Hi all,


As you may have noticed, there has been an increasing amount of character clothing bases in the City Marketplace; and as a result there has been a lot more derivative iMaterial content for those base templates being released as well. One issue that has arisen from this increase in base and derivative content has been that it can be pretty confusing to know exactly which base content needs to be purchased in order to properly apply your derivative content (i.e. iMaterial files).


Fortunately, we’ve recognized this issue and have developed a new feature in the Marketplace mechanism that will allow you to easily find the correct base/derivative content you need with a single click. Currently, when you create derivative content for a cloth base template, your only option for notifying the customer about which base to purchase was to actually include all the information in the product description. A number of customers either skim over this, or are discouraged to make a purchase because they are confused about exactly which base content is required and don’t wish to waste money on purchasing the wrong content.


Tagging Derivative Content


With the new mechanism, developers who are producing derivative content for a base template are now prompted to select the base template for which their content is designed for from the Marketplace backend. Be aware that you will not be able to assign content as base or derivative within the Content Uploader. When the base info is entered, the end product page for the derivative content will then display a prominent link which will link directly to the product page for the base template, which is a required purchase in order to apply the derivative iMaterial file(s) correctly. If you are uploading a new material base such as your own customized CloneCloth, then you will also want to specify that this new content is a material base in the Content Uploader as well.


We also know that some of you have a lot of content out there already, and probably don’t want to have to re-upload everything again in order to get the tags correct. Therefore, if your content has already been uploaded, you can use the Marketplace backend to select the correct base for your derivative content. These screenshots show the new options that will appear in both your Content Uploader and Marketplace backend.


First, select the ‘Edit’ button on the specific content you would like to tag:







Next, a little further down, you’ll see the ‘Required Base Contents’. Here, you’ll want to select ‘Add New Item’:






Once you do, a search window will pop up. Just enter in the relevant information such as author and base type to search for the base content you need. Once you find it, select the item and then click the ‘Set as Base’ button. This will automatically assign that base to your derivative content.




Once you find it, select the item and then click the ‘Set as Base’ button. This will automatically assign that base to your derivative content.



Tagging Base Content


If you want to upload a new base, you’ll need to contact Reallusion first so we can approve the base content and add it to the Base Type drop-down menu. This step is similar to the approval process needed for Content Store submissions, except you will need to first email developer@reallusion.com and provide a download link for your new base content. Once it is approved, you will receive a confirmation email from us and your base content item will be added to the official Base Type list so future developers who create derivative content for it can easily select it.


Once you see your base on the list, make sure that you select the ‘Is a Base’ checkbox, and choose the correct criteria for the Base Type and Sub-base Type:




Benefits of the Base/Derivative Tag System


This convenient link between base and derivative content allows users to easily browse between all different types of content without having to worry about remembering and tracking all the various complicated base template names. When a user is on the product page for a base content item, there will be a section at the bottom of the page that will display a number of recommendations for derivative content.


These various derivative content packs will be displayed according to their predetermined link with the base content. This in turn increases the exposure for derivative content from base content, and vice versa. So basically, if you purchase a base content pack, it will be a lot more convenient for you to find relevant derivative content.


We hope you enjoy this new and convenient feature we’ve added to the City Marketplace! We will be launching it during the week of June 25th to coincide with the release of our 3DXchange Pipeline version. We will also be hiding any base/derivative content from the City Marketplace that is not properly tagged by the second week of July, so PLEASE ensure that your content is properly tagged before then. Thanks also for your invaluable feedback that provides us with the data we need to continue developing and improving the marketplace experience. We’re looking forward to bigger and better things, and we hope you are too! For those of you who are new to the City Marketplace, the following are some important definitions you should know:


Base Content – Base content includes mostly outfit template files that make up the shape and fit of any type of clothing on a character, such as Reallusion’s CloneCloth for G5 Chuck or Gwynn. Creating base content requires a knowledge of character modeling and skin mapping. Once a base outfit template has been created, iClone users can then apply various iMaterial files to it according to the style they want for their character.


Derivative Content – Derivative content is any content that requires base content to be purchased before it can be properly applied to a scene. This can include props created from the Physics Gear pack, but consists mostly of iMaterial files that are applied to various base content templates (CloneCloth) to create a unique costume or fashion for a character. For example, a developer may create an outfit design based off one of Reallusion’s CloneCloth bases by modifying the diffuse, opacity, and various other material maps, and sell that as derivative content. However, for the end user to apply it properly to the character, they would still need to purchase the base content as well.


You’ll likely see plenty more base and derivative content in the future as our marketplace expands, and we hope this new mechanism will provide an invaluable tool for both organizing and promoting base/derivative content!


Best Regards,


Your Reallusion Staff

I'm having a problem with adding the New Base Content.  It worked for me a few days ago but when I uploaded items today, first of all I was getting an error message but I persevered and it finally worked.  However when it came to adding the Base Content link, the search facility failed to show more than a couple of items.  Even putting in the exact name didn't throw them up.

Perhaps a problem on the Reallusion servers?

Shy

"O wad some Power the gift tae gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!"

All working fine now

Shy

"O wad some Power the gift tae gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!"

Hi Kai,

I tested this new system and by me opinion it has some issues...

If I'm not mistaken the main aim of this system -- to inform customers which additional product required for using product he going to buy. First of all it's important for iMaterials because they required some base models (CloneCloth or custom models created by developers).

Maybe current set of search options (filers) works fine for native Reallusion products (CloneCloths), but it has issues if use it for searching products created by developers --
Usually developer's cloth models for texturing combined in packs and in this case "required product" is not model (single item), but pack.
Furthermore, some of my materials can be used not only with single model, but with several models within the pack. So again, in this case "required product" is not a model, but pack.
I tried to enter pack name in "Content name" string (Category options have been set to All/All), but got no results ...

So I'd like to ask to add possibility to choose packs as "required product" and also add this category in search options.



Vit

Thanks for the feedback!  We're still working on a lot of the search string stuff, but you can expect more improvements very soon.  I've also experienced some difficulties searching myself. 

Probably the biggest benefit from this system is that it allows users to find base content easier without having to search around.  For example, I noticed that this product from Duchess is based off your PR5F model.

Basically, if a user really wants that outfit, now they can click any one of the 'Required Base' links.  This will take them to the specific item, which will in turn link directly to the full combo pack page.  They will then need to purchase this pack as the 'required product' you mentioned. 

Other than that, I just wanted to post again to remind you that we will begin hiding content that hasn't been tagged near the middle of next week, so everyone PLEASE tag your beautiful content, otherwise users won't be able to find it soon! 

I have more than 1000 items in the store...

The Tagging Option is not currently supported in Batch Edit Mode....

The options available to me are

G5 CloneCloth

        + ----------------  Upper

                                    Lower

                                    Shoes

QUESTION 1: How do I TAG complete Cloth Avatars?

QUESTION 2: Can we have this option in BATCH MODE BEFORE you activate this feature to the Marketplace.

Please advise.

Thanks.

Come and visit my store by clicking on the banner below.

I echo Big Boss's concerns.  Does this mean we have to go through our Marketplace and tag ALL content?  I have almost 3000 items......that is a huge undertaking.  Pity this hadn't been thought through beforehand. 

I understand that any packs not tagged will become hidden shortly, is there any way to speed up the process in our stores?  Alternatively, time allocated for this vast undertaking?

Your thoughts please Reallusion?

Shy 

"O wad some Power the gift tae gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!"

I totally agree with Bigboss and Shy this is one hell of an undertaking if you have many items previously for sale in the Marketplace.

I just started to try and do mine upon receiving a mail from Kai.

What a performance it is. I have just given up in absolute frustration of going in and out of pages over and over again as items may be on the next page and do not carry over so it is tick a few add then back in again search tick some more and so on.

Batch editing would certainly help to some degree.

It would make more sense to have a pack as a base and not every single item within that pack. I can see the page being filled with required base and a list of goodness how many single items when just 1 link for the pack would make it look much less cluttered.

Also what do we do if anything with our own created avatars do we need to put those also as a base required or not.

Duchess Designs Store 

OK here's some updated info for you guys:

I understand it's a huge task for some of you to get all your content tagged correctly. That being said, we'll probably extend the deadline period for this until late August or early September when the next version of our Content Uploader will be released.

Also, we'll be adding some more base selection options. As BigBoss & Vit3D mentioned, there are currently only G5 Upper, Lower, & Shoes, which is not enough to cover the different types of content base packs out there. Therefore, we will probably add the option for 'Actor' and 'Combo Pack'. If anyone has other suggestions for base types, just contact me directly.

As for batch editing, it would definitely be a plus, but unfortunately I'll need to get back to ya'll on that momentarily. For now, just take your time and do what you can. No need to pull all-night tagging sessions!

This just in... batch editing will be available later this month for selecting base content. That means you'll be able to select the base for multiple derivative content at once in order to save you material specialists out there a lot of time!