I'm talking about Alias' Maya 6.5 (as if the version number really made a difference). This 3D software is well known in the field of computer graphics, and has been known to churn out some really fantastic (hollywood) stuff. Thus it scores high on delivering results. What really bothers users like me is the experience of mastering the software. Makes users feel like retards who can't tell keyboard from the mouse. Sure, new users look upon the product as the necessary choice where creating fabulous work is concerned. Most users would agree that Maya is a good tool for professional, quality-assured results. Show anyone completed works of Maya and it would be easy to draw praises and compliments. But what goes on behind the scenes is a horror story.
The user interface for Maya is highly intimidating for new users; one look will turn you to stone. Row after row of buttons and controls line the interface, half of which have names most beginners won't immediately understand (what the hell is IK?). Adding to that is the symbol for each button; totally unintuitive, and in any case its too damn small to even make out what it is. Even worse, for every button that you press, an options panel lined with (again) buttons, checkboxes, textboxes, and full of technical terms appear by the side, asking for inputs.
But the most frustrating aspect of Maya is not understanding the functions, for you can just ignore the irrelevant ones; you can die trying to adjust the view of the object under creation. Shift, alt, ctrl, left mouse, right mouse, middle mouse, mousewheel. Every damn finger is needed to control the interface. Press alt-left mouse to rotate view, alt-middle mouse to pan, shift-left mouse to select, .....Psycho-motor nightmare.
What users quickly learn from their first experiences with Maya is that the help section provided is very very important. Unfortunately, even with the help manuals repeated attempts of trial and error still has to be carried out before decent work begins to take shape. This all contributes to an extremely frustrating experience with the software. Head banging begins. If you are feeling extremely irritated reading up to this part of my post, its much worse dealing with Maya. Patience is the key. Most users would go through the same steep learning curve and infinite rounds of trial and error.
Naturally, this leads to the formation of a rather unfriendly impression of Maya to users. What Maya can deliver is truely awe-inspiring; what it takes to deliver is truely fear-inspiring. This product was not designed for the new and intermediate user in mind (as if experts were natural-born freaks). It goes for functionality without sufficient considerations for usability, and it leads to a really hellish experience trying to figure things out. Every new user would have to go through the same fiery trial of frustration and despair, and its not surprising how many aspiring 3D artists were turned off by this product. If any emotion can be evoked from the interaction, it can only border on pure bloody hatred for the designers of the software.
Where software tools are concerned, its very important to leave your users with a pleasant experience interacting with the software. A good experience handling the software gives the necessary confidence to scale greater heights, and it is this experience that separates the good softwares from the truly great softwares. Good softwares allow you to create fantastic work. Great softwares allow you to create fantastic work without biting your head off.
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