New 3D Tutorial Website In Development

[keithd203]

Hello All!

 

I am posting this poll as a means of research for a website I am considering. It is in the early stages of development and this poll is part of the due diligence process. I was exposed to the CG world in 2006, and ever since then I have become a 3d modeling junky. I love modeling and I love watching the progress of other modelers as they post their WIPs and finished projects. I have gained a lot of knowledge through the help of some great tutorials and websites.

 

Because the CG community has been a great source of learning for me, I felt it was time for me to give back to the community and help other CG artist learn and grow, so I am considering starting a 3d tutorial website. There are some excellent websites already out there that offer tutorials for its members. Just to name a few, 3D-Palace, Gnomon Workshop, Foundation3D, Digital Tutors, 3D Buzz, Simply Maya/Lightwave/Max, Cinneversity, Blender Underground, and many others. These websites I have used and have learned much from. But I believe my website will be different than others. I am going to commission CG artist from the community to produce project-based video tutorials that all artists can follow and learn. I am going to use as many of the 3d software programs I can to ensure I touch as many users as possible, such as the following programs:

 

-3ds Max -Maya -Lightwave -Cinema 4D -Zbrush

-XSI -Houdini -Modo -Blender

-Rhino -Carrera Pro -Hexagon -Swift3D

-AliasStudio -trueSpace -Silo -Wings3D

 

I am going to have challenges and giveaways where members will be awarded prizes, and many of these prizes will come from the websites mentioned above. And if all goes well, I hope to develop a scholarship fund that will help aspiring artist go to college or trade school.

 

Of course none of this will be possible if I do not have your support, and that support can be offered by signing up for either a standard or a premiere membership. The difference in the two, premiere membership will cost between $10 and $15 per month and will offer total access to all tutorials, forum, and other materials, while the standard membership is free and only offers access to the forum and free items.

 

Your help is needed to determine whether this website would be beneficial to the community. Therefore, I ask you to please review the above and answer the poll question below. Any other comments, suggestions, or concerns would be greatly appreciated.

 

Do you feel this website is something you would find useful and would consider becoming a member?

[Bwana Kahawa]

Sounds interesting, although I'd want to have a look around the site before committing to signing up!!

 

A few thoughts. First off, as a FormZ user, it'd be great to see that included in the list of 3D software.

 

Secondly, Although 3D is a large part of the CG world, it'd be good to see other aspects covered - rendering, post-processing, compositing, etc.

 

Thirdly, something to think about is how useful it'd be to more experienced artists. I'm not saying people can get to the point where they have nothing left to learn, but the more advanced artists would potentially get less out of the site - you'd need to make sure there was something for them too, even if it's just plenty of 'advanced' tutorials.

 

All the best with it!

[Brian Smith]

I don't mean to discourage you, because it would certainly be a great accomplishment if you could pull it off. However, I would warn you that many have tried this and failed or given up...mainly because it was too much work and too expensive. You will work ridiculous hours to make this happen unless you hire a lot of full time help, and frankly I'm not sure being in the industry since 2006 will give you the insight you need to avoid the mistakes so many others have made.

 

Also, the better the talent you commission, the more expensive things will get. And if the talent isn't there, no one will pay the $10 or $15. The problem is, the more talented people are, the less likely they will need or want to participate.

 

I suggest doing a lot of research about websites that have tried and failed in this endeavor. There have been many. Nevertheless, good luck.

[Devin Johnston]

I tend to agree with Brian about avoiding problems others have faced and unless you plan on spending a lot of your own money up front to get some good content on your site I don't see how you’re going to entice new member to sign up with just a promise of future content. To answer your poll question I would find it useful but only if the tutorials were advanced and went beyond the basic stuff that most sites are littered with.

[robert taylor]

Hi, Just My opinion but go ahead and set your site up ,it sounds like a great idea.

Maybe you could have a vip area with better or full length tutorials/Info ect... that would be so good you would want to pay for it.!!!

 

I am sure there will be highly experienced people on here that will tell you thats its just not possible,Im sure that happened to a few well known inventors/Business people.

 

The point is if you have the motivation, guts, determination and some start up funds,Who knows anything is possible in this life.Remember the only thing that holds people back in life is themselves.

 

*There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting. * Buddha

Edited January 23, 2009 by robert taylor

[robert taylor]

...........And on a final note..

 

 

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."

I like that, Along with this nice bottle of chablis.