Moho Forum

$99 or $3000...

... makes no difference at all if you have invested hours upon hours upon hours... of time and effort into work that may have to be "done over" if the program you used vanishes or gets a new name... or a new format... or costs 10 times more to continue using it.

Not questioning support... I don't need support...

... no problems with bugs for me... The program works perfectly for my needs.

I don't need an update. I just want to make sure I picked the right application for the long term.

Months with out a peep from a software developer is a LOOOOOONG time. It would take just a few minutes to post a short note...

Just a few minutes.. while he drinks his coffee... or maybe if has a wireless laptop while he is on the crapper.

p.s. By the way... he must have been here... a bunch of the spam in the Papagayo forum dissapeared a few weeks ago.

-Vern

Vern, what you're saying is self-contradictory.

You've got the software. It's not going to stop working. You have bought it to work as-is.

Your worries about the long term are only valid if you want developer support, updates or bug fixes. You say you don't want them. Therefore you are fine and dandy for the long term.

If you really want something that will be supported forever, use an open source project and learn to program. That's the only way to be absolutely safe.

heyvern wrote: a bunch of the spam in the Papagayo forum dissapeared a few weeks ago

I emailed LM direct to report the problem - it disappeared a few days later.

Rhoel

I still hope for the best. Fair enough LM gets a little computer break, he sure deserves it. I Think we were all used to the quick feedback, but I don't mind a slowdown in that, if it means LM gets more important things done meanwhile.

Best regards.

The400th wrote:Vern, what you're saying is self-contradictory.

You've got the software. It's not going to stop working. You have bought it to work as-is.

Not quite...

I am talking short term with long term expectations. I am happy with the current state of Moho...

... but that is only assuming that there will be continued development and updates.

Does anyone still use Mac Paint? Windows 3.1?

-Vern

Does anyone still use Mac Paint? Windows 3.1?

Absolutely. Either you are in business, or you aren't. Labelling users as uncaring, grasping hypocrites is beside the point....

You are using Mac Paint or Windows 3.1. Even if you don't know. The new softwares are coming from all of the software makers' knowledge.

I think the future of the expensive softwares is getting darker. Now I'm sitting at a computer with Linux, mostly built from GPL licensed open source applications. I don't think it is not professional just because it's free. Big commercial programs has many dirty tricks to be incompatible with their competitors. Yes, they are very comfortable. Yes, they know more things - and more bugs. But...

I like Moho because it has the chance to evolve. Just because it has its LUA (also a freeware) scripting interface. Without it, Moho would get its end shortly. You have the chance to add what you need. Or to correct its mistakes. So even if LM won't continue, others will.

Thank you for LM!

Labelling users as uncaring, grasping hypocrites is beside the point....

I never said you were hypocrites...

I am talking short term with long term expectations. I am happy with the current state of Moho...

... but that is only assuming that there will be continued development and updates.

I think you're asking a lot for $99. You're being sold the software as-is, you're not getting LM's soul. Any further developments of the software are a bonus, not a right.

FAZEK>>>>>"I think the future of the expensive softwares is getting darker."

go to Fazek´s website:
http://www.firkafilm.com/about.html


he sells animation software....
"The Firka software is a linetest tool for cartoon animators."
the price
Euro 1,500 (US$ 1,900++++) :lol:

The400th wrote: I think you're asking a lot for $99.

I think you are missing the point. It makes no difference what the price of the software is, be it $99, $199 or $999. It's about Moho as a product and its future success.

Many of the people expressing concern here are long term uses of Moho, people totally committed to the product: They want to see Moho succeed ... I for one have been actively promoting Moho amongst the European studios who are hell bent on using Flash. Because Moho is better than Flash for series animation. Period.

The problems it's about LM, about poor business practice, not being professional. That may seem harsh to use the unprofesinal but its true. They have taken their eye off the ball.

You criticized my comment on the 3 licences. Okay here is the facts. My head office ordered the three licences online using the companies international VISA account; The following day, I get an email saying the order has been rejected - no reason provied: I cannot order using credit cards issued in this country (Thailand) because LM's appointed order processor will not accept Thai Bank cards. I have requested LM for a Western Union option and they refused.

So here is a little secret never discussed here before: Production guys here tell me they cannot order Moho from Thailand or the Philippines. But there is a large user base here in asia. How? The vast majority are licenced from easily downloadable illegal key generators.

Yet when a large resposible company (we have legal licence policy, 8 MAYA licences and 12 Max 8 licences to date, all ordered online), reports they make three attempts to buy licences and the orders are rejected, LM fail to respond. That is very bad business. Perhaps LM and others will now understand why instead of paying $297, asia companies go to the local pirate shop and buy a full Moho 5 packages with key-generator for $3.95 (150THB). Yet if the full revenue of the hacked versions/lost orders were realised by LM, Mike would be in the position to have another fully paid programmer. QED.

So I request this again, LM: Customers and LM both need a Western Union payment option, because you are losing a lot of money: Currently, the pirates are doing very well, thank you very much.


So returning to the present silence.

One can speculate over the causes ... understaffing and too much workload, domestic pressures, or whatever. The reasons are immaterial.

The reality is there is now a crisis of confidence in LM. From experience, I have twice seen animation companies go through this, and twice I have seen big film compaies buy out the lsole programmer so they can get access to the source code - that way the can make the changes with their own programmers and SA's, and finish their film project: The film producers then shut down the software division once the film is on screen. Each time, it has been the little studios or lone animators who have lost out, their key aniamtion tool history.

I have no interest in seeing LM go the same way - Moho has too much potential for that. Its a good program. But LM has to stop shooting themselve in the foot and get their act together. If they don't, Moho simply will not be around in 12 months time.

Rhoel.

Rhoel, I think there's one salient fact you may be forgetting: you refer to LM as "they", when it seems clear that Lost Marble is the trading name of just one individual. So it's "him". And the trouble with having a product both written and marketed by an individual is that the time and talents of that soul are going to be spread awfully thin. Dissatisfaction from animators and larger companies (such as yours) trying to use the program commercially is bound to happen since you rightly expect products and services you buy to be properly supported.

I don't know what the solution is but I would suggest that anyone planning on using Moho for an animation series should contemplate budgeting for commissioning LM to adapt the software specific to their needs, always assuming that LM is up for it and possible to communicate with. I know it's not very likely, but it's a thought.

Jeff

anybody else get any response to LM via email????
i have written a few times in the last month(s) 2 tech support and never a reply. i thought it was because my question
was 2 dumb for them to want to answer (or maybe i wrote to wrong address).
but now i wonder if LM is on
a) long vacation
b) got a new job
c) sick
d) its over?
anybody have contact withLM????? strange LM doesnot even respond to this thread...why help rumors grow?????

zlimbot wrote:FAZEK>>>>>"I think the future of the expensive softwares is getting darker."

go to Fazek´s website:
http://www.firkafilm.com/about.html


he sells animation software....
"The Firka software is a linetest tool for cartoon animators."
the price
Euro 1,500 (US$ 1,900++++) :lol:

I must answer this. What I said is not about Firka, it is an old story and I don't think Firka would be a freeware or widely used program ever. It has no chance. Its price is for the big studios, and they get for this price a powerful tool for "industrial" cartoon making. In a big studio, its price can be refunded within 1-2 months. In the latest years, even the big studios are finding cheaper solutions. We have an animation studio, and this software is good for us (not only for me!) and even for the Hungarian studios, to get a little advantage in technology. We want to keep this, so we won't sell Firka for lower price.

However, it has a free version too.

I really think it is better to use and develop open softwares. The price is not important in this meaning, but of course the free softwares will be more successful. The important thing is to give the chance to others to advance the technology.

jeff wrote:I don't know what the solution is but I would suggest that anyone planning on using Moho for an animation series should contemplate budgeting for commissioning LM to adapt the software specific to their needs, always assuming that LM is up for it and possible to communicate with. I know it's not very likely, but it's a thought.

You have a bug in my office This was something we actually discussed today. Mike has my email so he knows how to contact us.

Jeff wrote:Lost Marble is the trading name of just one individual.

I understand this factor - mentioned directly in the post

Rhoel wrote:Mike would be in the position to have another fully paid programmer. QED.

One of the problems of an individual trading as a company is commercial customers can be fooled into thing the operation is large than it is. That then leads to expectations which a lone programmer may not be able to face.

Let's hope Mike is okay and gets back to letting everyone know what is happening.

where have all the long term posters at LM forum gone?
rasheed, ramon,7feet,myles,bupaje,rylleman...everybody has disappeared!!!??!:!:
they r usually first to comment...but not now....
u guyz know something what´s up at LM - is there a new update coming out? ever? does LM answer anybody´s emails???