infinity10 posted at 8:04AM Mon, 19 October 2020 - #4401746

Great discussion, Everyone. Pivoting back to Poser software environment, I think - as has been mentioned - a figure already with the geometry of say, bulky female or emancipated male, should already be prepared, prior to rigging inside Poser. Yet it is also true that custom figures have seen limited commercial success over the longer timeline.

Also, we need to ask - who is the user ? I suppose the entry-level hobbyist who wants a quick route to a pin-up render won't care too much about complexities of software or assets. Large studios on the other end of the specturm, would be able to create their own assets.

"Who is the user" is the key question, IMO. I always got the impression that Poser users were more corporate than, say, DS users. You see that in the figures and clothing offered. Aside from the limited edition Winter Queen Jessie, the stuff Poser came with was for contemporary, ordinary looking characters. They were not super attractive. They came with ordinary clothing, business suits, etc., not the spiky heeled boots, catsuits, etc. V3 and V4 were released with. And when I've seen Poser "in the wild," it's been for forensic animations, corporate training videos, etc. Where the figures are supposed to be ordinary people, not pinup babes or fantasy warriors.

Those users generally don't buy add-ons, though. And if they do, they're not looking for sexy outfits. Occasionally someone has wandered in here, wanting to know how to make Posette's boobs smaller, so they're not "distracting" in their training video. Once there was someone who wanted to buy Jessi a construction hardhat and orange safety vest for their safety video. Not exactly the top sellers here at Rosity.

So I wonder if the average user will change, now that Rosity's in charge. It's probably in their interest to appeal more to customers who might buy stuff in RMP (and the new in-program installer suggests that is the path they're following).

I have a feeling both Poser and DS's markets are being nibbled at, from both the lower and upper ends. I see a lot of images and animations now being done using games like The Sims, which is quick and easy for the more casual user. People are who are willing to deal with more of a learning curve have options like Blender.