Next Limit have released updated plugins for use with the new version of their RealFlow fluids and dynamics simulation tool.

The link above is for the Max 6 and 7 plugins, if you are using Max 5, you need these plugins.

Changes for v3.0 are:
- Max 7.0 support
- Power Cutter tool
- Scripting support
- Improved performance (2X)
- Support for groups
- Improved licensing
- New video tutorials

Power Booleans is available for Max 4 to 7 and costs $295. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v4.0.2.6 beta are:
- This is a recompile of the popular plugin for Max 6 and 7.

Changes for v1.0.1.6 beta are:
- This is a recompile of the old SIRDS / SIS generator for Max 6 and 7.

There is also a recompiled version of the plugin for Max 4 and 5, which you can get here.

Next Limit have put up a new site for their upcoming renderer Maxwell. Along with technical details of the renderer, there is a gallery and the chance to pre-order the final version at a reduced rate ($395 instead of $995), allowing use of the alpha and beta versions until release (available in June 2005).

Changes for v1.29 are:
- Minor bug fixes
- Icon changes

Craft Camera Tools is available for Max 6 and 7, and costs $295 at the moment (regular price $695). A demo version is available here.

Pavel Kuznetsov has posted a beta of the new version of his Milky Way render effect. You can download the beta version here.

Changes for v1.1.4 are:
- Compatible with Max 7
- Now includes renderfarm license

Natural:shaders is available for Max 5 to 7 and costs $285. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.3 are:
- Full seamless mental ray v3.3 support
- Enhanced filtering on grazing angles
- JPEG2000 support for very large textures
- Load unlimited simultaneous texture files
- Enhanced render performance

TerraShader is available for Max 6 and 7, and pricing starts from $350. A demo version is available here.

Changes in Service Pack 2d are:
- Problems with Render-Elements and atmospherics fixed
- Problems with 'light leaks' in shadow areas of opacity mapped objects fixed
- Added Exclusion list for material override
- Crashes with Motion-Blur fixed
- Problems with opacity mapped objects fixed
- Bug in Fresnel code fixed
- Problem in the shading engine fixed
- Some fixes/changes for hairfx
- Effects not working with blowup fixed
- Render-region not setup correctly for effects fixed
- Some fixes in the QMC-sampler
- Rect-Light: added Ray bias control
- Rect-Light: added Shadow Density control
- Render-To-Texture: Edge padding working properly
- Render-To-Texture: Bug in GI baking fixed now
- Crash with Volume Lights and Shadows fixed
- Fixes for Distributed Rendering and VIZ 2005
- A minor sync problem in Distributed Rendering fixed
- MSP: Some intersection problems fixed
- MSP: Increased precision
- fR-Adv: Blurry effects not using QMC-sampler, fixed
- fR-Adv: Some problems with maps fixed
- fR-Adv: Added opacity map slot
- fR-ImageGI: New switch 'prepasses only' added

All registered users of finalRender Stage-1 will receive an email instructing them how to obtain the service pack. Other users may contact dcpsupport@turbosquid.com for information.

Changes for v0.60.01 are:
- New implementation of the lightmap of the smoke shader
- New single-threaded pressure solver
- New parameter to choose the pressure solver for the simulation
- Fixed - Scrolling in the curves also scrolls the rollup
- Fixed crashing problems when adjusting the curves
- Cancel didn't release memory until a new simulation was started - Fixed
- Fixed the 'Active' checkbox in the render tab for the shaders
- Fixed a problem with the 'Alpha from Brightness' multiplier
- Several small bug-fixes

AURA is currently in open beta-testing, this version will expire 30th November 2004.

Kees Rijnen has released a free rigging and animation tool called Puppetshop v1.02.

Puppetshop is integrated seamlessly in Max, and allows you to build, animate and export endless different creatures, vehicles and props. Some of its main features are:
- Add unlimited limbs anywhere in your rig (spines, arms, legs, etc.)
- Add new custom limbs yourself through MAXscript
- Mirror left to right for quickly fitting bones to mesh
- Save puppets to disk to re-use those bones for another creature
- Animation Layers: An easy way of tweaking animation by adding layers
- Import and Export motion capture through a flexible and open mocap system (BVH)
- Save / Load / Mirror animation and re-use animation onto other puppets
- Add custom rigging techniques at anytime to existing rigged puppets
- Easily update many rigs automatically through network updates
- Integrate exporting of puppets directly in your game exporters
- Use existing curve filtering tools to filter animation curves, or write your own (MXS)
- Retarget / Remap animation to different sized characters
- Easily manipulate F-curves through custom Puppet-Trackview
- Use and combine Linear / TCB or XYZ controllers
- Add custom constraints to your rig at anytime
- Blend between FK and IK
- Easy spine/Neck manipulation
- Animatable pivot points on legs and arms (Limited)
- Add your own rigging setups
- Don't just rig characters, rig anything (cars, camera, etc.)
- Transfer animation between custom rigs (incl. character studio) and puppetShop
- Name Independent. You can have as many rigs with the same name in one scene.
- Get a large chunk of the source code. You control your pipeline!

Changes for v1.28 are:
- Fixed the Practice Button problem
- Icon Changes
- Minor Installation Fixes

Craft Camera Tools is available for Max 6 and 7. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.3.08 are:
- Fixed the source snap back bug

glu3D is available for Max 5 to 7 and costs $295. A demo version is available here.

I've updated the site to include plugins for Max 7. At the moment I have just included all plugins for Max 6 in the Max 7 database, as most of them should work. Dave

Changes for v1.3 are:
- Capture Animation Scripts transfer animation from custom rigs and Bipeds to CATRigs
- Pin Tip Hub temporarily pins your ribcage when editing the pelvis
- Limb Pose System saves and loads poses between rigs
- Updated User Interface
- More support for scripting

CAT is available for Max 4 to 7 and costs $995. A demo version is available here.

Discreet have announced that, as of today, Max 7 is shipping. You can read the press release here.

I'll be updating the site for Max 7 in a couple of days time. Most plugins for Max 6 should work in the new version as well.

Changes for v1.3.07 are:
- New 'Kill parts on collide' parameter for objects

glu3D is available for Max 5 and 6, and costs $295. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v2.0 are:
- No changes, the plugin has finally been recompiled for Max 5 and 6

X-DoF is available for Max 4 to 6 and costs $199.

v6.08 adds the following methods:
- toUpper
- toLower
- disableRefMsgs
- enableRefMsgs
- makeUniqueArray
- custAttributes.getDefInstances
- substituteString
- systemTools.getEnvVariable
- systemTools.setEnvVariable
- clearControllerNewFlag
- replace_LF_with_CRLF
- replace_CRLF_with_LF
- scanForNewPlugins

It also fixes the following:
- fixed getclipboardText/setclipboardText to fix up CRLF

Craft Camera Tools can be used by animators to steer cameras with a joystick or keyboard, in real-time, in the Max viewport. Four types of cameras, and two help tools, are available:
- Craft SpyCam
- Craft SpaceCam
- Craft AeroCam
- Craft HeliCam
- Craft Star Dome Generator
- Craft Camera Shake

Craft Camera Tools is available for Max 6 and 7, unfortunately I don't know what the price is at the moment. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v4.0 are:
- VR Conferencing
- Max 7 support
- Improved multi threaded render engine
- Improved GUI for all Navigator based products
- New antialiasing options
- Improved stereo support
- New powerful 2D objects in the 3D View
- New VR4MAX Helper Objects
- and more...

VR4MAX is available for Max 3 to 7, and costs €850. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.0 are:
- The old DrapeFX Exporter plugin will not work with the new build of DrapeFX Pro. You will need to overwrite the old plugin with the new one and re-export the Max scenes.

TextureShaker is an upcoming shading utility which will multiply one or more textures randomly over a surface. Basically it can take a photograph of one brick and generate a whole wall of randomly colored and sized bricks. The author is looking for Beta Testers for the plugin, you can apply at the above link.