First of All...A Bit of History...

My name is Thomas Gray (but most folks just call me "Tom"), and I'm probably better known among the 2D/3D communities as "Hawkfyr."

Back in 1997 or 98, I had an opportunity to buy a used PC from a friend, and he let me use it for a couple of months to see if I'd like to buy it. I poked around a bit on it, not knowing much about how to use it, but I happened upon this program that captured my interest, and later fulfilled a creative part of me that had been dormant since I'd laid down my guitar a few years prior.

That application was "Bryce2" (then owned by Meta Tools). Again…I knew naught what I was doing, but I did know it captured my interest, and although my first images were primitive pyramids floating over desert landscapes, I displayed them proudly as my desktop wallpaper (Ha!…you thought I was gunna say "spheres over water" din-cha?).

I never ended up buying "that" computer, but did purchase another used one. I got it home, hooked it up, and went to go play with Bryce…and…uh...it's gotta be around here somewhere...I mean, don't ALL computers come with it? Well, evidently not. So the first thing I did was run out to Best Buy and got a copy of it. Imagine my amazement that by that time…it was called "Bryce 3" (by then it was "Meta Creations" if memory serves me correctly).

I got it home, tore open the wrapping, and installed it only to find…it was different than the other one I had played with, in fact…it was even BETTER! Oh what joy a couple hundred bucks brought…who cared if the phone bill didn't get paid on time?

I was "Brycin"…and hooked hard.

It wasn't long before I found "Bryce Chat" and "alt.binaries.3d.bryce" on the newsgroups and was interacting with other like-minded folks.

"Hey! How did you get those humans in your render?"…"Poser, you say?"

Alas…another phone bill got paid late as I went back to Best Buy and bought Poser 3.

Can you see the addiction developing?

Well…it wasn't long before I was exploring other online sites…seeking out any and all knowledge I could about my new found passion. I met some great folks who were more than willing to help out a newcomer like me, and it wasn't long before I started to get the hang of things, and started helping others.

Oh, the hoops we had to jump through to get Posette into Bryce (especially "clothed")…and don't even get me started on what was involved in getting her textured! Bump Maps had an unrecognizable format then, and needed converted. Oh, and especially things like eyelashes and hair that involved transparency. What seems effortless now, was an all day event back in those days. You can probably thank several of your fellow members for developing scripts and plug-ins that allow for more user friendly transitions between applications you see integrated in some programs today.

Speaking of "Those Days"…Resource websites such as Renderosity (then "PFO"), were pretty much simple message boards and a gallery with a Tutorial section, and a place to download "Free Stuff" (then called "Fun Stuff"). But it had a Wild Wild West mentality, and new ideas were being pioneered daily. This "phenomenon" was gathering momentum at a staggering rate…and it wasn't long before it became apparent that, in order for it to continue, there would have to be a way to pay for the site(s) to continue providing "Free" resources.

We all brainstormed about how to pay for this thing called "hosting," and other never before heard of things like "bandwidth" and "server space." I mean…most of us were just wanna-be artists and hobbyists who fell into this thing bass ackwards. What did we know of how to actually make the site(s) "self supporting"?

We kicked around several ideas. Things like getting investors involved, "passing the hat," or maybe making it a subscription type of site. But…those were unpredictable as far as forecasting revenue, and didn't really provide anything to the membership other than what they were getting already. and Investors would be expecting an ROI (return on investment), and we certainly didn't want Guido showing up at the door.

Ultimately, it was decided that an online "store" would not only bring in revenue, but it would provide a supplemental income to those who became vendors, all the while keeping the "resource" part of the site "free." Who knew then that some of those content providers would go on to become very successful, and do it full time?

It was a bold concept, and although not entirely new, it would assure that the site would sink or swim by its own hand. No one would be to blame for its failure, nor would there be any "one" contributor to honor for its success.

So we fumbled about…each contributing his or her unique experiences to keep the site alive. All, but a very few paid programmers, volunteering their time, blood, sweat, tears, and laughter, to "give back" to the community that had so graciously provided them with the knowledge and tools to move forward with their passion.

My role? Well…I expanded on an idea from the newsgroups, and asked the originator if it would be cool to incorporate the "challenges" we had in the newsgroups, into a forum/gallery here at Renderosity…and thus started, and moderated the "Challenge Arena" here at Renderosity. Not long after that, I joined Clay Hagabush in moderating the Bryce Forum.

As I mentioned…we were blazing new trails, and encountering new vistas, as well as new obstacles The TOS was a document that seemed to be modified almost daily to accommodate some new unexpected situation or predictable scenario.

Eventually, as with most "rather unorganized" entities involving money, things started to fall apart (this was the beginning of what became known as "The Site Wars"). Everyone involved at the time has his or her version of how events unfolded, but the end result was a "split" in allegiances of those governing the site, as well as some of the membership, followed by a mass exodus and subsequent up-cropping of new sites popping up all over. Some succeeding and some failing, but most of which had familiar names running them, and my name was among them…

I became the Bryce forum moderator at another site. Before long, I was administrator in charge of marketing for several years, as well as testing store products, helping with the magazine and newsletter, running all of the contests, and moderating nearly every forum at one time or another when it needed someone. I also represented the site at the SIGGRAPH conventions where I got to meet and rub elbows with those I had only known in a "virtual" way. My marketing position enabled me to acquire and distribute software from the developers, so I also wrote many of the software reviews at that time. I eventually ended up passing the torch. I'm happy to say that site is among those that still thrive today, and I'm proud to have been a part of it.

So…what am I now?

Well, as someone so eloquently put it, I'm a qualified, card-carrying member of the "Ex-Evil Overlord's Club." Those of us who where there when it all started...rallied together to get it off the ground, watched the slow motion train wreck (and probably participated in it as well), assisted in the clean up afterwards, attempted to enrich member experience, and influence the shape of communities into what they are today. Then, eventually, make available the opportunity for others to give back to the community…and try to see things from both sides.

And…what does this qualify me for?

Nothing, really…although I've been able to utilize the "experience" in certain occurrences, and has opened doors for me in my real life.

I can say that I've been able to bear witness to a lot through my involvement in the online 2D/3D art communities over the years, and as I've said many times:

"A wise man learns from his mistakes…but the wiser man learns from the mistakes of others."

Well…I've learned from both, lol!

When I was approached to be a "Commentary Columnist" here at Renderosity, I didn't really ask "why?"
I just thought to myself…"Yeah…I can do it"…and then I thought…"I wonder…do they know what they might be getting themselves into? I mean…have they read some of my stuff?" 8 )

But all kidding aside…I'm honored to be asked to do this and thought I might use my first column to illustrate a brief history of the communities origins, and the small part I played in them over the years. When I say "brief," I do mean it. These communities have gone through so many changes over the years, it would take a novelist to cover it all.
However…I think that is what keeps us coming back. The fact that it's perpetually changing, is what keeps it interesting. Not unlike the ever evolving technology we all use to bring our "art" to fruition, so is the platform in which we present it.

The forums are full of "opinions" of how many among us feel about "change". The consensus, at least among the more vocal, seems to demonstrate that most don't like change, regardless of what it is. Or…cry out for changes, only to complain about them after the alterations have been made.

It is my belief that without variation in our "creative diet," including how it's prepared and presented, we would diminish artistically.

 

Well…I've exceeded my word count for this column, so I'd better close for now and send it off for approval.

I sure hope they don't make me edit it…after all…I hate change. 8 )

Tom

 

 

Talkfyr with Thomas Gray [Hawkfyr] 

is a regular Renderosity Front Page commentary column, with Renderosity artist Hawkfyr, reporting what's on his mind.