How difficult would it be to 3D print your character?

[Pikken]

This is a really cool idea. I bet my left leg this is gonna be a big thing in the coming years. Games allowing you to download a 3D-printable schematic of your char in the gear and position of your choice, like a 3D screenshot.

[Balphagor_]

This is a really cool idea. I bet my left leg this is gonna be a big thing in the coming years. Games allowing you to download a 3D-printable schematic of your char in the gear and position of your choice, like a 3D screenshot.

I dont know why, but something about Square just makes me think that they will never do anything like that.
They really like to keep their assets to themselves and release only whatever they specifically want you to have.

But who knows, I could be wrong.

[SarcasmMisser]

This is a really cool idea. I bet my left leg this is gonna be a big thing in the coming years. Games allowing you to download a 3D-printable schematic of your char in the gear and position of your choice, like a 3D screenshot.

Haha It's actually an intellectual property nightmare for companies that like to sell merchandise, and SE is no stranger to that

Games Workshop is probably sweating bullets over this, considering their history and current business model.

[Pikken]

Haha It's actually an intellectual property nightmare for companies that like to sell merchandise, and SE is no stranger to that

Games Workshop is probably sweating bullets over this, considering their history and current business model.

Yeah, I wonder how these IP rights work. I doubt I'm breaking any rules if I print a (2D) screenshot from a game and put it on my wall? Or maybe I can't, anyone know? If I can, extending this to a 3D version seems like it would be the same. And 3D printers WILL be in every home sooner or later.

And some game company will deliver this service for free and after that I wonder if anyone else can try to make money on it...

[SarcasmMisser]

Yeah, I wonder how these IP rights work. I doubt I'm breaking any rules if I print a (2D) screenshot from a game and put it on my wall? Or maybe I can't, anyone know? If I can, extending this to a 3D version seems like it would be the same. And 3D printers WILL be in every home sooner or later.

And some game company will deliver this service for free and after that I wonder if anyone else can try to make money on it...

I honestly don't think I'm qualified to really give a decent answer, but it is as you said something that is going to happen. Maybe it will play out how the music industry adapted to and fought digital distribution, ie decades of incredibly messy battles to retain power over IP.

[Daenerys_Sedai]

Yeah, I wonder how these IP rights work. I doubt I'm breaking any rules if I print a (2D) screenshot from a game and put it on my wall? Or maybe I can't, anyone know? If I can, extending this to a 3D version seems like it would be the same. And 3D printers WILL be in every home sooner or later.

And some game company will deliver this service for free and after that I wonder if anyone else can try to make money on it...

Technically, you would be infringing SE's right to make derivative works. Just one of the many of rights that are bundled up in US Copyright laws (which are very similar on an international front).However, you wouldn't be sued or anything because you're not using their copyright for commercial purposes. Your use would most likely be considered "Fair Use" based on the fair use factors.

A company, on the other hand, is a whole other story. They would have to take a license from SE even if they provided the service for free because it's one less service SE could potentially offer to a consumer base.