I’ve used Max, Maya, and XSI and I am well aware of the great abilities they possess… and I miss them dearly. Of course the conundrum is that I am not wealthy, so buying Max, Maya, XSI, even Lightwave is quite out of the question unless there is some justification, so let’s take look at some likelihoods:

  1. I will not likely be doing commercial work anytime soon.
  2. I can’t justify the expense of commercial applications unless I’m justifying the expense through doing commercial work.
  3. If I am to ever find my way into commercial work, I better be able to use a commercial tools.

A nightmarish Catch 22.

In comes Houdini Apprentice HD – which I’ve talked about before. A chance to use the top level version of a high level app for non-commercial work with no watermark (and I hate watermarks). That’s pretty cool, and also quite a revolutionary opportunity. I’ve downloaded Houdini Apprentice (the one with a watermark) and have immersed myself in any video tutorial I can find. I am impressed, very impressed. It is obviously built for high level production and has a really impressive workflow… not to mention the tools it has. I was tearing up with joy to see the speed at which one can create. Ah! You’re interested in the tool I was most surprised to find? Muscle systems!!!

So I intend to buy – yes, buy – Houdini Apprentice HD for the glorious price of $100. It can only help me in the long run. And who knows, I might one day have a Houdini video tutorial library as massive as the Blender video tutorials!

Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.
-William Shakespeare (Henry VI Part 3)