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

FYI-pretty interesting... By ALAN SAYRE AP Business Writer ST. ROSE, La. (AP) -- Three-dimensional dinosaurs, warriors and other computer-generated figures have become mainstays of movies and video games, but widespread use of the technology has been stymied by the high cost of models. A Louisiana Internet company is trying to remove that obstacle. Using the same principle that Napster did with music lovers, Turbo Squid Inc. has set up an Internet clearinghouse where 3-D modelers can sell or, if they wish, give away their intricate wares. "We have always struggled with how to get 3-D out to the masses," says Turbo Squid president David Avgikos. "It's a lot more than just software." Most of the complicated 3-D models that emerged in the 1990s were created by individuals, small hard-to-find companies or Viewpoint Corp., which produced each model it sold. Viewpoint typically charges hundreds of dollars for a simple model -- $300 for a 3-D bowling ball, for example -- and its prices rise into the thousands for more complicated models. But Avgikos, using sales data from Digimation, a St. Rose-based company that makes 3-D animation software and has a stake in Turbo Squid, figured at least 500,000 people worldwide were qualified to produce quality 3-D models. The problem was bringing them together. "If a guy makes a 3-D model -- say, a troll -- he uses it once, moves on to another project and it sits on his hard drive, even though there might be many more people who could make use of it," Avgikos says. Since its commercial startup in October, Turbo Squid's site has accumulated 35,000 models (Avgikos calls them "digital assets"). It is adding 4,000 models per month, all from individuals and small modeling companies. Avgikos predicts the site will eventually reach 1 million models. Turbo Squid splits the sales of each model evenly with artists, who decide how much to charge. Sellers can even set terms for royalties if, for example, a buyer wishes to incorporate an image into a commercial video or use it in print. Prices range from $10 to several hundred dollars, though some artists simply use Turbo Squid to pass along their creations for free. Artists retain ownership rights and can remove their works at any time. Membership is free. About 40,000 users and 5,000 selling artists have registered at Turbo Squid. Quantity varies wildly: Many artists have only one model; a modeler in Spain has posted 3,000. The company unveiled its site at a trade show in July 2000 and went live three months later with 15,000 models. It wasn't exactly a good time to be seeking financing for another dot-com. "We were greeted with open arms by several big concerns. But one by one, they fell by the wayside," Avgikos says. "The saving grace for us, unlike a lot of startup dot-coms, was that we could show a steady revenue stream that would grow." Turbo Squid recently received a $5.1 million influx from Advantage Capital, computer processing chip giant Intel and Eastman Kodak. "Intel makes the processors in computers," Avgikos says, "and, obviously, if people buy a more-powerful computer every three years, instead of every four years, it is to their advantage." In Kodak's case, Avgikos says, 3-D will become increasingly relevant for home and commercial photography. "If you don't have a digital camera today, you will," he says. "If you don't have a digital camcorder today, you will." Tom Knight, owner of the Redondo Beach, Calif.-based Imagination Works Inc., has offered 300 of his models on Turbo Squid, in addition to selling them on his own small firm's site. "The fact is, buyers might not know of our site. Turbo Squid is a much larger forum," Knight says. Eventually, he says, "we will sell everything we sell on our site to the Turbo Squid site." The potential of 3-D -- with affordable models -- is almost limitless, Avgikos says -- especially given that more commercial sites will want to depict products in three-dimensional pictures and custom video games will enable users to add customized models. "Three-D on the Web has been a gimmick for a long time," Avgikos says. "That's about to come into its own."

I've found some hard to find stuff there and bought some. The prices are a little on the high side. They could make much more if they dropped the price some. There's no production cost on a model once made. The modeler in Spain referred to above is De Espona whose Cd is just short of $500 but do the math and it's a bargain to buy the whole set ... provided your landlord doesn't need the rent this month. De Espona's models sell for $30 a pop at Turbo Squid, so it's like buying a month's groceries at 7-11 if you want a lot. The site is easy to use, once you download their software to access the site.

Don't buy at turbosquid! Keep renderosity's model makers alive! (like me hehe) -Nak Muay