Refractive Software (Octane), purchased by Otoy.

[tyrot]

polytek i hear you bro... really frustrating...

[Jaberwocky]

I've been watching this with interest,so here's my best guess for what it's worth

The fact is that the plug in version and the stand alone versions are based on the same render kernels.They have to finish the Kernel and take it out of beta and then deploy it to both the stand alone and the various plug ins.That's the way it works.After that for versions 2 ,3 , 4 etc , well who knows, but that's for the future.Radiance and the team are now probably under instruction from Otoy, who in turn are probably being 'leaned' on hard by their partner AutoDesk to make Octane as attractive and marketable to as wider user base as possible by going full steam into a scatter gun approach of plug ins.Once that's done then Beta 2.6 will probably be finished.Once that happens and they are seen to have a marketable product that works, then AutoDesk will in turn buy out Otoy.You will then see Max 2013 / Maya 2013 . Autocad 2013 etc with Octane fully included in the packs.

Now you'll have to excuse me whilst i pack away my Crystal ball

[mbetke]

So no more updates for Octane as we know it. I bet no instances support and even now they can shut down the license server and no one can use Octane in this version anymore because they tell us the Beta program has just been ended...

But we will be offered a nice update opportunity because we are all user of first hour and helped Octane to grow what its now.
Price will be 600€ for updates and 999 for new clients.


Drawing to bad here??? Well I don't think so. Money rules the world!
I do most 3d work with Octane like many others here but worst thing would be if we are kicked out with shut down servers or if I have to upload all my data into the cloud with my 2Mbit connection. Obviously the Devs signed NDA or whatever because of the silence.

[funk]

No wonder it got so quiet around here...

[Jaberwocky]

[quote="mbetke"]So no more updates for Octane as we know it. I bet no instances support and even now they can shut down the license server and no one can use Octane in this version anymore because they tell us the Beta program has just been ended...

Actually you could still use the beta if the servers shut down.As long as you don't de-register it on your machine.You only need the internet connection to register it.That would however mean that you would have to take very good care of your motherboard as the code used is probably calculated to that.Very much like the Windows serial number is.

[matej]

I think users of Autodesk product don't need to fear, the support for this platforms is guaranteed. So no server shutdown and instances will have to be there.

OTOH some alternative 3D suits could eventually be left out of support. Especially if development of the standalone version will be dropped. And it kinda makes sense to drop the standalone version, since it takes a lot of resources to code the GUI and all the tools that will be needed to get the most from Octane. This way RS could focus only on the rendering core & SDK, while the subcontractors will work on plugins.

An official statement from RS is overdue. This silence doesn't inspire much trust or positive thinking. Trying to hide it or ignoring the usrebase (actually; faithful beta-testers ) on such an important matter is unprofessional and a fast way to loose customer's faith in the company.

Also, a roadmap should be presented and nailed at the site's main page (the feature list there was last updated maybe 2 years ago, lol) - just so that it becomes clear where are we standing and where are we going.

[cglittenberg]

some info from rs is needed as soon as possible...autodesk is company that destroyed lightscape buying it...
but this opens new possibilitys for octane
im not autodesk user...autodesk-borg

cycles are here too...there is alternative alwys...same as octane used to be...

nice buisness move radiance,but heartless too;)

It is a little more than heartless. It is a direct breach of promises made at the time we "non autodesk borg" bought our licenses. I own three licenses, but am a C4D user becuase I trusted RS to follow up on their promises. In my eyes this situation amounts to a breach of contract!!!!
I will continue to use the octane versions I have for certain things, but I am profoundly disgusted at the way this has been dealt with.
All that RS has to do is to give out some damn statement and explain themselves! That way we can plan for the future!

[Italic_]

This great news also means that there most probably won't be a Blender plugin - ever - since the new owners won't be giving any chances to a free & opensource dangerous alternative to their overprices 3D suits. So the future path of blenderheads is clear... It was fun 'till it lasted.

Well, as far as I know, the Blender plugin isn't developed by a RS employee, but a volunteer from the community. That said, Autodesk will definitely pull the plug by revoking access to the API and other developmental tools, simply because they don't want other people working on their software. I think there will be whole-hearted attempts at creating a working plugin, but it won't be so easy. Plus, Cycles is on its way, which could very well be the alternative for Blender users if it comes to it; but I can tell you that Octane outdoes Cycles by miles still.

I'm going to miss Blender with Octane.

[matej]

Well, as far as I know, the Blender plugin isn't developed by a RS employee, but a volunteer from the community.

When I said plugin, I meant integrated plugin, like the one for Max. What we have now is an exporter, that serves you nothing if the standalone version won't be supported anymore. There is no open & publicly available Octane API or SDK, only the standalone version ability to import .obj files. Their SDK is available only under contract.

[necko77]

i just cant believe that radiance cant or dontwant to say anything...

is he banned

Who is my boss

fuckin' coorporations . . .

im going to silent mode. . . no more posts or administration on forum till i found out what is going on

this is simply not fair !