Glitterati3D posted at 6:06AM Mon, 22 July 2019 - #4357686

In case you hadn't noticed, this entire thread now consists of 3 of you, with absolutely no first hand knowledge of the marketplace, bloviating about what this market needs. None of which have any skin in the game with products in the store and first hand experience.

Just dropping opinions, nothing more. I base it not only from my work inside of various marketplaces here (including one which was and still is far larger than Rendo), but based on my more recent experience in leading a product which currently generates $80m/yr... so yes dear, I know what skin actually is, and the playground I work in these days is far larger and more complex than you are aware of.

I'm sure that others may have their own unique perspectives as well, based on their real-world experience, and in fields where their very careers depend on success in said fields. Just because we don't make a couple thousand bucks off of a consignment or two in a digital store, does not mean that we now nothing of software development, marketing, mesh, or strategic direction.

Note that the intended audience is not you - you are exactly one vendor, who makes consignment items for money. No, the audience is, if the site owners are smart, someone with actual influence who can (and likely does) read the thread for ideas. If others want to put in their two cents, cool - the more the merrier. If they ignore it, cool, whatevs. However, my own experience in this forum has shown that yes, these posts do get read by people who have way more influence, as long as said posts remain free from the petty bickering (or at least has gems in and among the dross).

Note that I've studiously avoided getting drawn into the insults and the bullshit... and until now, I've avoided taking your bait, but perhaps it's time to set you straight - everyone is allowed to speak their minds here, because it will give the PTB a viewpoint or two far larger than your limited POV. The fact that you make and sell digital barbie doll stuff does not give you the right to presume any sort of superiority over everyone else up in here, because there are others whom I am very certain have far more experience in multiple fields than you or I have, and I appreciate their viewpoints as well, even if (okay, especially if) they're contrary. Just because it makes you uncomfortable doesn't make them invalid... if you don't like it, leave - capiche?

Now with that out of the way, let's address the few actual bits of substance, shall we?

It's not "just marketing", as you say. The figure has to actually hold up to the hype. If the Genesis line sucked as bad as you intimate, DAZ would have dissolved a very long time ago, or would have abandoned DS and shifted to supporting Poser at all costs. Instead, it's quite the opposite, so obviously the figures hold up more than sufficiently.

Consider - there is a massive digital graveyard of figures that got way more hype, way more advertising all around, and way more shouting from the rooftops. But due to deficiencies in topology, rigging, distortion, etc? They wound up just as dead as Jessie... Simple and sweet? If the mesh ain't competent, it won't make it very long.

So, about other vendors jumping ship en masse? Stop emoting and projecting - instead, honestly look into the motivations and reasons as to why they left, and more importantly, why many of them never came back. If it were that big of a big hassle for them to adapt to DS' rigging, they would have returned. If it were such a let-down and a sub-standard figure platform as you claim, they would have returned. If Poser were oh-so-superior, they would have come crawling back. BUT, a huge number of them didn't.

It's up to Renderosity to find out why, and more importantly for them, to figure out what it will take to either attract them back, or to mentor and encourage new vendors of sufficient quality. They have to encourage that growth anyway.

This isn't a question of bragging rights or snobbery - it's a question of long-term survival. It all comes down to one of two choices: continue thinking everything is awesome as the income curve slowly continues its arc towards the dirt... or sit down and seriously reconsider WTF it's going to take to spark some growth up in this piece.