Max is simple and yet powerfull. I've originally started using learning maya PLE, than got irritated with the lwatermark they had on renders so i downloaded the 30 day trial for max. After using it for a wail I never went back to maya.

Production studios? err. Yeah maya was originally made for the films i think, Max first game out with emphises on game creation, so all the film companies had to get maya instead. So today the majority of the film company uses maya cause thats what they got used to. :p. Thou if u were to compare the amount of games made with maya to max, then max would be the winner. Anyway max ROCKS!! and maya a little,... from side to side :p