Allow the ability to also provide source files.
TrixxedHeart
It's extremely important to me as a creator to be able to provide the source files to my buyers, it allows them the freedom to do as they want with an avatar.
The argument against this has been creators don't want to have to give support to users of the product, or the potential piracy of their avatars. However, there are a multitude of arguments against this.
Firstly, the biggest is that it can simply be optional, if creators do not wish to provide source files they can simply not, and creators who do want to, like me, can.
Secondly, the argument of the pressure of support feels very tone deaf. Either way creators will be pestered by support whether they provide files or not.
The FAQ states we can provide source files, barring the issues with that we will be pestered for source files,
especially
when there are updates to the avatar. Currently right now I primarily sell on Jinxxy where buyers are able to get the source files. Personally, I have not had a single person contact for support except once when someone found an issue with the avatar that had to be fixed. (For reference, I've had around ~100 sales since posting my most recent avatar on all
platforms I've sold on.)So this largely seems to only be an issue with either certain demographics of buyers, certain avatars that actively have issues, or maybe even creators providing way more support than they probably should be. Kind of a subjective conclusion but still.
Largely, as it currently is. Not being able to provide source files alongside the uploaded avatar on the platform will be detrimental to creators such as myself who are perfectly fine with sharing source files, who will now have to handle support for buyers who may want the source files.
I don't believe creators should be forced to share source files, but giving creators the
option
to do so is a perfectly reasonable expectation.Log In
Chdata
I think the only real argument they have against this is that VRChat can't verify the integrity of all packages not to have some malicious script in them.
TrixxedHeart
Chdata If this was the case I wish they'd actually say it instead of just throwing creators under the bus making it sound as if all creators wanted it this way to justify it.
Chdata
TrixxedHeart Ah you know what, they didn't say it in the video or the text-copy of the video, but in the FAQ they linked in those.
Q: Why can’t you download source files from the Avatar Marketplace?
A: [They mention the other arguments and then the final point:]
"It also increases file security. While we do not – and cannot – promise an impenetrable system, it does slightly mitigate risk compared to alternative methods."
TrixxedHeart
Chdata
If you read the full FAQ thats specifically in reference to model piracy. Because if you provide the files for a model directly it makes it easier for it to pirate. Which is an understandable risk some creators don't want to take, but I don't really care, if I want to share the files I should absolutely get the option to.
Chdata
TrixxedHeart Hmm I think that was a completely separate point. They said you may choose to provide the source files yourself outside of the marketplace, but they do not support it for that reason. They also do not stop us.
And I agree, it should be up to us creators if we want to share the files in our own way, which VRChat also allows.
The Q&A above that one is more about why they don't offer it directly in the marketplace.
Scribble Clash
Chdata
Their statement about file "security" is quite ridiculous. It is public knowledge that rippers can get the data from the game directly, albeit in a diminished form. This is one of those implementations, that ends up punishing honest people, just to give an impression of heightened security.
A store is a good idea, just like age verification, but once again the execution is very lacking.
In its current state, it doesn't look to be appealing for neither creators, nor users. Unlike other features that I do not like, I am rather certain that this one will fail, if they do not touch up on all parts of this feature.
A perfect technical implementation would have been a cloud integration of the basefiles into your unity were you could edit the files, attach your local files and then upload the avatar. I aint even gonna touch the conditions that creators get for the store, since that's a whole other mess.
PS:
When I asked friends, they let me know that all they wanted was a search function for avatars ingame (other than avatar worlds). That's what some players hoped for, when they realized you can tag your avatars in the webview. For now it seems, the new tags for avatars have been only implemented for the avatar store.
Chdata
Scribble Clash
While they have nothing to say about reducing file piracy, I agree that there is better file security in that not providing downloads through VRChat would make them less liable for a seller to go rogue and put a virus in a unitypackage.
You would be surprised though, they made this system with a lot of research backing it to make sure that this is actually something that will be used by many players.
The target market is not for people like you or I who are the minority - super users. We learned unity, we are rare at less than 70% of the playerbase. Anyone who has uploaded an avatar is a very rare portion of players.
This target market is a good majority of the playerbase and it is separate from the market of people who would actually just buy something on booth and edit the model themselves.
It's for people who are looking for a good avatar and who do not want to learn unity. The moment unity is involved that alienates many people, which I know from experience, I have met many who cannot be bothered to learn unity.
If it increases ease of access, it will sell.
Anyway, to your final paragraph, you can support a free market implementation here :)
beetleyeen
Seconded!
The whole appeal of people buying my bases, is they are easy to customize in unity/blender/substance etc.
People won't find the appeal in buying an avatar that anyone can have too.
People want to make a model their OWN. And people will swarm to sell if you can give people in-game the same benefits as those who buy based off-site (i.e. discord access, links to tutorials, a license key for purchase verifications, and most importantly THE SOURCE FILES!!)
TrixxedHeart
beetleyeen
Not to mention you can't even mention being able to provide source files on other platforms according to rule 5.iii on the creator economy guidelines. (Despite them trying to say on the FAQ otherwise)
Meaning the only way to provide VRC buyers with the source files would be to
have them message you
so you can confirm they purchased it and then provide them the files. Which is a whole lot more of an issue on putting support on the creator when the entire reason they gave for not providing source files was to avoid creators having the burden of providing support. God forbid you make any updates.Chdata
TrixxedHeart Lol, looks like they got some conflicting messages. The FAQ they linked with this news says:
Q: Can I grant source file access to buyers who have purchased my avatar on VRChat?
A: Yes, but be aware that VRChat does not officially support this. Choosing to share source files off-platform significantly increases the risk that your content may be pirated.
Well, I'd hope anyone in the creator economy feedback discord to ping one of the VRChat team about that...