SplutterFish have officially announced the worldwide availability of Brazil r/s v2.0. They have also announced the immediate availability of their first Professional-Edition beta version (2.1 Pro-Beta), which introduces even more new features, and is available exclusively to Brazil r/s v2 Professional Edition clients.

New features for v2.0 include:
- New speed and performance improvements
- 64-bit support for nearly infinite data handling
- A reworked sampling core that supports combinations of features that previously killed rendertimes
- Full 3D motion blur
- Expanded implicit surface support including rendertime displacements
- Polygonal rendertime displacements (Pro-Beta version only)
- On-demand caching of irradiance and photon illumination
- Support for Max's texture baking
- Numerous artist-inspired extras and script support
- And much more... for a full list of changes look here

Brazil r/s v2.0 is available for Max 4 to 2008 and pricing starts at $795 for the Basic Edition, and $995 for the Professional Edition.

Changes for v1.5.17 are:
- Modified mesh normal generation to use explicit mesh normals if available
- Modified 'duplicate node name' handling to allow for automatic node renaming with duplicate names
- Fixes texture coordinate bug that occurred when exporting vertex colors
- Adds support for exporting multiple node animations
- Adds additional mesh bounding box calculations for pose and morph mesh export
- Adds support for exporting nodes created by mirroring
- Adds a 'fast export' setting to the Scene Settings dialog
- Modified the 'isSimple' object user property name to be 'fastExport'
- Fixes a crash bug with vertex colors being incorrectly exported
- Fixes a bug with the scene scale not correctly scaling skeletons

Changes for v2.5 are:
- Adds support for Object Offset transforms
- Fixes a crash in XSI when importing a file exported from Max
- Mesh update no longer destroys Max hierarchies

This plugin enables import of Stanford PLY models into Max, handling both Binary and ASCII PLY types. Unlike the PLY import plugin from HabWare for Max 8, the memory leaks have been fixed and now several hundred PLY files can be imported at a time without incident.

It's a couple of months old, but I only just found out about it.

RTTGroup replaces and extends the render to texture functionality built into Max. It's advanced features include:
- Texture rendering of many objects into a single resulting texture
- User control over the number of resulting textures assigned to the objects group
- Process hundreds of objects and pack them into the desired number of resulting textures
- Advanced and space-efficient automatic unwrap mapping algorithm
- Unlimited number of RTTGroup groups in a scene, each with its own set of parameters
- Texel sizes are specified in scene units
- Display the scene with original or 'baked' textures
- Easy-to-learn interface with many other useful options
- Full MAXScript access, ready for automating any render-to-texture related tasks

RTTGroup is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs €295. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.5.14 are:
- Fixes a bug with mesh skeleton names containing the full path to the skeleton file
- Fixes a bug with 'clamp' and 'mirror' texture addressing modes being reversed

Jon Watte has released a test version of his kiloWatt X file Exporter. It fixes a crash with unsupported map types, adds better support for relative paths and also adds checkboxes for 'export hidden' and 'export comments'.

If the test version is OK, it will be released with a proper installer and plugins for other versions soon. This test version is for Max 9 only.

Changes for v7.6 are:
- Adds support for 64-bit Max 9 / Max 2008
- Adds Unicode name support

Polygon Cruncher is available for Max 4 to 2008 and costs $129. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.5.13 are:
- Adds a user data types feature
- Adds additional checks during startup to make sure that Ogre was successfully initialized
- Adds a binormal option for mesh export
- Adds the CustomUserDataTypes.max sample scene
- Adds a mesh/skeleton name prefix setting in the Scene Settings dialog
- Adds a material name prefix setting in the Scene Settings dialog
- Removes the 'CDATA' option from the user data
- Removes the 'sort bone assignments' scene setting
- The 'Simple Mesh' setting is now called 'Fast Export'
- 'Create Master/Slave Materials' now bases slave material names on the original materials' name
- 'Convert to OgreMax Materials' bases new OgreMax material names on the original materials' name
- Modifies the resource locations functionality in the Scene Settings Ogre tab
- Modifies mesh export to generate binary mesh files directly
- Fixes a bug with parameterless shader programs not appearing in the shaders dropdown lists
- Fixes a bug with the scene vertex colors setting not being saved in the Scene Settings dialog
- Fixes a bug with the entity type not being properly assigned in the Object Settings dialog
- Fixes a bug with an internal render window failing to be created
- Fixes a bug with the scene scale 'divide by' parameter
- Fixes incorrect camera up axis in the viewer

Changes for v1.6 are:
- Adds Maxwell Displacement
- Adds support for instances
- Voxelization is now multi-threaded
- Various improvements in network rendering
- Sunlight can now be used together with the sky dome
- Adds a package of eight free HDRIs from Dosch Design
- Fixes a slowdown on 64-bit multicore systems
- Motion blur has been reactivated
- Several fixes and enhancements to alpha channels
- Numerous bug-fixes
- Adds hierarchy support to Maxwell Studio
- Adds a new transform network to Maxwell Studio
- Improves stability and performance of Maxwell Studio
- All plugins have been updated and improved
- Adds support for Max 2008

Maxwell Render is available for Max 7 to 2008 and costs €895. A demo version is available here.

Vertice has released a PLE (Personal Learning Edition) of Nova 2008. It has no limitations in terms of functionality or length of use, but it displays a permanent watermark in the Nova Explorer and in any .exe files it generates. Nova 2008 PLE can be downloaded from the Demo section of their website, and doesn't need an activation key.

Sitni Sati have uploaded Max 2008 installers for AfterBurn, FumeFX and DreamScape to their members area.

Changes for v3.0.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 9 / 2008 (32-bit only)
- Adds support for Mascot Capsule v3

The latest new build of Brazil r/s v2, build 1437, is now available from the SplutterFish FishMarket Account (if you have upgraded to Brazil r/s v2). You can find a full list of enhancements and bugfixes here.

Craft Free Utilities are a set of mechanical building blocks for use with the Craft Director Tools.

Currently included components are:
- 1DPositioner
- 1DRotator
- ActiveScaler
- AngleRuler
- AngularPlay
- CogWheels
- DistanceRuler
- ExtraWheel
- GearedChain
- Gyro
- LookAtCam
- RayCaster
- RectangularPlay
- ScaleRuler
- Sinusoid
- SphericalPlay
- StateMachine
- Suspension

This is a solution for animators who need to fire guns automatically. With Craft Firepower, you can link/parent any object to the templateBullet and it will clone itself with every shot fired. You can use two Craft Firepowers with each other to create a gun that fires bullets and shoots out the empty shells with every shot.

Features include rapid fire with one button, gun recoils, customizable bullet mesh/model, customizable rifle-settings (bullet spins). It can also be used together with the other Craft Director Tools.

Craft FirePower is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs $295. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v3.01 are:
- Adds support for the latest version of Ultimate Unwrap 3D

Changes for v5.9.63.0 / v5.2008.63.0 are:
- Adds support for 64-bit Max 9 and Max 2008

This version of the plugin requires the November 2007 Direct SDK to be installed before it will operate.

Changes for v0.1 are:
- Adds support for 64-bit Max 9 / 2008

Wak Exporter allows you to export a Max model to a simple 3D XML model format. At the moment, only the free realtime 3D tool Hyperion can load this format.

Changes for v1.5.12 are:
- Modifies the 'simple mesh' setting documentation
- Fixes a bug with time scaling and the 'copy first key to last' setting
- Fixes a crash bug in the Object Settings dialog when adding / editing mesh animations
- Adds -CameraMoveSpeed command line parameter to allow setting of the camera movement speed
- Adds a Lua binding for the camera move speed
- Adds some logic to orient the view camera according to the scene's up axis
- Adds some additional logic to reduce the CPU usage when the viewer is in 'suspend' mode
- Fixes a bug in OgreMaxUtilities::ParseSceneManager()

Changes for v1.290 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008

GroundWiz is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs $180. A demo version is available here.

This is an implementation of Ken Perlins' noise function as a texture map for Max. It extends the shipping noise algorithms with a simple to use, but extremely powerful and popular noise function. Perlin noise has a pseudo-random appearance with values changing smoothly from one point to another, making it useful for creating a great variety of procedural textures.

Changes for v2.7.0.28 are:
- Better previewing of the DirectX material from Max
- Other non-Max-specific fixes. The changelog is available here.

Granny Exporter is available for Max 5 to 2008, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.

Changes for v1.8 are:
- No changes, just adds support for 64-bit Max 9 / Max 2008

Changes for v0.932 are:
- Adds support for 64-bit Max 9 / Max 2008

Changes for Service Pack 1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008
- The V-Ray license server service now restarts automatically if it closes unexpectedly
- VRayMtl now has texture maps for anisotropy and anisotropy orientation
- The 'Clamp output' option now always affects the image
- VRayProxy now works with the 'Rescale World Units' utility
- Schlick sampling is now the only path sampler supported by V-Ray
- Communication between V-Ray and the V-Ray license server is more reliable
- Adds a 'Taper' parameter to VRayFur
- VRayCompTex can now be used as a bump map
- 'Affect background' option now influences color mapping on matte object backgrounds
- Restarting spawner no longer causes clients to crash
- Fixes a crash when rendering renderable splines
- Fixes a crash when using VRayDomeCamera
- Fixes a crash when rendering VRayLight's with the scanline renderer
- Fixes multi/sub materials with both refractive and opacity-mapped materials
- The V-Ray license server now lists the number of engaged/free licenses properly
- The Panorama Exporter utility now works properly
- Fixes a problem with VRayDirt and transparent objects
- VRImg2EXR no longer adds additional empty channels to the .exr file
- Fixes inconsistent noise patterns between identical frames in animation
- Fixes the VRayMtl material 'Show map in viewport' crash in VIZ 2008
- Light cache samples taken now match the light cache Subdivs value
- VRayToon now works with camera clipping
- VRayLight now uses the GI environment override specified in the V-Ray Environment rollout
- VRayLight with multiplier 0 now renders as if the light is off (faster renders)
- Reduces memory consumption per connection for the V-Ray license server
- VRaySun now produces shadow render elements
- The composite material now works properly with transparent VRayMtl materials
- Fixes slow rendering of objects with alpha contribution less than or equal to 0
- Distributed rendering though BackBurner now works properly
- Fixes VRaySky producing negative colors if the sun was below the horizon
- Raw lighting render elements now respect opacity mapping
- Fixes a problem with unassigned maps in the V-Ray scene converter script
- Objects not visible to GI no longer block caustics
- Glossy materials now work with VRayEdgesTex as bump map
- Fixes irradiance map sample distribution with color mapping options
- VRayWrapperMtl now works inside a VRayBlendMtl material

The Service Pack is free for all registered V-Ray users. V-Ray is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs $299 (Basic) / $799 (Advanced). A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.3.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008

Switcher is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs $49.99. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.5.11 are:
- Updated to use TinyXML 2.5.3
- Fixes scenes sometimes not exporting when launching the scene exporter from the OgreMax menu
- Fixes a bug with the incorrect object type being stored in the Object Settings dialog

Di-O-Matic have announced that 64-bit versions of Cluster-O-Matic, Facial Studio and Hercules are now available exclusively for their VIP members. More Di-O-Matic plugins for 64-bit Max will be available soon.

Changes for v2.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 9 and 2008
- Adds a new H3T Material
- Adds the new H3T Material Converter utility
- The exporter GUI has been updated

The latest new build of Brazil r/s v2, build 1422, is now available from the SplutterFish FishMarket Account (if you have upgraded to Brazil r/s v2). You can find a full list of enhancements and bugfixes here.

Changes for v5.11 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008
- Adds support for Archvision RPC v1.13.0
- Improves VR4MAX licensing
- Image underlay is now hidden together with event/action objects
- Library manager thumbnails are now created using ISOMETRIC view
- Generator no longer crashes when entering strings in send message event
- Offset material properties are now exported
- Long file paths no longer crash Max on export
- Render to Texture no longer crashes Navigator Pro
- Map no longer exports to screen space map
- Fixes Maphint sometimes not exporting
- Fullscreen mode no longer crashes Navigator Pro
- Translator now exports maps with no filename correctly
- VR4MAX no longer crashes when trying to activate Render To Texture
- Checking 'Startup Camera' in utilities plugin no longer un-checks backdrop object
- vmxCopy() and vmxCopyRecursive() methods now copy the object animation track
- VR4MAX Converter now translates Mirror V and Tile V map flags correctly

VR4MAX is available for Max 6 to 2008 and costs €850. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v2008 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008 (32-bit only, a 64-bit version is being worked on)

OCTAdesign is available for Max 3 to 2008 and costs between €810 and €4100. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.5.9 are:
- Adds custom 'Dummy' type
- Adds mesh icon exporter for use with the OgreMax 'Custom Helper' type
- Vertex colors are now exported by default
- Fixes a bug with the 'generate edge lists' scene setting not being saved
- Node animations are now exported when they have a look-at controller
- Fixes a crash with the 'Recreate Back Buffer' item in the OgreMax Material Viewer
- Fixes a bug with export directories being nested incorrectly
- Removes the use of the 3ds Max IGame API
- Removes the logic that toggled optimize modifiers on / off during export

Changes for v0.9.4 are:
- Disabled submaterials are no longer exported
- Improvements in texture memory usage
- Fixes normal generation with the 'use indices' flag set
- Adds useOriginalTextures option

Changes for v0.81b are:
- Increases ranges for spinners (again)

Changes for v1.5.8 are:
- Adds a scene setting to ignore hidden objects
- Fixes a texture unit bug that caused a crash with Max 8
- Fixes a bug with incorrect scene scaling of mesh pose animations

Changes for v0.8b are:
- Adds load/save presets
- Adds variable vertex colors by leaf-age
- Fixes too thin branches when changing cs-distance

Cuneyt Ozdas plugins Color Correct, Texporter and Counter Text are no longer in beta. The final versions of the plugins are now available for download from his site.

This shader is part of the mia_Buffer phenomenon for outputting render layers using mental ray and 3ds Max.

Changes for v5.0.4.1779 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008

Deep Exploration CAD Edition is available for Max 4 to 2008 and costs $1995. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v2.7.0.27 are:
- Nothing Max-specific, just general fixes. The changelog is available here.

Granny Exporter is available for Max 5 to 2008, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.

If you were a registered user of Th0r or Druid from Sisyphus Software, I would love to hear from you! I've recompiled Th0r and Druid for Max 8 and 9, but due to licensing restrictions I can only give this update to registered users. Just send me an email with your name and serial number, and I will send you a copy of the update.

I will only be able to send this out to people who are on the list of registered users, so if you never bought either of the plugins, don't bother sending me a mail asking for it.