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Poser - OFFICIAL F.A.Q (Last Updated: 2024 Nov 29 7:57 am)
Subject: Hi! DAZ 3D wants to chat.
I bope you gat a FAT Christmas bonus for doing this on your own time - you deserve it.
Will someone be able to use Genesis in Carrara 8.5 without even installing DS4? What degree of functionality are you aiming for i.e. figure mixing, auto-fit...or just pos & render?
"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken
Quote - **The Great Installer debate.**Nobody believes that installers or zipfiles alone is the best solution to the download and install problems we face. We are examining the situation and will decide on something we feel works best for us, our existing base AND the aquisition and engagement of new customers.
So, no matter what we say, you'll resort to virtualisation? 
The plan of virtualizing downloads through some "app store" fonctionality had already been mentioned a year ago, and had already faced an unanimous, well-argumented rejection from potential users.
Now it reappears like nothing happened. Apparently "nobody is happy about it" isn't a problem for DAZ, "some might like it since we do" is enough, which is sad.
I know that no app store crap will ever get installed on my CGI computers (it would be pointless anyway, as they are not connected to Internet), so that means I won't be able to buy at DAZ anymore...
(But then again I'm just a Poser user, so you won't lose too many sales anyway) 
Quote - I bope you gat a FAT Christmas bonus for doing this on your own time - you deserve it.
Will someone be able to use Genesis in Carrara 8.5 without even installing DS4? What degree of functionality are you aiming for i.e. figure mixing, auto-fit...or just pos & render?
Full native functionality just as if you were in DS. Im not sure if you will need to install DS... i think at the moment that is still required.
Quote - Well... Wait and see is not really an answer.
Randall - Have you tested the exporter with clothing and a V5 morph in Poser with the next service release? Does it work?
No, I havent tested it myself. Ive only been told that there is an improvement to the process. I believe that it focuses on less clicks to get there.
Quote - **What did you mean about the Poser SR?**I meant that SM has worked with us to help make our CR2 exporter work better. The changes they made in order to help us will have to be implemented with a service release. These changes have been made, we have tested them, you cannot use them until you get an upcoming upgrade. This is not the full functionality of Genesis, just one more step down the road. I cannot be specific about what the exact changes/additions to the code were or what added functionality there will be, you will have to be wait like everyone else. :D
That is a terrible answer. You really shouldn't have brought it up in the first place, that's the very misinformation you said you wanted to clear up.
Quote - > Quote - Well... Wait and see is not really an answer.
Randall - Have you tested the exporter with clothing and a V5 morph in Poser with the next service release? Does it work?
No, I havent tested it myself. Ive only been told that there is an improvement to the process. I believe that it focuses on less clicks to get there.
The less clicks part is correct. It is also now possible to export clothing. Unfortunately morphs like V5 have fitting issues. That is why I asked if it had been tested. (I tested with exporter 4.0.3.19 and a recent beta of the poser service release)
I have reported this in Mantis at DAZ, but no one seemed to be interested
Quote - > Quote - **The Great Installer debate.**Nobody believes that installers or zipfiles alone is the best solution to the download and install problems we face. We are examining the situation and will decide on something we feel works best for us, our existing base AND the aquisition and engagement of new customers.
So, no matter what we say, you'll resort to virtualisation?
The plan of virtualizing downloads through some "app store" fonctionality had already been mentioned a year ago, and had already faced an unanimous, well-argumented rejection from potential users.
Now it reappears like nothing happened. Apparently "nobody is happy about it" isn't a problem for DAZ, "some might like it since we do" is enough, which is sad.
I know that no app store crap will ever get installed on my CGI computers (it would be pointless anyway, as they are not connected to Internet), so that means I won't be able to buy at DAZ anymore...
(But then again I'm just a Poser user, so you won't lose too many sales anyway)
while an "APP STORE" paradigm is very attractive, the facts are that we have not picked a path yet, we are still researching potential solutuions to the insufferable DL and install hurdles.
No offense intended, but you folks with your internet conspiracy issues puzzle me. YOU MUST connect to access the store, and you MUST access the store to DL the content regardless of the delivery method... and you are here telling me you arent connected to the internet.... somewhere there is some internet connectin goin on. Its like a woman saying she never had sex when she has 4 kids... The proof is there. If you are one of these people, you must realize that your setup is not the norm (or even a measurable percentage of the norm) and that our solution, whatever it is, cannot be based on that setup.
Considering that the only legal way to get our content is from an internet connection, you will be required to have the content delivered to the computer you do have connected. Whatever you do to transfer it to these "pristine machines" is up to you.
Quote - > Quote - > Quote - Well... Wait and see is not really an answer.
Randall - Have you tested the exporter with clothing and a V5 morph in Poser with the next service release? Does it work?
No, I havent tested it myself. Ive only been told that there is an improvement to the process. I believe that it focuses on less clicks to get there.
The less clicks part is correct. It is also now possible to export clothing. Unfortunately morphs like V5 have fitting issues. That is why I asked if it had been tested. (I tested with exporter 4.0.3.19 and a recent beta of the poser service release)
I have reported this in Mantis at DAZ, but no one seemed to be interested
that may be because, internally, we are well beyond 4.0.3.19... in fact, that release is ancient.
Whatever your issues are, if they have to do with basic functionality they are the focus of the effort so they will be looked at. keep making reports, they do get looked at regardless of feedback.
Quote - > Quote - **What did you mean about the Poser SR?**I meant that SM has worked with us to help make our CR2 exporter work better. The changes they made in order to help us will have to be implemented with a service release. These changes have been made, we have tested them, you cannot use them until you get an upcoming upgrade. This is not the full functionality of Genesis, just one more step down the road. I cannot be specific about what the exact changes/additions to the code were or what added functionality there will be, you will have to be wait like everyone else. :D
That is a terrible answer. You really shouldn't have brought it up in the first place, that's the very misinformation you said you wanted to clear up.
its the opposite of mis-information
A) SM, graciously, at our request, made a few changes to Poser to better allow use of Genesis that are to be implemented in an upcoming SR.
B) The improvements allowed by the SR will still not quite enable full functionality yet.
C) I cant tell you what those changes are or when you will get the SR.
Seems pretty clear-cut to me. Where is the mis-information?
Quote - No offense intended, but you folks with your internet conspiracy issues puzzle me. YOU MUST connect to access the store, and you MUST access the store to DL the content regardless of the delivery method... and you are here telling me you arent connected to the internet.... somewhere there is some internet connectin goin on. Its like a woman saying she never had sex when she has 4 kids... The proof is there. If you are one of these people, you must realize that your setup is not the norm (or even a measurable percentage of the norm) and that our solution, whatever it is, cannot be based on that setup.
Actually, that isn't true. You can download it on one machine and then move it to the other one. I think what people are afraid of is having a cloud type of format that, if your internet goes down, you are not able to create, etc. I know that isn't something I want to have, at all.
what internet conspiracy? we simply choose NOT to have our main working computers connected to the internet, to absolutely minimise the chance of infection.
i cannot speak for others, but i scan everything with several apps before it gets allowed on my main rig.
if DAZ3D go the virtualisation route ( ie 'app store' style content delivery) i for one will buy no more content from you. not if it means having to repackage everything to make it usable on my working rig.
i would prefer zips, but installers are usable, as long as they are not stupid app installers like they are currently. they are a veritable click-fest now. taking 4 times as long to use as those 3/4 versions ago.
Judging by the end of his post, Randy is aware that the machine you use to work on may not be the machine you connect to the store and download the products with - which implies that he doesn't anticipate there being a block to transferring the files to a different machine via thumb drive or the like, which would presumably also allow back ups. Which would be a good thing as I would be extremely unhappy with a cloud-based solution myself.
Considering that the only legal way to get our content is from an internet connection, you will be required to have the content delivered to the computer you do have connected. Whatever you do to transfer it to these "pristine machines" is up to you.
Not exactly true, DAZ does put things on various computer magazine CDDVD's.
All the best.
LROG
Who honors those we love for the very life we live?, Who sends monsters to kill us?, and at the same time sings that we will never die., Who teaches us whats real?, and how to laugh at lies?, Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend?, Who chains us?, and Who holds the key that can set us free... It's You!, You have all the weapons you need., Now Fight!
Earlier:
Quote - Rob told me what they were, but I have forgotten enough of what he said that I do not want to repeat it for fear of mis-stating it.
Now:
Quote - C) I cant tell you what those changes are or when you will get the SR. Seems pretty clear-cut to me. Where is the mis-information?
You really just shouldn't have said anything on this topic. It's either bad communication or plain old finger-pointing, I dunno which. If it's the former, yeah I'd say it's misinformation; if it's the latter, it's actually disinformation, which is worse.
Quote - No offense intended, but you folks with your internet conspiracy issues puzzle me. [...] Whatever you do to transfer it to these "pristine machines" is up to you.
That's pretty obnoxious stuff to tell your userbase. If a cashier at Burger King talked to you in this condescending a tone, how would you react?
Quote - You really just shouldn't have said anything on this topic. It's either bad communication or plain old finger-pointing, I dunno which. If it's the former, yeah I'd say it's misinformation; if it's the latter, it's actually disinformation, which is worse
He was answering a question to the best of his capability. If he hadn't answered, then it would've been "you didn't answer my question!"
doh....
I would have thought that a Content Product Manager would know that their content is also legally distributed on the cddvd's of computer magazines.
All the best.
LROG
Who honors those we love for the very life we live?, Who sends monsters to kill us?, and at the same time sings that we will never die., Who teaches us whats real?, and how to laugh at lies?, Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend?, Who chains us?, and Who holds the key that can set us free... It's You!, You have all the weapons you need., Now Fight!
Quote - He was answering a question to the best of his capability. If he hadn't answered, then it would've been "you didn't answer my question!" doh....
Actually, he answered it pretty directly ("my co-worker told me thus and so but I've forgotten exactly what he told me"). If he'd said from the beginning "I can't answer that question" it would have been fine. I don't think I'm being unreasonably picky here.
DAZ_Rand,
Let me help you understand our concerns about an "app" store. It isn't a "conspiracy". It is a clear-eyed view based on past experiences on dealing with software, as opposed to content from DAZ.
(See: CMS must run at all times on my computer, regardless of whether or not DS4 is running.
See: DAZ hasn't figured out how to slipstream a service pack into their software.
See: Versioning? Yeah, we are thinking about doing that. If you don't know what the tech terms mean, take the question the software achitect of the program in question. That way, you don't scare the folks that are asking the tech questions, and as an added bonus, you can be viewed as more than just a DAZ cheerleader.)
-
You have already stated that it isn't DAZ's responsibilty to insure that the folder structure is set up properly in the installer, you have stated that that is the content developer.
-
You have been shown screenshots on this thread of what happens when the content developer is allowed to set up the folder structure any way they want.
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With most app stores, the product is installed directly into the applications (mac) or program files (windows). Not to a temporary directory where we can put things where we want them in our system.
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Item 1 + 3 make a very bad combination.
I can see 4 courses of action.
-
DAZ could define & enforce a folder structure on content sold at DAZ. (This would make DAZ's QA job a little easier, and DAZ has made it very clear that DAZ's ease of use is much more important that the customer's ease of use.)
-
A user option to download to a temp directory & then the user can put the content where they want the product to go. I like my runtimes like I like my vices. All neatly separated so I can wallow in them without any extraneous distractions.
This is the better course of action for the end user.
-
A combination of 1 & 2 is the best course of action. It would make life easier for both DAZ and the end user.
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Do Nothing. Because that is always an option.
Whether you like it or not, DAZ does have a history of, shall we say, sub-optimal solutions to software problems. This is what concerns a lot of people. As an example, DAZ burned me with Carerra 6 (want bug fixes we promised you?, buy Carerra 7), Hexagon (Broken from 2007 to 2011), "We had no idea Apple was dropping PPC support." Spend $300 & get an ADC license & these little concerns go away.
The fact that all of this happened before you got there is irrelevent. DAZ has built a track record of great content, not so great software, and a "We want validation, not input." attitude toward their customers. I know that isn't the intent, but that is what it looks like from my perspective.
The only way I know to fix that is for the company to
-
Start paying attention to detail. This is what makes Apple products so great. "Fit & Finish" is what separates Apple products from everyone else's products. The attention to detail is what make the products "cool". Stuff just works. Name one product that DAZ makes that you can say that about.
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Promise less, deliver more. No more "Soon" That word has an unfortunate connotation in the Poserverse.
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Listen to your customers. After all, they are the ones keeping the lights on.
Quote - No offense intended, but you folks with your internet conspiracy issues puzzle me. YOU MUST connect to access the store, and you MUST access the store to DL the content regardless of the delivery method...
I access the store indeed, but using an unimportant office computer. And one doesn't install unneeded stuff on production computers (DAZ installers can already do enough damage when they backfire...).
Why? The day your app store app breaks something mission critical, somebody will lose his job, and it ain't you.
Quote - and you are here telling me you arent connected to the internet.... somewhere there is some internet connectin goin on. Its like a woman saying she never had sex when she has 4 kids...
Ever heard of artificial insemination?... Apparently not. So much for your attempt at sarcasm.
In our case here the answer is "VLAN", independent network segments with specific rules on who any computer can connect with. Production computers, the ones you make a living with, never connect to internet, there is no valid production reason why they should, and it's too risky. But they connect to other computers who do.
Quote - If you are one of these people, you must realize that your setup is not the norm
That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. It is the norm in most serious CGI/TV/movie studios who can't afford to delay a million-dollar production because some intern felt like updating his Facebook status from an unattended production computer. So once again, you (DAZ) should decide who do you cater for. The casual hobbyist who has one single family computer, or the professionals or semi-professionals with their specific needs and requirements?
Don't bother to reply to me, I'm out of this thread. I don't have time to lose reading how right DAZ is, and how wrong everybody who doesn't agree with your choices is. No hard feelings, thank you for the tidbits of information, and good luck.
Quote - That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. It is the norm in most serious CGI/TV/movie studios who can't afford to delay a million-dollar production because some intern felt like updating his Facebook status from an unattended production computer
and are very unlikely to be using Studio OR Poser so the point is moot. Just out of curiosity, which serious CGI/TV/movie studio are you working for?
My Freebies
Buy stuff on RedBubble
Quote - > Quote - That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. It is the norm in most serious CGI/TV/movie studios who can't afford to delay a million-dollar production because some intern felt like updating his Facebook status from an unattended production computer
and are very unlikely to be using Studio OR Poser so the point is moot. Just out of curiosity, which serious CGI/TV/movie studio are you working for?
What does that matter - I have a similar setup for a similar reason.
Nothing to do with conspiracies, just plain common sense: No clutter from stuff from the outside world and keeping it clean and fast that way without any risks
Randall has answered a lot of questions, probably to the best of his ability, or as much as he is allowed to say. If SM has something in the works, and someone else leaks it, then there could be legal hell to pay. Let's leave Randall alone on what SM might be doing. Two diffrent companies, ya know.
Woman with four kids denies having sex statement, anything can be twisted or any number of things can be brought up, but what the hell for other than being smart about it. What Randall meant was very clear, obviously there is some connection with the net, or some people are operating with extremely limited resources, like the included content or nothing else. And with no connection, how did anyone post here? Hmmm?
IT should be obvious that the whole of 3d is changing, but trying to do it and not just drop the old way and "sorry, here's where you start over" isn't going to be easy. It means software that will have to be able to run both systems easily and efficiently until the demand for the old is gone. If anyone wants to get their fingers in that programming mess, be my guest, I wouldn't.
My main question was on documentation, and he answered that, more or less stating everything that they'd been shown was a bunch of crap, not worth publishing. Okay, so it seems I don't have to look for a manual next week, maybe not next year, but at least they're making an effort. GOOD tech writers aren't that common, and not cheap, but sometimes the only answer is to wait. I use poser, Wings, a few others at times, so it's not a factor to me, really. One figure or family of figures I can't use are more than made up for by the number I can.
Let's lose the attitudes. I did.
The "I" in Doric is Silent.
Quote - Randall has answered a lot of questions, probably to the best of his ability, or as much as he is allowed to say.
Hi, I'm pretty sure Rand has been capable of saying that for himself from the beginning if he had chosen to. I think he is a pretty smart guy and none of the words you're using are more than three syllables. I'm sure he appreciates your help though.
The app store-like distribution and the CMS (linked also to Carrara). What next? a 3D Coat-like random intervals online licence check? continuing this way the iPhone will look like an open platform :lol:.
GIMP 2.7.4, Inkscape 0.48, Genetica 3.6 Basic, FilterForge 3 Professional, Blender 2.61, SketchUp 8, PoserPro 2012, Vue 10 Infinite, World Machine 2.3, GeoControl 2
I'm pretty twisted that DAZ hasn't kept up with the documentation, that's inexcusable. But having had to write mantenance and operating manuals for machines I've builit, I can also appreciate there are difficulties in finding someone that can make sense out of it.
I also do not come from the software world, I'm a retired toolmaker. In that world, there are two choices, it's right, or its refunded. Here is where I disagree with the way software is released, on schedule, and it doesn't matter if it works. If each copy of the release software that didn't work was the same as having to pay return shipping on a four thousand pound piece of equipment, they might have second thoughts on releasing it before it was ready. Then again, software is not my world.
I think I've been as hard on Randall as anyone, but carrying things from the obvious to the rediculous to the obvious next step, time to back off and let it rest. There is a point where it goes from complaint to abuse, and it's gone far beyond that.
The "I" in Doric is Silent.
Rand, I honestly thought I was as bad as they got. I stand corrected. Really, reading this makes me feel much better about myself. :)
I've been online for all of 12 years. When I first came on line I was running McAfee and had my first virus in a month. Reinstalled everything, started using avast. Being a 51 year old bachlor I vist some way off color sites, surf the web a lot, always curous about everything. Never picked up a virus, hell I don't even scan for them any more. So I am clueles why people are so terrified of viruses. Yes folks that is 1 in 12 years.
I read the carrara annoucment that C8.5 wont need Studio 4 installed and will have it's own CMS; big wooped de do on the CMS. Just something to uninstall. ;)
Quote - I've been online for all of 12 years. When I first came on line I was running McAfee and had my first virus in a month. Reinstalled everything, started using avast. Being a 51 year old bachlor I vist some way off color sites, surf the web a lot, always curous about everything. Never picked up a virus, hell I don't even scan for them any more. So I am clueles why people are so terrified of viruses. Yes folks that is 1 in 12 years.
A bit away from the topic but: If you don't scan any more, are you really so sure you haven't ever had one since? :) Really, it's still something for the average user to be concerned about. E.g., malware can be distributed by banner ads, or by Flash objects, and of course by self-extracting installers.
To be fair, DAZ (and many other 3D sellers) offers an option to burn to CD and send your purchase by mail. It's expensive, but available to those who fear Bad Things will happen if they download from online stores.
Personally, I've bought hundreds of things from Rendo, Daz, RDNA and other 3D sites and never had a Bad Thing happen. Other than the item was not as nice as it seemed on the product page, that is!
Quote - actually, afaik, DAZ stopped history burns about 12/18 months ago.
If so, my bad. I thought I saw the option the last time I bought something there, but I may be remembering someplace else.
I'm glad Randall came back, so I can re-subscribe. I hope we all realize that for any given question, any possible answer he gives will make somebody unhappy in some manner.
Quote - Personally, I've bought hundreds of things from Rendo, Daz, RDNA and other 3D sites and never had a Bad Thing happen. Other than the item was not as nice as it seemed on the product page, that is!
Yeah, same here... Ive bought from all the stores, and tons and tons of stuff. Never once got a virus. But if I did... I wouldnt wrap a condom over my computer lol One needs to be proactive about them and learn how to deal with them, not wrap their entire cyber world in a protective bubble. Where's the fun in that?
Yop. No more burns, and right before I decided to buy the complete dream home, having a burn for that would have been nice, it's a lot of files to download even with DSL. Does a pretty good job of taking care of two CD's. Then burn to disk and take them to the work machine, or as in my case, "play" machine.
Figured Randall would be back, but he's got a day job too, so probably doesn't have as much time to be on line as those of us that don't work. Might have figured out when something works right, nobody says nothing. When it doesn't, here come the restless natives. With warpaint and tomahawks ready.
The "I" in Doric is Silent.
Quote - > Quote - Personally, I've bought hundreds of things from Rendo, Daz, RDNA and other 3D sites and never had a Bad Thing happen. Other than the item was not as nice as it seemed on the product page, that is!
Yeah, same here... Ive bought from all the stores, and tons and tons of stuff. Never once got a virus. But if I did... I wouldnt wrap a condom over my computer lol One needs to be proactive about them and learn how to deal with them, not wrap their entire cyber world in a protective bubble. Where's the fun in that?
As one of those that years ago had one of the older, destructive worms, believe me, it's not worth it. Hundreds of hours spent taking hundreds of photos through a microscope lost, the worm looked for .jpg and played games in the headers. Nasty little program, hope the guy that wrote it got the same thing in his compiler, and anything else in that machine. I have no idea where it came from either. Since then, Nortons is in effect and this box is scanned at least once a day. The KAK worm may have been irritating, but that was about all. At least it didn't let you do anything, but if you could still get to your AV, you could get rid of it easy enough before it had a chance to infect anything else.
The "I" in Doric is Silent.
I have 2 computers and a laptop, actually, all of which have net access... and I have a metric ton of stuff to potentially lose (and stuff even that cannot be replaced)
But the answer isn't keeping my machine offline - its in doing frequent backups. I have an external drive, and a server with unlimited space. Ive had my runtime going since Poser 4. And with that setup? My old machine ran 3 yrs without one single virus.... my new rig.... no viruses, either.
Quote - I have 2 computers and a laptop, actually, all of which have net access... and I have a metric ton of stuff to potentially lose (and stuff even that cannot be replaced)
But the answer isn't keeping my machine offline - its in doing frequent backups. I have an external drive, and a server with unlimited space. Ive had my runtime going since Poser 4. And with that setup? My old machine ran 3 yrs without one single virus.... my new rig.... no viruses, either.
I have three desktops and one laptop, but this one, which is only a 2.6ghz P4 is the only one on line. The other two, everything that I take to them has already been scanned by Nortons here before it gets moved. But this one is now going on six years, and while I had other people using my connection, (teenagers with all their "social networking") I had that thing called Antivirus soft. That one was a real roach, until you coughed up the money for an inferior and slow AV, it wouldn't let you do anything. They got thirty emails from me within fifteen minutes, none of which I would dare repeat here. Facebook, myspace, any of those are now blocked by my firewall.
The "I" in Doric is Silent.
What is the real Problem, beyond egos!
Being a poser user
I will not use V5 Or Genesis because to use this product and it is a product. I have to use Daz Studio (A program which is sub standard from a Poser view point and my view point and no I am not wanting to be involved all the poser/DS hate stuff floating around)
Most of us look at Daz as a supplier of Poser Products, Genesis is not a poser product!
Most of us were looking forward to a V5 that was a better V4 without all the extra polys and magnet garbage, hopefully weight mapped, we did not get this. instead we got a V5 that only work in DS and to use her in Poser we have to have or use DS (not acceptable to poser users, you knew this when you published V5)
truly the people who are most hurt by this are content providers who work with DAZ Figures and make there living or extra cash making content for them. most of the Pros dont care, they use high end programs and mostly would not use a V product anyway... this means 90% of the flack is from hobbiest who piddle in 3d but also supply one heck of a lot of money to Daz, Rendo and RDNA etc...
So who do you please?
those who hobby harder and think they are pro?
Hobbiest who pay well and get to use a free program...?
Poser users who only use poser?
PS I also hate your installers... and wiki links to no where, your testing seems to be faltering here....as the installers are not checked well or something....?
Screw the friggin cloud crap....
as to the virus freeks.. get Avg Please!
So what do you think of WM Antonia? I think she Rocks better than ANY poser figure I have ever seen! Now she just needs a better figure...
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Well... I can see that I took too long of a break from this thread.
Yikes :D
Sorry all, I have other work to do and I can always count on many hours when i come in here and Its all been on my own personal time so its bound to be intermittent.... I thought I said that early on.
Before I get back to the few questions I did get... I want to make a request. I did not start this thread to provide a showcase for rants. I wanted to answer legit questions so that you might get real answers that you could be reasonable sure were "official" End of story. Can we please try to limit the back and forth to honest simple Q&A?
Since the in the 4 pages or so of comments and questions there are a lot of repeats, Ill just do an opening monologue where ill address a lot of it.
Why Am I here?
This is not DAZ PR, per se. I was not told to start this thread, I did it myself because of things i was reading here that weren't quite right and I thought this might be the best way to help out. We do not assume that everyone goes to our forum, so that really wasn't the place I wanted to do this.
Why did we start the Poser Section of our Forum?
Simple... based on this interaction I motioned at a meeting that we do it in order to demonstrate our goodwill and desire to co-exist to the Poser-oriented members of our community. They all said "OK" "GOOD IDEA".... there wasn't a single nay-sayer. I know that this will come as a shock to some of you... but Poser and DS users dont always get along... we are like siamese fighting fish... its best to keep us in separate tanks for the time being. I thought that it might relieve some pressure if Poser types could ask poser questions in a friendly environment without getting ganged up on. We have been directing attention and relevant threads there for organizational efficiency and to Jumpstart awareness of its existance.
When are you going to stop being forum Nazis?
The fundamental difference between this forum and ours is that ours exists to supplement the sales of our own products. One way to do that is to provide a FRIENDLY community where new users and those needing help or fellowship can go to receive it. We have every right to take a heavy hand to clear out ugliness of all types in order to maintain that environment. We try to be fair, but we are human. I wouldn't wish the job of Forum Mod at DAZ 3D on my worst enemy and the fact is that our people, especially Richard H. do an amazing job. (I dont think he is human and I know he never sleeps) Our mods do their best in a difficult situation. In order to help them out, we will be shoring up their training and providing a clearer list of regulations. this does not mean that you will be able to rant at will. It does mean that you will be able to expect fair treatment and that if you screw up, it will be with full knowledge of what you are doing and why its not allowed. THis wont happen overnight.
If you are upset because you arent being heard... trust me, we hear it all. It would help if people would stop grandstanding, seeking attention or trying to prove their "rightness" on both sides and just make some friggin cool art.
What is the deal with Hexagon, Carrara and Bryce?
The unfortunate answer is that I do not have the authority to shed much light on this. I will say that one possible goal of our company (and I hope this isnt surprising) is to eventually wrap up all the functionality of our somewhat incompatible collection of software titles into one program or at least a more complementary suite of programs (think the Adobe suite for example).
Carrara already has absorbed most of what was good about Bryce and Hexagon and its getting full DS support too. This doesnt mean we will move everything to Carrara, but it does seem logical to unify our diverse code bases.
Right now we are in a heavy dev cycle on shoring up DS4 and making sure that it is the best platform possible for adding new usability and/or functionality in the future. Even so, we managed a great bug fix update to Hex and continue to Develop the blazes out of Carrara. Its getting a massive update soon in 8.5...heck, I may even start using it. BFurner and DAZ_Spooky are huge Carrara advocates here and on the case.
Where is the Documentation?
I have answered this many many times already but whats one more? We acknowledge that we should have taken care of this sooner... but beleive you me, you would cringe if i told you of all the half started, lackluster, unsatisfactory, crummy attempts we have had. Everyone here is too busy with their assigned tasks to write docs, its a full time job... So, we hire new people. NOT ONE TIME in all the many attempts at DS docs has the person done a satisfactory job. Regardless of what you think you know... you do not know the whole story. None of that makes it any less our responsibility, but we are not dealing with something so easy that a monkey on word processor could simply bang it out. It has escalated to the point that three project managers, several Production artists, the lead designer and a few key others have been completely or partially pulled off normal duties to make this doc thing happen once and for all. It hurts our output of product and is very expensive for those people to be doing that work, but that should give you a signal of how important we feel it is. It will get done. It is all some of us are doing.
I do wonder, however, what some people will complain about once they are finally written. :D
Oh... it is highly unlikely that we will be issuing hard copy documentation. This is 2011, nobody is doing that anymore.... and i doubt our customers would pay for the cost of it through higher prices. We will provide a method to DL it for offline use or printing.
The Great Installer debate.
Nobody believes that installers or zipfiles alone is the best solution to the download and install problems we face. We are examining the situation and will decide on something we feel works best for us, our existing base AND the aquisition and engagement of new customers. Along with documentation, this is one of our highest priorities. What ever system we adopt will be the system and it will not be some arbitrary change for change sake. It will be as thoroughly and carefully considered as anything like this can be. In the end, if it is something you cant live with... then we will be sad about that. We will be very likely to be testing certain paradigms soon and there will be information and opinions sought. We have heard the arguments of the zip lobbyists and Installer fantatics and will consider all their points.
Dynamic cloth and Hair
There isnt a single person here, to my knowledge, that doesnt want Dynamics/Physics in Studio. It isnt like waving a magic wand.... it takes serious development. Once we feel our foundation is bulletproof enough to support it, we will start in on cool new features again. You cant beat us up for pursuing new features instead of polish, then complain when we decide to act on that criticism.
What did you mean about the Poser SR?
I meant that SM has worked with us to help make our CR2 exporter work better. The changes they made in order to help us will have to be implemented with a service release. These changes have been made, we have tested them, you cannot use them until you get an upcoming upgrade. This is not the full functionality of Genesis, just one more step down the road. I cannot be specific about what the exact changes/additions to the code were or what added functionality there will be, you will have to be wait like everyone else. :D
Did we rush Genesis to beat Poser Pro 2012 to market?
Heck no! We had no idea that there was even going to be a release let alone when it would be. Had we known we would have done some things very different. Now, we probably knew before you did... but not by much.
Store problems
Whatever your problems are with our store, (search included) they will hopefully go away soon. We are in the process of a MAJOR overhaul to our entire website and store and are implementing a new eCommerce engine. No, I cant say any more than that.
If I didnt get your question answered, I am sorry, please post again. Do me a favor though, please do so with brevity and Good humour.
Thanks!
Rand