[Modo]Modo 301 preview video

[Wim Scheenen]

Hi,

For those of you that don't have a registered Luxology product, but are still curious what Modo301 is all about. The modo 301 preview video is now open to all public, not just registered users: http://forums.luxology.com/discussio....aspx?id=17035
Be warned though that it is a hefty download (~1.2 Gb).

Ciao,
Wim

[Sketchy]

Modo seems to have a very fast development progress. When its features are finally completed (ie, character animation), I could see in the distance that everyone will want to have it. Let's just face it, this is the most modern 3d package around that doesn't have that baggage older ones have such as UI/workflow issues. The creators knew exactly what those issues were when they left Newtek. I won't be surprised if one of these days the same thing will happen with XSI.

Modo is definitely a must have 3d product. Of course, we could still be loyal to our respective favorite apps. (I will be.) But I no longer see the point of spending a year or two learning one of the industry standards when Modo is fast becoming the leader. Kind of like Photoshop literacy is a must.

[crazy wabbit]

Really , the people at Modo need to make these files smaller.
What the heck, why so big? Okay I have highspeed but it will take 3 hours to download it.

I am one angry Wabbit now.

[Wim Scheenen]

Originally Posted by behzad

Really , the people at Modo need to make these files smaller.
What the heck, why so big? Okay I have highspeed but it will take 3 hours to download it.

Because it is close to 1.5 hours long?

[Sketchy]

I really have to wonder why this fast? (I meant the development progress.) I've never seen anything like it. Nevercenter can't even get one feature right for years. The only explanation I could think of is "outsourcing". That is, they were finally tempted to use foreign skills from countries like China, India, Philippines. Or Lux must have become rich that it could afford to lure folks working for other competitors.

[jbshorty]

Originally Posted by Sketchy

...Modo is definitely a must have 3d product... I no longer see the point of spending a year or two learning one of the industry standards when Modo is fast becoming the leader. Kind of like Photoshop literacy is a must...

yup. i agree 100%. Modo is making a strong argument to be the next major player. I watched the video last Saturday and it is just amazing. Modo is evolving so fast, and at the same time the previous tools and workflow just keeps getting better and better. These folks at Luxology are damn smart. I will be upgrading my license in the next few days...

[jbshorty]

Originally Posted by Sketchy

I really have to wonder why this fast? (I meant the development progress.) I've never seen anything like it. Nevercenter can't even get one feature right for years. The only explanation I could think of is "outsourcing". That is, they were finally tempted to use foreign skills from countries like China, India, Philippines. Or Lux must have become rich that it could afford to lure folks working for other competitors.

i think you're wrong about Modo being outsourced to developing nations. Remember the people who left Newtek to start Luxology were not low-level programmers. Among them was a chief scientist who was responsible for Lightwave's rendering engine. As the video explained, Modo is growing so fast because of flexible architecture. Every single thing in Modo is composed of interchangable elements. So any element which you improve is rippled throughout the whole program, benefitting every tool and function that uses that element. This is no accident, they built Modo with this type of evolution in mind...

shorty

[Wim Scheenen]

I guess the size of the development team also matters. From the about modo 203 window in the app I see there were 13 software engeneers and developpers working on it. I don't know too much about the silo developpers, but if I remember correctly it's a 2 persons crew. Now, with synergy between so many developpers working on one app I guess the scaling between development time and number of programmers isn't linear.

Wim

[jbshorty]

Originally Posted by Wim Scheenen

I guess the size of the development team also matters. From the about modo 203 window in the app I see there were 13 software engeneers and developpers working on it. I don't know too much about the silo developpers, but if I remember correctly it's a 2 persons crew. Now, with synergy between so many developpers working on one app I guess the scaling between development time and number of programmers isn't linear.

Wim

that's probably true. I asked that question to rhino's team and they told me about 15 people. I was surprised. but they explained in same words as you did. Beyond that # of people, the increase in development speed is not linear. I think small teams stay under more pressure to excel at their jobs. Nevercenter must be the other end of the example. They've done an amazing job with Silo, and their ideas are brilliant. But their proposed release date is long in the past now. they could use some more programming hands i think...

[Thomas]

(one day, I;will tell you how long the developement of Hexagon 1 and 2 was.. you will be surprised ;)

[Wim Scheenen]

Now you are making me curious Thomas . Wim

[Thomas]

FYI, it surprised a developer of Modo

[jbshorty]

Now i am curious too...

[Locki]

but Thomas, Hex is a very specialised modeling software (polygonal modeler, especially gifted for organic design), not a toolbox which is able to fill the needs of a complete 3D toolchain !

Cause small resolution fines you will not get to see the good details of the render images and working screen.

Originally Posted by behzad

Really , the people at Modo need to make these files smaller.
What the heck, why so big? Okay I have highspeed but it will take 3 hours to download it.

I am one angry Wabbit now.

Do tell us please.

My guess is around 3 or 4 months each.

Originally Posted by Thomas

(one day, I;will tell you how long the developement of Hexagon 1 and 2 was.. you will be surprised ;)

[Sketchy]

Originally Posted by jbshorty

Among them was a chief scientist who was responsible for Lightwave's rendering engine.

Rendering, I think, is no longer an exclusive thing nowadays, jbshorty. And I still think that the 3d market for modern 3d packages is still up for grabs. Modo may be the most recent addition to the market, but it won't be the last. Users will forever be looking for 3d apps with extremely streamlined, simplified interfaces and workflows. Obviously, the problem is the way 4 main features (modeling, texturing, rendering, animation) are packaged in one single application, which is not a piece of cake if you're a developer. Nor will we see Hex and Silo to be the last modern additions when it comes to modeling. Enter Carrara with rooms. One is for modeling, another is for shading, etc. That certainly looks like a modern application even though Carrara is considered an old app. In any event Modo won't be the last. Softimage may surprise us one of these days with a special announcement.

[jbshorty]

Hi Sketchy. i wasn't implying that a good render engine is the "be all - end all" of a 3D app. Just pointing to the fact that it wasn't low-level people that started Modo. These people have the smarts and experience... And it's a bit off-topic, but i don't like the idea of "rooms" so i disagree that Carrara is a good example of a modern interface. Modo is a much better example IMO. Doing everything in one space (with one set of tools) is more efficient. It just takes better planning when designing the UI...

shorty

[Sketchy]

Well, actually Carrara's rooms are no different from tabbed separation of features. Come to think of it, they are actually tabs but just designed differently. And I realized I'm wrong in a way. Looking at Modo's UI, it's efficiently organized with palettes and tabs comparable to rooms. But don't get me wrong. Right now, Modo is unbeatable, imo. I was very impressed when I saw a preview of a shoe modeling tut. That was awesome!

[Wim Scheenen]

I don't know if you can compare Modo's palettes and tabs with Carrara's rooms. I don't think that you can get part of the materials room or modeling room into Carrara's assembly room, whereas in Modo you can pull in some new tabs just where you want them. Having said that, it's a feature with which I only started experimenting recently and am not too comfortable with yet. I guess I'm still too attached to Carrara's rooms idea .

Ciao,
Wim