I’m stoked that Maya will be among the software provided for 2010! That means I can work on my Mac. Have not used Maya since 2000, so there will be plenty of review time.
BTW - Seems firstbase.autodesk.com has been re-designed, and I can’t get access to our team site that we’ve have for the past 5+ years. Anyone been able to get into the former team site? (the place where mentors download the software)
Phred Team 847
go here
what?!!! [exploding_head] KABOOM!!! [/exploding_head]
It’s available to download, but as of now it looks like they’re only going to let you use Max for the AVA
I think we’ll soon see the complete lineup of Autodesk products (Max, Maya, Inventor, Revit, Autocad, etc.) available to download.
And those expanded software choices are a hint about a major change in the contest this year.
Now, the thing that would make this to the Awesome levels never before seen would be to get a copy of Motion Builder. Use the inventor/maya models of your Robot, map the joints to the motors and export your autonomous mode. I would love to see what kind of useful data rate we could get out of something like that 
I know some students are jumping up and down because now they can use maya. But people, stop and take a step back. Does running out and buying a very expensive paint brush make you a better painter? No it doesn’t. Maya is the equivalent to Max as a mechanical pencil is to a regular one. Sure it does some things differently, but in the end. Still makes the same mark on the page.