Community generated paintjobs

[bossbrigand]

I'm sure there have been several casual requests for this in the paintjobs thread but I think they've been lost to the depths of the thread, so I'm dropping this here and hoping FD notices.

This community is full of professionals. In an endless universe, variety is extremely important, as you've obviously realized - but your team can't possibly churn out enough paintjobs to satisfy the community's lust for virtual paint while also focusing on other important matters.

As a [semi] professional texture artist I'd love to have access to objs and template textures for ships. I'd happily work for free coming up with unique paintjobs for you to sell in the store or in-game, and I know I'm not the only one. Is there any chance that those assets could be made available for community tinkering? The potential volume of attractive paintjobs would fill the community's need for individuality, line your pockets with sweet sweet cash and allow you to devote your attention to other parts of the game.

There would of course need to be a vetting process - I wouldn't expect you to drop obj and texture files for download by anyone, since you obviously want to keep your assets yours - but it's clear the community would like to see this attempted. Even if you picked 5 people and told them to get cracking, I think the results would be worth considering for inclusion.

 

[reverendK]

i wouldn't describe my own requests for this as casual. i've been shouting for it for a good while now.

 

[bossbrigand]

First thing I'd do is a warbird pack emulating vintage fighter aircraft complete with shark teeth and riveted plates, with bonus pinup decals shamelessly stolen from inspired by IL-2 Sturmovik.

 

[Tinman]

I've asked for a similar approach when it comes to static 3D meshes in terms of station interiors/exteriors prefabs. Same thing could also be done to future content (plants, animals, buildings and so on). Filling out an entire galaxy with enough variation to make things not feel generic is pretty much impossible unless you crowd source these assets. Of course these assets needs to go through a selection process by FD at the end to make sure they are of good quality and in line with the art direction.

The answer (at least for now) was no. :/

So we better keep on harassing them about it!!

 

[reverendK]

Oh I intend to.

 

[Krow]

Yep I posted this thread almost exactly about a year ago.

Even gave an example of a design.

My concept was for them to release a template, and then people could submit them to a site for review and sales.

I'd be up for smashing out some skins.

 

[bossbrigand]

Of course these assets needs to go through a selection process by FD at the end to make sure they are of good quality and in line with the art direction.

Definitely. It occurred to me that many online stores for 3D models have a 3D preview window where the obj file is loaded and can be viewed with a Java applet (I guess, might be Unity these days). FD could set up an online tool where you are able to upload and apply your texture created in Photoshop to the obj stored on their servers and preview it in that window, so you are never in possession of the actual model file. That way you don't have the ship models showing up in games like Garry's Mod, which I assume is the reason for their apprehensiveness.

You could then submit the finished product to them with that same tool.

Example; Turbosquid: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/movie-star-wars-transporter-3d-model/793037
On the row of images, you can select the 360 option and it generates a 360 degree view of the object. I've also seen one that loads the obj itself in the window and lets you spin it around freely, but Turbosquid's method is probably more secure as you wouldn't be able to rip the model with 3dripper or a similar tool.

@Krow, I'd definitely fly that Eagle. Giggity.

 

[Crook]

Or just approve them and allow them to be applied for free?

Not everything has to be monetised. Sometimes things can just be done because it creates variety.

 

[bossbrigand]

I wouldn't mind monetization of textures I create. Others might feel differently, but I'm strongly in favor of the online store for aesthetics because as long as it stays strong, FD won't feel like they need to sell premium weapons and systems to make up for the lack of a subscription fee.

 

[reverendK]

This could monetize ED like MAD. I simply do not understand their aversion to it. They get free merchandise. Dota2 basically prints money with this model.

And there is a PROVEN interest in this community for buying paintjobs. It just seems like such an easy decision. They could even farm out the documentation process to those of us who go at it first.

 

[Krow]

While i understand they are very busy preparing for the Powerplay release, but... there has been a real drought for skins, popular ships like the Vulture don't even have one.
I agree with ReverendK, they could make big bucks off this.

 

[reverendK]

more importantly they could generate income from this with very little work on their part - especially in the beginning. if they gave us the resources we could work through all of the kinks and produce our own documentation with minimal oversight - all they'd be responsible for is figure out how best to sift through and implement what's produced AFTER we've produced some things. It could start with a select few, even - i'd be more than willing to get things rolling and keep in constant contact about what progress is made - a small group of community people here would be HAPPY to do all of the work for them in the beginning.

 

[CMDR RAY-ZOR'SHARP]

Yep would love to have a go at diy skinning, did a few Me 262's for IL-2 Sturmovik, but to be blunt they would have to pay me to sport their garish hot wheels paint jobs every one make's your ship look like a plastic toy. I like the dirty war weary look.

There is no pleasing some people (like me).

 

[reverendK]

there are a lot of people who would pay good money for the good ol' utilitarian worn look on these ships. there's room enough for every style - and manpower enough if they let the community help.

 

[Billy Chase]

While I can't support this by offering to do skins myself, I'd like to support this by adding my signature to this thread. I'd definitely pay big money for a good selection of creative skins. FD could make such a fortune on it without any downside whatsoever, I really don't get why they even hesitate.

 

[Twelvefield]

i wouldn't describe my own requests for this as casual. i've been shouting for it for a good while now.

I'm glad this thread came up. There's been one of these threads every week or so that I have noticed. At one point, I told the good Reverend not to hold his breath, since Frontier has an allergic aversion to STEAM-style distribution and STEAM-style workshops. The next day proved me 100% wrong on the first count.

Still, although there are people who really want this, I am not among them. I certainly would not mind a Workshop and mods, but new textures have a very low priority for me. As much as I enjoy Elite, I equally distrust Frontier. I would not want to have them holding my leash when it comes to my designs.

As long as your mods don't adversely affect my game, then I say laissez-faire. But I also suggest that you beware of Frontier bearing gifts!

 

[ArmoredKorps]

Please Frontier look this UP

 

[reverendK]

I'm glad this thread came up. There's been one of these threads every week or so that I have noticed. At one point, I told the good Reverend not to hold his breath, since Frontier has an allergic aversion to STEAM-style distribution and STEAM-style workshops. The next day proved me 100% wrong on the first count.

Still, although there are people who really want this, I am not among them. I certainly would not mind a Workshop and mods, but new textures have a very low priority for me. As much as I enjoy Elite, I equally distrust Frontier. I would not want to have them holding my leash when it comes to my designs.

As long as your mods don't adversely affect my game, then I say laissez-faire. But I also suggest that you beware of Frontier bearing gifts!

working on dota 2 - and indeed working professionally - i've come to appreciate the constraints of making things for which it is equally important that the audience enjoy it as it is that i enjoy it.
sure - it would be neat if they had some capacity for making your own paintjobs in game - but that involves creating an entirely new system within the game - not to mention the problem of other people needing to see those paintjobs on their end when it can be any number of variations....it's a lot more work than just plugging community made paintjobs into the current system

 

[SteveLaw]

Bomber nose art.

 

[Renegade Roach]

Of course these assets needs to go through a selection process by FD at the end to make sure they are of good quality and in line with the art direction.

Which is laughable given the skins they've just put out. Whoever ok'd this latest batch needs to have a serious word with themselves. They are quite blatantly a minimal effort attempt to shove anything out just to shut people up. Not impressed that they're all in packs either, so people can't see what one terrible skin looks like they have to buy the lot. It's cynical, lazy and in the long run just makes FD look bad.

The fact that people in the community are already posting skins which put their work to shame ought to be ringing alarm bells somewhere, but I really have given up trying to understand what FD think they're doing at times. Been trying very hard to give them the benefit of the doubt of late, but this (of all things!) has made me think 'sod it'.