Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 30, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Almost 40 percent can be saved on the suite, which includes Maya 2011 or 3ds Max, the 3D modelling, animation, rendering and compositing tools. It also includes Softimage with the Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) and Autodesk Face Robot technology for facial animation. For sculpting and texture painting, the Creation Suite includes Mudbox, while MotionBuilder serves as the real-time 3D engine.
Final rendering is handled by Turtle, the rendering and baking plug-in for Maya (if you choose the Maya version of the suite), along with Lagoa Multiphysics, a new multiphysics simulation for Softimage ICE with effects such as plastic, liquids, gases, soft bodies, cloth and foam.
The packages exchange data with one another through FBX, which handles FBIK character rigs from Maya and biped rigs from 3ds Max with MotionBuilder, the import/export of Mudbox data into Maya and 3ds Max scenes, and the exchange of 3D data with Autodesk applications and certain applications from other companies.
The Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Premium will be available from September 29, 2010 for 6,495 US dollars, offering substantial savings compared with individual licences.
If you cannot decide between Maya and 3ds Max, you can look at a comparison of the two packages produced by Pfeiffer Consulting. Pfeiffer Consulting is a research and consulting company specialising within the technology industry in publishing, digital-content creation and new media.
Further links:
- Methodology, system configuration, benchmarks and results
3ds Max study
Maya 2011 study
3ds Max benchmarks
Maya 2011 benchmarks
