*** Octane 2.3+ will require network connection for use ***

[Elvissuperstar007]

)))

[ROUBAL]

Even at zero cost, even with a firewall, the internet connection is not an acceptable condition. This has been already discussed with my clients.

I also want to say that a machine not connected to the web is much more stable on the duration. On my internet machine, many Windows updates brought me problems and I have had to reinstall the system several times, a thing that never occured on my insulated computer.

The only solution would be to replace one of my 4 current machines (none of them have PCIe slots except my workstation) by a new one and a second modem that would have to be not used at the same time as the current (distant) one.

If I had the money to purchase one more machine, it would have to be a dual quad at least , and not a machine equal or inferior to my current workstation. It would be a real waste of money and I would have to pospone for years before being able to purchase a better machine. I can't afford it.

[David]

Radiance,

Once again, this is the very same anti-piracy system that Ubisoft is currently using.

For exemple the game "Silent hunter V" that got a very bad press precisely because of that "need to be connected to play" (even in single mode)

Do you know that all their games that have that kind of protection have been cracked ?

So why would you think that Octane will be spared by pirates ?

You said it would be fair for everyone, but it is not. Perhaps you live in town where there is very little connexion problems, but think about those who live in remote country like me.

I live in Cevennes south of France and if there are some French here they can testify that weather condition often cause big telephone (and internet connexion) problems here, it takes a very long time to fix.

So when I bought an Octane licence (still in beta) you didn't specify that you will change the anti-piracy system. I didn't bought just the beta but up to the final version.

It means that by this way you make me not able to use Octane correctly anymore. And yet I am supposed to be able to use Octane without problem up to version 1.

After that, In version 2 you will have the right to change the conditions but not before.

[_pepis]

Hello,

I am really happy with my octane purchase. And i really don;t mind to have my internet on all the time.
But I understand people who complain about this system. The ones with FBI projects on their computers ) and those with no stable internet connection.
Radiance, you should consider to give it up (I mean this antypiracy system). Focus on developing current version, on adding new great features.
For lincensed user you guys can offer :
- frequent updates (as it isn't now
- great support (as it is now),
- tutorials, additional modules and so on
- access to society in forum full licensed, experienced users


These would be a good reason to buy Octane instead of having this pirated sh*t, especially when the price for a license is very low (even 50EUR!), it really doesn't make any sense to try to download and crack the software if someone is serious creator. Even this 100EUR is still fantastic price for such good software (even on its present stage).
More, you'll never win with thefts. Ubisoft and many others faced the problem, and they didn't stop piracy and probably never will. So maybe you'd better stop wasting your amazing talent to create antipiracy sollution and try to attract new customers with fast development of the software...

You wrote that you noticed 8x less lincensed sold.... Are you sure this is due to illegal copies? Maybe it is only seasonal thing?
And I think that what David wrote is fair.

Again, thanks for Octane - the best renderer I've used in my life.

sorry for my english,

Peter

[joelegecko]

8/10 pirated copies for a legitimate copy is more or less the usual piracy rate for any softare/content developper. I'd like to remind you that Octane isn't finished yet and is still in Beta.

The amount of people willing to buy an unfinished product and test it is very low. Sales will get better once the final stable version is out. Octane is a very good product ( for me its only limitation comes from the limited amount of memory on graphic cards ) and will certainly get very good reviews. But all features haven't been implemented yet. Most buyers are certainly waitin for the v1.0. I wish you will focus more on content for your legitimate customers than chasing the chimera of anti-piracy.

Right now Octane is requiring very specific hardware ( quite expensive if you want some very good results ), is limited by graphic card memory, is missing many important features and will be involving some useless online protection. With a program still in Beta, I think you're shooting yourself in the foot and doing yourself some bad press.

With all the features people asked about, such online "features" would be by far the least asked for. I'm 100% with you fighting piracy as long as you don't use your legitimate customers as human shields.

And concerning internet reliability, it all depends on your ISP. I live 15 minutes away from Ubisoft Montreal's offices and it didn't prevent me from suffering from their protection "feature"

[Elvissuperstar007]

octane is not just the best of its kind, intuitive interface is not loaded with superfluous, I opened the Arion and my brain nearly exploded from such meat, it probably did for robots))) for $ 1000 who will buy it? )

[datmixx]

Let's wait 2.3 before complaining too much...

I'm sure we'll have some good new features and a LOT of pleasure using Octane!!

Keep going guys!

[ROUBAL]

@gristle : sorry, I had missed your question :

What renderer did you use prior to Octane, Roubal? Cant you revert to that?

Before the appearance of Octane, I had purchased an indigo license and I started to use it for realistic renders, but it is really slow and tedious to setup materials compared to the interative method used by Octane and I did really few works with it.

I already invested 1500 Euros in hardware and software to use Octane (Cubix Pro 2, GTX 260, Win 7x64 Pro, and 8 GB of Ram) and I planned to purchase two GTX480 in a close future (I will postpone that purchase!)

These improvements don't bring me anything for Indigo, even if it seems to move to a mixed CPU/GPU rendering method, there is currently no clue that the Cubix will be usable with it.

Currently Octane is for me the best solution for realistic rendering, but if things goes in the way they seem, I'm afraid that I will not be able to use it any more...

[iknowmedia]

We haven’t even see the 2.3 release so stop complaining and wait for the release. I think that some of the important files will be streamed from there server so that Octane will work. Unbelievable that so much people have bad internet. I really can’t imagine a pc without internet. Install a decent virus scanner and a firewall what’s your problem? One other thing, if your render/art is used bij someone else without your permission you get pissed off right? and flip!

@Radiance, Can't wait to see 2.3 released keep up the good work.

[geo_n]

Hi all,

It's simple.

* internet connection required -> 3rd developer comes onboard soon, octane will grow and may take the lead
* we keep the current system -> mark will have to leave in 2-3 months and i will need to start looking for a job early next year, and i don't think we'll make it to v1.0 final.

Since about 2 weeks now, since the amount of cracked octane copies has started flooding the web, our sales has dropped, we're selling 8x less and are now under break-even.
If anyone says this is a bad business move for us, think again with what i just explained above.

I've always been here for you, spent a LOT of time on this project and i know what goes and what does'nt, otherwise i would'nt have managed to develop octane up to what it is now with the limited resources i had, especially in the beginning.

I don't just make stupid decisions, i've thought about this a lot, and we've discussed this with the team aswell. it's simply necessary.
As such i'd appreciate if people stop complaining about it, and try to find solutions to work with the new requirement.
People have invested money in GPUs, changed systems, installed new motherboards, PSU's just for octane. I don't see a reason why adding an RJ45 cable to your 3d workstation and adding a firewall to it (we will supply what port(s) need to be opened) is that much more work.

ilac -> i'm not trying to pass off an anti-piracy system as a new feature trust me, this initially started as a new feature and has a 'side-effect' of making pirated copies useless.

Radiance

Thank you for being honest. I fully support your decision now. If it will lead to further development of this software then so be it. If in the future your company is much more stable, please do give the benefits that you get to us, your clients, and a better license system could be implemented. Only time will tell if this system you will have will lessen piracy and in the future you can decide better.