MG Posted January 26, 2003 Share Posted January 26, 2003 3DBuzz does it for free? I mean, does he have some deal a la "pay-per-click" (for the VTMs) or something? I just don't know. Ok ok, it's free and it offers tons of tutorial animations, wheter they are useful or not. So I guess I shouldn't complain. But questions like: How many spheres were created in this lesson? really irritate me. Because, I've teached Houdini for most of the part to myself already, and I'm doing the course mainly as reference. And Questions like those aren't really foccused on Houdini at all. So, I mostly pass with 90% because I 'guess' those questions. It seems, the higher "level" you reach the more of those questions you get.... Bah, like I said... I just don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Posted January 26, 2003 Author Share Posted January 26, 2003 Oh and... Appart from 3DBuzz and his friend's (?) "Infomercial"-way of talking, they call vertices/edges (etc.) "guys"! While I thought I was insane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted January 26, 2003 Share Posted January 26, 2003 Marco, the only reason Buzz asked about "How many spheres were created in this tutorial" was because they wanted to know if you really have gone through the video. Otherwise, what is the reason for making the video in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG Posted January 26, 2003 Author Share Posted January 26, 2003 Hey, I know that. But thing is that the (more) intermediate user usually knows most of the basic Houdini stuff already. And a reason? Well... as reference and excersize perhaps? By the way, how did you know my first name was "Marco"? Who are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busbyj Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 To answer your questions: * No, I do not have some sort of "deal a la "pay-per-click" (for the VTMs)". I pay for most of 3D Buzz out of my own pocket. Sure, I have sponsors - including SESI, but they are charged very little. It is costing me a fortune to operate the Houdini Online Class. I would actually start making money if I dropped their sponsorship and the Houdini class. Why do I do it - simple: I care very much about helping others learn - and Houdini is an incredible application. * "wheter they are useful or not" - I would hope that everything I do helps those that are new to Houdini... otherwise, I'm wasting my time as well as theirs. * The VTM completion tests were written to verify that you have watched the VTMs. Yes - you can "guess" at the answers and eventually get them correct - but that is not the point. If you are not interested in using the system properly, perhaps it would be best to simply download the lessons and be done with it. Bah, like I said... I just don't know. I do the best I can - it's that simple. I must get back to work - I've been going without sleep for most of the week trying to wrap up a significant amount of content (including new Houdini lessons).... getting soooo close. Sincerely, buzz 3D Buzz http://www.3dbuzz.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MG@school Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 To answer your questions:* No, I do not have some sort of "deal a la "pay-per-click" (for the VTMs)". I pay for most of 3D Buzz out of my own pocket. Sure, I have sponsors - including SESI, but they are charged very little. It is costing me a fortune to operate the Houdini Online Class. I would actually start making money if I dropped their sponsorship and the Houdini class. Why do I do it - simple: I care very much about helping others learn - and Houdini is an incredible application. ... * "wheter they are useful or not" - I would hope that everything I do helps those that are new to Houdini... otherwise, I'm wasting my time as well as theirs. I realize that. And I've never questioned your VTM's wheter they are "useful" or not. They are excellent, especially for people that are completely new to Houdini. * The VTM completion tests were written to verify that you have watched the VTMs. Yes - you can "guess" at the answers and eventually get them correct - but that is not the point. If you are not interested in using the system properly, perhaps it would be best to simply download the lessons and be done with it. I know, but the thing is... I more or less understand how Houdini works already. I'd like to move on to the more intermediate stuff. Since I've been using Houdini already since 5.0; thus before you started the Houdini 101 course. And questions, like the one I pointed out, aren't really Houdini-specific. (More of a verification; if you've actually seen the videos). In case you ask why I am doing your VTM's. Purely as reference/excersize I guess. Perhaps you should be able to let people choose their level? ("Beginner", "Intermediate" etc.) I do the best I can - it's that simple.I must get back to work - I've been going without sleep for most of the week trying to wrap up a significant amount of content (including new Houdini lessons).... getting soooo close. Sincerely, buzz 3D Buzz http://www.3dbuzz.com First of all, I really appreciate all the time you devote in making those VTM's. I've never seen so much devotion and quality all for free. (NOT JUST FOR VIDEO TUTORIALS!) Secondly, this thread was no complaint about your Houdini 101 course. More of a "suggestion". Thirdly, get some sleep! You're on noone's payroll here, or are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buzz's "Informercial-St Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 Infomercial, eh? I try to deliver the best content I can. I get laid back sometimes, and start calling verts and edges guys (other things as well, though not in public ). I've seen far too many videos in the past where the content deliverer constantly speaks in a quasi-technical manner that I eventually feel less like they're trying to teach me as much as they are reciting a lesson at me. I just want to keep things fun, and I hope you enjoy it! By the way, my name is Zak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anakin78z Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Hey MG, just fyi, it's cool to cover the basic stuff. You might think that an advanced user doesn't care about that stuff, and that it's irritating, but the truth is that Sidefx changed a lot of the 'basic' stuff in their latest versions, and in production you don't always have the time go over everything (they just throw you right in, and you use what you know), so some of us aren't even aware that there's such a thing as a line sop (you mean I don't have to put down a grid, change connectivity to rows, and columns to 1????). -Zig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUsualAlex Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 A friend of mine went through ALL the troubles to figure out the vector dot products to make a two sided shader. Just soon after (or before) he figured out the solution, there was a "Two Sided VOP" glaring at him. Garman's response: "Two Sided Shader: Priceless." My response: ROTFLOL! (rolling on the floor laughing out loud) The result: I also learned more about dot() along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 well i'm taking the 3dbuzz houdini course as well. the thing i'm finding frustrating is questions like "how many spheres are were created?", i'm getting wrong!! i failed a couple of those early tests and i watched the vtms. and yeah, i would have to agree that it is a really good thing for everybody to keep going over the basics, especially since houdini went into the v5.x stage and heaps of workflow issues have/are changing quite radically. it's also good to see heaps of people taking on the course, i'm sure this will lead to good things in the future. SESI and all houdini users would have to be happy with that! i actually don't mind the the way the vtm is conducted, calling edges - 'guys' and all that, but maybe one day we can get special vtms by houdini socialites..... i would love one by rangi sutton!! btw mg, i think it healthy to think of yourself and others as insane, this way you keep things in perspective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirogi Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 i would love one by rangi sutton!! WAHA HA HA HA!!! I second that motion....dunno the guy personally, but I bet his vtm would make it on the comedy channel...easily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plan9 Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 @MG - there are many reasons why a person would utilize the online courses at 3D Buzz, you are missing the point of it. c'mon, lighten up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcronin Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I dunno, I actually like Buzz's presentation style on the VTM's. They are pretty lively compared to most of the one's A|W puts out, and Alex Alvarez has ths annoyinhg tick where he mutters "OK" under his breath at the end of every other sentence, and he's often repetitive. So many people put out videos that just aren't good public speakers. Some of the worst one's are the Motion Builder videos available at Kaydara's site. All in all I think, Buzz is pretty good, Peter Bowmar is good, Val has a nice speaking voice, she should do some training videos, and Doug Law from Alias is also really good. Buzz, Peter, and Doug all just sound pleasant, and are prone to cracking a joke or two, other people are so dry and boring I don't learn anything because I can't stand listening to them. I think the course has been really good so far. It's been helpful to me at least, and the assignments forced me to do some things I wouldn't normally sit down and do on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danteA Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 i would love one by rangi sutton!! I third the nomination! The sidefx mailing list has it all! Drama, conflict, comic relief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUsualAlex Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 i would love one by rangi sutton!! I third the nomination! The sidefx mailing list has it all! Drama, conflict, comic relief! Yuppo! I definitely have to forth that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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