Autodesk 2016 Annual Report Download - page 80

2016 Form 10-K 8
• AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD LT software is purpose built for professional drafting and detailing. AutoCAD LT includes document sharing
capability without the need for software customization or certain advanced functionality found in AutoCAD. Users can share all
design data with team members who use AutoCAD or other Autodesk products built on AutoCAD. AutoCAD LT software is
our second largest revenue-generating product.
M&E
Our M&E segment consists of two product groups: Animation and Creative Finishing. Animation products are sold as
software only and provide tools for digital sculpting, modeling, animation, effects, rendering, and compositing for design
visualization, visual effects and games production. Creative Finishing products are sold as software solutions for editing,
finishing and visual effects design and color grading. Principal product offerings in our M&E segment’s Animation and
Creative Finishing product groups included the following during fiscal 2016:
Animation
• Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya software provides 3D modeling, animation, effects, rendering and compositing solutions that enable film
and video artists, game developers, and design visualization professionals to digitally create engaging, lifelike images, realistic
animations and simulations, extraordinary visual effects, and full length animated feature films.
• Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max software provides 3D modeling, animation, and rendering solutions that enable game developers,
design visualization professionals and visual effects artists to digitally create realistic images, animations, and complex scenes
and to digitally communicate abstract or complex mechanical, architectural, engineering, and construction concepts.
Creative Finishing
• Autodesk Flame and Autodesk Lustre
Autodesk Flame software is an interactive real-time design, finishing, grading, and visual effects solution for supervised
post-production. Autodesk Lustre software is a high-performance color grading solution used by artists for creative look
development and final color and lighting effects for both film and television.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION
The technology industry is characterized by rapid technological change in computer hardware, operating systems, and
software. In addition, our customers’ requirements and preferences rapidly evolve, as do their expectations of the performance
of our software. To keep pace with these changes, we maintain a vigorous program of new product development to address
demands in the marketplace for our products.
The software industry is undergoing a transition from the personal computer to cloud, social, and mobile computing. In
fiscal 2016, we continued to successfully implement a strategic transition of our business model announced in fiscal 2014. We
accelerated our move to the cloud and expanded our flexible product license offerings. We continued to expand desktop
subscription for a broader range of our product portfolio, expanded our token-based licensing program to more enterprise
customers, and continued to expand our industry-leading cloud-based offerings, including the launch of our North American
eStore which creates a better customer experience and can meaningfully increase the volume of our online business. These
offerings are designed to give our customers even more value and flexibility to use our products, and also to attract new types
of customers, such as project-based users and small businesses that have more variable needs. Further, to support our transition,
effective February 1, 2016, we discontinued the sale of new commercial seats of most individual software products, which are
now exclusively available by desktop subscription, and we plan to discontinue selling perpetual licenses of suites products
effective August 1, 2016.
We dedicate considerable technical and financial resources to research and development to further enhance our existing
products and to create new products and technologies to expand our market opportunity. For example, in fiscal 2016, we began
2016 Annual Report