3DKiwi

Nodes will say undefined if there's something undefined. I'm looking at your scene. Something not right with it as the user data isn't being picked up. I'll report back when I've figured it out. Got it. Just open the XPresso editor and look for a Node with the name "Object". It's in the upper middle. It says "Undefined" on 3 of the ports. Delete this node and things seem to work. Hope this helps.

Yes they have a pool out the back. They have a summer party that Beta tester's get invited to.

It's really up to MAXON to give the paying customers something to be happy about and address long term issues. Until then there's going to be negativity. Sadly I predict, many won't be happy with R19. R20 could be a different story and I'll be the first to sing their praises if they deliver big time. Yeah no need for personal attacks and offensive posts and the new owners are more tolerant than I would be. I've been highly critical of MAXON but I've never resorted to personal attacks (I think). The people at MAXON are nice people trying to do good things for their customers and their heart is in the right place.

No need for this. Very childish. Edited: Removed the quoted offensive content.

Correct. Any potential review of the super duper R20 would be done with the demo version. I think if I ever do get back into C4D it would be the base version. Studio is way over priced and the base version has most of the stuff I use. Actually Blender is worth keeping an eye on as it's getting to be a strong 3D app. Somewhere I've seen a replacement and more conventional gui for it. Off topic. The developers of Modo are doing a good job. Stability isn't an issue. I've been running the latest 11.1 for a couple of weeks and it hasn't crashed once. Like C4D users there's plenty of people complaining. I'm reasonably happy with what they are doing. The upgrade pricing system has changed that some don't like as it's moved to a MAXON like MSA system although it's a bit more flexible allowing you to skip years but then have to pay a higher annual maintenence fee. I plan to pay the annual $399 US.

I actually think when the new core and super fast object handling comes, then there will be some crazy stuff / massive changes. Xpresso as we know it will likely be replaced by a complete node system or Xpresso 2 for everything including materials. I'm looking forward to it. I may even do one of my epic reviews.

All I'm saying is not all plugin developers are treated equally. A handful of VIP developers will likely get there hands on the next version at the same time as the Beta testers do. Since R19 is not out yet I doubt anyone other than MAXON is running a development version of R20. For sure a couple will be running R19 now and they will be making there product compatible if required.

The problem is no one is allowed to comment about internal development so whether a R20 SDK is available to VIP's I don't know. My guess is it's not especially since R19 is not out yet. That said I can recall testing alpha versions of C4D with some of the new stuff for the next but one version when the next version wasn't out yet. e.g. testing stuff in R16 alpha when R14 was the current version and R15 was to be released soon. My guess is the VIP plugin developers are aware of major changes in R20 since they have access to MAXON's internal forums (just as I used to have when I was a Beta tester). They are then aware what's coming. At some point later this year or early next year and well before R20 is launched those VIP developers will be running Alpha or Beta versions of R20. And by VIP plugin developers I'm not really referring to plugins. Think of external render engines and significant C4D compatible add ons. These guys would need a lot of lead time to make changes. Your average plugin developer has to wait until shipping time and the release of the SDK.

You're assuming that all plugin developers are being treated equally by MAXON. Sure the R19 and R20 SDK won't be out to the general public but there will be a select group of people other that Beta testers with VIP access to MAXON. These people will have signed a non disclosure agreement so aren't able to say anything.

I update my Cinema 4D version in my profile here or more accurately used to. I'm now stuck on R16 having seen the light that MAXON was going to take years to bring me the tools that I wanted. I've given up on waiting. If MAXON had some balls then they would do a sneak preview of the new super fast core that's coming in an upcoming version (other than R19 as it's not coming in that). That would shut a lot of people up and build some enthusiasm.

Even I'm more optimistic about R20 than Cutman. Faster object handling is coming as is updated UV tools. It just won't be R19 however. R20 I'm picking. A lot of the stuff holding C4D back has been down to the old core. With the new core fully integrated (and it won't be in R19) then you'll start seeing better annual upgrades over the next few years. My prediction for R19 is AMD Prorender, updated import / exporters, some modest MoGraph enhancements, some viewport enhancements, no UV tool enhancements apart from a token gesture couple of minor tweaks, no significant modelling enhancements but one tool has probably had some love then from some under the hood stuff to make modelling / polygon construction work with the new core that's coming. Plus a handful of other enhancements e.g. team render, minor character tools and dynamic system enhancements. No material node system in R19. The faster 3D painting may or may not come in R19 following the public beta preview. If you wanted GPU rendering then you'll be happy with R19. If not then you may be disappointed. Look out for MAXON making a big deal of it as there likely won't be much else to get excited about. We'll all know soon as Siggraph is in a few weeks time.

I agree.

Ditto what Cerbera says. It's really up to you and what you want to do in 3D. If it's Motion graphics and general animating then stick with C4D. If it's modelling then Modo is generally better although I wish it had C4D's bevel tool and spine tools. C4D is a great 3D application. However it's way over priced for the Studio version and development has been slow over the last few years. A lot of work is going on behind the scenes to upgrade the core to make C4D quicker. Sadly you're not going to see the result of it in R19.

I'm assuming R19 will be announced at Siggraph 2017. That's at the end of July so not long to wait. Fun times :)

In my opinion the blog was only ever a short term solution to try and take the heat of themselves after the lack lustre R17 and to buy MAXON some time until R18 was launched. I agree, Blender is looking good these days and I gather there's a 3rd party alternative gui that makes it much more accessible.

I don't think warning points are anything new. Pretty sure we had them when I was at the helm. Just that I never enabled the reputation system. I note that not every member shows a warning points line. I do but I'm on zero points.

No material node system in R19 folks. My guess is it will come when the big core upgrade comes.

It won't be R19. Just expect a token gesture with a couple of very minimal UV tool enhancements.

Not available for Modo.

Re Modo. NLA - no. X-Particles - no but it does have a particle system that's similar to Thinking Particles but easier to set up and use. TFD - what's that? If animation is what you're into then Modo isn't what you're looking for although basic animation is just as good as anything else. It's great for modelling and UVing. Re R19. If GPU rendering is what you've been waiting for then you'll love R19. If it's not and you were waiting for more modelling or UV tool enhancements then you're going to be disappointed. Expect AMD Prorender, some modest MoGraph enhancements, updated importers / exporters, very minor UV tool enhancements, handful of other minor enhancements. There will be some under the hood stuff but nothing to get excited about.

I would expect to see a some modest MoGraph enhancements in R19 e.g. one or two current effectors enhanced.

No chance. MAXON didn't even tell their Beta Testers what the roadmap was so there's zero chance that the public would be told. I actually agree with that policy. Software development has a habit of taking longer than originally planned. They have however said that they are working on Bodypaint and a new core. Don't expect any performance enhancements in R19 apart from GPU rendering via AMD Prorender and maybe some LOD viewport stuff.

Ironically Team Render was shoehorned in way before it was ready for prime time. I think the issue is value for money for what you're paying annually. MAXON charges a hefty price for the Studio MSA. Now if it was say half the price I doubt anyone would have much to complain about. However at US $650 per year many expect more. Perhaps when you see what's in R19 or more accurately what isn't you might be a bit more critical of them. Fun times ahead anyway.

Modo is a lot more stable now. My guess is updated UV tools are 1 year away at best case scenario. Don't expect much in R19 apart from a token gesture minor enhancement that they are working on the UV tools. Updated UV tools could likely be tied into the new core so you won't get one without the other.

You're assuming MAXON only started the core rewrite after R16 or thereabouts. In fact I think they've been working on the new core for the last 5-8 years. My prediction: R19 will be a huge disappointment and people will have to wait yet another year for performance enhancements / UV tool enhancements. I also predict that Studio owners paying the annual US $650 for the MSA might be asking why they are paying so much more when the Prime version includes 90% of the new R19 stuff but at only US $250 for the MSA. Look out for MAXON making a big deal of the inclusion of the AMD Prorenderer in R19 that's already been announced. This will be the major enhancement for R19. Then of course there will be the usual swag of minor enhancements. BTW I haven't upgraded to Modo 11.0. Nothing much in that for me. I'll wait until 11.1 and see what that brings.