I've got 4.5 too, been using ALOT on a project for my wife. It has a lot of weird idiosyncrasies that drive me nuts, but despite that I do think, for animation at least, it's a really good package. I'm not happy about how they go and fix bugs either, but at least this gets me a good deal on an upgrade if they make their goal. But I do agree, the company as a whole doesn't represent itself very well at all. On the other hand, the guys at setuptab.com are just amazing, with lots of tutorials and info there. And it beats the hell out of character animating in Houdini!

Progress bar : 82 % at this day ;)
How I know that?
Just see the source code of the page :)

Maybe 4% can be added by the rounded ending image :)

Goal reached about an hour ago. They are allowing a short time to place orders for those with connection difficulty. (17 hours to go).

LOL, I have to say it's tempting! :-P

-Will

I actually got this email today:

Act now for 0% financing on all Autodesk software

Not sure if it's connected but I had a mental image of a little bead of sweat
on the brow of the sleeping giant. ;)

(hmmm, that might make for a good animation)

If AD had a "buy back in" for Softimage, I'd perhaps consider it again.

Funny thing is, I can still renew my maintenance (and pay a $100 "late fee" - thanks for the punishment, AD) but would still have to renew up again in September...

The one thing I was really looking forward to was the ICE kinematics components for modeling / rigging functionality, and of course NOW all that stuff is being added in.

The last thing I was got was FaceRobot before I let it go.

-Will