My Thoughts on Introducing New Mesh-Based Amaretto Horses

[Benny Spingflower]

 

While I wasn't at the last meeting, I read the notes about it, and I saw there was some discussion about possibly introducing Amaretto animesh horses.

I completely understand that idea because, let’s face it, sculpts (the method Amaretto used to build their horses) are very outdated. With animesh horses, we could have much better looking horses that move fluidly, which would be amazing.

I think there are three possible ways Amaretto could bring their horses into a more modern era:

1.) Convert all existing coats and traits to animesh horses.

However, my understanding is that sculpt and mesh textures are not compatible with each other. This means Amaretto would have to redo and reupload all textures, which would take hundreds of man-hours and could cost millions of L$ in upload fees. Because of that, I don’t think this option is feasible.

2.) Release animesh horses while continuing to support the old horses.

This would mean that animesh horses would start with zero traits, making it very interesting to breed them from the ground up. I remember how exciting it was when Amaretto only had a handful of traits and how thrilling it was to discover new ones.

However, I think this approach could split the community—some breeders would focus only on the new animesh horses, while others would stick to the old ones. This division could potentially be harmful to the market overall.

3.) Release animesh horses while discontinuing the old horses.

The positive aspects of option 2 apply here as well. However, this would mean that all the work breeders have put into their horses over the years would be lost. Some people have spent years carefully breeding and developing their lines, and discontinuing the old horses would erase all of that effort.

My Conclusion

I believe Amaretto should continue with their existing horses instead of releasing animesh horses. Amaretto horses are the one strong constant in the breedable world—at least, that’s how I see it. I love them very much, and I would really hate to lose them.

Please remember that this is just my opinion, and I hope it’s taken as such. Of course, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this sensitive topic.

Best regards,
Benny

[Bull Hynes]

39 minutes ago, Benny Spingflower said:

 

While I wasn't at the last meeting, I read the notes about it, and I saw there was some discussion about possibly introducing Amaretto animesh horses.

I completely understand that idea because, let’s face it, sculpts (the method Amaretto used to build their horses) are very outdated. With animesh horses, we could have much better looking horses that move fluidly, which would be amazing.

I think there are three possible ways Amaretto could bring their horses into a more modern era:

1.) Convert all existing coats and traits to animesh horses.

However, my understanding is that sculpt and mesh textures are not compatible with each other. This means Amaretto would have to redo and reupload all textures, which would take hundreds of man-hours and could cost millions of L$ in upload fees. Because of that, I don’t think this option is feasible.

2.) Release animesh horses while continuing to support the old horses.

This would mean that animesh horses would start with zero traits, making it very interesting to breed them from the ground up. I remember how exciting it was when Amaretto only had a handful of traits and how thrilling it was to discover new ones.

However, I think this approach could split the community—some breeders would focus only on the new animesh horses, while others would stick to the old ones. This division could potentially be harmful to the market overall.

3.) Release animesh horses while discontinuing the old horses.

The positive aspects of option 2 apply here as well. However, this would mean that all the work breeders have put into their horses over the years would be lost. Some people have spent years carefully breeding and developing their lines, and discontinuing the old horses would erase all of that effort.

My Conclusion

I believe Amaretto should continue with their existing horses instead of releasing animesh horses. Amaretto horses are the one strong constant in the breedable world—at least, that’s how I see it. I love them very much, and I would really hate to lose them.

Please remember that this is just my opinion, and I hope it’s taken as such. Of course, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this sensitive topic.

Best regards,
Benny

GREAT post, Benny! I do NOT envy the task at hand for them.

[Fin]

I agree with option 2 for the reason that it would generate new blood so to speak into fun breedables that have begun to repeat designs and patterns due to exhaustion of options/ideas. Continuing to support the old would allow those of us who have horses we wish to continue breeding to do so and collectors to continue with their collections, while also enjoying the prospect of starting new and fresh with ground zero Animesh horses. Zero trait or limited trait horses to start would be fantastic with slowly releasing newer traits and specials so that folks can have a chance to breed before trumped by another new release. Making LE's truly "limited editions" by shortening the release time would be so much more fun. The release times are so long now that they are far from limited. Everyone has at least 6 to 10 and some have more. That hardly counts as LE's and the resale price of them is extremely low. You may see them for sale for high dollars, but I doubt you will see them actually sell for that. I remember the first LE's when they started coming out were very limited and only out for like a week. If you didn't get one too bad, they were literally "limited". That's why their resale value continues to be high. The ones in the last few years are a dime a dozen. Really limit the Animesh LE's and make them real collectibles. Anyway, that's my two cents. Would love to continue with both versions. Hopefully keeping the old while investing in the new wouldn't be too costly. 

[Antony Bury]

The idea of introducing Animesh horses into the world of breedables may seem appealing at first, especially in terms of improving mobility and the visual representation of the horses. However, from my perspective, this development poses significant risks for the future of the existing Amaretto horses market and could render the years of hard work invested by breeders worthless.

A Loss of Breeders' Investments

For years, breeders have invested countless hours and Linden Dollars into breeding and developing their horses. These horses are not only unique in their appearance but also in the traits that have been perfected over generations. If Amaretto replaces or heavily promotes Animesh horses at the expense of the old horses, it could severely limit the market for the existing horses. The years of breeding work done by many breeders would be devalued, and the long-cherished goal of creating unique breeding lines could become irrelevant overnight.

Problems on Many Lands

Another issue that the introduction of Animesh horses could bring is that animated and movable breedables are already prohibited on many lands in Second Life—regardless of whether they cause lag or not. Many landowners have strict rules that prohibit placing moving objects in order to maintain the performance of their land. Animesh horses, which move and are animated, would simply not be allowed on these lands, severely limiting their market potential and forcing breeders to choose between not showing their horses or breeding on less suitable land.

Alternative Options for the Future

Instead of focusing on Animesh horses, Amaretto should consider how the old horses can remain interesting to breeders through other innovations and improvements. Rather than pushing Animesh horses, the focus could be on improving search functionality and enhancing communication within the community. An optimized chat system that fosters discussions, questions, and breeder tips would be a significant step forward. A platform that allows for trading or breeding communities could make it easier for breeders to exchange horses without relying solely on the buying and selling mechanism.

Another important element would be supporting multilingualism in breeding groups. Many breeders come from different countries and speak different languages. Expanding the group functions to enable multilingual communication would help breeders exchange ideas in their native language, without constantly encountering misunderstandings or language barriers. This could not only promote better communication but also create a more harmonious environment within the breeder community.

Conclusion

The introduction of Animesh horses is undoubtedly a technical advancement, but in my opinion, it brings more disadvantages than benefits. Instead of jeopardizing the market for the old horses, Amaretto should focus on finding ways to further develop and improve the existing breedables—through technical innovations that benefit breeders without devaluing what has been achieved so far. By strengthening the community, fostering exchange, and improving the variety of functions and communication, Amaretto could find a more sustainable and inclusive path forward into the future.