Portsmouth University invests in 150 3ds Max subscription licenses

Portsmouth University’s Department of Creative Technologies has invested in 150 seats of Autodesk 3ds Max 3D modelling, animation and rendering software.
The department has also signed up to the 3ds Max Subscription Programme so that students will always be using the most up-to-date technology available and the department doesn’t have to worry about outdated versions, major upgrades or unpredictable costs.
By paying an annual fee, the department knows exactly what it will be paying for software every year. They can also access feature extensions that are exclusive to subscription customers and access e-Learning training courses.
“We get a great deal with the 3ds Max Subscription Programme. It means we can keep our software up to date and allow students to get to grips with the latest versions,” said Dr Steve Hand, head of department. “With Subscription we get a whole package that includes training and support – its great value for money.”
The department purchased the software through Autodesk’s educational reseller, Academia. Alex Counsell, multimedia labs manager at the University explained: “Academia was the only reseller that could offer a complete package including training, hotline support and an open dialogue with Autodesk.”
Academia has included a three-day 3ds Max 7 training course for six people and a discount on future courses. They’ve also sponsored a 3ds max license to be awarded as a student prize.
The new investment is part of a department-wide expansion which has seen it take on more staff and invest in more resources, including new hardware and software. The department was set up two years ago and offers state of the art facilities including a Vicon motion capture room and an 11-metre display 3D virtual reality room. It’s developing a large portfolio of courses for undergraduates and postgraduates.
“We’re a technology department, not an art and design or media department. 3ds Max is very flexible, especially with Max Script, so it’s particularly well suited to our courses,” explained Steve. “We chose 3ds Max because we want our students to be using the industry standard software. We’re also keen to form links with industry leaders and Autodesk joins companies like Sony, IBM and BSkyB in the list of companies that we’re working closely with.”
3ds Max software will be used by students taking Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Animation, Computer Games Technology, Digital Media and final year students taking Entertainment Technology. It will also be used by Master of Science students taking Digital Media degrees and a new Computer Animation course which is being launched this year.
In total, around 250 undergraduate students and 30 postgraduate students will be using 3ds Max every year.
(GB)