Cleopatra 8.1 Ancient Treasure Bundle - The continuing decline of DAZ bundles

135

Comments

  • LeanaLeana Posts: 11,728
    edited March 2021

    vwrangler said:

    I wonder if this means that Cleopatra is an Artstation character?

    Looks like she is one:  https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3oRw4J

    Post edited by Leana on
  • watchdog79watchdog79 Posts: 1,026

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

  • LeanaLeana Posts: 11,728

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

  • MelissaGTMelissaGT Posts: 2,611

    Ugh, could we please stop with the ArtStation characters. They're always so lackluster and in no way live up to their original ArtStation identities. 

  • PerttiAPerttiA Posts: 10,024

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    Where does it say that?

    Ever since the store update, if Daz Central was mentioned as the only option, it meant the download links were not yet ready, not even for Daz Central - Apparently putting Daz Central on everything is hardcoded to the templates in case someone hasn't seen it mentioned laugh

    Daz Central is just dumbed down version of DIM with fewer options for someone that has just bought the first ever computer and if it is possible to install a product with Daz Central, it is just as possible to do it with DIM

  • watchdog79watchdog79 Posts: 1,026

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

    After I confirmed the payment, I was notified that part of the order could not be downloaded via DIM, only via Daz Central.

  • XenomorphineXenomorphine Posts: 2,421
    edited March 2021

    Cybersox said:

    Matt_Castle said:

    I will add that despite being a ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra was of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and therefore actually of Greek ethnicity:

    True, but DAZ isn't exactly known for being accurate with factual or historical details, are they?  It's pretty egregious here, though, since thanks to sculptures and coins from during her actual reign, there are multiple actual likenesses of the real Cleopatra that were made during her reign and, needless to say, the DAZ version isn't even remotely close.  

      

    This was why I obtained Khemsit 8, who I felt had a intriguing similarity to Cleo's alleged actual historical likeness. It's stylised, but definitely there. It was why I was surprised she was marketed as a handmaiden against Twosret 8's leadership role.

    Nevertheless! I shall absolutely be getting this bundle!

    Only two or three of the products it contains were relevant to my artistic projects, but! Then I discovered it contained both the male and female anatomical extras. Something which I'd ordinarily be forced to wait until a pro bundle somehow is extraordinarily desirable (very rare), as a whole or, alternatively, undergoes an incredibly large discount. Glad I hadn't used up this month's PC voucher, because the exchange rate tells me this will come to a very nice price! Considering I was going to spend about £15 or so on the individual items I required, regardless, this basically saves me a huge amount of money. Not at least having the option of depicting a particular character in a state of undress, if necessary, is always annoying. This basically saves a lot of money in future.

    Post edited by Xenomorphine on
  • LeanaLeana Posts: 11,728
    edited March 2021

    watchdog79 said:

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

    After I confirmed the payment, I was notified that part of the order could not be downloaded via DIM, only via Daz Central.

    I think I've seen someone else mentioning receiving a "some products are not available via DIM" message on one order but they had no problem downloading the products with DIM.

    Looks to me that there's a problem with that message displaying when it shouldn't. Though the bundle itself doesn't have a DIM link since what you actually download are the individual product. That might be why the message appeared?

    Post edited by Leana on
  • N-RArtsN-RArts Posts: 1,496

    I was going to buy her, until I got the old "processing payment error" on the way back to the site from Paypal.

    I did manage to get two $2.99 items... So, "swings and roundabouts", I suppose.

     

  • Oso3DOso3D Posts: 15,011

    If you don't like the look of Cleopatra and prefer Twosret... you could always just use Twosret shape but skin and everything as Cleopatra.

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715

    watchdog79 said:

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

    After I confirmed the payment, I was notified that part of the order could not be downloaded via DIM, only via Daz Central.

    So they are. I hadn't got round to downloading them yet. 

    Ticket cause I aint using Daz Central.

  • watchdog79watchdog79 Posts: 1,026

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

    After I confirmed the payment, I was notified that part of the order could not be downloaded via DIM, only via Daz Central.

    I think I've seen someone else mentioning receiving a "some products are not available via DIM" message on one order but they had no problem downloading the products with DIM.

    Looks to me that there's a problem with that message displaying when it shouldn't. Though the bundle itself doesn't have a DIM link since what you actually download are the individual product. That might be why the message appeared?

    Oh. I just opened DIm and the items are there for download.

    DAAAAZ!!! What teh flip?surprise 

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    Leana said:

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It should be available via DIM. DazCentral uses the same servers and files.

    After I confirmed the payment, I was notified that part of the order could not be downloaded via DIM, only via Daz Central.

    I think I've seen someone else mentioning receiving a "some products are not available via DIM" message on one order but they had no problem downloading the products with DIM.

    Looks to me that there's a problem with that message displaying when it shouldn't. Though the bundle itself doesn't have a DIM link since what you actually download are the individual product. That might be why the message appeared?

    I didn't bother trying, just kept the other two items; I really like the treasure - Daz Dragon would have loved that pile of treasure too.

  • WolfwoodWolfwood Posts: 741

    Oso3D said:

    If you don't like the look of Cleopatra and prefer Twosret... you could always just use Twosret shape but skin and everything as Cleopatra.

    So, considering that the "main figure" is the most expensive item in the bundle (as with all DO main releases) people that don't like it would be basically overpaying for an already expensive bundle.

  • GreybroGreybro Posts: 2,502

    I don't know. I think if you comply with the purchase requirements of the Mad or Newly Mad and then use your monthly coupon, it's a reasonable price. In my case $25.25 for the bundle. A decent price tag for all the products in the cart, at least in my view.

  • Oso3DOso3D Posts: 15,011

    Wolfwood said:

    Oso3D said:

    If you don't like the look of Cleopatra and prefer Twosret... you could always just use Twosret shape but skin and everything as Cleopatra.

    So, considering that the "main figure" is the most expensive item in the bundle (as with all DO main releases) people that don't like it would be basically overpaying for an already expensive bundle.

    The main figure includes a shape, makeup, and skin texture. So the shape is a fraction of the figure item.

    I don't think it's a particularly expensive bundle as far as bundles go, but hey, if you don't like it, then ok.

     

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,962

    watchdog79 said:

    One question - why on Earth is the bundle only available for download in Daz Central and not in DIM?sad

    It looks as if that has been fixed, but if the bundle was saying that it would be because, by default, everything seems to say it isa vailable through Daz Central - the bundle itself isn't downloadable, the products are 9and as far as I recall all had all installation methods from the outset)

  • MelissaGTMelissaGT Posts: 2,611

    Greybro said:

    I don't know. I think if you comply with the purchase requirements of the Mad or Newly Mad and then use your monthly coupon, it's a reasonable price. In my case $25.25 for the bundle. A decent price tag for all the products in the cart, at least in my view.

    But then you're still paying a premium price for the Mad or Newly Mad items to get the bundle reduced so it's kind of a wash? I only buy new stuff unless it's something that is like ZOMG GIVE IT TO ME NOWS! Otherwise, it waits til I can get it for at least 70% off, preferably more. 

  • PetraPetra Posts: 1,154

    I am disappointed in regards to the bundles.

    Bundles were great for a long time and now we get those that have old items in them or just a few items...

    I remember the good old days where the bundles were exiting because you would not get bundles every few days.

    Now it seems that bundles are just some products thrown together to be a bundle.

    Nope, not for me.

    If I see an item in those * bundles * that I like, I buy that item and not the whole sad excuse of a bundle.

  • vwranglervwrangler Posts: 4,889

    Xenomorphine said:

    Nevertheless! I shall absolutely be getting this bundle!

    Only two or three of the products it contains were relevant to my artistic projects, but! Then I discovered it contained both the male and female anatomical extras. Something which I'd ordinarily be forced to wait until a pro bundle somehow is extraordinarily desirable (very rare), as a whole or, alternatively, undergoes an incredibly large discount. Glad I hadn't used up this month's PC voucher, because the exchange rate tells me this will come to a very nice price! Considering I was going to spend about £15 or so on the individual items I required, regardless, this basically saves me a huge amount of money. Not at least having the option of depicting a particular character in a state of undress, if necessary, is always annoying. This basically saves a lot of money in future.

    Just to point out: the male anatomical elements included in Cleopatra's bundle cannot be used on Genesis 8/8.1 Male, only on Genesis 8.1 Female.

    Since Daz has moved away from Pro/Starter bundles, they've included the appropriate anatomical elements with every name-and-number character bundle.

  • GreybroGreybro Posts: 2,502
    edited March 2021

    Has anyone else figured out to make the makeup presets work? All the presets for the makeups mess up the seams around the chin as shown in the attachments.

     

    Problem

    QueenofDeNileProblem.jpg
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    Post edited by Greybro on
  • WonderlandWonderland Posts: 6,888

    Decided to pass because the deal is bad and although I like everything in the bundle, I don’t like the new G8.1 shaders and don’t know if there’s a way to remove it and use the old iRay shaders. I think the skin looks weird on all the G8.1 characters I’ve seen so far except maybe V8.1 which I didn’t purchase.  Most of my renders are non-realistic so I can photoshop over it but I don’t even like the way it reflects (or doesn’t reflect) light...  

    I also agree that people who purchased one of the White Priestess bundles or ALL of previous Egyptian bundles should have a banner deal or even a general deal for everyone like they used to have. Sticking to $2.99 items for now...

  • MelissaGTMelissaGT Posts: 2,611
    edited March 2021

    Wonderland said:

    Decided to pass because the deal is bad and although I like everything in the bundle, I don’t like the new G8.1 shaders and don’t know if there’s a way to remove it and use the old iRay shaders. I think the skin looks weird on all the G8.1 characters I’ve seen so far except maybe V8.1 which I didn’t purchase.  Most of my renders are non-realistic so I can photoshop over it but I don’t even like the way it reflects (or doesn’t reflect) light...  

    I also agree that people who purchased one of the White Priestess bundles or ALL of previous Egyptian bundles should have a banner deal or even a general deal for everyone like they used to have. Sticking to $2.99 items for now...

    I agree about the PBR Shader. I...I really don't like it. You can convert the skin to the Uber shader...but it does take a bit of work. Here you can see I've converted Vicky 8.1 to the Uber Shader - 

     

    Post edited by MelissaGT on
  • davesodaveso Posts: 7,017

    I'm rendering Urban Future 4 ... back to the future. 

  • XenomorphineXenomorphine Posts: 2,421
    edited March 2021

    vwrangler said:

    Xenomorphine said:

    Nevertheless! I shall absolutely be getting this bundle!

    Only two or three of the products it contains were relevant to my artistic projects, but! Then I discovered it contained both the male and female anatomical extras. Something which I'd ordinarily be forced to wait until a pro bundle somehow is extraordinarily desirable (very rare), as a whole or, alternatively, undergoes an incredibly large discount. Glad I hadn't used up this month's PC voucher, because the exchange rate tells me this will come to a very nice price! Considering I was going to spend about £15 or so on the individual items I required, regardless, this basically saves me a huge amount of money. Not at least having the option of depicting a particular character in a state of undress, if necessary, is always annoying. This basically saves a lot of money in future.

    Just to point out: the male anatomical elements included in Cleopatra's bundle cannot be used on Genesis 8/8.1 Male, only on Genesis 8.1 Female.

    Since Daz has moved away from Pro/Starter bundles, they've included the appropriate anatomical elements with every name-and-number character bundle.

    They're two entirely different products. G8M Anatomical elements and G8F Anatomical Elements. The G8M ones can be used on females, but only on 8.1 females. Likewise, the G8F ones can be used with male characters, but only 8.1 males.

    Just tested them on Vladimir 8. They're the real deal.

    The last bundle I obtained was back during G2. So, I don't mind this being the way to obtain them. Bundles rarely have enough in them which are relevant to my projects to make them desirable.

    Post edited by Xenomorphine on
  • outrider42outrider42 Posts: 3,679

    Leana said:

    vwrangler said:

    I wonder if this means that Cleopatra is an Artstation character?

    Looks like she is one:  https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3oRw4J

    If you ask me these Artstation conversions are really showing how behind the Genesis platform has become. The original versions are so much better it is not funny. They lose a lot of detail in the conversion to Genesis. While it may be true that any conversion is going to lose a little detail, I think the rust on Genesis is starting to show quite badly here.

    Also, Daz seriously needs some more in house talent rather than depending on buying from 3rd parties so much. People who can not only help create characters, but also lend a hand in designing the next generation Genesis. Daz desperately needs Genesis 9 to be drop dead amazing, or they will face severe consequences, potentially falling out of favor like Poser. I do not think I am being overly dramatic, 3D tech moves fast and the battles are not fair. You either innovate or die. Daz has been around some 20 years, and that is swell, but there is no guarantee whatsoever they will be around for another 10. Blender just released a new update for Make Human, something that is free. This may sound harsh, but I believe Daz needs a kick to the rear if they want to be around the next decade. Consider this some tough love. I say these things not out of malice but because I believe that they can be better.

    Just look at this character on Artstation, and compare this to the character we got, and judge for yourselves.

  • Gr00vusGr00vus Posts: 372
    edited March 2021

    Only difference I see between that art station render and the 21st promo render on the DAZ product page is the art station shader is better. That has nothing to do with Genesis. DAZ could do better with its out of the box shaders in general, they're hit and miss depending on the character.  What's been done with the new "PBR Shader" so far isn't much (if any) of an improvement over what people have been getting out of the Uber shader. V8.1's shader is pretty good, but I haven't seen any other character shaders built on the "PBR Shader" that have been noteworthy.

    While we're at it, the lip texture map for this Cleopatra product doesn't seem to match the lip sculpt - how does a thing like that make it through QA (at art station or here)?

    Post edited by Gr00vus on
  • Well, at the end I did get the bundle - although it was not that good of a deal. For getting the bundle, I will leave out the other new releases from today and the last days.

    In terms of price I could not get the bundle lower than $38.73. At least max discount is already triggered by the $1.18 Saint Patrick's Day Set. So apart from that I only got two PFAD plus the free Family Hot Tub staying at around $45.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,223

    mr clam said:

    Well, at least the bundle doesn't have a wooden club that costs $16 or a $17 loin cloth.

    https://www.daz3d.com/ogre-camp-bundle

    apparently I own that club and loincloth but not the ogre wink 

    (think were considerably cheaper new)

  • GreybroGreybro Posts: 2,502
    edited March 2021

    Now i'm seeing an issue with the teeth mapping. What the heck am I doing wrong here? Obviously, other folks renders aren't having this.

     

    Issue

    whatTheHeck.jpg
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    Post edited by Greybro on
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