I go tell my wife now -- that's one. I won't count the aminals L Don't worry, though. I am also going to announce it on my Free Stuff page. That should cover a few hundred people at least.

Ok, I met my quota already. Gee this is like opening a box of cracker jacks and searcing for the prize, only better times like a bazillion.

DAZ Studio unrendered seems to be up to the quality of poser rendered. When will we get to see what the DAZ rendering engine can do?

I thought Al Quaeda meant 'The Quest' or 'The Adventure' or 'The Mission'. Because Al Quaedim is the plural of Al Quaeda, and that's the name of the D&D game setting that meant 'The Adventures' or 'The Quests'. (Actually, it's Al Quadim but it's just a different translitieration).

Hey, a pusher always gives the first hit away for free, just to get you hooked!

The 4th Party, Owning Poser (any version) won't be necessary to take advantage of DAZ Studio. In the Beta stage this might be the case to solidly test functionality, however, long term wise, this application is meant to be able to stand on its own legs and run... either side by side with other applications or, as modules are built for it, to stand on it's own. Someone previously mentioned .FBX (Kadarra Filmbox format; now known as MotionBuilder) in this thread. I have talked with DAZ about this and briefly with Taylor Wilson and I can tell you that Taylor is very familiar with Filmbox/MotionBuilder and with MoCap data (since he has worked with House of Moves and has experience with Vicon Motion Systems in the past. So yes, animation tool is being thought out and will likely occur. Jack

this is a good thing... As it is being released as beta...for our collective input...plus the fact the base product is free...that doesn't leave much room for whining and bitching, does it? :) And by this method, if we are active in the testing, we can direct what the final product will become.... This has to work...

Pretty much a primer on how to run a business correctly/successfully. CL, watch and learn...

thanks for the info Jack :)

Fascinating...

N/P 4th Party, like you that was the first question I asked when I first learned about DAZ Studio! :o)

Python was mentioned. I'm hoping that there's some possibility of scripting languages being plug-in rather than native -- this is because I'm working on a Poser perl module and would be happy to build a DS perl module, too.

Just a word of caution: V3 was released with a base figure and then add-ons. The overall package was well priced but I saw a few people that were frustrated by this "modular approach." As we pass the word, it might be good to remember important things like "modular" so no one freaks out when all the base beta does is "base" stuff.

modular is how an application can be programmed too, and its much more sensible. :) I have many 'modular' applications that are sold as one package, and have thriving communities of 3d party developers devoted to them. :) glad this is coming, and going to cross my fingers for good dynamic cloth and a Carrara plugin. Just a solid renderer will go a long way to deal with those annoying pz3 files that won't render in Poser hell or high water, and force me to go through exporting and setting them up in Carrara just to render.

I'm very familiar with modular applications. I really am waiting to hear about a 3rd party development list and the SDK for the Studio. I need to get started real soon!

'Telling more than two people would definately be welcome.' Got that covered... I just told a whole 2D community. Some dabble in Poser. Most are reluctant to buy because of the unkown factor.. Helen

Attached Link: http://www.faeriewylde.com

F@$^&king A !!!!!!!!!! that rocks balls. paying for what you want to work with, multiple file and application useage, public beta. Is it april 1st already or have I died ?? 'Nuff said

It is going to have a "Tailor integrated capacities" to conform the clothes according to the figures?

Now it's just a matter of waiting until the public beta starts...maybe I ought to drive over to DAZ and sleep out on their front porch just in case.

A note for skeptics to think about: Modules need to be beta tested, too.

Call me a sickening optimist, but if it means better tools, I don't mind beta testing. I would have happily jumped in on Poser 5, except for the wee problem that I'm a mac boy. (Uh oh...I sense flames a comin!)

It sounds real good. I hope it comes soon.

Goal: "DAZ has set a goal of having over one million people download the free version of DAZ Studio before the end of 2003. Reaching this goal will produce a tremendous influx of new customers to the entire community. Every member of the community, developers and customers alike, will benefit from the resulting market growth. The support from the community is what has been funding the free version of DAZ Studio up to now, and we hope that an increase in this community support for DAZ will keep the new software moving forward even faster after release." OMG!

Wonderful idea, it'll be fantastic being able to streamline it to my own needs (no animation stuff for me :) Now... when can I get my sweaty paws on it?

Awesome! But then its the crew from DAZ. So what else could we expect. Everyone potentially benefits in the long run on this idea.

Love it! Just think... Maybe 2 forums DAZ and POSER, now that would make some good TROLLING! ;)

Any bets on which will have more users in the long run?

.

adobe photoshop

I cant wait for the animation tools and export to Lightwave plugins!!!!

When does Beta start again? ;o) Chris

Did I hear Linux support ?!? YES!!! -DonnyD

All I ever wanted was a better renderer, so I am a very happy person today. Thank you, Daz!!! Again. Kimberly

1. I can hardly wait. 2) They'd better upgrade their servers first. 3) This is the best marketing ploy I've ever seen. We may get the base free, but once we're hooked, we'll buy every d*mn plug-in we can. I know I will. It also insures a continuing market for content (in case some other company really hits the skids). 4) I can hardly wait. 5) I wonder what some other company's response will be? What kind of price differences will it make in their products? What will happen to the whole software market, not just 3D if this works? Who else will pick up the torch? This could be the best thing since the hard drive. 6) I can hardly wait. 7) Will other companies write other plug-ins too? Will there be modeling plug-ins? Boning? How "base" will the base be? 8) I CAN'T WAIT! ARRRRGHGHGHHGHGHGGGGGHHHH!

Attached Link: http://www.daz3d.com

As for the beta release, we have no public release date information at this time, but it won't be too long. We are still very much in our alpha stage, and it will depend on how long the alpha stage lasts, obviously.

Most of the other questions people have had regarding system specs, file compatibility, pricing of modules, user interface design aspects, and integration of existing smaller apps (like Tailor, etc.) just cannot be answered at this time. We will have answers for you, and are going to answer them just as soon as we are at a point in development to do so. So, just keep checking our site, we'll provide additional information as it is made available.

Sorry to not have all the answers at once, but, hey it IS a modular program, so I'm afraid many of your questions will have to be answered "modularly" as well. ;)

Oh, and btw, a BIG, HUGE "THANK YOU!!!" to everyone for the effort and enthusiasm you're already showing! As I read through these posts and see people talking about telling everyone in their address book and mailing lists about this- Wow, that's exactly the type of response we were hoping and praying for! You guys are awesome, thank you very much.

All for now,

Steve Kondris
DAZ Productions, Inc.

Your welcome Steve... It is in 'our' interests to help out. Re my post above.. Make that four 2D users groups I have blabbed to... :) Helen

Great news, So, If I'm getting this straight, DAZ is offering a preview screen and render engine for Poser, MAX and lightwave scenes, with "the ability to modify those scenes to some (unlnown) extent". Paying modules made by DAZ, CL, or other parties will improve the overall capabilities of this program. Sounds a great business plan to me (I had thought Poser 5 might go along the same lines in the future). Poser might even become a module for DAZ studio. The only danger I see in this is multi compatibility : if too many parties make something for this program, DAZ will have to keep a strong hand on it to keep them all compatible. Congratulations for the announcement of the new baby. I can hardly wait to see it. Let's hope he'll have a brilliant future. Any good willed faerie to wish it some gifts for its future life ? LadyNimue ? Compiler

can I get fries with that ??

WHEN?????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW NOW NOW! WANT! NEED! PUL-LEEEEEZE! Ok 'nuff o' that... just had to get it outa my system. Just please promise that the Mac version will released simutaneously.

Well, what would you expect from a company that has risen from small beginnings to THE dominant supplier of poser figures and accessories in a few years? I don't want to say 'Bye, bye, CL', but look what happened to the dinosaurs. If CL want to stay in the game, (and getting rid of staff isn't the way to do it!), they'd better have some fairly huge sleeves with surprises up them. Why do I doubt this scenario? DAZ has shown, and continues to show the poser community how to run a successful business. Anyone ever wondered exactly HOW we got vicki 3? Because DAZ had the sense to offer brilliant poser USERS a job!! What do CL do? Get rid of the people we had the most faith in. Oh boy... Now.... how can I get rid of my unused, uninstalled poser 5? mac >wanders off with tray shouting "ALBATROSS! ALBATROSS! PELICAN BON-BON! Of course you don't get wafers with it, ya cks*er!!"

Compiler, I think the intention is to create an app that will allow them to showcase thier free stuff, (with thier own program) then allow people to export thier models to other apps (Lightwave and Max, etc.) for rendering, post production, etc. We're getting pz3 "import" I'd be surprised if we were able to import Lightwave or Max scenes, what would be the point? Since they make the content they need a program to manipulate that content, and make it look good. Given the current state of the art in hardware that shouldn't be too difficult for anyone who's bought a graphics card in the past 2-3 years. I think Daz have ambitions to be a lot bigger than they are, to stop being the big fish in a small pond and become a smaller fish, (at first) in a much bigger body of water. Content is where it's at in the 3D world, and while we're a captive market, we're probably not a growing one... This is a very, very clever exit strategy, because at the prices they charge for the quality they deliver they'll pretty much clean-up. Provided of course, they can get thier meshes in to the hands of real professionals, but to do that they need a tool to export from the poser format, (thier bread and butter) to a format that more people use. I'll buy it, but then I was going to regardless of cost anyway. I can test on a Radeon 9700pro, and through a mate probably some real kit too. The thing I'm interested in is what sort of control system is it going to have. I'd like a multi panel, "grab and pull" IK approach, but I'll take whatever's going, especially at the price... :) later jb

It would be hard for CL to use that business model. Daz can get away with it because it increases demand their main produce line, 3d models, while building customer loyalty.

!