Adoption and Adaption
The 2024 birthday celebration was a mandated PBR event with the first Firestorm PBR viewer being released -- possibly a bit early.
A later PBR Firestorm was released and some more folks joined the newness party. Then a few months later the FS crew announced that the last non-PBR viewer would NOT be retired in the usual manner but would ALWAYS be available.
Anyone using the legacy FS viewer would not be able to use voice as that has changed.
That's the history in brief form.
Here is the reality that "I" see.
PBR is not readily being adopted. I have done a lot of exploring of late in the non-PBR viewer and I see very little WHITE (other than snow of course :D). Many (most - some? hard to tell) creators seem to be making two versions of products or a single version with both texturing methods. They can then sell to everyone -- and really that makes sense.
Some creators are keeping to their old texturing methods with their legacy items still looking fine to better than before with the new server codes. There are a few creators firmly believing (it seems anyway) that PBR is better and their items show as naked mesh in events. They are definitely in the minority. And I have only found one clothing creator using PBR only; there could of course be many others.
So what is happening here?
It seems like folks either don't care (yes, the mirrors are very cool) or their computers can't handle the extra power drain of PBR. I watched one creator seemingly conduct a PBR only test on a very cute item that should have been a good seller. They appeared to give PBR only a try and then reverted back to legacy only textures.
Let's Look at another case.
LaraX has been out for a year and a half more or less now and it has been embraced by many. Most new garments that "I" see are only coming in LaraX. I changed over but I have friends who are perfectly happy with their old wardrobes and look. It is not such a big difference really. EvoX was another big "improvement" that readily took hold. It is looking like creators know their market better than the tech folks.
When people LIKE the changes and see others on bandwagon they are more likely to adopt the newness themselves. In the case of PBR there are some stiff real life monetary issues for some folks and that tips the scales too.
So far I am in the old viewer. I have not been able to adapt to taking photos (good photos) in the Linden viewer; it is painful and painful is not fun. Also my old products are still selling readily and work for everyone -- looking "better" in the PBR viewer. For ME that means that I will need to use the Linden viewer if I want to hear a talk -- although my last try didn't turn out well at all. I know that if mainland land textures change to PBR that will bother me -- but happily I know how to make custom land forms if I need them OR there is always private land.
I firmly believe that we can coexist peaceful amidst the coming future with each person choosing how they want to experience their virtual world.
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