Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

SickSix wrote: If GW wants to stay in business they better STOP acting like they their product is made of unobtainium.

They'll just start selling you the digital files to print an entire army, for the same cost of an entire army's worth of models, with some sort of crap DRM that only lets you print one copy of each model, on the hand dandy new CITADEL 3D Printer!!

adamsouza wrote:

SickSix wrote: If GW wants to stay in business they better STOP acting like they their product is made of unobtainium.

They'll just start selling you the digital files to print an entire army, for the same cost of an entire army's worth of models, with some sort of crap DRM that only lets you print one copy of each model, on the hand dandy new CITADEL 3D Printer!!

If I could hand pick which pieces I wanted for every last little detail, I wouldn't be opposed to this. Unless I had to use GW's FinePrint 3000. Then I'd find a way to pirate it.

GW's Fine Print 3000 software will be required to operate the CITADEL ULTRACAST Printer, only available for IPAD.

adamsouza wrote:GW's Fine Print 3000 software will be required to operate the CITADEL ULTRACAST Printer, only available for IPAD.

Actually, I have NO DOUBT that GW would code their 3D blueprints to only work on their brand of printer. And I believe the technology will allow that. And of course the Citadel brand printer will be overcosted by approximately 50% compared to off the shelf printers. Yup, that is exactly how they would do it if they last long enough to see household 3D printing come to fruition.

Of course hacked blueprints will be available day one to those that will know where to look.

Or people will use their 3D scanners to simply make their own blueprints.

Either way, the only way for GW to survive is to build a loyal customer fanbase (something they have been going out of their way to destroy for the past 15 years or more) that will pay for the models legitimately.

I think you pretty much hit the head nail on the head.

I will buy exactly one copy of each new box set that I would be interested in. Then scan and print copies as needed.

This will no doubt be cost effective, even after costing me over $1000 for the Printer/Scanner and $.50 a cubic inch of casting material.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/31/3d-printing-copyright

"Observers predict that in a few years we’ll see printers that integrate scanning capability — so your kid can toss in a Warhammer figurine, hit copy, and get a new one. The machine will become a photocopier of stuff."

As for GW's crazy "cease and desist" reaction to the guy who made his own minis that would fit in with his Imperial Guard Army, which didn;t even take the place of GW minis, only work alongside them.....

I don't know if it's been said here, but did anyone see the huge legion of Everblight Typhon model the guy did on the Privateer Press forums?

He didn't like the existing model, so he made his own computer model of it, and then had it rapid-prototyped. He even got full approval from PP to do so, and there was a huge thread showing it off on the forums.

The linky:

http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?13570-I-got-my-typhon-printed-and-now-to-paint!

$150 for a single print! holy hell. It looks cool, I'll give him that. And I don't see it really infringing any copyright as it is quite different from the model it is meant to replace.

I think this would be fun for things like 54mm figures or busts since FW stopped doing them.

I'd also like to see how much detail one of these can print in 28mm scale.

Yeah, but it's replicating an existing model, and he had no problem from PP.

GW is chasing a guy for "replicating their model style". As in, making a model that fits into the universe, but is not replicatinganything that they have on the market. Another convincing bit of proof that they are completely insane.

Maybe just Greedy and not insane

AegisGrimm wrote:Yeah, but it's replicating an existing model, and he had no problem from PP.

GW is chasing a guy for "replicating their model style". As in, making a model that fits into the universe, but is not replicatinganything that they have on the market. Another convincing bit of proof that they are completely insane.

GW do that because they think they can, hence the Chapter House suit.

Given how bogged down GW have got with Chapter House, their legal recourse would seem to be more limited than they thought. Their main power is that of size, which lets them frighten individuals and small companies into giving up products without an expensive fight.

That's not to say that GW don't have genuine rights in various areas of IP, which they need to defend.

GW's Legal team spent more money getting , the now defunct, Demonblade Games to cease and desist their "Org" line of models than Demonblade Games ever made selling their "Org" line models.

I am pleased to find that there are people using 3D printing for the legitimate purpose of making previously unavailable models for naval wargames.

http://www.shapeways.com/shops/tinythingamajigs?section=1%2F1800+WW2+Naval+Ships&s=12

The great advantage of this method of production is that ships and aircraft can be nicely modelled in 3D without the need for sculpting, and resized easily for different scales.

Just been re-reading a stack of 200AD's and 3D printing would be great for producing H-Wagons for the Dredd RPG. I remember trying to scratch build one years ago when the Judge Dredd RPG was first released. This is an area where I think it's going to be of real benefit. Who knows you could see complete scene kits released. You buy a RPG scenario pack and with it you get a DVD containing 3d models of all the scenery as well. That would be cool.

Bugger should of kept that idea to myself!!!

I think the real fun will be when someone figures out how to convert the 3D models from thier favorite video games into actual 3D models for tabletop gaming.

adamsouza wrote:I think the real fun will be when someone figures out how to convert the 3D models from thier favorite video games into actual 3D models for tabletop gaming.

You mean like this? http://www.figureprints.com/

Yeah, except with out the whole charging you an arm and a testicle part.

Although I was thinking more along the lines of Tribes Ascend or a Warhammer based game. If I could print my own Tribes figures I'd use them for Space Marines in as fast as I could print them out.