Free 3D Animation DAZ|Studio 1.0 Released 222
Thyme3333 writes "DAZ Productions, Inc. has officially released DAZ|Studio 1.0, a free 3D figure posing and animation software package. DAZ has a made a commitment to keep the DAZ|Studio core application free to the public for as long as possible by relying on the revenues generated by the purchase of content available in the DAZ online store. To obtain a free copy of DAZ|Studio, users must register for a free account on the DAZ website and agree to participate in the company's aptly-named "Tell-Ware" program, which asks that each DAZ|Studio user share information about DAZ|Studio and/or the DAZ website with at least two friends." Good to see that more companies are trying to keep their software free, but perhaps the Slashdot crowd could offer advice on a better business model than spam and merchandising?
Bitching about free software... niiice! (Score:2, Interesting)
Or... how about we don't bitch about something we can get for free?
How many people are holding a gun to your head demanding you send emails to TWO WHOLE PEOPLE you know?
Better yet... have you ever emailed someone to say "Hey, check out this game" or "Yo, here's a sweet perl module you should check out" or anything of the ilk? The true thought behind this "tell-ware" is the hopes that you enjoy the software enough to email a couple of friends to tell them its worth the download.
For how much real 3D software can cost, I'm truely surprised someone is bitching about emailing two friends about it...
Then again, the open source community is full of extreme whackos like ESR, so maybe my surprise is unjust...
I remember seeing an article once (Score:2, Interesting)
One of the tenets was that anything of value must be paid for. This meant that they didn't have any "free demos". They did have volume pricing, as well as negotiable prices for large customers, if I recall correctly.
There is nothing wrong with charging for your product, especially if you think that it is a good one that many people will benefit from.
Re:To answer what will be 99% of people's question (Score:3, Interesting)
Apple in a way does it... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:::Sigh: Learn a bit about economics... (Score:1, Interesting)
Nothing is free? Become a citizen of Black Rock City (Burning Man) and experience a "gift economy" and let me know if you still believe nothing is free.
Of course, my response would most likely be misunderstood or refutted by nay-sayers pointing out the price of entry tickets, or the advertisements printed in one of the city's two newspapers.
With your reply, however, I can clarify my response by highlighting that Black Rock City is built, sustained, and supports a population of over 30,000 people by those very 30,000 people using the most abundant resource that is always free: creativity.
It is only "not free" if people choose to assign scarcity to creativity by insisting money or goods be exchanged. The basic laws of economics are not like laws of physics in that they are "the way it is" - they are simply a choice., they are "the way we make it."
Heck - I ran my own business, too. I didn't study economics, but did listen carefully to a Business Director , UCCR who was and still is an accountant with a private practice. I had to learn bookkeeping at least. Nothing I have seen in the "I'm educated in the ways of money" world convinces me that these axioms and altruisms are anything but a choice that we impose value judgements upone people and things.
Re:::Sigh: Learn a bit about economics... (Score:3, Interesting)
That's not to say that it is always stupid to give something away. People have been giving things away in exchange for an opportunity since the beginning of economic time.
So, still within the framework of the laws of business, the question is what opportunity is created for those involved in free software. If the opportunity created is greater than that foregone, there will be free software. Whether or not it is competitive with commercially created software is an entirely different matter.
Because of the marginal and highly eventual return on the investment of free software it is a hobby or a side bet for those involved (whether the bet is being made by the individual not being paid, or a company who pays programmers but does not charge).
Now, if someone can demonstrate to all of us rational players know you can make a fortune giving away software, the tide may turn as we weigh the opportunity of going into commercial software versus free software, combined with needing to eat.
All still within the confines of the laws of business that you so much hate. Good luck making that fortune.
Good alternative for Linux users (Score:2, Interesting)
Some comments about DAZ & Poser (Score:1, Interesting)
Yes DAZ has their issues (but dont all software companies). They've been working on the thing for 3 years with a public beta almost since the beginning and even before their first beta, they said the core app will be free. I trust them on this. They may be a little slow, but they listen to the community. Then again, they're not a multi-million year company with a six digit workforce. I think theres 30 people at the company. Cut them a little slack.
As far as the code, they specified they will not release a SDK until after version 1 is out. They said "plugins will be able to control all aspects of the application and have access to everything within it".
Most of the images that are seen on poser sites, are the "NVIATWAS" (Nekkied Vicky in a temple with a sword) renders as "we" call them. This is where poser has recevied part of its bad rep. Not everyone uses this software to get their rocks off. The stuff in the DAZ gallery is also submitted by users. The sites you visit will kinda dictate what kind of images are common there. Want oversized boobs? try http://renderosity.com/ [renderosity.com]
Want a "family oriented" type of environment? http://wooyah.com/ [wooyah.com] & http://cbb3d.com/ [cbb3d.com] are good ones.
For the elitists: Yes, I'm a Poser6 user, and despite the elietist bullshit I use it for illustrations. Why the hell should I have to buy 3ds, LW, maya, xsi and have to spend countless hours to learn them to reinvent the wheel and the car just for a simple illustration. Why go through all that if I can produce better results utilizing prefab'ed materials. Think of it as doing still life photography. Many photographers dont make their subjects, so why should I if I dont have to?
BTW: yes, I'm defending DAZ, but it just irks me how far people will go to piss on something (especially free). Oh, and I'm always this vocal so its not like someone totally pissed me off.
Cheers,
MGCJerry - Fellow poser user and occasional