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When FPSC first came out, the vast majority of forum users had no idea how to create custom content; we were limited to WWII and Sci-fi games. Then model pack 1 was released and the community rejoiced at now being able to create 'modern' shooters. The models were high-quality and the content included entities, characters, and segments; it was a fairly complete package.

It's been five years since all that, and now we have over 50 model packs. However, over the years as I have browsed I have to say I've been disappointed by a lot of them. Instead of a 'complete' pack including characters, entities and segments, many of the model packs released have consisted of a hand full of poorly-textured entities. Add to that the fact that most of this content doesn't include Normal or Spec maps and I really can't see the point of some of these model packs.

Here's a list of all the current model packs to date:


Model Pack 1 - (Modern Day): Excellent! A raft of segments and entities AND 3 characters

Model Pack 2 - (Modern Day 2?): Excellent! Segments, entities and two new characters WITH a custom fpi.

Model Pack 3 - (Warehouse/Factory): Awesome! Ok, so there are no new characters, but for sheer amount of stuff (526 assets) this deserves a pat on the back.

Model Pack 4 - (Modern Characters): We really needed this when it came out. The only slight downside is that these characters don't have normal or spec maps.

Model Pack 5 - (Modern Weapons): This is an interesting one. When MP5 first came out, we were all exstatic over the change to (finally) have different weapons WITH arms! But the textures, while great, didn't fit with the other media already in and released for FPSC. MP5 was then blown out of the water by...

Model Pack 6 - (Better Modern Weapons): Realistic contemporary weapons with hands, so useful

Model Pack 7 - (Overlays): err...OK. I guess it's useful, and it is cheap...but I didn't feel I HAD to part with my money for it.

Model Pack 8 - (Dark Egypt): I gotta be honest here, I did not see this coming. I've only seen a sputtering of games in WIP that used this pack. The textures, while intricate, are let down by the fact that they are always on flat segments. This is useful...but only in a hand full of situations.

Model Pack 9 - (moar Modern Weapons): That's better! More useful weapons for us to use

Model Pack 10 - (Even MOAR Modern Weapons): As with MP9, an excellent set of weapons applicable to any contemporary-set game. The workmanship is stunning too.

Model Pack 11 - (Outdoors): Poor. A mere 15 entities and a few segments. The texture here is also sub-par.

Model Pack 12 - (Sci-fi): The description to this pack actually sounds pretty good, it would benefit from a video to showcase it. It looks...OK.

Model Pack 13 - (Village): Are you serious? 7 entities for £6.99? How did we get from 526 assets in MP3 to this!?

Model Pack 14 - (Wild West): Another poor pack, 8 entities for £6.99. The description claims you can make a Wild west games with this. Yeah, because you're really going to only need 8 building entities for that...

Model Pack 15 - (Ruins): Slightly better, contains 17 entities, but as with MP11, 12, 13 & 14, the textures look a little sub-standard. I know these came out at a time with shaders weren't working by why weren't they future-proofed! Normal and spec maps should have been included in all of the aforementioned packs.

Model Pack 16 - (Entities): This was a return to form somewhat. 77 useful and high quality entities that could be used in a variety of settings. Still not sure about the £12.99 pricetag, but it's definately an improvement on previous installments

Model Pack 17 - (Egyptian Characters): As with MP8 (Dark Egypt), this is not a mainstream pack. The workmanship is supreme, but the number of applications you can have with it is limited. Shame.

Model Pack 18 - (Fantasy Characters): FPSC went through a fad of fantasy-themed content a while pack, and this pack was the first. Again, amazing workmanship, but (at the time) a limited number of applications.

Model Pack 19 - (Medieval Cartoon): GTFO. The actual amount of content is not the issue here (this is the sort of amount I expect for £6.99), it's just that no one is ever going to use this. Ever. The textures are 'cartoony' because they are bad.

Model Pack 20 - ('realistic' Medieval): This actually makes MP18 worth getting. The range of content here is broad (entities, characters, weapons) but it's a little optimistic to ask for £12.99 for it.

Model Pack 21 - (Fantasy Creatures): Somewhat limited possiblities, but makes sense considering previous packs. Stunning quality too

Model Pack 22 - (Gore Pack): The current obsession with zombie games in the WIP boards can be traced back to this pack. Why? Because it was exactly what we wanted. High-quality characters with new animations, awesome shaders and bucket loads of blood. None of this quant fantasy stuff here; it's all about the blood. An odd choice though...considering the cartoon pack just 3 packs before :S

Model Pack 23 - (Dungeon Construction): This actually bridges the gap quite nicely between the horror and fantasy packs before, and includes music too, a first for an FPSC pack I believe. The texturing on the characters though is not great and, again, it's another pack without Normal or spec maps.

Model Pack 24 - (Warehouse): 38 models, all with great texturing designed to be versatile. Great! It's not worth £12.99 though...

Model Pack 25 - (Viking): FPSC also went through a fad of historical packs too. This was the first. The models are rubbish, the textures are rubbish. Comparing the characters in here with the ones in MP18 is like comparing Danny Dyer to Stephen Fry.

Model Pack 26 - (Graveyeard): There's a decent amount of content here, albeit with mediocre texturing. The number of applications is a little limited too.

Model Pack 27 - (Roman): It's another historical 'sense of place' pack. Someone went to a great deal of effort to make 47 floor segments but them packaged them with some horrible characters and too few entities. This is, however, one of the few examples of a pack with building-entities that are textured well.

Model Pack 28 - (Fantasy weapons): If you bought packs 18, 20 or 21, then this pack is a decent addition. In terms of value-for-money though, there are too many weapons for it to be worth £6.99 and too few to be worth £12.99 IMO.

Model Pack 29 - (Tropical): A pack presumably designed to show how much like Far Cry 1 FPSC was, and how much it couldn't do Crysis. To this day, I'm still tempted by this pack, mostly for it's trees and foliage. Until very recently, there had never been a model pack with just trees in. MP29 is not quite worth £12.99 though...

Model Pack 30 - (Middle East): A deceptive pack. Most of the included 70 segments are, as with the Roman pack, floor segments, most of them intricate tile-patterns. The building entities are OK, but (again) not worth £12.99. I'm making a middle east-set game and I've yet to buy this.

Model Pack 31 - (War-torn): I can see this being useful to many of us. It claims to have 50 segments in but it didn't look like that from the video, which either means the building entities are fantastic, or the segment textures are meh. Overall though, pretty nice!

Model Pack 32 - (Office): A decent enough pack, perhaps a skimping a little on content for it's price, but generally useful. I can remember making an office-based level long before this pack came out and something like this could have helped me a lot

Model Pack 33 - (Sports): Sorry, this pack isn't work it. Mediocre texturing (the wood floor makes me cringe) and not alot of applications.

Model Pack 34 - (Industrial): Another pack of building entities and segments, though this one does have more possibilities for application. Again, running a little unlaiden with any seriously meaty content.

Model Pack 35 - (Another Medieval Pack): I thought we were over this, FPSC! You're not designed to do RPGs...alright, well since MP35 contents tons of segments and a load of entities, go on then!

Model Pack 36 - (Urban): It's free! Whose complaining!?

Model Pack 37 - (Castle): See MP35.

Model Pack 38 - (Metro Theater): This is what I'm talking about. Segments, entities, decals and most importantly, a graphical overhaul thanks to some stunning shaders. Excellent!

Model Pack 39 - (Zombie Apocalypse): The beginning of the end. This is why the forum is swimming in zombie games, and why not? The characters here are superb, as are their animations and textures. An excellent addition.

Model Pack 40 - (War torn): 220 entities seems like a pretty reasonable amount for £9.99, and they are textured pretty well too, even though they are a bit low-poly.

Model Pack 41 - (Dungeon Items): There's some nice ideas here, and a lot animated materials, but it suffers from being somewhat blocky.

Model Pack 42 - (Fantasy Characters 2): More excellent character-work, and nice to see some mounted on horses too.

Model Pack 43 - (Cave): At £5.99, this is one of the cheapest model packs available for FPSC. It's not a bad deal, though you have to weigh up whether the slightly cartoony style to the models and textures (which won't 'fit in' with other more realistic elements) is worth it.

Model Pack 44 - (Science/School): It's reasonable for the price, though the texures here are somewhat cartoony.

Model Pack 45 - (History): Perhaps the most bizarre model pack available for FPSC, featuring historic figures and a few entities. The number of times you could use such elements is low...and the textures are, again, a bit cartoony.

Model Pack 46 - (London): This is difficult one. On the one hand, you do get a ton of segments and entities, but on the other, the textures are a bit hit and miss, not always to the quality of FPSC stock or MP1 or 2. I personally don't like the building entities.

Model Pack 47 - (Church): I can see this being useful in a variety of settings, and it has a lot of content for £5.99. Again though, slightly cartoony style...

Model Pack 48 - (Post-Apocalypse): It's hard to quibble at 240 entities and 30 segments. Some elements seem a tad low-poly but other than that, I can't fault this pack!

Model Pack 49 - (Office 2): There's some nice ideas here, and decent quality work. This is worth £9.99

Model Pack 50 - (Catacomb/Prison): Another dungeon pack? I don't feel the video showed off enough of the 196 architectural entities but alot of what it did show seemed to suffer from the same problem as earlier model packs, a slightly blocky/cartoony style.

Model Pack 51 - (Wastelanders): FPSC does Fall Out 3. Decent characters here, with normal and spec maps too by the looks of things, and they can talk! The number of situations you'll be able to use these is a little limited though.

Model Pack 52 - (Viral Outbreak): Definately the scariest model pack yet, with some genuinely frightening characters and some genuinely good shaders.

Model Pack 53 - (Task Force 341): Amazing characters and some amazing AI, trully a leap forward for FPSC. The £24.99 price tag is a little steep but this is so damn useful!

Model Pack 54 - (Puzzle Elements): Actually, this is just what FPSC needs, a pack that expands the gameplay possibilities of the engine. A lot of nice ideas here, with high-quality content too. Excellent!

Model Pack 55 - (Vegetation): I'm not sure why something like this wasn't available sooner, because it's really useful. A bunch of skyboxes, a load of tree, bushes and other forest-themed entities make this a great pack. It is, however, let down by a bit of mediocre texturing here and there.

Jeez, that took ages...

As you can see, there is a broad range in the quality of available model packs for FPSC. And whereas some could used in a variety of games, a few them are very specific and far too specialised to be of use to mass audiences.

So, what are my suggestions? Well, consolidation and removal. Start by consolidating similar-themed model packs in to one. For example, combining MP23, 41 and 50 into one and selling it for £14.99. Or combing some of the medieval or fantasy packs? Also, naming the packs would be preferrable to numbers; I for one can't keep track of which number corresponds to which pack at the moment. Secondly, remove the packs which fall below par in terms of quality or are too specific. If the creators wanted to continue selling them, they could do so in the store. This would mean they could still earn off their creations, and TGC.com could continue to sell 'quality products' and be a bit tidier too. Packs that fall into this category include the Sports pack, the Cartoon Medieval pack and the History pack.

Obviously, these are just my opinions and my suggestions. I welcome your views too, and discussion on the subject; that's what this thread is for. I hope my comments aren't seen as too scathing, but also that I am not alone in my views.

So...yeah, what do you guys think?

AE

I may not disagree with you on your subjective views of each MP. However, I believe in the right to sell one's goods, even if they aren't to a person's specs.

The only thing I would want is more in-game images and a full video that is of good quality. If any MP does not have something I can base an opinion on then I don't get it. I did get the SCiFi MP because it did sound good. But, I was taken to the cleaners. Even though it was inexpensive (by my standards) it still was money down the toilet.

Against.

If I only want, say, some models of London that I can't find elsewhere the London pack is right up my street. I wouldn't want some extra office entities of a bunch of vikings as that's not what I want to spend my money on.
It's not really costing TGC much to have lots of model packs, and it can benefit the end users, however, I would like to see everything moved into the store. That would make life much easier.

Eye of the beholder. Don't like the pack don't buy it. Kind of simple really. You may not want or need it but someone else might and that Might is what makes them into model packs.

Not everyone can model but they can script/code. Same can be said about Mods. Why are there so many mods..... blaa blaa blaa hope you get the point. Find what you like and leave the rest to everyone else.

As the owner of 90% of all model packs I say: Keep 'em comin'

Seriously, there can never be too many of those.

Also, do you even own the model packs you comment on? MP13 might look bad on screenshots and from the website data but, trust me, it's a regular steal at £6.99 in my opinion. The models are really excellent for any medieval game.

And another one... how can 55 ever be too many? I mean, there are a gazilion Iphone Apps on AppStore and few complain about that.

Different artists,different principles,different skill level,different approach.

I had a laugh at the "Arteria packs reviews",mainly because I was expecting you to be so negative(much like a lot of people are towards these particular packs).I don't necessarily disagree with your views about the content quality,however you are complaining way too much about the prices.

Are there too many model packs? No.There can't really be too many of them,a wider variety to choose from is a lot better than a restriction in quantity.It's your choice to buy them,so you can't really complain about that.

One thing you can complain about though,is rather the lack of showcase on some of the model packs.I'd say a playable demo ,displaying the media ,would be a lot better than a few screenshots(or even a video).

The model packs are made by forum users mostly,not TGC themselves,so everyone makes what they like/think would be of good use.If you think each pack is too specific and combined , they would not make a good combination,go hire a 3d artist for your project or buy model packs from 3rd party websites,and then see how much that would turn out for you($).

Just my .02 , and also don't mind my bad grammar,English is not my first language.

Why is it that everyone thinks a medieval game has to be an RPG?

I bought these packs you claim to be limited use and they are faboulus in quality and I'm actually doing a medieval game in FPSC...it works perfect.

The prices for 3D Models and Game Making software on TGC is as low as it can get and sometimes (like for Modelpack 53) far far far too low.

Take a look at other 3d Modeling Websites like turbosquid and at the prices there...

I think its great that we have so many affordable media packs here and I do absolutely not get the point of this thread.



-Wolf

Against it.




Wouldn't work. Different model packs are made by different artists, combining their work would mean dividing the profits, and losing money for the price reduction because of having to split it four ways (TGC=#4).




Wouldn't work, as that's subjective from person to person. I remember when some of Arteria's Model Packs came out and there was a negative response to them from some users. While on the other hand, other members purchased them. Also, quality changes. Five years from now the Metro Theatre Model Pack may look substandard to what's in store for the future.




Nah. Keep the variety available to those who appreciate it. And bare in mind the model packs that are available to members here (regardless of their quality) you would find on other resources such as Turbosquid for $300-$1,500 a pop. Those zombies from the Zombie Apocolpse Model pack for example, break down to about $1.25 a piece for you, the consumer at their current $20.00 price tag.

Now, here's a single zombie model from Turbosquid of similar quality for $89.00. Note, this model is not rigged, animated, or game ready.

The artists here are already severely undercutting themselves for their work. Asking for additional price gouges to save a few more bucks on your own behalf would be pretty selfish, IMO. Also keep in mind that TGC deducts their 50% royalty fee (believe it's the same for model packs) from a model pack sale before the profit reaches the artist. So now those same zombie models bond1 is selling to you for $1.25 each, he'll receive about $0.50 for that work. Our Turbosquid pal up there with his own zombie, is going to bank about $45.00.

I guess I'm simply saying that we should all appreciate how good we actually have it here.

Kravenwolf

For the price, these model packs are an absolute steal.

Compare for yourself: http://www.3drt.com/3dm/characters/real-zombies/real-zombies-shots.htm

Great zombies here, real quality work right? Sure.... all for the low, low price of $191 dollars. for the models only - no segments, no props, no sounds, no scripts, just the models. If you wanted to use these in FPSC (or DBPro or whatever), you'd have to create all your own scripts and sounds to go with them. You'd have to create the FPE files yourself. You might even have to go in and remove the skeleton they have and reattach it to a stock FPSC one to get it to work.

Contrast that to FPSC Ready packs like MP53 that comes with weapons, characters, sounds, scripts, even voiceover files for $40 - and you can use these same models and other assets in any other game engine you like at no additional charge. That's HUGE.

It would be nice (and I haven't poked around in the TGC store much so this may be the case and I just don't know it) if you could buy bits and pieces from the model packs if you only want one or two items that are in a particular pack but again, the overall cost of each pack is so low, it really doesn't matter.

If you don't like them, don't buy them.




Don't complain about the price. Here is a modelpack on turbosquid wich has much 12 worse quality models for 600$ and they arn't even animated.

http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-12-military-soldier-model/323325


EAI:s modelpack has 113 characters with custom AI scripts that must have taken a lot of time and effort to make.

EAI has worked on his pack for 1 year and he's selling it for 24.99, wich is basicaly givig it away. And since TGS is taking 50% of the earnings EAI only get 12.5$ per sold copy.

man this is appalling, how can you complain about a model pack being 12.99, when you get so much, for so litle, i suggest you stop ya nagging and realise how lucky we are as a comunity of game makers to have this amazing website and software and resources to make our games and dreams come to a reality, Its plain sick and annoying, that people critisize this greate establishment, i spend my money on tgc, and i know that im helping out a generouse comunity of developers who make this pack, and also keep the company in buissness for helping me run my buisness and make my money, u gotta invest money to make some, and by god, if everything in life was 12.99 of the same quality, i would be a very happy man.

thank you TGC AND ALL THE MP DESIGNERS

xx

Avenging makes a good point nonetheless, without naming any names, some of the model packs are of a much poorer quality than what is expected given the tremendous quality of others.

The model packs really are a flagship for FPSC and so their quality should excite people into buy FPSC, and some do very well (i.e. 9,10), but others lack the same attention to detail. The top quality, top value, model packs set the bar for what all models packs should be like.

In my very personal opinion, I believe that the top-quality (or best selling) model packs should be kept on display on the website while others are shifted into the store. I realize this will not happen, however.

Why can't all the modelpacks be vissible on the mainpage, Even if they are not the best quality they sitll show what a wide selection of models we have...

@The Zoq2

See link, you can view all the model packs on the TGC page, there is an option above the model pack numbers that's says show all models packs

http://www.thegamecreators.com/?m=view_product&id=2001&page=ModelPacks

Hope this helps!

A complaint I see among other engine communities is the lack of quality assets available, at an affordable price.

I say, keep them coming.

I actually agree with the OP.

It's good people are putting their work out there but there's just no need for some of the model packs out there. I remember a year to 6 months ago there was a new model pack every few weeks and the pack seemed rushed out and of low quality.

I do agree to the extent of seeing more packs comparable to the first few. Variety, Variety, Variety... is all I'm saying.

Well I'm glad this has generated a bit of discussion! Please don't understand me, my gripe about prices is based on a certain lack of parity that I see when I look at the model packs. Look at the range and quality of content you get in MP1. It is worth £12.99? Almost certainly it is worth triple that (and by the way, I'm a member of Turbosquid, I know how much these things would cost over there). Now, using MP1 as our benchmark, can you really justify MP13's £6.99 pricetag?

Also, I'm all for variety. And I do agree that we should "keep 'em coming". I'm going to be signing up to thegamecreators store because I believe in creating more content.

Exactly. I encourage everyone to make their own content, and to sell it (either on the forums, or in the store, or both), but I feel that the ones TGC should offer on their website should be of a certain standard.

I also agree with F L A T L A N D E R that we need to see more screenshots, or higher quality videos of the model packs. Some of the early ones had brochures, which was nice because you could look at every model included in the pack.

Lastly, I was asked whether I own any of the model packs. Yes, though I'll admit I only own MPs 1-5 and Benge's Animated Sprite Pack. This is simply because a) I buy the packs as and when I need them and b)my FPSC was broke for a looonnnggg time. Now it's working again though, I'm considering buying 9, 10, 38, 53, 54 and 55 (sounds like I'm ordering a Chinese takeaway lol)

AE

You own 5-6 model packs. That hardly makes you an expert on them in general, does it...

Once again you complain about a model pack you don't even own.

How can you jugde MP13 to not be worth its price? It's actually one of the better model packs out there! You would know this if you owned it. Few other model packs have houses with both interior/exterior modelling. This makes it posible to have the player walk up to doors and then transfer them inside if they press enter with no additional loading time if you know how to script it. The models in the pack are detailed and fit any medieval/fantasy game. Stop complaining about something you clearly know nothing about.

I think this is getting unnecessarily heated,

My understanding was that this thread was started to discuss whether having more and more model packs is a good thing or a bad thing, so to get back on topic...

I think there should be greater synergy (oh yes that word just got used) between the GCS and the model packs, I know a lot of the models are available in the store, (for all I know they all could be and I may just be making a tit out of myself), but The issue of wanting some of the models not all of them could be resolved if the packs were released in the GCS store say two months later, that way the artist will potentially get more business from the odd sale in the GCS.

Also as a side note, I think the FPSC model packs are limited by being just that, FPSC model packs. If they were sold as just, Model packs, perhaps more of the DBPro users would purchase them. I may be wrong with that, it may not put them off, but to an outsider it may seem a bit branded and if someone just stumbled onto the site looking for models, they might be put off by the FPSC label on them.

Again this could all be wrong in which case I retract my statement and apologize but it seems to me that they could sell them as stand alone models and get more business.

That's just my two cents...

Although I don't buy any model packs, so I'm in great danger of being hypocritical here, I think all the model packs should be scrapped completely and replaced with the TCG Store.

Then you can pick and choose whatever models you want and spend as much or as little as you want.

@Scurvy Lobster

AE expressed his opinion, which he is entitled to do... You disagree with it, which you are also entitled to do. I find the way you expressed your feelings to be unnecessarily aggressive.

He asked for opinions, so tell him why the pack is worth the price, I'm sure that's all he wants from people. I don't believe he is trying to offend.

Yes, definately not my intention when I started this thread


Well for starters, a lot of the content is available on the store so you can judge it without buying. In fact, I'd even hazard to say that you get a better picture of the content of SOME of the model packs from browsing GCS than from TGC.com

Secondly, you don't need to own the model packs to spot cartoonish (yeah...that's probably not a word...) modelling and texturing. Maybe it's just something I notice more because I've been modelling and texturing stuff for use in FPSC for 5 years now.

There's no need to get so aggressive, I was simply expressing an opinion and asking if I'm alone in my views. I can see that, while there are those who agree (either partially or wholly) with me, we are in the minority, which is fair enough. My take on it is simple: there seems to be a lack of consistency in terms of quality and quantity-of-content across the model packs.


^ This.

More importantly though, and this is something which has come out because the discussions in this thread, there seems to be a great inconsistency in the advertising of these packs. Some of them have brochures, some have videos, but some have a single screenshot. It's difficult to sum up an entire model pack from a single screenshot.

AE

I actually have MP13 and I'd say it's one of the poorer ones and lacks in content.

My View:

Instead of the sheer amount of the model packs just listed by numbers, it should be listed in sections.

For example, you have a few genres:

Generic, Modern Day, WW2, Scifi, Fanasty

And then you click on lets say, Fantasy and it'd take you to sections like:

Fantasy - Characters, Scenery, Entities, Segments

And inside the characters one would be like, all the character fantasy model packs.

So all in all, It'd be a lot more organised.

Thraxas: Ok, I might have been too heated there.

I guess that I believe we should simply vote with our vallets. If you like something you buy it... And personally I far prefer having official model packs rather than using TGC Store. Model packs are generally far less expensive when byuing models "in bulk".

That's not what i meant i was commenting to a post above me...

I certainly don't think there are too many packs, and they are excellent value for money.

I'd agree that the quality does vary, but they are still much better in many cases than far more expensive media.

I actually own a lot of the packs so most deals aren't much use to me. But if TGC were to package packs in say, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, War, etc and a slight discounted price for buying several it would no doubt be useful to some users. However generally, I don't think the packs could be much better value without being free.

This thread has been done in the manner of a review, but it is only his opinion. It is hard to understand how someone could form an opinion of something without using and testing it.

It has been stated a number of times about the quality of some of the model packs, but this is very subjective. This depends on what the model is going to be used for and not everything in a game has to have super quality to have a place in any given scene.

DC

This is something I see all the time. Game reviewer 'x' says game 'y' is rubbish. Now you have people who have name played game 'y' telling others it is rubbish and using the review as proof.

AE is basing his opinion on the information being presented to him by TGC. When Ross makes a pack he does the awesome .pdf brochure which means I can dl it and see every model in the pack. Bond usually has videos available at various stages of development showing what his packs add to FPSC. Then there are some packs that come out and our only way of seeing what's in the pack are a handful of screenshots.