User:Robkelk/sandbox/A Brief History of DAZ3D Characters

'DRAFT DOCUMENT - Please do not link to it yet. Besides, it'll be moved out of my sandbox once it's ready.'

...write an introduction

There have been "iconic characters" released throughout the history of the line. However, not every iconic character has appeared in every generation.

So far, Victoria and Michael have always been represented - they were the only figures in Generation 2, the base characters in Generation 4, and the first female and male morphs in Generations 5, 6, and 7. Victoria has always been the first character released in each generation.

Aiko has also appeared in every generation except 2 double-check this, although she has shifted from the "anime" style of Aiko 1 to a "videogame" style of Aiko 7.

'''...just list humans, or should I include dragons and animals? one is shorter, the other is more complete.'''

Pre-Millennium
Most of the Zygote figures are long out-of-print. ...

...write more - if any are still available, list them

Generations 1 and 2: Millennium Figures
Generation 1 and 2 figures are ...

...write more

The Generation 2 figures are the Generation 1 figures with improved, expanded morphs, and some other changes.

Only Victoria and Michael were updated to Generation 2.

Iconic Characters in Generations 1 and 2
These are usually separate figures. We say "usually" because Aiko 1 was a morph of ... '''Stephanie? Millie/Victoria? must check''' ...list more?
 * Michael 1-2
 * Millennium Baby
 * Millennium Boys
 * Millennium Girls
 * Stephanie 1
 * Victoria 1-2

Generation 3: Unimesh Figures
The Unimesh figures are DAZ3D's third generation of Millennium figures. They were designed from the same base figure and share the same UV map, allowing each Unimesh figure to use Materials and Shaders made for any other Unimesh figure. This was the last Millennium generation to have separate figures for the base characters.

The "anime" figures Aiko 3 and Hiro 3 had slightly different implementations of the UV map on their legs, which means that the textures are not completely cross-compatible. To fix this, you can copy the SkinLeg material to the SkinKnee, SkinThigh and a SkinShin material zones manually in the Poser Material Room or in the DazStudio Surface tab. Don't forget to credit Kerya there. Daz Studio users can use the Gen3 Leg Material Fixer Scripts for Daz Studio script to automate this.

This wiki lists the Unimesh textures on two pages:
 * Unimesh Female 3/Materials and Shaders
 * Unimesh Male 3/Materials and Shaders

...write more?

Iconic Characters in Generation 3
Each character is a separate figure.


 * Aiko 3
 * David 3
 * The Freak 3
 * The Girl 3
 * Hiro 3
 * Laura
 * Luke
 * Maddie
 * Matt
 * Michael 3
 * Millennium Baby 3
 * Stephanie Petite 3
 * Victoria 3

Generation 4: Reducing the Number of Figures
Beginning with the fourth generation of Millennium figures, DAZ3D would make single male and female figures for each generation (except for the unisex fifth generation Genesis figure), making various iconic characters morphs of the base male and female. This allows each generation of figures to share not only textures, but also wardrobe, hair, and parented props.

Iconic Characters in Generation 4
Kids 4, Michael 4, and Victoria 4 are figures; the others are morphs.


 * Aiko 4
 * The Freak 4
 * The Girl 4
 * Hiro 4
 * Kids 4
 * Michael 4
 * She-Freak 4
 * Stephanie 4
 * Victoria 4

Generation 5: Genesis and Weight-Mapping
The Generation 5 figure Genesis was the first to be weight-mapped. It was also the first to be released to the pubic as a unisex figure instead of a pair of male and female figures.

Iconic Characters in Generation 5
...list more
 * Michael 5
 * Victoria 5
 * The Freak 5

Generation 6: Back to Two Figures
Generation 6 went back to a pair of male and female figures (apparently at the request of a majority of content creators): Genesis 2 Female and Genesis 2 Male.

...write more - what else is special about G2F and G2M?

Iconic Characters in Generation 6
...list more
 * Michael 6
 * Victoria 6

Generation 7: ...something special goes here
Generation 7 (Genesis 3 Female and Genesis 3 Male) is the current generation. '''What makes it better than Genesis 2? "Newer" is not synonymous with "better".'''

Iconic Characters in Generation 7

 * Aiko 7
 * Arabella 7
 * Bethany 7
 * Eva 7
 * Gia 7
 * Gianni 7
 * The Girl 7
 * The Guy 7
 * Ivan 7
 * Izabella 7
 * Kalea 7
 * Karen 7
 * Kenji 7
 * Kimo 7
 * Lee 7
 * Leo 7
 * Mei Lin 7
 * Michael 7
 * Olympia 7
 * Rune 7
 * Teen Josie 7
 * Tween Julie 7
 * Tween Ryan 7
 * Victoria 7

'''I think that's all of them. That might be too many, but they're all listed as Daz Originals.'''