3d Printers + WoW Characters = Profit

[Xzin]

I spoke with a friend of mine today and was informed that in the next few weeks a company is coming up with a way to print YOUR WoW characters.

They have not launched yet and I am not affiliated with them but if they can do it well, it would be pretty amazing.

Fabjectory.com is doing this now but the results are kinda.... so so. And they are delicate. Drop them and they break. Plus, no WoW characters. This new stuff purports to be quite the durable material. When a sample gets here, I will know more but figured you guys could appreciate this.

I explored this well over a year and a half ago and decided that the technology was not ready for prime time just yet. Plus there were some IP issues. The tech was there though.

Glad to see somebody is making a go at it. The market is huge if they can keep prices reasonable.

See my prior post here: http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=1041

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x45/Xzin-WoW/SmallGroupShot.jpg

http://www.fore-front.com/images/kel_front.jpg

http://ogle.eyebeamresearch.org/files/gnome-color.jpg

[The IT Monkey]

While a great idea I don't see blizzard allowing this unless they make a dime from it as well.

All those images belong to Blizzard... they own the rights to it all. So they may launch in a few weeks but would bet if they see any kind of action they will be getting shut down rather quickly.

[Shogun]

Looks good, be great if they provide them unpainted as blanks as well as painted, miniature painting is fun ;)

[empeha]

While a great idea I don't see blizzard allowing this unless they make a dime from it as well.

All those images belong to Blizzard... they own the rights to it all. So they may launch in a few weeks but would bet if they see any kind of action they will be getting shut down rather quickly.

I think this would be no problem if they only sell a 3d-printout of a picture...
Its also no problem to go to any printshop an print out a 2d picture of a WoW Char.

[Shogun]

If they advertise themselves as providing 3d printouts of "game characters" and other items, and not "We make World of Warcraft figures" they should be ok, as they're not directly using the WoW name to make profit. But then I'm no expert, so what do I know? :P

[Xzin]

This company has already made licensing agreements with Blizzard. Bliz will be making a pretty penny from it. They are going to "authorize" it if you will. Maybe even integrate it in game. Think dressing room but adding a print button.

[Xzin]

More like I need an Army Stat! "File - Print"

--- two hours later.....

Army!

But yes - the general concept is there.

But don't think ultra detailed ultra glossy full color 1200 DPI pewter hand painted figures. At least not yet. Think like the above. Resolution is good but not GREAT. Cost is higher too of course. But give it a few more years to trickle down. These used to be printed on 1 million dollar machines. Now they are 50k.

[Xzin]

Right off the machine? With this particular technology, throw them on the ground and they would shatter.

You can infiltrate them with various epoxies, glues, etc to make them FAR harder. That was the key that I was missing a year and a half ago when I first got started toying (heh) around with this idea for a potential business.

In that time, they have come out with ways to make the material so stiff, you could ride it like a skateboard if you printed out a skateboard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXza4usjgrc

It requires some vacuum and heat post processing, but nothing TOO complex or costly.

[unit187]

after all those low-poly figurines look weird :roll:

[Zseth]

The cool thing about this is that it just takes the model and cut it out accordingly. A more quality machine is the Parts Fabricator that Ford is starting to place in all of its dealerships. It receives a digital blueprint, not much different than is used for the original to be made and it will laser out the part into solid steel, carbon, plastic, etc. The machine costs an arm and a leg, but image the solid steel wow figure. That thing would last a while.

[Xzin]

But not be color.

These machines build rather than cut away. And the blokiness is a direct result of the poor data. The models are compressed and textured to look great on screen.

Not so great in real life with the low poly counts.

My source tells me that they have a solid way of making the figures look great, even pose them.

I am eager to see what they come up with. Wonder if they have a discount for buying multiple figures.

[unit187]

if 3d painting will not costs thousands dollars I would love to order Alyx Vance figurine :)

[Xzin]

Current raw costs are about $3-$5 dollars per cubic inch.

[unit187]

Current raw costs are about $3-$5 dollars per cubic inch.
thats pretty awesome ;)

[Zseth]

I'm actually programming and modeling the design to cut solid steel Master Chief Replica armor using the Part Fab machine. It should be interesting results, because Bungie has released so many 3d models of it, it has made the job of putting into AutoCad a piece O cake. By the way, there will be cake at the end. The cake is not a lie.

[Xzin]

Solid steel (I assume stainless?) isn't exactly lightweight :) Are you thinking of doing a thin veneer over plastic?

[grimfandang0]

I'm actually programming and modeling the design to cut solid steel Master Chief Replica armor using the Part Fab machine. It should be interesting results, because Bungie has released so many 3d models of it, it has made the job of putting into AutoCad a piece O cake. By the way, there will be cake at the end. The cake is not a lie.
You can only trust your friend [?] and the cake is a lie

[Zseth]

Solid steel (I assume stainless?) isn't exactly lightweight :) Are you thinking of doing a thin veneer over plastic?


right now, I'm looking at cutting it about 1/8th of an inch thick and then using plastic moldings cut using the same machine for the fittings. The goal is to have the most realistic Master Chief armor yet. I have a company that paints vehicles that is getting all the correct paint codes for the armor and finish. Which will be nice, because then I'll have a clear coat over the top.

[Phate]

Vaguely on topic, a while back I saw a company that would make you a superhero action figure of yourself for some exorbitant sum of money. Was pretty cool. Obviously those were customized to make you super hero-ish, and hand painted, so significantly more expensive, but same idea.

[Xzin]

I saw that too but they were hand painted and hand made. Even had custom packaging. But they were like $2k each or something.

[pomo]

I spoke with a friend of mine today and was informed that in the next few weeks a company is coming up with a way to print YOUR WoW characters.

They have not launched yet and I am not affiliated with them but if they can do it well, it would be pretty amazing.

Fabjectory.com is doing this now but the results are kinda.... so so. And they are delicate. Drop them and they break. Plus, no WoW characters. This new stuff purports to be quite the durable material. When a sample gets here, I will know more but figured you guys could appreciate this.

I explored this well over a year and a half ago and decided that the technology was not ready for prime time just yet. Plus there were some IP issues. The tech was there though.

Glad to see somebody is making a go at it. The market is huge if they can keep prices reasonable.

See my prior post here: http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=1041

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x45/Xzin-WoW/SmallGroupShot.jpg

http://www.fore-front.com/images/kel_front.jpg

http://ogle.eyebeamresearch.org/files/gnome-color.jpg


was your friend owner/partner in http://figureprints.com/ they seem to be poping up as advertising printing your wow character.

[Remote]

I assume that's how Blizzard is making the action figures mentioned in this article?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wow_themed-xps/dell-unveils-wow+themed-xps-laptops-329489.php

[simpletom]

I assume that's how Blizzard is making the action figures mentioned in this article?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wow_themed-xps/dell-unveils-wow+themed-xps-laptops-329489.php

An upgrade certificate which allows customers to upgrade their accounts to a "Collectors Edition Account" enabling them to get a special in-game pet
Golden Ticket which allows customers to get a pre-paid special custom action figure based on their own in-game WoW character.



sounds cool shame that its a dell laptop, no problems with dell as ive never owned one, after owning a Alienware i dont think i would ever go any other way.

[pomo]

I assume that's how Blizzard is making the action figures mentioned in this article?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/wow_themed-xps/dell-unveils-wow+themed-xps-laptops-329489.php

An upgrade certificate which allows customers to upgrade their accounts to a "Collectors Edition Account" enabling them to get a special in-game pet
Golden Ticket which allows customers to get a pre-paid special custom action figure based on their own in-game WoW character.



sounds cool shame that its a dell laptop, no problems with dell as ive never owned one, after owning a Alienware i dont think i would ever go any other way.

they give you a cdkey for wow+ tbc thats the "upgrade "

and alienware was bought out by dell if i remember correctly. the beta pass is a nice touch though as well as the figurine but not enough to justify 1,200+ to the list price

[Wilbur]

5 Beta Tickets. They'll sell for around £200-300 EACH when WotLK Beta starts.

[Hippieman]

This is awesome! I'll take four, plix, all in a dance-pose

[simpletom]

"And this isn't just any laptop with WoW images slapped on it, this is a hulking XPS M1730 Dell Laptop with WoW images on it. Hit the jump for all the details on the $4,500 laptop released just seconds ago. The laptop officially launches on Dec. 11"


december 11th same day as http://figureprints.com/ starts taking orders, so its probably going to be a tie in with that company to make the model. Im very sceptical to the quality of the models to the cost of them, ive never seen anything made in a 3D printer, but cant immagine they are that strong. "Your 3D World of Warcraft® character will then arrive at your doorstep in a protective glass dome ready to accompany you on your adventures!" so i cant even play with it :p or put 5 together simulateing my army :( wonder is gnomes get discounts over tauren?

$4500 isnt bad for the laptop considering all the extras, with how terrible the dollar is to the english pound, comming from england i used to hate being paid in dollars. £1 is normally around the $2 mark.

so for a gaming laptop this is probably pretty close to what my alienware laptop cost, and i run 5 wow accounts on it no problems.

like someone said about the beta tickets being worth 200-300 each i can easily see them going higher as this might be one of the only ways go get one.

i like on the back of the laptops the little lights looks really cool.

[Bollwerk]

$4500 for a "WoW" laptop is a bit of overkill, considering WoW doesn't support dx10 or the physics card in it ... and WoW runs at 60fps solid on a sub $2k laptop at 1920x1200 with everything maxed.

figureprints.com rocks though!

[Xzin]

Yep, that is the one.

[Xzin]

http://s.figureprints.com/media/photo006.jpg

http://s.figureprints.com/media/photo007.jpg

$115, comes in a protective dome as it is quite brittle. Looks like a bit broke off of the bow in the top picture.

Costs probably $15 - 20 in materials for a 4 inch figure. Not bad I guess.

Printed on ~ 60k machines. Takes about 2 hours to print about 9 figures per machine.

[Xzin]

No not really, they use HP printheads. Nothing too bad as long as you keep them clean.

[keyclone]

very nice Xzin... should go very well

[pomo]

looks interesting , to bad it will take 3 months to complete your order.


by chance is this one of xzins mystery ideas/companies ?

[Zseth]

$115, comes in a protective dome as it is quite brittle. Looks like a bit broke off of the bow in the top picture.

Costs probably $15 - 20 in materials for a 4 inch figure. Not bad I guess.

Printed on ~ 60k machines. Takes about 2 hours to print about 9 figures per machine.

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

There you go Xzin, the machine is only 5k. I purchased one about two weeks ago, they are still back ordered, but once it gets here, I'm going to try and mimic it. It will give excellant practice for when the Parts Fabricator is released. Free Prototypes will most likely be offered to people on here, probably could set it up for donations to Ellay for the site.

[Xzin]

Except that machine uses different materials, slower build (?), smaller build, far less resolution and no color.

And no, this is not my company. Great idea though.

Take a look at OGLE at Eyebeam Research to get an OpenGL extractor. Might can use model viewer too.

[Shogun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUvqT4M1zNI

[Xzin]

They went live. Some 4000+ people in the queue already (you don't pay until you are ready). Still, 400k potential revenue... prob 100k profit so far, day 1.

[aetherg]

The quality of the 3D models can be improved very easily by most 3D software packages. A lot of artistic 3D modeling these days uses a technique called subsurfing, where the artist creates a low-poly (easy to manage) model, and the application 'smooths' it into a much higher poly model. Usually you can supply options; i.e. leave really sharp angles (spikes on armor for example) alone, to preserve detail, although you may have to retouch manually in some cases.

[garu67]

What 3d software would you recommend for me to capture my game character, also do I need CAD software to be able to print my character on a 3d printer.
Thanks for any help you may have for me.

[Skuggomann]

i wudnt say no to my mage in 3D on top of my monitor :)