getting a free item here at Rendo has changed. You have to click the thumbnail, or detail..then you go to another page that has stuff for sale, and the download link is at the bottom. Clicking download then brings you to another page, and finally if you click download yet again, brings you to maybe where you want to be.

Sure, free is free, but this is getting to be a bit much. bad enough the file share sites, which I don;t like, put you through hell to download something as well.

I'm surprised there's not a "Would you like fries with that?" audio recording that your forced to listen to before you can begin your download.

its back to that old adage "there's nothing free in life"

I don't mind a few clicks to get a good freebie :)

However, I think the fact that Renderosity is forcing people to use Renderosity as their file host for future freebies is going to see some people not posting their freebies here anymore. I saw in the comments for the announcement that EnglishBob has already said he won't be posting freebies here anymore because he wants to keep hosting his freebies on his own site. I'm sure others will be doing the same thing, which means that some good freebies are not going to be readily available unless you are aware of the creator's particular website and check there often.  As mentioned in other threads, most people don't like to roam around looking for things and prefer a "one stop shop" when looking for something.

I think Renderosity should make it an option that you can either use Renderosity's server or not. Those who don't have web host space will take advantage of that, those that have their own would continue to host their own. Forcing everyone to conform will result in some people essentially "leaving".

The way you're now forced to go through a screen full of store item icons is obnoxious.  There were already banners for store items all over the page anyway.

Quote - I think Renderosity should make it an option that you can either use Renderosity's server or not.

Rendo has never provided storage space for freebies as long as I've been posting them here, you've always had to provide your own.  I'm not interested in posting them here at Rendo any more either, this is too much.

Quote -
However, I think the fact that Renderosity is forcing people to use Renderosity as their file host for future freebies is going to see some people not posting their freebies here anymore.

Err, when did this come out?

Quote - > Quote -

However, I think the fact that Renderosity is forcing people to use Renderosity as their file host for future freebies is going to see some people not posting their freebies here anymore.

Err, when did this come out?

today.

I briefly posted how to bypass this, but I've decided not to.

Sorry. I'd probably get in trouble.

Quote - I briefly posted how to bypass this, but I've decided not to.

Sorry. I'd probably get in trouble.

Yes, I think you probably would.  I don't think they want anyone skirting the new policy.

Heh... checked the free stuff page just now. I just want to know one thing:

Whose bone-headed PHB-inspired decision was it to spamvertise a string of marketplace products across the top? 

The freebie page? Well, I'm guessing Mark over at 3DCommune just got an unexpected bonus, if he were quick enough to capitalize on it...

...'course, so could the DAZ fora @ their Freepozitory.

smacks forehead... I should've frickin' known!

We're almost at September. That explains this stuff perfectly.

Frick - why didn't that realization hit me sooner?

Boy, that's too bad.  I guess I'll have to check the Freepozitory more often.  Maybe more people will centralize at ShareCG, RDNA or CP.  Of course, that doesn't handle people who self-host. Boo.

The word stupid just doesnt seem good enough to describe the person/persons who came up with this latest rubish .

Quote - We're almost at September. That explains this stuff perfectly.

I guess I'm dense. What is so special about September, other than it being the month in which I was born? :)

Its not September YET !!!! 

Rendo cant do the annual  foot shooting early !! it just not right .

sharecg is always an option for free hosting

No, you're MyCat

(shrugs shoulders) I kinda like this.

You can still post your off site freebes in the forums.

Quote - > Quote - We're almost at September. That explains this stuff perfectly.

I guess I'm dense. What is so special about September, other than it being the month in which I was born? :)

Historically it's usually the month that major policy/site changes are announced and/or take effect.  Or so it seems anyway.

As far as I know Renderosity has been the most sucessful Graphic community. I have spent
a fortune here. I was first attracted here by there Free-bee collection which in turn turned me
on to the vendors merchandise.. Now I am finding new set up  this very anoying and am disturbed by the number of  artist pulling out.......because of it
They are ticking off the faithful......
Why in heck are they blowing a sucessful operation???

Okay, this is not a great idea in my opinion. This might be motivated by the Recession, but it's a turn off to me. I don't really understand what the reference to "September" is all about.

Quote - > Quote - We're almost at September. That explains this stuff perfectly.

I guess I'm dense. What is so special about September, other than it being the month in which I was born? :)

Spring and fall is when every Poserite's SAD kicks in and madness ensues! It's also anually aggravated by Site modifications or policy changes.

Sorry- I tried to edit my comment but it timed out while I was writing.

(shrugs shoulders) I kinda like this.

You can still post your off site freebes in the forums.

OK- it seems that many here are new. September is the traditional time when major bone headed policies are announced and implimented. It's happened so many years in a row that it's almost become a tradition.

And if you've been around- you would know that 'I have been kneee deep into the bitching. LOL- so much so and for so long many of the admins still hate my guts. Ask some of the forum old timers.
But thats ok...

Sure- there are some things about the page layout that needs changeing. The DL button is just one example (move it up)
If it was up to me I'd also dump the 'best selling products' crap too. My freebees selling someone elses stuff (gag)

But this is the FIRST TIME that rendo has added not just one but two service's for US!!!!
Free hosting for the freebees without size limits (within reason) and a little extra bump for those of us that ARE merchants. A minor encouragement.
I know I will be uploading several of my previous products to free stuff now.

The concept is sound, and I'm sure will be refined over time. But in the list of major screw ups by the admins that have happened in Sept around here. This ranks some where around number 179.

Does this change in policy mean that the current freebies hosted on outside servers will be dropped from the free stuff listings?

It would have been nice if Renderosity had simply provided the option of hosting freebies on their server. I mean really, what harm is there in retaining a list of freebies that includes items from elsewhere? It seems that the more full your list of free stuff is, the better your site will seem.

As soon as I figured out WTF was going on amd that it wasn't some bizarre bug, I went straight to 3DC and downloaded th item I wanted. One extra screen would have been mildly annoying but two is just ridiculous. Yeah, it's free and it's their site and they can do what they want, and by the same token I can get my fix elsewhere.

"The DL button is just one example (move it up)" That's part of the design, you have to scroll past the Ads to get to the download button. 

I'm actually surprised at the so far rather tepid response to this chuckleheaded move. The old artistes I used to joust with would have burned the place down with flames by now. Most of them have left though, and the sometimes frustrating but always entertaining passion has been replaced by dry technocracy. No one cares about the poor naked faeries anymore as long as their nodes are in order. Such is progress. I scoffed at the old timers who longed for halcyon days even further lost in the mists of time. Now, hoist on my on petard, I have become my digital parents. So, while I go off to pound someone else's freebie server, Get off my lawn!

this is just like the free file hosting services now for the dlownloader ... click away and find the download button. Not easier in the least.

It is a good thing for those without a place to host, however, but not if its mandatory to do so.

Quote - Does this change in policy mean that the current freebies hosted on outside servers will be dropped from the free stuff listings?

In my case it does, because I removed them.

I think more people will be posting their freebies links in the forums for offsite hosting because:

1. If you go to a persons own website, you see the other stuff they have created ( not products from "competitors" eg you don't have to look through tons of adverts for Pepsi before you're allowed to buy a can of Coke).

2. More clicks and adverts mean that people will only take the time to download what they think they really really need, leading to lower download numbers on some items and possibly some content creators thinking that there's not much call for there products, then giving up offering freestuff.

3) The main reason in my view, the fact that the files are named "file_*****". I don't know about anyone else, but I usually download a file, then unzip and install it just when I first need it. If I was looking for a swimsuit for V4, it's alot easier searching through my folder for "swimsuit, V4" etc that a meaningless number.

   I know that you don't get something for nothing and can understand that Renderosity has to find a way to recoup the cost of hosting these files. What I would like to see in freestuff is the ability to choose whether your item is hosted on Renderosity or not. Items hosted on an external site could be marked as such, and a direct link to that persons site provided as before.
   Items hosted on Renderosity also marked with an icon (like they do with the Renderosity exclusive items in the marketplace). People would then have the choice as to whether they are willing to go through all those adverts etc to download that particular item.

Quote - I know that you don't get something for nothing and can understand that Renderosity has to find a way to recoup the cost of hosting these files.

Rendo doesn't deserve any sympathy on that front because they brought that cost on themselves, 100% voluntarily, and with no external discussion.

 Well I hate this.

True, I get four thumbnails from my store displayed before people can even get to the download link... BUT I also get four random thumbnails from other vendors. And I'm not doing freebies to advertize OTHER people, thank you very much.

Also, since my "download" link was a site link, people are now seeing my entry page in a tiny window, and it's nigh impossible to navigate anymore - it's displayed in a browser window without navigation buttons.

For now, I'll probably leave my freebies in place... see if it helps ANY on my dwindling sales.. but if not.. then why should I bother? It's a shame that all the new people here will eventually miss a lot of good free stuff because I think there will be more people leaving than coming :(

To any downloaders: I apologize for the annoying clickety-clicking. You can always go directly to my page by clicking the "Sponsored By" link right beside the thumbnail in the first page ;)

"The main reason in my view, the fact that the files are named "file_*****""  Yes. that is a major issue. You're going to have to get used to copying the name under the thumbnail and pasting it into the filename in your download dialog.

Taking a second look, I see that the last item added, Biscuit's V4 morph has a prominent text Download link above the ads in addition to the download button at the bottom of the page, and it directs straight to their site. Hopefully  this is a sign that they are modifying things. 

"They" being Biscuit maybe.

Quote - Does this change in policy mean that the current freebies hosted on outside servers will be dropped from the free stuff listings?

It would have been nice if Renderosity had simply provided the option of hosting freebies on their server. I mean really, what harm is there in retaining a list of freebies that includes items from elsewhere? It seems that the more full your list of free stuff is, the better your site will seem.

No, not from what I read and understand. It's any freebies uploaded from now on that have to be hosted on Renderosity's server.  Those already uploaded stay as they are.

They state:

Quote - Have you previously uploaded products into the Free Stuff section? Then your items will still be available. You can still make edits and changes to your product details. However, any change you make to the product itself will require you to reupload the file directly to Renderosity for hosting

So unless you make changes to the item and need to reupload it, you are ok.  However if you change something and reupload it, you will have to do it using Renderosity's server.

Quote - But this is the FIRST TIME that rendo has added not just one but two service's for US!!!!
Free hosting for the freebees without size limits (within reason) and a little extra bump for those of us that ARE merchants. A minor encouragement.
I know I will be uploading several of my previous products to free stuff now.

The concept is sound, and I'm sure will be refined over time. But in the list of major screw ups by the admins that have happened in Sept around here. This ranks some where around number 179.

I don't think it's that bad either. As I said, I don't mind making a few clicks in order to get a great freebie.

However, I am bothered by the fact that they are forcing everyone to use Renderosity's server to host their freebies. I think it's a great idea to offer on site hosting, but it should be an option, not a requirement.

Personally I think the reason behind this move is not so much because Renderosity is trying to be nice to their members and help them out.  It's mostly a self serving venture.

For the past couple of years Renderosity has been placing themselves inside a bubble.  

FIrst they stopped  outside vendors from advertising in the Vendor forum. Now that forum is exclusively for the use of Renderosity vendor's to announce and discuss their products sold here.

Next they stopped allowing members announcing of off site sales.

Then they forbid any outside vendor from using the merchant gallery.

When the freebie forum here was introduced, it was intended for the announcement of only "Renderosity related freebies", as still stated in the forum heading:

Quote - The Freestuff Forum is intended for all Renderosity freestuff related postings within our community.

Yes, they did back track and are now allowing freebies from any site to be posted in the forum.  However, given this latest change with forced site hosting, and the fact that they didn't change their heading when they loosened the rope,  it's only a matter of time before the reigns of the freebie forum are tightened and they go back to what their original intention for that freebie forum was:   Freebies uploaded to and hosted by Renderosity.

I used to really love this community, but I'm getting really tired of all of the noose tightening.  I don't spend nearly as much time here that I used to because I'm so sick of all of the rule changes.  

This place used to be such fun!  When I first started posting here I thought that I had finaly found a great online community.  When I got to be more familiar with Poser I started to offer help to people, and took new poser users under my wing.  I loved coming here and helping people and socializing.  And I used to love scouring out freebies for myself and others and announcing them. 

TBH the only thing keeping me here now are some of the regular forum members. I still help the odd person, but my heart really isn't in it at all. Actually, I find myself seeing posts asking for help with poser or finding something, and quite often I don't bother to even respond.  I'm 47 years old and all of my life I've dedicated myself to helping other people.  When I find myself not wanting to bother, there is something wrong 

I have a quick question.

Won't this change affect the speed that this site is accessed? I was under the impression that the more load you place on a server, and the more the traffic (ie: uploading and downloading) increase, that the speed of the site decreases.

Wonder what caliber  gun they are using for the annual foot shooting this year. This move is frigging LAME I learned of this through this thread and decided I would check it out and went to the freebie section. only a detail button that will confuse the FUCK out of a newbie. I clicked one it comes up with a detail page with  those damned advertisements (which I promptly ignored) scroll past them to get to the friggin download button, click that and get a fucking popup screen with a button on IT. so i click THAT and I STILL don't have the download IT takes me to ANOTHER page with a list of all that person's freebies hopefully the next click would get the download.

Nope another click and that page takes me to fucking sharecg and then FINALLY I get to the click that gets me the download.

Two or three clicks no problem but FUCK. FIVE clicks for one freebie? sure hope you have a free month to hunt for freebies because you'll spend most of your time bouncing around all over the fucking net trying to find what you need to finish a render.

Quote - Wonder what caliber  gun they are using for the annual foot shooting this year.

A 5 inch 55!  I have a feeling this time they are not even going to fool around with the small arms for just blowing the foot off they are going for major body parts this time..hehehehe.

It's irritating a lot of folks don't have the funds to shop like they once did and to get a face full
of advertisements does nothing but piss people off. Stop jawing and let me get the link to the freebie already would ya???

"They" being Biscuit maybe." 

If you mean Buiscuit changed their own Rendo download page, I don't know. That would kind of defeat the purpose if they (Rendo) let people do that no? Still, the "official" download button goes to the second (or third) Rendo ad/download page so I don't know what's going on. If there's a leak, I'm sure it'll get plugged :-)

"When I find myself not wanting to bother, there is something wrong " Don't let the bureauracry dim your spirit of generosity Acadia. That would make an annoyance into a true loss.

Opera's content blocker works a treat on the ads.

I'm sure Rendo will see that this dog don't hunt and chalk it up as a failed experiment.
Meanwhile, I've still got hundreds of uninstalled freebies in storage. This will give me a chance to unpack those and see what I've been downloading these past couple of years.

yep! a major PITA. file numbers instead of basic descriptive filename? royal screwup!
would have to rename every freebies filename for backup purposes. when the creator has already given it a descriptive name? which Rendo now ignore and stick a number on it?
they have not just shot the foot, they've blown their leg off
personally i do not mind the extra clicks and ads for a quality freebie, but not all freebies are of the same calibre.
and having to rename every file is a major PITA.
whoever it was in the office that implemented this fubar has no idea how to keep clients/customers happy and should either be sacked or sent back to business school.!

Just an FYI, I have brought this thread, along with your concerns, to the attention of admin.  At this point, it's all I can do, aside from, well, agreeing with many of your concerns.

Jeni

Thanks, Jeni.

Let's hope SOMEONE high enough up the ranks can see that this is a Bad Decision™ - and that Bad Decisions™ are basically Bad for Business! 

This is not just one of the small annoyances. It's a major one. You're pissing people off who are giving you things for free. That's daft!

I hear you, Lisbeth.  On the one hand, I can see how this was viewed as a great idea, maybe even a win/win situation.  But, I don't know if every avenue was looked at.  I haven't had any feedback, but, when I get it, you guys will be the first to know.

Quote - I don't really understand what the reference to "September" is all about.

September is a traditional time when bad things happen to the internet -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_September

Renderosity has in many previous years, entertained us with various things at around this time (known in RFI parlance as the "Annual barbecue and foot shoot").

So this year's offering is a completely out of the blue about face on the where freebies are to be hosted.
My prediction is that still to come is a policy change on the acceptability of "more controversial" freebies, e.g. anything that may upset PayPal.

Epic Fail  -always wanted to say that...;)
Discovered this last night/this morning..'.WTF?' was the initial reaction...plus the links actually didn't work when I was trying to get something specific.

If they'll host for free, that's one thing. If they start charging for it, you'll see a major implosion.

I thought that we weren't allowed to post other sites (subject to the sticky up top) except in certain situations. This is what happens when I don't get the memo....;)

Quote -

I thought that we weren't allowed to post other sites (subject to the sticky up top) except in certain situations. This is what happens when I don't get the memo....;)

wha?  what do you mean by "post other sites", pakled?  The sticky is about not spamming the forii with advertisements, not banning all off-site posts.

Looks the same to me. I tried something as a test - didn't actually download it, but cancelled when the FF save dialog opened. Took all of 10 seconds, if that, to select something then get to the link.

I don't download any free stuff and haven't in years, but unless before today it had some kind of telepathic link to a spontaneous download the moment your brain decided on something, I can't see a problem there.

Quote - Looks the same to me.

I doubt Rendo are planning to rehost existing freebies, so you'll only begin to see a difference on those items uploaded from now on.

Quote - > Quote - I know that you don't get something for nothing and can understand that Renderosity has to find a way to recoup the cost of hosting these files.

Rendo doesn't deserve any sympathy on that front because they brought that cost on themselves, 100% voluntarily, and with no external discussion.

They did it because some links to other sites would go down or become redundant and people had to keep reposting links to their new provider.
I can see why they did it, to provide free hosting for those who cannot afford to host their work themselves, so that is a good thing. As I said earlier though, they should still allow stuff hosted on other sites for those who can afford it etc and don't want their work bogged down with adverts for other vendors stuff.
As TrekkieGrrrl said:

Quote - True, I get four thumbnails from my store displayed before people can even get to the download link... BUT I also get four random thumbnails from other vendors. And I'm not doing freebies to advertize OTHER people, thank you very much.

I also believe that the marketplace could suffer. If people are continually bombarded with adverts, then they might not bother to browse the marketplace to look at the other products. People who sell products from their own sites will lose custom from people who go there to download their freebies. Not allowing offsite content providers to post links to their items in the free stuff section means that they will not be seen by as many people, they will generate less traffic to their sites and lose sales of other products.
Renderosity allow us the choice of where we want to host them and provide links as you did before. It says "Art Community" under the name not "Monopoly".

 Renaming all the zip files "File_######" is fucking moronic.  I have disks of poser files on them.  If they were all named by NUMBER instead of  NAME, I'd quit poser. Period.  Lets get real for a moment.  Renaming all the files is just STUPID.

The reasons WHY it's stupid:
!- Unneccesary  work.  The files already have names.  If they duplicate exsisting names, THEN rename them.

2-People are NOT computers and remember names, but not numbers.

3-  You must create a database file to cross-reference each download to tell you what they ARE.  Looking in the server and seeing "File_1234567" doesn't give you a clue WHAT is what.  If it said "V4swimsuit-striped", you MIGHT have an idea it's a striped swimsuit for V4.

One reason would have been too many.

Naming the "download page"--" Details" is stupid,too.

Someone at Rendo is asleep at the switch.  Really disappointing.

Bombarding us with spam for freebies is just SAD, but understandable.  The way it's being done right now is LAME.  A banner for the marketplace and maybe a banner of random items would be best.  From a buyer and seller perspective, showing the most popular items is just stupid.  It becomes a popularity contest that exempts the other sellers.  Having more random banners would serve more sellers in the marketplace.  Having a HIGHEST RANKED page with a banner would be better.  As a buyer, I want to KNOW what is the highest ranked in customer satisfaction item!  Not what sells best.  They AREN'T the same thing, ya know!

Let's remember the language flags if we're gonna let loose with the F-bomb, folks...

Just a few observations...

I can see the necessity for putting ads up all over the place, but a little discretion would be nice.

I can understand why they would use numbers instead of names. After all, if the file is named "Cookie", how do you know if it's for Litttlefox's creation, a morph for V4, or a prop? I routinely rename unzipped files, because they invariably unzip with the folder name "runtime", which is just as silly, IMHO. Is it that difficult to create a high-level folder and call it whatever it is you're putting in it?

Maybe sales are down and Rendo thinks the extra ads — especially in a place where people routinely go — will help allay that. Like I said, ads might be necessary, but a little discretion, guys, huh? Adding more steps, even if it's just something for free, is not the way to do it.