TrueSpace is a Windows only 3D modeling and rendering package that’s been available for over 20 years. Recently, the company was acquired by Microsoft for their Live Earth project. This runs parallel to Google’s acquisition of of SketchUp! a few years ago.

My previous experience in using TrueSpace (years ago) wasn’t very positive – mostly because I couldn’t appreciate the user experience in comparision with other tools on the market. That being said – this is a very powerful toolkit.  But first – how good is the COLLADA export? While its believable that Microsoft will build up and release improved versions of TrueSpace, I couldn’t see investing in building models in a format that could easily get tossed onto the waste bin.

I would also estimate that a portion of this will get rolled into Microsoft’s XNA game strategy for creating Xbox 360 and PC games.

The 3D graphics market has been in a constant state of vigorous consolidation following the early price wars between Alias Maya and Lightwave and the subsequent acquisition of Alias by AutoDesk – owners of Discreet and 3D Studio MAX.

In the 3D mid-market, recent years has seen the collapse of Eovia and the acquisition of its products by DAZ Productions and e-frontier. The majority of e-frontier America’s products were then acquired by Smith Micro.

This bloodbath will continue.

Although you might not believe it, MS takes great care in its customer research and analysis processes and they follow through with freebies. I was involved in one research study in preparation for Windows 2000 and MS Office 2000, and for very little effort received about $1,000 worth of product.