Since the current generation of DAZ Millennium figures have been around for a while and used a lot, what are their real advantages over the earlier figures? I haven't found anything, in my usage, that really screams that I need to use the current figures over M2 and V2. I've already gotten into the mode where I won't buy something for the new figures if I already have something for the earlier ones (though, I've occasionally broken that rule with Platinum Club purchases, such as getting V3 Joan of Arc armor when I already had it for Stephanie). I'm mostly trying to find out if I'm missing something by not using the current figures more. I'm not by any means boycotting Gen 3 figures. I'm just using the figures that I have the most content for (or at least the most content that I can readily access since my visual index is mostly being cataloged from new to old). If I've got something for V3 that pushes me to use that figure over V2, I have and will use the newer figure.

Generally, they bend better. Past that it is a question of aestetics and support. Some people really like the Gen 3 figures. Some really like the Gen 2. Not much content is being produced for the Gen 2 figures so if you are happy with what you have then you are set but not much else is being done. When it is created people don't really buy it so it isn't worth the effort of the merchant etc.

The main advantage for me is the injection morph system - I found V2 in Poser4/5 too slow - saving times, loading times, and too large in files - a single figure scene taking ten meg was putting a very large strain on my hard drive of the time. Having said that, the SAE version of V3 negated most of that advantage with the preinjected expresions, and P6 removes it by allowing me to create a version of V2 with external PMD morphs - much quicker, and (for me) much more reliable.

There is a genuine increase in realism if you put Vicki 3-- not out of the box, but carefully morphed-- next to a carefully morphed V2, I find that most V2's just don't have the detail to get truly photo real, if that's what you want. Now, some textures like Asia and Yuma counteract this, but then everyone starts looking like Asia and Yuma. And some of the very very best V2 and M2 textures are no longer available because of copyright problems. On the whole, if your urge is to go more and more realistic, I think the unimesh figures are probably the way to go-- the major exception in my mind is the PreTeen girl, who no one has been able to surpass. V2 works very well, even better and more delicately, for stylised and fantasy characters than V3. For fantasy unimesh, I tend to stick to very few texture makers or I use Stephanie Petite. My major problems with Vicki 3 is she's too hefty. Other than that, if you like V2 and M2-- and for some uses nothing really beats the outright masculinity of M2--the only reason for moving up to unimesh is the lack of any new clothing for them. Since PhilC and a bunch of other people are working on a product that will easily convert clothing between anybody[ok, so they say, and it's not going to be a freebie, probably not by a long shot] that may be a moot point in a little while. How long, though, I don't know. It would sure make things easier. In the last analysis, if you really really like the pre unimesh figures, and I use Stephy 1 a whole lot, no one is going to shoot you if you continue to use them. You just won't get very many new duds to dress them up with, if any. But, specs2 stuff is still out there,PoserWorld does mass fits of their most popular outfits, plus there's As Shanims old freebies, and the back pages of Rdna's catalog-- which has some killer clothing in it. And one can get by on huge runtimes of V2 clothing if you've been at it awhile. I feel for those just starting out though. Mainly cause the choices are not really there. It seems to me most V2 clothing for sale has been discontinued here. Not all though. I think Tiff's textures are still here, I hope, and they are lovely. Oh, supposedly something called VickiPro is in the works. Don't ask me what she does, looks like or wears though-- ain't got a clue. I only managed to save my budget from Hiro fever at the eleventh hour. So I dread the very idea of VickiPro. [Pity the poserholic whose money is running out] Emily

As much as I've heard that the Gen3 figures pose better than earlier ones, I haven't come across that difference with what I'm doing. I'm sure it's there, but whatever improvement is there isn't as drastically better over the earlier figures than the first Victoria was over the P4 characters. That improvement isn't jumping out at me. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm missing out on. I won't be running out to jump on VickiPro when it's released. If the price is right, I'd get it, but I'd be hard pressed to imagine that the new figure is going to be a quantum leap over existing ones. The stuff that Mec4D is doing with P5 & P6 shaders is a lot more interesting than advances in the meshes.

gagnonrich: but whatever improvement is there isn't as drastically better over the earlier figures than the first Victoria was over the P4 characters. That improvement isn't jumping out at me.[unquote] Didn't exactly jump out at me either-- you trade off knee breaks for upper thigh oddities and bodies that are heftier-- which is why I stick to SP3. I think the realism in the face morphs are more important than the bending, but that reflects my priorities I suppose. After awhile, all the V2s really began to look alike. Just like the V3's sorta do now. Not that they have to, but there is this face that keeps showing up-- short nose, big round eyes, wide mouth, sort of eurasian french look to the character. I don't mind saying that-- cute as it undoubtedly is, I'm awfully sick of seeing it. I like angles in a face. Emily