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

[neverko]

...and we might even not be around anymore next year.

With this inane DRM you probably won't. How can you sell a product to people and then alter it so drastically after taking people's money? I absolutely hate always-online DRM, for a multitude of reasons, and I would never have bought Octane if you had advertised it to be utilizing such atrociously retarded DRM.

I will no longer be recommending this software to anyone and I'll make sure to let people know of the loathesome always-online protection you're going to use.

Way to completely destroy the goodwill you've built up. Really well done. Bravo.

[AquaGeneral]

I find this entire situation saddening to be honest. For me this new system won't be a problem, but it seems I am only lucky. I don't like seeing one of the best and honest developers being disheartened more and more as he replies.

I think that we should all at least ease-up until v2.3 is released. Perhaps from there some issues can be worked out. Until then all of this highly-negative talk should cease.

[foxid]

Yeahhh...Lets get a bottle of vodka and ease-up for 2.3)

[ilac]

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.

You have a drop in sales for 3 reasons:
1. You had a huge influx because of the incredible offer you had.
2. You've already saturated the potential market of people prepared to invest in Beta 0.2.2 software.
3. Potential new buyers are waiting for the long advertised new release before committing to purchase. This is also normal. I'd expect a sudden influx in sales when you release 2.3 with a drop off again after you saturate that next stage.

None of this has to do with pirated copies. You're mixing a correlation of events for causality. Just because 2 things happen at the same time doesn't mean one is responsible for the other but both may have a common origin. in this case 2.2 has now been out for a while.

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

Can you please tell us what the new feature is? What is the added benefit of having Octane connected to the net DURING rendering?

Thanks

[ROUBAL]

@Iknowmedia :

I really can’t imagine a pc without internet. Install a decent virus scanner and a firewall what’s your problem?

You may not be able to imagine it, but if your rare clients (in hightech industry) tell you they will not work anymore with you if you work on a machine linked to internet, then the only choices are to comply or loose the clients and starve ! It is so simple.

[iknowmedia]

@Iknowmedia :

I really can’t imagine a pc without internet. Install a decent virus scanner and a firewall what’s your problem?

You may not be able to imagine it, but if your rare clients (in hightech industry) tell you they will not work anymore with you if you work on a machine linked to internet, then the only choices are to comply or loose the clients and starve ! It is so simple.

@ROUBAL, So what you telling is that your client is owning your life?

[Ayertosco]

Just wait for more info on this method. If it requires only few minutes of connection as Nostromo hinted and you haven't to be connected to render....then you can simply plug the ethernet cable on octane starting and unplug it when you have to load your works. Just wait and let see how it works.

[foxid]

@Iknowmedia :

I really can’t imagine a pc without internet. Install a decent virus scanner and a firewall what’s your problem?

You may not be able to imagine it, but if your rare clients (in hightech industry) tell you they will not work anymore with you if you work on a machine linked to internet, then the only choices are to comply or loose the clients and starve ! It is so simple.

And u can imagine people from India, China, Russia, Africa, and post-Soviet countryes which have bad inet connection too or just without any inet at home or at work PCs.

[tungee]

Features like arae lights, Mlt, IES- lights and much more...
and you will forget the internet connection discussion.
If the user experience should be good with the new system, than everything wiill be good for us all.
For us customers and the developers.
Otherwise Radiance is intelligent enough to do the right thing

[SurfingAlien]

Radiance,
I'm not a marketing guru but I also think the current drop of sales is due to 1) people waiting for new features/plugins and 2) the huge 50$ sale not so long ago (I mean, one whole week at 50%... anybody out there had the chance to hear and buy Octane!).

seeing so many cracked versions around makes me really angry and sad but I don't think you're loosing so much sales for that

that said you have my support: it's your business and I wish you good luck with any decision you'll take, since you will reap the benefits or pay the price. I really hope to use Octane through rel. 1-2-3-4-5-... ; in the same time I really hope anybody with a problematic internet connection or privacy issues will find a solution