Zbrush is really cool. But its too expensive. I don’t want to have to pay 700$ then another 100$ when the next version comes out. More recently some software companies have been doing timed licensing. I would totally buy a Zbrush license if it were somewhat cheap like $100 and it lasted for a year or so and was exactly the same as the full version (Including being able to use your models commercially) except after a year Zbrush wont load up or something unless you do another 1 year license. I think Pixologic could make way more money this way. A lot of hobbyists would buy Zbrush. This is software remember, it can be duplicated infinitely so why not sell licenses too. Its not like they need to cover costs for boxing up the software in factories paying distributors ect… What are your guys thoughts on this?
My thoughts are…What the hell are you talking about?
Pixologic has been updating licensed software holders for FREE for years.
Were they to go the Adobe subscription route I’ll be jumping off the bus.
I’ll be more than happy to pay for full version upgrades with point upgrades being like they are right now. I mean what is not to like with their upgrade model as it stands right now?
Save your money like the rest of us and buy a copy.
I can’t afford a Ferrari but don’t go asking the previous owners to start paying rental for their already paid for cars.
You buy Zbrush from someone else for around 400$ get Pixologic transfer the licens to your name for 50$ and you have every new Zbrush for free. Simple as that 
They just would leave your bought 700$ version exactly the same as it is forever and every version for 700$ always the same as it is now. But offer a slightly modified Zbrush for a timed Licensed version as a direct download with a timed key checker. Totally different Exe than the 700$ zbrush single license. the 1 year license version I’m talking about would be a completely different install and not effect the $700 single license at all. It would only make Pixologic more money from hobbyists.
I transferred a license few weeks ago and be really happy with it. By considering that i decided to jump on ZBrush bus also because of the free upgrades (wow!), a change in direction would really upset me. I don’t expect free updates for a lifetime but i’m happy with them if they come.
I purchased also PhotoShop until CS5, skipped CS6 because not interesting to me. But now that Adobe started with “the cloud” i said bye bye Adobe. I’m not a professional so i don’t need to upgrade at all costs (and i think that even professionals will consider doing it now). I accepted the previous activation system and i accept also the ZBrush one because even if i feel that a license purchaser does deserve more respect than pirates, i understand that it’s utopistic to ensure licensing only based on users will.
Big corporations want to bring us to a “monthly based fee” licensing system, so they can get money without working if they want to.
Going into the cloud would mean cut off with the user base that “cannot afford” the monthly fee. Is it wanted? Maybe this will “elect” the user base to only professionals? Better user base quality? But isn’t it an high price losing so much people? They can bring innovation even if they are not earning money from their usage of the software.
Ok, Pixologic doesn’t earn so much money from me because i transferred the license, but at least they got 50$.
Please Pixo keep on the good old license selling. As a hobbyist i cannot afford paying everyone each month.
So, closing, if i want a software i save my money then i know that i can use it “forever” without further economical efforts. If i really want to grasp a software, i can save my money. If i have other priorities than saving my money for the software, perhaps using that software is not the first think i should think of.
Obviously, IMO.
someone delete this thread, it’s just misinformed nonsense
I haven’t paid for zbrush since version 2
Agree.
Before it’s closed or moved to the forum were this topic belongs… I want to point out to this fantastic piece of software Pixologic is offering for FREE: http://pixologic.com/sculptris/
^This
I’m fine with Zbrush’s current price and licensing. It’s cheaper than a lot of the other big guys in the industry. How many software packages offered free full upgrades between versions? Not just between versions but if someone had Zbrush version 1 they could upgrade to the latest at no charge. There are not many software packages that have done that. Zbrush has been doing that for years.
Also as a hobbyist Zbrush is a tool. $600 is not that bad at all for what it provides. I could easily see a painter spending much more than that on painting supplies for a year. Car mechanic hobbyists? $600 wouldn’t come close to buying the tools you’d use. Woodworking? That equipment is expensive and takes up a lot of space. So yeah $600 is very reasonable for a hobbyist tool that he’ll use for years. And if he ever decides to do commercial projects and get paid he’ll already have what he needs.
I wouldn’t have a problem with Zbrush offering a lower cost solution for other users as long as it doesn’t change their current licensing for their existing users. Which I would be very leery that it would as to offset the cost. I would not trade what we have now for something more expensive in the long run.
That said I know it can be expensive but there are plenty of alternatives for those who can’t or won’t pay that kind of pricing. Blender and Sculptris are both available at no cost. There are others in various price ranges. So there’s always an option for any hobbyist’s budget.