Hello.
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I love Cinema, first of all, I must say.
I agree with @Fastbee when he says that sidefx has the best price system. It does. Three plataforms, different only in the backstage: the file system. For users there is no difference than in the apprendice final render.
Indie costs 400 euros for two years. 4000 euros for 20 years, if your revenue is under 100.000€, which is natural - if you work alone and you are starting a new live.
Of course you can buy the full version if you earn more than that. That is not the central point in this thread, I think.
Cinema starts to lose some terrain in some areas. Winning in the new fields system, for example.
But, hey, Houdini has some great features, either. Water, smoke, explosions.... Those are missing areas in Cinema. Plugins shouldn't be an excuse, I think.
C4D has the best in its side: it's easier and Faster, more logical and more user friendly than the competition.
In my simple opinion, MAXON would only win with a new price strategy.
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UV, particles, render engine, topology, animation, cloth, xpresso... Those areas should be revised.... or reformed completly.
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MAXON is losing old clients, just reading this forum you,ll understand that, and losing new ones to blender 2.8 or other packages not so expensive.
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As changing C4D struture is not an easy task, I think revising the pricing model should be a priority for commercial department.
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Thanks for listening, I hope.
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João Marco