Discreet DROPS price on Combustion . . .
In a surprise announcement, Discreet has introduced a world-wide aggressive price package for the software bundle of Combustion v2 with Cleaner (available for both MAC and PC platforms.)
It started last week with a post on a Combustion Forum at the www.creativeCOW.net: Discreet Dealers in the USA were offering a package of Combustion v2 with Cleaner included for only US $1497,00 Then, this week in Europe, the offer was echoed: The powerful pair for Euro 1850,00
This reflects an ASTOUNDING 70% REDUCTION in PRICE!
In lowering the price on the powerful tools of Combustion, Discreet has shifted their strategy and is making a strong challenge to the Adobe After Effects customer. Will this plan work? Only time will tell.
What about new versions of Combustion? When asked at IBC 2002, there was no promise of when or what. It is expected that the next release will be a "dot" release (for example 2.1) and include some basic new features, but Discreet is not saying when.
Ever Hear of "Software Subscriptions?"
As for other guessing: I would venture to state that, since Discreet has already introduced their new "3ds max Software Subscription" model (which is the model used at parent company Autodesk,) it is not too much of a stretch to see this happening with Combustion in the near future....
The Subscription Model is where users pay a yearly amount to get all updates, patches and perhaps basic support, rather than buying an upgrade when it is announced. Discreet has set the 3ds max subscription strating price at Euro 470,00, with renewals at Euro 400,00 If existing users order before Oct. 31st, then they can get the special "renewal" rate.
This subscription model is especially applicable to Discreet Combustion, since Apple too has already announced that SHAKE has exactly such a plan! See the Apple website at: http://www.apple.com/shake/proreseller.html
So, along with Microsoft, it seems that these software giants are trying to collect a yearly revenue stream, instead of the upgrade order every other year....