First let me clarify that not all the merchants are Hacks and not all of them over price their stuff. Some are some of the best quality 3D stuff right up there with likes of Daz3d. That said, as Renderosity has grown (And man has it Groan?) a larger emphasis has been placed on advertising and the marketplace. Not only that but it has also become less of tight knit community (oh well) and has moved even away from 3D (hence the name RENDERosity).And Now the big Beef isnt so much about the marketplace or right clicking, but its about whats next. Any guesses???Anyone read the Community Survey 2004?maybe you shouldWould you pay for products such as....Would you pay for a online place to enjoy...How much would you pay to come to Renderosity? How much would you pay??? Of course this is not actually in there but it will be soon.As a long time StarWars fan I can speak from experience when I know this will not be far along. (Those non fans of StarWars will be interested to know that there is now a pay site called Hyperspace where you can access the same stuff you used to access at the free site with some lame added extras).I want this to remain a community not an exclusive online paysite.And AgentSmith my apologies if the marketplace is a source of income for you for moderating I can understand the offense. But if not and you dont sell anything why take what was clearly not meant as a rip on you to heart?BTW I have had my stuff used without permission but if it were going to make me money or if I was not flattered well then I certainly would not post it hereNow hey I might pay for something like that!

Vile, It sounds like you're very frustrated with the direction that Renderosity may be taking. Change is always difficult, especially when we don't agree with the direction of the change. However, things that never change have a tendancy to become stagnant, and eventually just fade away. What we can all do is voice our opinions and thoughts; beyond that, it's out of our control. Having said that, the way we make our opinions and thoughts heard is just as important. Who would you be more likely to listen to: someone who accuses and resorts to name calling, or someone who can present their argument in a clear and constructive way? It's often like gallery comments--simply saying "this sucks" isn't very helpful. I suspect that was the point that AgentSmith was trying to make (my opinion only, AgentSmith is quite capable of speaking for himself). And, as for our community--it will be what we make it. If we let our anger and frustration get the better of us, then this won't be a very pleasant community to be a part of. If we can continue with our values and our sharing and learning (the very virtues that prompted me to say "Hi" a few months ago), then the community will continue to be a great place to be. Just my $.02. Michael

Thanks mloates. I know Agent does a good job as moderator (better then others have). He also contributes to at least the Bryce community more then any one I know (except maybe Ornlu lately lol). Smith knows (or at least I hope) I am occasionally too opinionated and has kept me as well as others in check. I dont fear change as long as the change is a benefit not a hindrance.

erm... the moment renderosity even dares to suggest that we should pay for membership I'm leaving.

me too..I have no access to credit, so I couldn't pay even if I wanted to. To be honest, and not meaning to ruffle any feathers, but there's other Bryce F**** Galleries out there (woopsie), even though half of the pics are links to here.
Is this really being considered? I think 'rosity is getting a skim off the merchandising sales, and ad revenue, so unless they've gone corporate, and have to increase the dividend each quarter, I'm hoping the overall manner will stay the same. I've noticed changes here already, and I've only been around for close to 2 years..I think you'll always have change, and that can be good..

They may be bean counters but they're not stupid, the marketplace pays the PTB a paycheck, if they made the site a paid membership site EVERYBODY would leave and so, no members, no customers, no cut of the profits, no paycheck.... I don't think they'd cut their collective noses off despite their faces, they may be money motivated but I don't think it's that single sighted,....as to the marketplace, well, that's how some people support themselves, and I can't fault them for that.... Then again I could be wrong...;

I don't think everyone would leave Zhann but there would be a drop in visitors if rosity went pay-per-view, how big a drop is anyones guess.

Having worked for a very big community in the past, I'm going to reassure you: switching to a free-membership community to a pay one is pure suicide. Mostly for the reasons stated by Zhann in the above post, so I really don't think this will happen. All in all, we're talking about Renderosity, not Corel... :) S.

It did cross my mind though that they might bring in paying for membership to stop the piracy that has got us all worked up recently, from one perspective or another. But they must realise that when most folk visit a site that has a pay to join policy, that most folk just click back and go somewhere else. I hope it doesn't happen 'cos I would probably leave too and go to 3DCommune or the likes. Catlin

I took the survay and where it says 'suggestions' I told them they should focus on the artists in this place, and less on the marketplace/money arena, after all the artists' are the ones bringing in the people....I think everyone in this forum should express their views in the survey, if you let it go, you can't complain 8)

Count one more ex-member the second they charge for membership here. A very sad ex-member.

Yes, it would be suicide to make the whole of R'osity a pay site. I took the questions in the survey to refer to some new facility to be added, but even then, I greatly doubt if the idea has any starting power. What gets me these days is, when I browse the marketplace, I see one heck of a lot of junk that people are trying to offload. Someone spends an evening hacking together a few poses and then expects to sell this for $15-20. I have no objection to paying for quality products, but some of the stuff is a real rip-off. I also don't take kindly to people trying to sell expensive textures sets for props/figures by other people that were offered either free or extremely cheaply. This seems to be trying to make money out of other people's generosity.

-Renderosity will NOT become a pay site.-

"a larger emphasis has been placed on advertising and the marketplace".

-I keep my head in the Bryce Forum, Gallery, and in the behind the scene duties of being a Mod. Yet/so, I don't see the raised emphasis you refer to; ads are still where they used to be, and I don't see any more ads in any extra places.

-Yes, the MP got a little visual make-over, I suppose the newsletter that goes out is a little more oriented to the MP, but then again, members don't have to get that. Besides, I think it looks far more professional now anyway.

-Examples of the emphasis would be cool. Like I said, I keep my head in my own duties, I don't see everything on the whole site, I could definetely be missing something.

"it has also become less of tight knit community"
-Again, examples would be great.

-The Bryce Forum is second only to the Poser Forum for number of new messages. Fairly tight knit in here at least. (imho)

-Have you seen the new "Communities" sections?

"has moved even away from 3D"
-How so? (examples)

-Did you know the Renderosity DVD (which by the way, will not be sold for a profit...) includes ONLY 2D and 3D? No photography, etc. Also, only 2D/3D goes on the Renderosity magazine. The 3D galleries are still the highest in uploading volume. Only Photography competes in numbers there.

-Did you know the Renderosity Magazine and DVD only exsist because of volunteers? Otherwise, none of it could be afforded in the first place.

"marketplace is a source of income for you for moderating"

-The MP is the source of this entire website being able to keep its doors open. It's whay it was created. Renderosity had gotten so big, the owners were going broke from bandwidth charges, thus the MP was created, and Renderosity got to go on. 3D Commune went through the same thing.

-Lol, yeah I suppose the MP is the source of my Mod income, but if I could only tell you how stupidly little I get, you would laugh! It's barely gas money for a couple days. Mods have to want to do, what they do, for free.

"But if not and you dont sell anything why take what was clearly not meant as a rip on you to heart?"

-Cause, it's my job to make sure nobody is attacked, not just the Bryce-heads. And, I know you're not a mean member, but I will do my job and say something. I've only taken things to heart a couple times here, you'll know it if I do...lol.

I can see where you would get anxious when reading those questions in the survey, the ones about "would you pay", etc. But, let me ease your worries; those questions are just that, to find out, and we all know that hardly anyone here at Renderosity clicked "sure I'd pay!" (for the site part anyway)

But, let me say again, those questions didn't refer to the Renderosity SITE. You will not have to pay to be a member here.

Now stop reading this and go render. :o}

AgentSmith

AS you know we just like to have something to worry about. I've spent my life perfecting the art of worrying................lol 8) Catlin

Rofl, yeah, oh I worry too! I was all nervous the Renderosity Magazine was being cancelled. It's not, just re-vamped. Gonna make it more cost effective by taking away the content CD and moving the free content online. AS