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Community Center F.A.Q (Last Updated: 2025 Jan 02 4:06 pm)
Subject: Y'all are making it too difficult on us...
Seriously, Stacey, it might not be a bad idea, from a marketing standpoint. Obviously I don't have the figures of the membership, or an overall membership profile at my access, but I bet there are enough people who would consider such a thing as a subscription, in exchange for a more exclusive membership deal, to make the necessary site programming worth it.. Maybe include a small pervasive store discount in with the package, which might increase sales a bit too.
CGS offers small discounts on 3D related products and personal web space along with a membership, and they appear to be successful with it.
What works for them though might not work as well here - they have a higher percentage of professionals in the CG industry. So they can afford to be more alienating, more divisive.
RO doesn't have to be harsh about it though, just offer it as an option. :-)
You know though.. you know it, I know it, we all know it... one day Renderosity needs to step up to the next higher tier. Y'all have been poised on the brink for long enough, time for some action. :-)
Sorry there, despite the silliness, I was being serious. I think that R'osity would benefit from some sort of broad-spectrum premium level membership for a paid subscription. And it's very likely that I'd sign up, both for the benefit and because I want to throw my support behind this fine establishment.
Not that I'd pass up that pict--
Uh, sorry. Won't happen again.
Captain Jack... Jack, that is - let's not be so formal, if I may. Or else, try to court martial me for insubordination. ;-)
But don't be so obvious.......
Anyhow, yeah, premium level subscription, good way to put it. The Poserites might disapprove in general, but they're always revolting anyway. ;-)
mike, the ads don't bother me, but if they know how to allow users to selectively block ads, they'll likely tell ya, if they can work it out amongst themselves. my only guess would be to block ads in firefox, then if there's a forum thread img ya wanna see, does firefox have an option to load images on a per-msg basis? like yahoo e-mail blocks spam images, but it has a "load images" button in case one wants to see 'em anyway.
No, Miss Nancy, it's not just that, really. That's what inspired me to create this thread, but it revitalized thoughts I'd already had - that RO could be much more than it is, that the ads are sub-standard, that they can be avoided, which led me to think about why one would choose to avoid them....
Which in my case is, they largely suck. Not just annoying, but mostly unprofessional and tacky. Not RO's fault, really, but they could look at the whole amateurish situation as a whole and decide enough is enough.
The point is, the glory days are past. The market is saturated. Soon enough, RO becomes a parody of itself, unless it rises to the next level. The "next level" being, try to generate more income by offering a more professional package,as opposed to the random and unpredictable sales from the Marketplace.
Using the premise of it being just annoying ads is just a foot in the door, a wake-up call. I'm hoping some of the admins look at some of the promos and ask themselves, 'WTF, how can we expect to be taken seriously?!"
2 points:
-
Personally I like the ads, I may see something that intrigues me and I'll click on it, I may have missed it in the RMP for whatever reason, without the ads I may have never seen it.
-
In the current economic climate I don't need to be paying out more money just to get rid of ads that don't bother me.
Not having a go, I understand your view, I don't see it being popular in the long run and I don't see it making more money for the site over the ads. [if they get paid for the ads!]
Injustice will be avenged.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.
I definitely don't think anyone should be shoved aside, back, forward, or placed in a tighly wrapped freezer baggie and shipped to Pluto. Anything like that.
I think it would be cool if R'osity offered extra goodies that we could buy into, is all. I do that at DAZ and CG Society, and I think it could work out well here. I don't think we should take anything away from what people already get, just add some extra goodies that have actual, or even perceived, value.
Some possibilities might be:
- Discounts in the store
- Special occasion vouchers
- Exclusive galleries not available to other users
- Extra forums just for premium members
- Extra uploads (which is already a premium feature, IIRC)
None of that would take away from what anyone already has, it's just an add on. I'd sign up for that.
Oh yes... let's have a contest for a cool name for premium membership. Let me think... "Power Rangers" is taken... have to work on that.
Quote - Captain Jack... Jack, that is - let's not be so formal, if I may. Or else, try to court martial me for insubordination. ;-)
But don't be so obvious.......
Nothin' formal about me, so no problem here.
The title is honorary anyway, bestowed upon me by my high school drama coach when I walked out on stage wearing a Roman soldier costume while we were building a set. Kept the nickname for use during my DJ days in college, then transferred it to use on web forums.
I don't think I have the authority to court martial anyone...
Quote - 2 points:
Personally I like the ads, I may see something that intrigues me and I'll click on it, I may have missed it in the RMP for whatever reason, without the ads I may have never seen it.
In the current economic climate I don't need to be paying out more money just to get rid of ads that don't bother me.
Not having a go, I understand your view, I don't see it being popular in the long run and I don't see it making more money for the site over the ads. [if they get paid for the ads!]
You missed my point, I think. I don't mean Renderosity as it is, I mean a separate Renderosity, a more professional Renderosity, a potentially more respected Renderosity, perhaps offering features along with a subscription, such as access to full tutorials and such, like Gnomon does, and... who knows what else.
Even so, I'd gladly pay a monthly fee just for the sake of avoiding all the ads here, even if nothing else was changed or added. Lots of us don't need ads in our faces at all times and know how to find something we're looking for, and aren't addicted to Poser where we need to know what the latest thing is by the latest Hot Merchant. But really, they'd have to offer at least a few more features as well. Maybe a Renderosity URL for your own use (within the CG context, and laws, of course), and site-wide discounts on all products.
Perhaps subscription members, for example, could upload tutorials and content and get a small kickback from their contributions, if good enough. For example, I make an hour long video tutorial on how to use Modo for making Poser morphs, and it can only be downloaded by subscription members. The fact that it exists adds ever-so-slightly to the value of a subscription membership, and I get a small fee for making it, if it's approved as being of high enough value and quality. Before you know it, there are thousands of professional tutorials here, made by people who might otherwise not do it for free.
And before you know it, the Max, Maya, and Mudbox people are coming out of hiding, and creating valuable learning resources, possibly in a Poser-centric context, which there is nowhere near enough of out there. Ever seen a professional and thorough video of how to optimize, rig, texture and animate a Poser figure in Maya? I sure haven't seen anything like that.
And yet, people do it. There are loads of pros using Poser resources in professional work, they just don't talk about it much, because Poser and its community has this very unprofessional stigma attached to it. That could be changed...
Just an example, and yes, there would be alot to consider in making such a thing work for everyone involved.
And I'm also suggesting that there should be quality standards on MP items. Currently, all anything here has to do is work as advertised. It can be crap, useless, and cause your whole computer to lock up, but if it's advertised as crap, useless and BSOD fodder, and it works exactly in that way, then it's acceptable. ;-)
And it would be cool to see this place progress higher in the CG world. As it is, it's known almost exclusively as a Poser site, for Poser people. The unfortunate reality is, half the professional CG world sees it as a joke and a haven for hobbyists. Go to CG talk and ask why there's no Poser forum, for example. if you don't get banned outright, you'll at the least receive a very cold reception. It can be improved upon without alienating the hobbyists though.
Well, we Lightwavers get that kind of treatment there, too, at times...
But also, I like this place. There are quite a few really talented, smart and funny people here, but I find myself viewing alot of artwork and reading alot of posts that really test my will to stay quiet...
(Such as this one, I'm sure alot of people will think. ;-) )
It would be cool to be able to browse here in sections that were accessible only to those who were more experienced or more professional, or at least dedicated enough to part with some cash to be part of it. n00bs tend to get on my nerves, especially 15 year-old Poser n00bs. ;-)
And a whole lot of the ad banners are silly and even embarrassing, especially moreso, considering they're supposed to be taken seriously... I sometimes look over my shoulder to make sure there's nobody seeing what's on my screen, because a whole lot of it is too embarrassing to bear...
Maybe a subscription membership could offer the ability to filter out ads and art except by certain people and certain types of content, and a section where you can view what's new and only what's new, and filtered by date, subject, and so on. Of course, the MP would have better search and filtering options too. For example, I was looking at products here yesterday and had to sort through ten thousand uninteresting and uninspired expansion, prop, and texture packs made by people I never heard of, with very obviously low quality, before finding something I liked. And no, I didn't buy it because all that energy I spent looking made me wonder why I was looking to buy something I could just do myself, anyway. I know I can go to DAZ and get something that's at least passed some quality standards and would be alot of effort to reproduce on my own. Here, it's a crap shoot, a gamble.
Again, I'm saying optional. I don't know how anyone could be opposed to the idea of creating a subscription version of the site for those who might be interested, while leaving the current site as-is. The difference, of course, would be the subscription members would have access to more features. Obviously the management would have to determine if it could be made profitable, so they should really be the only ones opposed to such a thing if it's determined it would be a wasted effort.
Just thinking out loud here, really. ;-)
Sounds like you'd like it to be more like Daz. ;^)
Personally, I think Rendo needs to promote sales ideas better. For example Rendo's new "FastGrab". I like it much better than Daz, but it's almost hidden! It's so small it looks like a litttle ad to the right.
Every time there is a big sale like the St. Pattie;s one, I have to hunt for it.
As for the banner ads, I like them! (Of course I make my own). I find things that way that I am interested in as a buyer. What's more, how would we artists bring attention to our products w/o it? I know I get hardly any advertising. Our products are on the front page briefly, then disappear into the fold.
I don't like paid memberships. I do belong to the Plat Club, but that is mostly to get free things like new models. If someone was paying not to see a banner of my product I would not be happy. <:^(
Rendo could use some improvements, no denying that, but I don't think removing 2 banners a page should be part of it.
well, a 'more professional' rosity would, of course, cut out some people who simply can't afford to pay for stuff.
We have our share of professionals here. Oh we may not be top level workin in movie/game studios professionals, but still professionals. We just happen ti like rosity. I post at CGtalk too. So what? I'd probably psot at Deviant Art too if I wasn't on dialup and their site didn't take half a freakin hour to load. I don't really have a problem with a premium paid membership, as long as that premium membership doesn't deprive any non paid members of anything good. If that makes any sense.
Talent is God's gift to you. Using it is your gift to God.
That's my feeling about it. The best thing about R'osity, IMO, is the community, so I don't want anything taken away from that. I don't care about the ads, either, myself, but if there was a premium program I'd probably participate. Not so much for what the extras might be, but because I like the idea of being able to contribute a little bit, since I'm at a place in my life where I can do that.
My bottom line on the idea is that it should make the place as a whole better. Nothing taken away from the existing offerings for regular users, some extra goodies for subscribers, and a little more money in the R'osity coffers to keep the staff and machines running at full tilt.
:biggrin:
Quote - The last thing we need, is for some members to be "premium" and others not.
Stacey I'll expound on why I say that some more if this is ever put to the team if you would like.
Well, being that you feel the need to share your views in public, it only seems reasonable you should share your reasons in public too. No?
Try as I may, I'm not seeing the problem with the idea of a "premium" section to this site. The "idea", that is... although the implementation of said idea would probably be impractical. Yeah, everyone wants stuff for free, and there's plenty of that out there. But as I said I never suggested doing away with what they already have, just adding to it.
Having said that, and also having considered the idea some more, I doubt it would be profitable for Renderosity to do such a thing, or even worth trying, as long as it remains primarily a Poser site.
Mike,
My reasoning for being opposed to such an idea is based upon a few things. Some of those are things I see on a daily basis behind the scenes, for example things like private member communications to me.
As such not only would it be a violation of the members trust for me to do so, it would be inappropriate for me as a member of staff to discuss that in a public forum with other members. Hence why I stated I would speak to Stacey in private about those if she wants to hear them.
That does not mean however that I cannot state publicly that I think something is a bad idea.
And I think this is a bad idea.
For one thing I agree with what has already been stated in this thread.
Not everyone can afford to pay for a membership at every site they visit. Especially in economic times such as these.
And in these economic times, when people are already hurting, doing things like suddenly making people pay to join or retain their membership, at a site, simply makes bad business sense.
Renderosity would, rather than attracting business and members, lose business and members in total, if the members suddenly had to pay to join or remain a member.
"The Blood
is the life!"
I think what Mike is proposing wouldnt take away the free membership at all...The paid subscription would have some perks in addition to what is receieved for free. So basically nothing would change for all that is offered for free currently but if there was a second tier to a membership here, EXTRA benefits would be offered in that tier of membership
Quote -
I think what Mike is proposing wouldnt take away the free membership at all...The paid subscription would have some perks in addition to what is receieved for free. So basically nothing would change for all that is offered for free currently but if there was a second tier to a membership here, EXTRA benefits would be offered in that tier of membership
Yep. Bingo. That's exactly what I meant. Thank you. :-)
Quote -
Oh this is like the suggestion I made a few days back when another storefront made me mad.Ok I'm on the same page now.
Umm... I'm not sure you're really on the same page now. Unless you just have some sort of communication deficit, it appears with the above statement you are claiming to understand the issue while at the same time, negating its validity; writing it off as a mere knee-jerk response to an annoyance.
What actually happened is the ads annoyed me, and I realized I not only wanted to be rid of the ads, but also caused me to consider another potential aspect to this site, as yet unexplored. Yes, the subscription idea. It was a rapid evolution from one thought to another, much broader concept.
However, I do appreciate that you seem to have accepted the idea I don't wish to remove from, but rather to add to the site, after Stacey pointed that out... in spite of the fact I don't know how many other ways I could have stated that, which I already had done...
And for the record, I don't buy your "I can't state my reasons publicly" argument.
If you know you can't state your reasoning publicly, then you should hold your tongue on your opinion unless explicitly asked. Which you were not specifically asked.
Conversely, if you decide to state your opinion, you should understand that saying something like, "I'll be explaining in private to those who matter, but not to whom this is addressed" is not only disrespectful, but also just kinda.... oh, I dunno, sorta wussy and easily described with several other explitive-laced popular colloquialisms. ;-)
Having said that, Captain Jack, please flirt with Stacey in your own threads.
This is my thread. I would like to claim the right to any and all flirting with Stacey that occurs in my thread.
If you begin your own thread where there is Stacey-flirting happening, I will respect your sovereignty and not impinge upon it.
Thank you for your cooperation. ;-)
Quote - Having said that, Captain Jack, please flirt with Stacey in your own threads.
This is my thread. I would like to claim the right to any and all flirting with Stacey that occurs in my thread.
If you begin your own thread where there is Stacey-flirting happening, I will respect your sovereignty and not impinge upon it.
Thank you for your cooperation. ;-)
That seems perfectly fair, and I think it's an excellent plan. The more Stacey-flirting, the better, I say...
:biggrin:
Quote -
That seems perfectly fair, and I think it's an excellent plan. The more Stacey-flirting, the better, I say...
No.... there must always be a differentiation between quantity and quality. MORE flirting does not necessarily equate to BETTER flirting, in other words.
For example, saying "Yay! Stacey smiled!" is not necessarily good flirting, because it implies a dissatisfaction with recent smiling occurrences or lack thereof. You might as well say, "Hey, it's nice to see you smile again, you sourpuss." Although the "It's like the sun came out" part is pretty good, I have to admit.
On the other hand, the way I would have done it would be something like, "look how Stacey's smile lights up even the dimmest threads".
That's neither overt flirting, nor is it condescending. It's subtle. It's good and to the point without being over the top.
As a guy who has been appreciating women for a good while now, I have to say one of the things I've learned is they tend to be pretty smart creatures. Probably smarter than men. And therefore, they easily see through the simplistic and overt flirting. I think they probably more appreciate those who try harder with it. ;-)
Nice to see you smile. Jeez, you might as well say, "Hey, your hair looks great". They already know that stuff, man, you gotta come up with a more original angle. ;-)
OMGDDSS!!! Jack...Stacey... Get a room! LOL!
I think paid membership is a bad idea. And trying to tie it to "professionalism" is bad for business. As times get tougher, giving something will bring in more money.
I see excellent art by new folks with 4 or less comments, yet you see over 30 remarks on someone who is not any better (*sometimes actually worse, as in "floating feet, and other very basic mistakes), but they are a "part of the ren elite" (*old timers). This makes new (*potential customers) members discouraged. So in many ways ren is less about the art (*hence the professional comment is debunked) and more about the marketing & sales.
While I think that charging a fee will cause many to leave, (*and not because they have a bug up thier butts or whatever because they are PO'd at ren's issue of the moment), but because they are already alienated by the fact the regulars ignore them, but this is a fact, it is occuring. I think it is stupid. I am fairly 'new-ish' (*just 5 years around the boards & galleries, and care less about the cliques and such). But I came here first when I got poser, and other CG products and I have stayed because it is home base. Had i joined just a year or two later, I might have left for greener pastures.
Perhaps if ren focused on more art, less selling (*cause we all are going to buy!) things would get busy and the more traffic the more sales (*usually). Ren is like Reno, NV in many respects. In Las Vegas, NV, they want you drunk and spending freely! In Reno, NV they limit your drinks and are afraid to let go of a nickle (*cause it is hurting thier profits). Thus more people who want to have a good time and spend thier money go to Las Vegas! There might be some real logic and profound wisdom in this statement!
I mentioned once before, put an item on sale, and then have a contest for the best artwork created with the purchased product! Give the winner a 25% coupon (*geez you'll more then profit from the larger sale!), give it to some of the newer artists and see how it will boost sales! They buy the original, and then spend on more with the coupon! Win,win!!!
OK, I said my mind, rip me to pieces! :P (*LOL!)
Ariana
BTW... I agree with both art_sorcery and magicmoondesigns, you need ads even for the paid people, cause often things are new or on sale and sometimes e-bots are slow to reach us!
~A~
Is there water in your future or is
it being shipped away to be resold to you?
Water, the ultimate
weapon...
www.futurefantasydesign.com
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It looks like alot of the images on this site are sub-directories of the root, "renderosity.com/mod/..."
Such as the thread icons, the ad banners, and even the images uploaded into threads by members.
This makes it difficult for anyone wishing to use the Firefox AdblockPlus plugin to filter out the annoying crap from the stuff we want to see...
Anyhow, that's just me. I don't come here to get solicited to, I come here to hang, to discuss Poser and other 3D things, to look at artwork, and to occasionally buy stuff.
That's not to say I don't understand the rationale - y'all want to sell stuff, and at a place where graphics are the thing, you want to be...errrm... graphical-like.
How about doing something like CG Society has: an optional annual paid subscription with an option for the user to completely remove all ads and banners? Just a thought. No offense to anyone in particular, but many of the banners and ads are not only annoying, but also really tacky, amateurish, and insulting.
EDIT: No, I'm not just being an ass for the sake of being an ass, this is a genuine suggestion. I would gladly pay for a subscription to this site if it meant I could more easily filter out the crap, and have options to turn off all ad banners. I don't know how many else would, but I'm sure I'm not alone in how I feel about it.