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Mac & Zbrush 3 Thread

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1901

I have just posted this letter to ZBrush support. Feel free to copy it.

Dear Pixologic, I have just read your announcement regarding the development of ZBrush for the Mac OS X platform. According to the announcement you will not be producing version 3.0 or 3.1 for OS X.

It is my opinion that this is the second time you have broken the agreement between you and myself when I purchased in January, 2008. According to our agreement you would supply me with a Windows capable version of ZBrush 3.1 while you completed the development of the OS X version. It was implied that the OS X version was nearing the end of its development. Since there is no version of ZBrush which runs under OS X on my machine (MacPro) what you were actually selling me was a product I could not use without further purchase of the Windows operating system or until you released version 3.1 for OS X.

What in fact was the case was this: The OS X version had not even been put into beta testing. I know this since the invitation to beta test went out near the end of February. Since the beta was not public, I have no way of knowing what version you actually seeded to your testers, but the implication was that it was 3.1. So there was at that point the tacit promise that you would in the near future be supplying me with the promised software.

It is now five months later. You have effectively cancelled development of the software you promised and indicated that you will not be delivering anything I can use for at least two months. Given your track record, I don’t expect you to make good on this promise either.

Therefore I ask that you refund the full price I paid in January without delay.

If in the future you produce a product which will run under OS X, I will consider purchasing it.

Thank you

Will MacNeil - Animation and Editing

#1902

Out of the frying pan, and…

#1903

Well said…

#1904

That announcement isn’t worth the pixels/bandwidth it was printed on. LOL!
Maybe they got us now, a new free update, well an update from nothing is still nothing. So I guess when they deliver nothing we’ll be square right?

#1905

I’m okay with using bootcamp to run Zbrush right now since I need to run 3dsMax anyway, but I am not sure I understand their reasoning behind giving the upgrade free to both Windows and Mac. Windows got what they paid for, now they are getting free stuff just for the heck of it. (Nothing against windows users I would be happy if it was me.) Unless all future upgrades will be free it’s confusing.

#1906

I was wondering about this also.

#1907

It has been Pixologic’s policy to give free upgrades for both Mac & Windows since ZBrush version 1.55.

#1908

This isnt comedy anyone who has deal wiht Uhaul has probably gone tru this. I rented a small truck for a move a couple years ago and got their largest "semi’ truck instead because they did this exact ting. As a matter of fact in the last 10 years I have rented from uhaul they have always had to give me a bigger truck.

#1909

It’s very easy to say free upgrade when you don’t have an upgrade to give.

Hey everyone, as soon as I have enough Lamborghinis, I’m going to give everyone in this forum a free one!

#1910

I just put in a request to sales for a refund (I’m PPC quad). I really wanted Zbrush 3 and it’s features and so bought “the promise” basically.

#1911

This is a tough situation, folks. Don’t like to play the Devil’s advocate here, especially since I feel just as frustrated, and as indignant about the handling of this situation as the rest of you. It’s been outrageous to say the least.
However, I think we have to consider the big picture here.
As bad as Pixo handled this situation, and it was bad; I really doubt that they intended to disappoint us by not delivering the goods. They probably started out with good intentions, but things became more difficult then they imagined, and they ended up painting themselves into a corner.
Instead of dealing with the situation head on, by telling customers who already spent the money that they can’t deliver the goods as expected, they hit the panic button, and hid under a rock. Perhaps, even as we speak, they could be working day and night like dogs without let-up on our behalf to deliver a working mac version. We may never know. They won’t say. Who knows what resources they have expended on our behalf in order to do this.
The questions are: Can they, or we afford to pull out now? Can we afford to wait any longer? Maybe not. Do we even want to? If we decide we can’t wait any longer, than that may mean no ZBrush 3, or any other ZBrush for mac ever. Do we want to take that chance? Maybe we think it won’t happen no matter what we do. Don’t make a decision out of anger, but take the time to cool down. Then, only after careful consideration, make that choice.
Only a team effort will make ZBrush 3 on Mac a reality. Pixologic needs to start treating mac users as part of the team instead of the enemy. I think if they reached out to us sincerely, it can still happen… for all of us.

#1912

So what exactly happened in these four years? What happened to 3.1 for mac? I should feel satisfied, but I don’t. Maybe it was because I was hoping for a bigger announcement and a more open Q&A system. It was essentially Aurick popping onto the boards saying, “Zbrush 3.5 is coming before the end of the year. That is all.” Then we get a bunch of photos of their trade show booth using models that were all built using the old software. In fact, I’m pretty sure those photos show old stuff entirely. I don’t know what I was anticipating exactly, but I think all this natural hype and pressure ultimately set us up for disappointment. Anything short of demo videos, immediate downloads, website overhauls, and the second coming, seems kind of anti-climactic… BTW Mudbox looks really cool, too bad they don’t believe in mac either.

#1913

I, personally, would be relatively pleased with a Beta version at this point… The beta release of Lightwave for Intel macs was the only thing that kept me onboard with Newtek instead of droppong the license entirely and just workinf in Maya/Modo…

So a beta version… please? I understand that it will have glitches but all of my other high end apps are on my Mac partition, not windows… even photoshop. So any time I want to do anything aside from ZBrush work, I have to reboot. I would rather deal with some bugs save the reboot time. After all, page one of this thread says that the app is in advanced beta… can we get that beta or were they just telling us complete fabrications?

#1914

(regarding a refund) I can’t say I blame you. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in making the purchase before discovering the ZB forums not knowing there was already a long history of waiting. The way it was presented it appeared the mac version was just around the corner.

Luckily this software is not critical to my work. The company did expense my purchase with the idea that my work would benefit from the addition. I have let them down on that end …it will reflect in my annual review come 1st quarter '09 I’m sure. …but really, I blame myself. I should have known better than to have faith in vapor ware.

I will install 3.5 when it comes and probably begin to work with it…but it will be a day late and a penny shy.

#1915

I fail to see how this is news at all. They’re going to release a new version at some point in the future? Kind of goes without saying, doesn’t it? I mean, that’s what software companies do, they typically release new versions every once in a while. It’s been a while. I kind of figured they would have something new at some point. And it all has nothing to do with my question: where’s my 3.1?

Look, the thing is this: if they have something really cool up their sleeve, something brilliant came to Ofer in a dream one night, great, more power to him. You want to change course, shift resources, hey, it’s your company. But you’re doing it after the sale, buddy, and that’s not right. I appreciate the free upgrade, however, I’ve lost a lot of time here. Just wished you would have talked to us.

But, you know what, it’s all water under the bridge. I’ve been doing just as much griping as everyone else, just not here on the forum. Didn’t get me anything, and it never will. The past is the past, it’s not coming back. I’m ready to move forward. And if Pixologic is ready to move forward, okay. I wouldn’t say I’m giving pixo another chance. I’m not their father. I’m just going to do my thing. Z2 kind of works, and I can throw a little modo into the mix, whatever it takes. I’m not letting the tools stop me. As for ZBrush 3.5, 4.5, 0.0, it’s gonna be what it’s gonna be. I’d like to see Pixologic succeed. I think they have something special. It was ZBrush that got me excited about 3D again.

So how about it? Are you guys ready to step up? Don’t talk about it, just do it. Talking isn’t your strong suit anyway.

#1916


  • The next release of ZBrush will be Version 3.5.
    • >
  • Version 3.5 will be released in the fourth quarter of 2008.
    • >
  • ZBrush 3.5 will be a FREE upgrade to all registered users (PC and Mac).
    • >
  • This will be the first unified version of ZBrush. That means that it will be released concurrently for Windows and Mac (Intel).
    • >

Fourth quarter… So, I’m guessing around… say, late February - March? Like 3.1 did?

Anyway, good to hear that they’re planning a unified release. Wonder if ZB uses cocoa? Hmmm…

Here’s a quick survey for everyone waiting for ZB for the mac:
You gotta do this hires 3D thing, and you run leopard. Means no ZB. What do you do?

I got me a modo.

#1917

Well, Intel only…*I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised, cause it took them so long to make it.

What we really want is screens, or even better, videos of ZB3.5 running on a Mac.

#1918

THAT pisses me off to no end…when you say a “free upgrade for the mac” and then WAIT 3 years to do it and expect me to UPGRADE TO A NEW COMPUTER JUST BECAUSE a NEWER mac comes out!!! What the F…!! I DON’T GET IT!! Free upgrade…WTF???

#1919

Come on guys, we’ve wanted news for a long time & we’ve got news, good news actually!!!

OK it’s not an immediate release, but at least it’s a unified one, Imagine the noise if Pixologic don’t satisfy either Mac or PC users!!!

But still some here are not happy, I appreciate some people having paid for the software etc, but I paid for it too & I paid a bit more again when I switched to Mac. Think this as a blessing, I miss ZB like hell, it’s my main tool & has been since 1.55!!!

I won’t install Windows so I have nothing, so I am in the same boat as everyone else. I am happy that at least it’s coming, very soon & I believe Pix will come good this time…

#1920

well!..news at last from the horses mouth!

for apple g4 and g5 users…not good news…still that’s how the cookie’s crumble…

i was hoping to see some vids this week but i’ll have to make do with a paragraph or so of text…

ahh well back to watching the autodesk live steam.