Discreet recently released a maintenance update to 3D Studio MAX 3 which,

in the coming weeks, will be distributed free of charge to all registered

users of the software. The announcement comes shortly after the company

declared success at clearing well over 100,000 copies, and are reinforcing

their commitment to users by bringing them new features so soon after the

initial release of the software. The update includes data containers for

use by the mental ray renderer (a separate product, to be shipping in early

2000). Discreet also claims that "3DS MAX Release 3.1 requires

substantially fewer resources when running under Windows 98." In addition

to these two new features the update also, of course, brings to a close

issues (bugs) brought to Discreet's attention by the users of the software.