - by nature - tend to focus on ONE specific set of objectives, where at some point one needs to be able to pull back and get a bigger picture on what the program capabilities really are. This is where I am with Blender and Cycles atm: having viewed just about everything I can find on the subject at BlenderCookie and YouTube and on BlenderArtists.org and having a smattering of knowledge about a variety of things about the tools, I now yearn for something a bit more organised and methodical.

At least I have a background of basics from Maya, even if the tools will be different, but my main priority is in learning to make Poser clothes and from there other Poser items, and I started those tutorials and then ran into issues. I think more than anything though I need time to work, which I haven't really had, but not having to constantly search the web for Maya alternatives (which is hard to find especially because the version is SO old) would be probably worth the program. Once I get an understanding I can almost move around. I just wonder about the crashing issues. Too bad they gave up on the program.

Silo was designed as a replacement SubD modeler for a lot of apps out there.  Polygon modeling is done quickly in Silo.  That is its only selling point.  Silo was not meant to be a full-on app with animation and rendering like other apps.

But it is good for modelling then I'm taking from what you said. That's fine. If I wanted to animate I probably would go back to Maya even if it's old, and I will be using Poser to render at least for now.

I think I'm going to get it and use the coupon to get some of fugazi's tutorials that I didn't buy yet lol.

I don't use Silo,

But hope this forum can make a help

http://www.silo3d.com/forum/

Actually, the active forum has moved:

http://www.silo3d.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17609

Silo is a good modeler. It's missing some of the bells and whistles of more advanced feature sets like modo and Max but that's to be expected, as development on the app has stopped for the most part. However, that should not detract from the fact that silo is still very capable and to this day, has one of the best interfaces for working with a mesh.  While I do often wish that Nevercenter would pick up development on it again, that hasn't stopped me from finding excuses to use it on all the 3D work I do.

There's a book out there on modeling with Silo - it's not directly stated in the title though. I think it's like game modeling or something.  Let me check...

..... ah yes, "Game Character Development" by Antony Ward.  I think he may have had another silo tutorial or book also but I don't think I own that one. 

Anyway, silo is a solid modeler for someone getting into modeling and looking for a UI that while present, doesn't get in your way much. The UI is what keeps me coming back to it, as I own modo and Max.  Here's hoping NC picks it up again or sells it to a company that's wanting to do so.

modo 601 was offered to me just now for under $300 so I couldn't refuse.

That's a cool deal and modo is a really powerful program with some neat modeling features. I just am having a hard time getting into its workflow and I've owned it since 301.

Quote - I just am having a hard time getting into its workflow and I've owned it since 301.

Me, too.  I just use modo for rendering.  I already notice 601 renders slower than 501 did.  But it is doing... things... to make rendering look better.

I wish I would have bought modo a while ago when it was in my price range LOL

Both Vue and modo were out of my price range back in the day.  They still are, in a way, because they've doubled in price in six years.  I knew I was gonna have to jump on them eventually just to be in their loop.

http://mysmithmicro.com/marcom/eblasts/Silo/20130725/index-web.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=1117654&hq_l=2&hq_v=2ea5221a1d

The 2012 ad for 31% off on Silo 2 is being re-run again today exactly the same except with new expiry date of Aug 11, 2013.  Reg $159, now $109 - Digital Download only.

you can get it from Steam for less than the sale. It was on sale over there recently too but went back to its normal price

http://store.steampowered.com/app/100400/

I see steam has it for $59!  Wish I'd waited to buy it, myself!

:0

Quote - Silo was designed as a replacement SubD modeler for a lot of apps out there.  Polygon modeling is done quickly in Silo.  That is its only selling point.  Silo was not meant to be a full-on app with animation and rendering like other apps.

Well you say that and then you have to recall the old Nevercenter labs where they were developing all this nifty add on features for silo which never saw the light of day, including bones and rendering. I think it more likely that once they lost the rights to use some of the code in Silo1 (which the stuff from Nevercenter labs were based on) and started developing Silo 2 (which was a total rewrite from the ground up), Jam and Feed changed course and decided to keep silo strictly about modeling/sculpting. Such a shame. Love that app.

I was just going by their marketing of Silo as simply a modeler before modo and others crowded in.

...yeah from what I understand reading on other forums it has become "abandonware".  Guess it beacame Nevercenter's "Hexagon".  Sad, in that it appears more stable than Hex and has a UI that doesn't require a graduate degree in Cryptology to understand (Blender).

Being only a modelling application is what attracted me to look into it (and years ago into Hexagon). I have other softwares for rigging, surfacing and rendering. This means the programme's focus is devoted solely to the task of modelling rather than supporting other features. 

Blender used to be primarily a modelling application. Now it is trying to be more of a freeware version of 3DS which makes it all that more complex and cumbersome to learn as it's UI really doesn't look (or work) much different than it did back in the 4.4 days.

Yeah it's too bad there appearently will be no future devlopment of either Silo or Hexagon (Hex has seen one minor update in the five an a half years I've had it and that was a beta back in 2011).  Seems Daz is more content to develop and push Carrara, support an expensive pro grade modelling/sculpting application (ZBrush), as well as a new "pseudo modeller" (Curvy3D), than a good basic easy to use and stable dedicated polygon modelling application.

I haven't tried it yet, but I saw a posting for this in the forums here.

http://www.braindistrict.com/en/raysupreme

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2875346

The thing keeping Blender from being any kind of threat to the big studio apps is still it's wildly convoluted UI, and unconventional structure.  Fixing that software to appeal to most studios, or even the average masses of 3D hobbyists, will be a monumental undertaking.  I heard some users suggesting it's interface had been improved in recent releases, so I downloaded it to see.  To my eyes, and brain, it's still the same ol Blunder UI, with hard to find menus, opposite mouse selections, and inconsistant tool development.  It's the only UI in existance that I consider more confusing than Zbrush or 3dsmax, and almost more unintuitive than Modo.  Modo still holds that record.

I think Silo's demise, sadly, was something we could have seen coming.  It became more buggy with each release, and Nevercenter didn't seem to acknowledge that fact.  Much the same with Hexagon, although I never even attempted to try that app.  I mean, I watched a video of someone using Hexagon once, and was shocked at how much work it was to do some really simple things.  I mean, just moving a vertice along an edge took seven steps, at least!  The guy had to first create a spline from the edge, then move the vertice along the spline, or some such wackyness. I was really hoping he just didn't know an easier way, but come to find out that's how you have to do it in Hexagon.  Seriously, I would never consider using a modelling app that didn't have edge sliding.  That's a serious feature omission.

I'm still using Hexagon 1.21 as my primary SubD modeler.  I can't get used to Silo's GUI still.

Quote - Blender used to be primarily a modelling application. Now it is trying to be more of a freeware version of 3DS which makes it all that more complex and cumbersome to learn as it's UI really doesn't look (or work) much different than it did back in the 4.4 days.

They're actually re-visiting the UI... Andrew Price has put forth some excellent suggestions on how to make Blender more accessible.

So, don't give up on Blender quite yet.

I invested in Silo way-back-when, not realising it was going to be abandonware. Too bad they make it Open Source, and maybe make a Linux version. Besides crashing a lot, it did have some good features.

So which modeling app would you recommend esp if you don't have a ton of money to throw at it.

Quote - The thing keeping Blender from being any kind of threat to the big studio apps is still it's wildly convoluted UI, and unconventional structure.  Fixing that software to appeal to most studios, or even the average masses of 3D hobbyists, will be a monumental undertaking.  I heard some users suggesting it's interface had been improved in recent releases, so I downloaded it to see.  To my eyes, and brain, it's still the same ol Blunder UI, with hard to find menus, opposite mouse selections, and inconsistant tool development.  It's the only UI in existance that I consider more confusing than Zbrush or 3dsmax, and almost more unintuitive than Modo.  Modo still holds that record.

I think Silo's demise, sadly, was something we could have seen coming.  It became more buggy with each release, and Nevercenter didn't seem to acknowledge that fact.  Much the same with Hexagon, although I never even attempted to try that app.  I mean, I watched a video of someone using Hexagon once, and was shocked at how much work it was to do some really simple things.  I mean, just moving a vertice along an edge took seven steps, at least!  The guy had to first create a spline from the edge, then move the vertice along the spline, or some such wackyness. I was really hoping he just didn't know an easier way, but come to find out that's how you have to do it in Hexagon.  Seriously, I would never consider using a modelling app that didn't have edge sliding.  That's a serious feature omission.

Nvil or Wings3d.  I downloaded the NVil trial when I heard people talking about it, and it's a very good replacement to Silo.  Actually superior to Silo in many ways, and seems stable.  Wings3d is no slouch either.  I like the sweep function, and some of the other tools in there are very advanced for a box modeller.  Hexagon is ok for the price, but having used an application with edge sliding, the workaround for that in Hexagon is barbaric.

Judging by some of the video examples on the Wings3D channel, it's pretty clear there aren't too many things Wings can't do easily.  I'm actually surprised by some of the features it has, being it's still only a box modelling application.  It can achieve some complex geometry shaping just as quickly, and arguably just as efficiently, as spline modelling would.

https://www.youtube.com/user/wings3dchannel/videos

The only drawback to Wings is that you have no option but to box model everything.  Sometimes that can be a little confusing when you want to accomplish a model with a lot of bending or directional surface changes.  But to it's credit, if you don't mind always working on closed shapes, it really does have a bunch of useful features in there that are very clever, and handy dandy.

...Andrew's proposal was shot down in flames at the last Blender conference.  Some of the negative feedback I read to his proposals from fellow members in the Blender community was incredibly caustic and insulting.  Some of the comments I read would make a longshoreman sound like a kid in Sunday school. These are people who consider themselves "professionals". 

I have been told that the reason longtime core members of the user community don't want such changes to the UI because they are afraid they would interfere with their workflow. Even the head of the Blender foundation came out and said it is not the foundation's interest to attract new users, but rather, to support those who have already been using the application for years.

...excuse me?

Makes it look more like some exclusive fraternal club than an open souce software community.

One member made it sound as if having to scale the sheer cliff that is the learning curve for Blender's UI, was akin to a of "rite of passage".

Don't expect any "radical" changes to Blender anytime soon.

Quote - > Quote - Blender used to be primarily a modelling application. Now it is trying to be more of a freeware version of 3DS which makes it all that more complex and cumbersome to learn as it's UI really doesn't look (or work) much different than it did back in the 4.4 days.

They're actually re-visiting the UI... Andrew Price has put forth some excellent suggestions on how to make Blender more accessible.

So, don't give up on Blender quite yet.

I invested in Silo way-back-when, not realising it was going to be abandonware. Too bad they make it Open Source, and maybe make a Linux version. Besides crashing a lot, it did have some good features.

...if Daz took a few months to devote some time and effort to cleaning up and updating Hexagon They could have a very nice powerful modelling tool that would be worth the original price it sold for five years ago (which I beleive was something like 140$).

What needs to be done is:

Squash the remaining bugs like those that cause the application to freeze up without warning.

Give it 64 Bit support (which might clear up a lot of memory related issues and make the smoothing tool actually useful)

Streamline processes (like the aforementioned select and drag of verticies) and update tools

Fix the UV mapping tool so it's useable

Add sculpting either as a feature or a future plugin.

If not, then find a company who is interested in updating and supporting it and sell it to them or make it open souce.

Quote - if Daz took a few months to devote some time and effort to cleaning up and updating Hexagon They could have a very nice powerful modelling tool that would be worth the original price it sold for five years ago

The tools used to program Hexagon are old now.  Hexagon still needs to have a revamp done to it, to get its code compatible with today's operating systems and programming libraries and compilers.  A total and complete re-write in other words.  wxWidgets (Hexagon's GUI) wasn't being updated for the newer C++ compilers in use.  It's finally been updated since 1998 (yes, wxWidgets was old when Hexagon was first released), so the newer Microsoft Visual C++ compilers for the newer Windows environments can finally be used to do a re-write of Hexagon (instead of just pasting a hack here and there in its old existing code).

Sorry, but I have to vent.  I am in awe and disbelief at how Blender's supposed "community" treats one of their own, most prolific, and educated members!  It's typical Blender mentality to shoot down anyone not totally enamoured by it's software as it is.  It's perfect right now, and no one should dare suggest improvements!  It's evident in their forums, with the way they bash on max and maya users, and criticize those applications, and i've even seen their egocentric attacks aimed at C4D in some forums as well.

Andrew Price is a fantastic, professional 3D artist, and a genius.   He NEEDS to drop his  Blender support immediately, and get involved with a community or company that will appreciate and support his efforts.

To his credit, Andew took the criticism and rejection very well.  He is a true professional.  Instead of retaliation and bitterness, he's re-evaluating is presentation, and proposal, and is still dedicated to making Blender users "employable".  Good luck Andrew, but you're fighting a losing effort.  The Blender community is becoming more and more isolated.

If Daz isn't willing to bring Hexagon up to date, they should hand it off/sell it to someone who will.  The UI is one of the best I've seen (and light years ahead of Blender or Wings). We don't need another "all in one"/"Swiss Army Knife" type application like Carrara or Blender has become. We need a solid basic modelling/UV mapping/sculpting programme that supports other 3D software like Studio, Poser and Vue.

I'm not interested in a progamme that can do everything as for one, this usually means compromising the individual features so it doesn't become unweildy or prohibitively expensive, and second, I like many others already have a lot invested in my 3D toolset and have no need for redundant features.  The one component that is missing in this equation is a well designed stable modelling application.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, Daz has a potentially powerful trio of interconnected  progammes - Studio, Hexagon, and Bryce - that could become a powerful 3D suite.  Each on their own, is superior to the different "rooms" in Carrara as they focus more in depth on the specific tasks: Studio as the core for morphing, posing, rigging, and animation, Bryce for large scale ecosystem and environment generation, and Hexagon for modelling, UV mapping (and hopefully) sculpting.  This type of modular approach would be more powerful and efficient in the long run than trying to cram everything into a single application. 

This is how Blender should have been configured rather than the overly unweildy programme it has become.

Quote - > Quote - if Daz took a few months to devote some time and effort to cleaning up and updating Hexagon They could have a very nice powerful modelling tool that would be worth the original price it sold for five years ago

The tools used to program Hexagon are old now.  Hexagon still needs to have a revamp done to it, to get its code compatible with today's operating systems and programming libraries and compilers.  A total and complete re-write in other words.  wxWidgets (Hexagon's GUI) wasn't being updated for the newer C++ compilers in use.  It's finally been updated since 1998 (yes, wxWidgets was old when Hexagon was first released), so the newer Microsoft Visual C++ compilers for the newer Windows environments can finally be used to do a re-write of Hexagon (instead of just pasting a hack here and there in its old existing code).

Daz actually has a very powerful extendable suite in Carrara already.  It has amazing potential.  But daz isn't doing what they should of course like the others.

SinnerSaint that is sad indeed.

They rejected Andrew's proposal?  That sucks.  I saw his videos on Youtube regarding the UI changes, and I loved them!  Then I thought to myself, man, his proposed UI looks very similar to how 3dsmax looks now.  The tabbed function toolbar he suggested at the top of the screen was heavily reminiscent of the graphite ribbon toolbar in Max2010-2014, and some of the other improvements were similar as well.  I wonder if some people didn't also see the similarities, and voted it down because of that?  I know there's a lot of people in the blender world who deeply despise max, and giving blender any visual similarities to the software would be like death to them.

As a current max user, I thought they were all great suggestions, and it definitely would have given me reason to try Blender again, and possibly stick with it.  Coming from a Max background, and finding it increasingly difficult lately to support my Autodesk annual upgrade fee, I would have probably made the switch in a heartbeat.  I'm sure many more users feel that way.  There would probably be a small exodus from Autodesk's user base over to blender, if they passed that UI proposal.

Blender is open-source.

Enough people like Andrew's proposals, they can do a new UI. That's the way the new Blender was designed: the engine and the UI aren't locked together. So, if BF don't want to go this route, doesn't mean that some enterprising soul with C/Python knowledge can't.

Blender itself is solid... I use it a lot and it's a powerful program. True, the UI is a bit unintuitive (in Oz, "a bit" means "a lot" :biggrin: ) but there actually is a team:

http://www.blendernation.com/2013/11/18/blender-foundation-announces-user-interface-team/

that are addressing this, so don't give up on Blender yet.

I see the same mentality in the Poser community, BTW... not necessarily to the program itself, but certainly to new figures: there seems to be a lot of unwarranted criticism heaped them for no real reason.

Just happens everywhere, I guess. Human nature?

While I am thinking of trying blender for modeling it is tempting as Silo is one sale through steam for 39.99.  I only says this because I have a few downloaded tutorials on character creation.  But doing a quick google search shows a lot for blender as well.  SO just a FYI posting.

Good on you, Xerxes.

I invested in Silo when it was $100 per licence. NeverCenter did one more upgrade, then stopped development. There were stability issues which I realised would never be addressed, so went with Blender which IS in active development. I now use Silo for specific jobs like counting and locating obscure triangles in my mesh... not much else.

There are uses for Silo: and a very active community support it, some of which express their desire to see their favourite app go Open Source. That would be a good thing, indeed!

Quote - There are uses for Silo: and a very active community support it, some of which express their desire to see their favourite app go Open Source. That would be a good thing, indeed!

This kind of addresses the other obstacle about switching to Blender.  Aside from the UI, which isn't a deal breaker,  Blender is still lacking a few really important workflow features I use daily in Max, and I'd hate to have to learn yet another application just to suppliment that.  I use a feature in Max called Xview mode, which is basically an automated way to inspect your model, and can locate any mesh errors, or unwanted issues like crossed edges, isolated verts, ngons, issues with the UV's, etc.  It highlights the location of these problem areas, making it very simple to go in and fix them, if need be.  This is something I depend on heavily in my workflow, and would sorely miss if I had to switch.  Does Blender have such tools, perhaps in the form of a python plug or something?

Now that AD has a yearly subscription, I'll be able to upgrade Max one more time at least, but after that, who knows.  Unless business improves next year dramatically, I may be on the hunt for a replacement app.

Quote - This kind of addresses the other obstacle about switching to Blender.  Aside from the UI, which isn't a deal breaker,  Blender is still lacking a few really important workflow features I use daily in Max, and I'd hate to have to learn yet another application just to suppliment that.  I use a feature in Max called Xview mode, which is basically an automated way to inspect your model, and can locate any mesh errors, or unwanted issues like crossed edges, isolated verts, ngons, issues with the UV's, etc.  It highlights the location of these problem areas, making it very simple to go in and fix them, if need be.  This is something I depend on heavily in my workflow, and would sorely miss if I had to switch.  Does Blender have such tools, perhaps in the form of a python plug or something? Now that AD has a yearly subscription, I'll be able to upgrade Max one more time at least, but after that, who knows.  Unless business improves next year dramatically, I may be on the hunt for a replacement app.

It's always a good idea to learn other packages.  It expands your overall knowledge of CG, and makes you more marketable.  However, I really don't think I get the logic behind your reason for switching.  Consider that you already have an application with all the features you use regularly, as you've suggested, and the one you're thinking of replacing it with may not, so why switch?

You can actually ride your current version of 3dsMax a long way.  There's no need to upgrade it every year, unless there's something i'm missing behind your reasoning.

I'm still using v2012, and with the wealth of FREE plugins and scripts out there for it, I don't see any feature or requirement that leads me to believe I must upgrade any time soon.  The version is very stable (only 1 crash in about 6 weeks now, with heavy usage).  I've basically been putting some cash aside to upgrade to a version I really find I can't do without, whatever that may be.  In the meantime, I've got all the tools I find necessary, and anything I do find myself longing for, I can usually find in a free script or plugin on the various resource websites for Max.

Just because a new version comes along, it doesn't mean you can't continue to use the one you have.  I don't think AutoDesk has anything in it's licensing that restricts you from using their registered software for as long as you like, unless you're on the subscription plan.  I feel any version of Max greater than 2010 is very capable and can go a long way, particularly if you include the vast free library of plugins and scripts out there to add on to it too.  Just a thought.

Well you know, you have a point there, lux.

Thing is, I tend to get paranoid when funds run low, and my first inclination is to jump ship.  I was kind of outraged for a long time now at the fact that there really isn't any alternative upgrade routes offered by Autodesk for their great line of products.  Like the various versions of the software offered by other companies, like Maxon's Cinema.  You can buy the Prime, or one of the more expensive versions, which can exceed the cost of Max or Maya, but at least they give you solutions that are more affordable.

Blender looked viable as an alternative to Max, because with Andrew's UI proposal, it's layout and workflow would be much more similar to what I'm used to.  I would be missing some crucial features though, which are important to me.  Not to say Blender wouldn't eventually add them to their open source, but who knows how long I'd have to wait, and suppliment the work in the meanwhile.  I'm better off using what I have for now, although I will still learn to use Blender eventually, as a back up.

...in a way that makes sense if Andrew's proposal had the look of 3DS Max (never used the software as the price is way out fo my budget, so don't know much about it). I'm sure if say, Daz Studio adopted the UI setup of Poser many "Dazites" would voice their displeasure (and some did when 4.0 rolled out)

That aside, to get me into using Blender, the following needs to be done:

Adopt A UI that is more much less cumbersome and easier to understand which presents the tools for each selected function (such as modelling, rendering, animation, etc..) in a more straightforward manner

Include an option for a "default"camera which can be positioned/rotated with a pointing device rather than keyboard commands.

Standardise all parameter scaling (*something Andrew also addressed).

Make the Undo command an incrimented/stepped function (*).

Adopt query messaging before saving major changes or exiting the programme (*).

Include a "Restore Previous Session" option on opening the programme as a failsafe if the application crashes (*).

Processes like modelling have a difficult enough learning curve on their own. The UI and organisation of the programme should not get in the way of this as it does in Blender.

On hearing that Autodesk is also going the cloud/subscription route, I would be reluctant to purchase anything from them even if I had the financial resources.  Adobe recently did this with their signature Photoshop CS suite which is already causing dissention within their user community with some even considering moving to the open source application, Gimp.

Quote - On hearing that Autodesk is also going the cloud/subscription route, I would be reluctant to purchase anything from them even if I had the financial resources.  Adobe recently did this with their signature Photoshop CS suite which is already causing dissention within their user community with some even considering moving to the open source application, Gimp.

I could be wrong, but I believe the issue in the case of Adobe, is that they are basically making that the only purchasing option.  Autodesk still allows you to purchase outright, as they always have, or to use subscription leasing option, which has some benefits.

There are situations where a Studio or production house may only wish to utilize one of the Autodesk products in their pipeline, to complete a certain project, over several months; leasing is a very cost-effective way to do that.  You can theoretically have all your seats dedicated to production with Maya, for example, but wish to incorporate 3dsmax, or XSI,  specifically for achieving a particular shot, where the tools in that package could be very handy (ICE system in XSI or the new Crowd system in Max).  Purchasing the entire package, for all your required seats, is not as cost effective as just temporarily leasing the package to achieve the goal, and then let it lapse when you're done.

...but for an individual it would not be beneficial. 

Of course, on my budget, I cannot afford the 3,600USD for 3DS Max anyway.