Would buy 3d models if available
by Martin Schultz · 12/01/2006 (6:25 am) · 21 comments
rant mode on
When I look in the content pack store on this site and in the image-of-the-day section, I see a lot of nice content packs & models being sold here and that convices me that here is really a bunch of talented 3d artists floating around. All that stuff looks really amazing, but...
... why don't you make more art to sell it here?
You already have future customers! For example my actual game I'm developing: Kind of dogfighting space ships on various planets. If any artist would offer space ships / drop ships / mother ships - I'd buy them! I haven't seen any around here. Are space ships so boring? Yes, you might mention www.3DRT.com. Might be ok for some cases, but not Torque ready nothing. 30 US$ for a nice space ship or two? Ready for TGE and TGEA? A handful of different base textures already included? I would pay for it because I can't do it myself.
More boring space ships? Yeeeesssss! I would love to have a choice of different kind of ships or buy them all! But today - so far what I've seen and found - nothing is available so I can't send my money to anyone.
Trees? Lots of trees! I need trees! Yes, there is one (!) content pack available offering 4 (!) different trees if I read the description right. Is that all? I want more trees! I would pay for it (*hint* *hint* -> future customer! ;-)
Interior DIFs? Yes, those too! More of them! I need a landing pad, industry buildings and that kind of stuff. Why is there no Torque-ready content available?
Pre-made Atlas terrains too? Yes! Personally I find it eats up a lot of time creating nice looking terrains for TGEA / Atlas. Would I buy a pack of 10 terrains with heightmaps, textures and all this stuff for 10-20 US$? Yes. It would save my time (which is my biggest constraint!) and allow me to focus on the game itself rather on art so much.
What about sounds? Everyone needs sounds for games. I already bought some packs from the store and from outside of this community, but it is hard to find the right stuff. Engine/laser/missile/explosion sounds? I would buy them.
And particle effects? Yes! We all need them! Think of the time it takes to make some good looking particle effects in Torque. Would someone make 50 nice looking particle effects of different kinds, put them into demo levels for TGE/TGEA I'm pretty sure there would be a market. I would buy them.
What about other 3d models? Sure! It's hard to prototype a game and convince someone how cool a game would play without content. So, in my opinion, only if there's a choice to buy from, you could show others in which direction you want to go and win them for your team. I could think of airplanes, boats, ships, trucks, space stations, buildings, streets, bridges, hover vehicles, sci-fi stuff... virtually everything. Make it Torque-ready and show your stuff.
Next question: Why is all the available third-party content so scattered to hundreds of different sites? Couldn't we make one portal to gather all those content packs/art? At least a link list where to find something?
Anyway - I think there's a lot of very talented artists around here. Maybe not all content packs need to be polished so perfectly like the Brave-Tree ones. Come on artists, show what you have available and offer the stuff to the public! You already have customers!
rant mode off
I need to add that this is no offense or alike. I just can't believe that there are so few content packs available here compared to the amount of good artists floating around. And not all developers are developing MMORG's... :-)
When I look in the content pack store on this site and in the image-of-the-day section, I see a lot of nice content packs & models being sold here and that convices me that here is really a bunch of talented 3d artists floating around. All that stuff looks really amazing, but...
... why don't you make more art to sell it here?
You already have future customers! For example my actual game I'm developing: Kind of dogfighting space ships on various planets. If any artist would offer space ships / drop ships / mother ships - I'd buy them! I haven't seen any around here. Are space ships so boring? Yes, you might mention www.3DRT.com. Might be ok for some cases, but not Torque ready nothing. 30 US$ for a nice space ship or two? Ready for TGE and TGEA? A handful of different base textures already included? I would pay for it because I can't do it myself.
More boring space ships? Yeeeesssss! I would love to have a choice of different kind of ships or buy them all! But today - so far what I've seen and found - nothing is available so I can't send my money to anyone.
Trees? Lots of trees! I need trees! Yes, there is one (!) content pack available offering 4 (!) different trees if I read the description right. Is that all? I want more trees! I would pay for it (*hint* *hint* -> future customer! ;-)
Interior DIFs? Yes, those too! More of them! I need a landing pad, industry buildings and that kind of stuff. Why is there no Torque-ready content available?
Pre-made Atlas terrains too? Yes! Personally I find it eats up a lot of time creating nice looking terrains for TGEA / Atlas. Would I buy a pack of 10 terrains with heightmaps, textures and all this stuff for 10-20 US$? Yes. It would save my time (which is my biggest constraint!) and allow me to focus on the game itself rather on art so much.
What about sounds? Everyone needs sounds for games. I already bought some packs from the store and from outside of this community, but it is hard to find the right stuff. Engine/laser/missile/explosion sounds? I would buy them.
And particle effects? Yes! We all need them! Think of the time it takes to make some good looking particle effects in Torque. Would someone make 50 nice looking particle effects of different kinds, put them into demo levels for TGE/TGEA I'm pretty sure there would be a market. I would buy them.
What about other 3d models? Sure! It's hard to prototype a game and convince someone how cool a game would play without content. So, in my opinion, only if there's a choice to buy from, you could show others in which direction you want to go and win them for your team. I could think of airplanes, boats, ships, trucks, space stations, buildings, streets, bridges, hover vehicles, sci-fi stuff... virtually everything. Make it Torque-ready and show your stuff.
Next question: Why is all the available third-party content so scattered to hundreds of different sites? Couldn't we make one portal to gather all those content packs/art? At least a link list where to find something?
Anyway - I think there's a lot of very talented artists around here. Maybe not all content packs need to be polished so perfectly like the Brave-Tree ones. Come on artists, show what you have available and offer the stuff to the public! You already have customers!
rant mode off
I need to add that this is no offense or alike. I just can't believe that there are so few content packs available here compared to the amount of good artists floating around. And not all developers are developing MMORG's... :-)
#2
why don't you approach some of the talented artists whose work you like and ask for bespoke models that suit your needs? If you can show the artist that the effort to produce a content pack will give them the required return on their investment, they may even put it togther as a content pack. This would reduce the cost to you but you would then have to live with the fact that the same models crop up in other peoples games.
I suspect however that the reason we mostly see content packs of generic buildings, tools and weapons is that they have a broad appeal and can be put in as background fodder in games of many genres. I don't see spaceships falling into the same category.
Rob
12/01/2006 (6:38 am)
Martin,why don't you approach some of the talented artists whose work you like and ask for bespoke models that suit your needs? If you can show the artist that the effort to produce a content pack will give them the required return on their investment, they may even put it togther as a content pack. This would reduce the cost to you but you would then have to live with the fact that the same models crop up in other peoples games.
I suspect however that the reason we mostly see content packs of generic buildings, tools and weapons is that they have a broad appeal and can be put in as background fodder in games of many genres. I don't see spaceships falling into the same category.
Rob
#3
It's a matter of how much you are able to spend. A real good model could easily cost a couple of hundreds of dollars. For one model. If the artist sells his models non-exclusiv, the price goes down to for example 20/30 US$ per model. In that price range, I could afford to spend for example 200-300 US$ for art and have all art assets together to make my game complete.
@Robert:
Hard to find such guys. I've tried it. Several times. Maybe I did something wrong. Could be. Maybe this blog helps to find such a guy.
And talking about space ships was just an example. I guess the market for content packs is much much bigger than what we see here today on the site.
12/01/2006 (6:47 am)
@Chris: It's a matter of how much you are able to spend. A real good model could easily cost a couple of hundreds of dollars. For one model. If the artist sells his models non-exclusiv, the price goes down to for example 20/30 US$ per model. In that price range, I could afford to spend for example 200-300 US$ for art and have all art assets together to make my game complete.
@Robert:
Hard to find such guys. I've tried it. Several times. Maybe I did something wrong. Could be. Maybe this blog helps to find such a guy.
And talking about space ships was just an example. I guess the market for content packs is much much bigger than what we see here today on the site.
#4
Another way is to find a partner that is an artist. This way you don't have to pay the artist, but you both will suffer together when working, and enjoy the fruits of the reward when you are done :P
Content packs are great for prototyping and it won't be too shabby if you don't use them too overtly in your games. Its great if money is tight and you need a good demo or things out of the house asap.
In my solution, if you are lucky, just partner an animation house :P
12/01/2006 (6:52 am)
The best possible solution is to hire an artist. This way you can get the specification direct as you want, though you have to make hiring decisions, and things may go awry on the worst case.Another way is to find a partner that is an artist. This way you don't have to pay the artist, but you both will suffer together when working, and enjoy the fruits of the reward when you are done :P
Content packs are great for prototyping and it won't be too shabby if you don't use them too overtly in your games. Its great if money is tight and you need a good demo or things out of the house asap.
In my solution, if you are lucky, just partner an animation house :P
#5
Yes, having an artist as partner would be great (and hard to find?)
Well, partnering with an animation house is out of scope for me :-) But I have a small budget for my stuff I'm willing to spend. Like I said above. If there would be (more) content packs / art assets to buy it would be great. It might be a drawback if you buy art from different sources that the overall art style is not common or 100% common, but in some cases (like mine), it would be ok.
12/01/2006 (7:03 am)
@Psial:Yes, having an artist as partner would be great (and hard to find?)
Well, partnering with an animation house is out of scope for me :-) But I have a small budget for my stuff I'm willing to spend. Like I said above. If there would be (more) content packs / art assets to buy it would be great. It might be a drawback if you buy art from different sources that the overall art style is not common or 100% common, but in some cases (like mine), it would be ok.
#6
http://www.3d-diggers.de/ <\advertisement>
12/01/2006 (7:23 am)
I think I can help you regarding the trees:
#7
If you bugger him a bit I am sure he can prioritize which get converted first. All his character Models are converted to .Dts plus .Dsq but the Website does not yet reflect that, he will update as soon as he gets some free time.
12/01/2006 (7:24 am)
@Martin: There is hope yet. ;) 3drt is working on converting all their Models to torque ready .dts If you bugger him a bit I am sure he can prioritize which get converted first. All his character Models are converted to .Dts plus .Dsq but the Website does not yet reflect that, he will update as soon as he gets some free time.
#8
Step 2 - Do the TDN Blender tutorials to learn how to export stuff
Step 3 - Purchase cheap models from places like 3DRT and Turbo Squid.... try to get them in .obj format if you can. For 3DRT, you have to own Max and export their stuff to .obj, or get a friend to do that for you.
Step 4 - Import the models in Blender
Step 5 - Modify the model so it can be exported into Torque
Step 6 - Export
Step 7 - Wash, rinse, repeat.
12/01/2006 (7:28 am)
Step 1 - Learn Blender (do the Gus Tutorial and some of the other tutorials)... alternatively, purchase Max or Maya and learn that, but that's a very expensive way to go unless you already own them.Step 2 - Do the TDN Blender tutorials to learn how to export stuff
Step 3 - Purchase cheap models from places like 3DRT and Turbo Squid.... try to get them in .obj format if you can. For 3DRT, you have to own Max and export their stuff to .obj, or get a friend to do that for you.
Step 4 - Import the models in Blender
Step 5 - Modify the model so it can be exported into Torque
Step 6 - Export
Step 7 - Wash, rinse, repeat.
#9
we should talk.
I am back from Grimma near Leipzig where i helped my father for some weeks.
Now i see that you have invited me and also need 3D objects.
So lets talk 270 59 48
: )
12/01/2006 (8:11 am)
Hi Martin,we should talk.
I am back from Grimma near Leipzig where i helped my father for some weeks.
Now i see that you have invited me and also need 3D objects.
So lets talk 270 59 48
: )
#10
I make all of my content specifically for Torque and Garage Games. And they sale it exclusively here at Garage Games dot com.
Both up my content pack have a wide variety of content from trees to structures, terrain, decor objects, etc. But even with the size of my content packs, I still have only covered a few possible subjects and themes, but I am working on more.
Feel free to email me and tell me what you are looking for, I can't promise that I will get it in my next content pack, but who knows, I may already have it laying around collecting virtual dust.
12/01/2006 (8:31 am)
Martin,I make all of my content specifically for Torque and Garage Games. And they sale it exclusively here at Garage Games dot com.
Both up my content pack have a wide variety of content from trees to structures, terrain, decor objects, etc. But even with the size of my content packs, I still have only covered a few possible subjects and themes, but I am working on more.
Feel free to email me and tell me what you are looking for, I can't promise that I will get it in my next content pack, but who knows, I may already have it laying around collecting virtual dust.
#11
If you upgrade my student 3D max license to a full license ill model these for free :)
edit : tags were wrong :p
12/01/2006 (10:17 am)
If you upgrade my student 3D max license to a full license ill model these for free :)
edit : tags were wrong :p
#12
I think nice art deserves good money, but to be fair, I've been noticing a lot of nice art content pack coming along lately.. So I cant complain.
12/01/2006 (10:37 am)
Its not really that hard to turn the 3drt stuff into dts vehicles yourself :)I think nice art deserves good money, but to be fair, I've been noticing a lot of nice art content pack coming along lately.. So I cant complain.
#13
I really forgot about 3D diggers - thanks for the hint. Will definately buy something there!
@Thak:
That's very interesting news! I'm going to ask the 3DRT guy about the Torque export status. Thanks! :-)
@Tony:
He he, I know how to export stuff using Max and sure this is a way to use 3DRT stuff, but isn't there really no alternativ? I hoped so :-)
@Mathias:
I'll call you this weekend, ok?
Good to hear you're back. Unfortunately you missed the last (very funny) IGDA evening. The next one is in february. :-)
@Todd:
I'll send you an e-mail. Thanks.
@Robin:
Nice art! Really! You could use more polys on it! And no, can't upgrade your license, unfortunately... ;-)
@Phil:
I have successfully created already some vehicles for my game using Max, but to be honest, they don't look very well... And textureing a model is another completly different story... :-)
Yes, a lot of good art is already available. Take only the stuff from Tim Aste. Oustanding quality. But take Air Ace as example. Wouldn't it have been good to have a Spitfire model available already at early stages?
In general I'm very thankful about all the replies you guys made here. Thanks! :-)
12/01/2006 (10:55 am)
@Stefan: I really forgot about 3D diggers - thanks for the hint. Will definately buy something there!
@Thak:
That's very interesting news! I'm going to ask the 3DRT guy about the Torque export status. Thanks! :-)
@Tony:
He he, I know how to export stuff using Max and sure this is a way to use 3DRT stuff, but isn't there really no alternativ? I hoped so :-)
@Mathias:
I'll call you this weekend, ok?
Good to hear you're back. Unfortunately you missed the last (very funny) IGDA evening. The next one is in february. :-)
@Todd:
I'll send you an e-mail. Thanks.
@Robin:
Nice art! Really! You could use more polys on it! And no, can't upgrade your license, unfortunately... ;-)
@Phil:
I have successfully created already some vehicles for my game using Max, but to be honest, they don't look very well... And textureing a model is another completly different story... :-)
Yes, a lot of good art is already available. Take only the stuff from Tim Aste. Oustanding quality. But take Air Ace as example. Wouldn't it have been good to have a Spitfire model available already at early stages?
In general I'm very thankful about all the replies you guys made here. Thanks! :-)
#14
I have about 2 dozen packs drawn up, but that's about a good years worth of work, with everything else we have going on. My problem is prioritizing what people want, and what there is too much of. Then there's packs with animations that will take more time to produce. Of course we're also doing our own projects as well (and lets not forget about real life).
Anyways; we've only got the one pack right now, but it's in the Store section at: www.ozarkgames.com
-Keith
12/01/2006 (10:32 pm)
So far all I've had time for is one content pack (Crates, barriers, barrels, etc.) that I converted for Torque use. Probably best use for it at this time would be for proto-typing; still it's only going for $8.95, and comes with the UV Maps for re-texturing. I have about 2 dozen packs drawn up, but that's about a good years worth of work, with everything else we have going on. My problem is prioritizing what people want, and what there is too much of. Then there's packs with animations that will take more time to produce. Of course we're also doing our own projects as well (and lets not forget about real life).
Anyways; we've only got the one pack right now, but it's in the Store section at: www.ozarkgames.com
-Keith
#15
12/04/2006 (4:04 am)
@Martin- some of the models at www.3drt.com are already Torque ready. Max Shelekhov of 3drt will export any of his models upon request to .dts. I have ordered a few models from him and he has exported them for me already.
#16
@Brian: Thanks for the info.
12/04/2006 (9:03 am)
@Keith: Thanks. Looks interesting your pack. I may need it. Would be cool if you could add scripts for blowing them up.@Brian: Thanks for the info.
#17
12/13/2006 (5:03 am)
@Keith: I just bought your barrels/crate pack. Nice stuff inside. :-)
#18
-Keith
12/14/2006 (5:05 am)
Thanks Martin, I appreciate your business. I hope you find them useful.-Keith
#19
12/14/2006 (5:42 am)
@Keith: One question: I didn't get a download link so far. Does it take some days until the download link arrives?
#20
12/14/2006 (5:45 am)
Ah, my fault - sorry. Just downloaded it. :-)
Torque Owner Chris Labombard
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