Gambody’s new 3D model service focuses on game figurines.
We’re continuing to see specialization in 3D model marketplaces, as competition heats up. Ukraine-based Gambody has chosen to focus on figurines based on popular games, such as Dota2 or Diablo 3.
Gambody operates in a manner similar to other 3D model marketplaces: you may buy or sell 3D models. They even offer uploaders a custom page for their products.
The site provides a reasonable selection of models in this genre and you’re currently able to pre-order 3D prints of them. Gambody also says, “Coming soon .STL files for 3D printing”, suggesting you’d eventually be able to download these models for printing on your own gear (or a 3D print service of your own selection). Here’s an image of an early test of their printed version; looks pretty good!
You might be wondering about the perils of violating the intellectual property rights of the game companies, who own the figurine’s characters. Gambody believes they’ve solved this issue with a DRM solution.
We had some questions about how the service operates, so we asked Gambody’s Co-Founder and CPO, Yurii Iefimov.
Fabbaloo: How have you solved the DRM problem?
Yurii Iefimov: We have developed a software which interacts with our service and a user’s printer. With the help of this solution, all files are located at our servers, so that users are able to reach files without any physical access and may work with them only throughout our software, moderate files remotely before printing and then send them to the printer.
Fabbaloo: We’re really interested in the game figurines, but the marketplace entries don’t seem to offer the STL files yet? When will they be available? Do you have a sample we could check out?
Yurii Iefimov: Yes, as for now, game models have only pre-order option. Their acquisition is not available for users and those models will become available at our store and bought only after we sign contracts with gaming companies. This very procedure is currently in the process of implementation, and due to our projections it will be finished at the beginning of a new 2015 year. We have an STL file, prepared by us – a ready 3d model for demonstration – and we have an already printed out prototype of the same model.
Fabbaloo: The figurines have very complex geometry – have you attempted to make printing easy by chopping up the models into easily-printable pieces?
Yurii Iefimov: Yes, it is true, our models are not just a Mario box. We have a 3d Solidoodle printer for tests, we use it to constantly sharpen the quality of the final model. Much depends on the printing settings, we have spent a lot of printing tests to pick the best settings for each model. Our success is astounding!
When selling each STL file will go with its own manual with recommended settings for the best quality, and in the future, our software, will provide automatically prefilled recommended settings for each file.
We are in the process of implementing it now, while obtaining the licenses from the gaming companies. Of course, we are lack of top home 3D printers, to hone our models’ quality and to track our software performance with most popular and most purchased 3d printers. That is the reason we are looking for small investment right now, and we are appealing to the media – as a way to attract investors to our project, those investments will allow us to implement necessary technical aspects which are required.
Fabbaloo: How does the “active” STL file option work? Will you add joints to the models?
Yurii Iefimov: Absolutely right, the joints will be added. Active model will have movable junction in elbow, shoulder, knee, hip, head and waist – this in case of game heroes. This type of model will be available in the latest turn, as the feedbacks show us that static model interests gamers and owners of 3D printers more than others, which is oddly enough. A gamer will wish to have it, only if static model is good enough.
But we are working on it already now! When we attract Round A investments, we will start working on this type of model more precisely.
Via Gambody
