I have only ever “designed” one “thing” I put it on Makerworld and Printables.
No idea if one is better than the other as no one has even downloaded it. 
This was just my take on it, and probably next to useless for any one else.
The offending item.
I do agree with you on that point. The (previously) generous rewards system of MakerWorld has some really nasty side effect. Attracting Al sort of people who are here just for the points. I thing the new system points, is better in that regards and will calm this feeling down a bit.
But for that part, I have the same feelings on all sharing platforms. I won’t print 99.9% percent of the things here or on printables and even more on Thingiverse.
Strangely, I have the feeling there is less remixes on MW compared to Printables for example and I found that strange at first. And I think it’s due to the fact that a lot of people are using the standard digital file license on their models. Which I find also strange for a sharing platform with no paid models. And if I’m not wrong this is the license by default. Anyway, this license doesn’t promote the sharing spirit at all.
And since (I guess) the demographics on MW are way different from other platform with a lot more of first printer owner that are not educated on the different type of licence, we end up this this big mess. But I think it’s reversible, it’s just a question of time.
And those big rewards have also increased the competition level among designer. Which I like, it’s motivating for me but that also comes with a lot of people trying to make easy points by doing zero effort remixes. And I think that’s the other reason why they are so much models under standard digital files licenses. To avoid people from doing those kind of remix. The side effects is that people are remixing models but uploading them as original which is not better.
I’ve myself uploaded a design under this license for the first time last week and it’s kind against my principles. But it’s the only way I’ve found to protect my idea from shitty remixes and give me time to improve it a bit.
I had a weird experience with a previous model where someone uploaded a remix 24h after I have uploaded my model and I had only one download on that model, so that guy ^^`
I printed his remix one week late. It printed fine, of course it was basically my design that I have tested and optimized over several days. But when I installed his mod it wasn’t even functional! I was so pissed he didn’t even test his remix.
So yeah, I agree there are something a bit rotten at the moment (less genuine) but I really think this will changed now the rewards system is more “normal”.
And on the other hand it’s not all bad. This rewards system also brings a lot of talented designers to the platform and for a 9 months old platform I’m really impressed with the quality of the content in overall.
The print profiles doesn’t bothers me at all. I even think it’s the best features of MakerWorld. People can share their expertise and give us the best settings. And being able to print something in one click from my phone is just genius.
2 Likes
I’m using thangs now when I 'm looking for a specific stuff. I could use Yeggi but my Graphics Designer eyes are bleeding when I open this website XD
1 Like
You’re are perfectly correct.
Personally I don’t mind the points that much, even though I won’t lie, I like them.
But I hate the fact they are playing we the data just to tweak the reward system. If they want to give less points fine but don’t play with the data. this is messing with all the raking system.
That’s my biggest fear for them. That would be a mistake to be a only bbl printers platform. But in the meantime I understandable why they are doing it now. I just hope it will not last too long.
If you’re able to wait a couple of days, I might have something you will like.
2 Likes
If you get lucky enough and have good models, you’ll eventually be making enough to get new filament and even printers for free. Files with a larger audience will get more retention. MW’s rewards are also better than Printables in every way, you can get anything from their store for free with no shipping fees. Even if you don’t need more printers/filament, you can get their slightly overpriced hardware/electronics free of cost.
2 Likes
MW has certainly changed for some of us, but I’d say the changes overall aren’t hurting the progression. The group who have been most vocal are typically the ones with time invested either for the love and/or rewards, which is fair.
I’ve been around for long enough and seen many special interest websites go through growing pains and the inevitable changing of the guard. What’s happening here isn’t new and I can see MW moving forward from here with only a temporary dip in figures.
While MW hasn’t been around that long, it has been successful in gaining a marketable business which should see it standing on its own two feet before too long. There are going to be more changes along the way which will cause mini-dramas. I can imagine targeted ads and a subscription model are on the list as the Bambu Money Tree starts to thin out. I personally think both are viable and not too offensive to the wider audience.
At the end of the day we are not on a contract so can come and go as we please. I have taken breaks from here for personal reasons and always manage to find my way back. I think it is healthy to step away when the desire starts to wane, there is a life beyond 3d Printing even if it is your business. Those who chose to battle on are not alone though, there always is a roster crossover period 
2 Likes
I first posted my designs to Printables, but I found that not everyone’s printer was as precise as my X1C. I was requested to make several changes to make my design work for less calibrated printers. And at first I did this, but found it to be a waste of my time.
Eventually, I realized I should have been posting to MW instead. Here people understand that precision is expected. Instead of people asking me to increase the tolerances in my prints, they thank me for a well put together print.
And, yes, the rewards are much better here at MW even if the points have been reduced.
(Here is a link to my collection of designs: Modular Collapsible Saber Parts | Collection - MakerWorld)
I am working on another design to add to the collection, but my question is should I remove my other designs from Printables? What do others think?
4 Likes
Personal opinion is that you should leave them up. Diversity is good and leaving them up is also good for building your “brand”. I would also speculate that it might also help against people that try to reupload your MakerWorld designs to Printables as your already there.
4 Likes
That is a great point, I had not considered that.
I will leave them there, but I doubt I will upload the new ones.
1 Like
How long do they get a free pass on Beta? A Beta product means one that is under test, not one that is under development.
Then riddle me this; if the product is under test, how will it ever get finished if they keep adding and modifying features? No, I think the answer should be obvious, Beta in this case is a ruse so that people will say exactly that; “oh… it’s still in Beta”. Well… it’s coming up on a full year in two more months and I think their hall pass has expired.
4 Likes
You might leave a note on your Printables models that new models are available on (Markerworld) to help funnel people that find you there to your newest releases.
2 Likes
I love that idea! I will do that!
Three reasons I post in MW.
- Convenience for both the designers and the users.
As a designer, I don’t need to write detailed and long instructions on how to print my models, which users may or may not read and follow. Some parts may need strength, some parts may need flexibility. Some may have colors assigned, by layers on my models. The print settings, and sometimes the use of modifiers, to achieve the right result, are fully tested through many actual prints before a print profile is released to ensure users have a good experience printing the models without having to do their own testing, or even without having to know how to set up and slice the models.
-
High rewards. MW has the best rewards among all the sites.
-
MW is a key part of an ecosystem that is trying to make 3D printing accessible to the masses. The future of 3D printing depends on moving it out of the hobby niche and into the wider world as a consumer product (not fully there yet). Even if all other things were equal, I would have still posted on MW.
6 Likes
First Time I see a “BETA” with fake download data… made on purpose!!!
Its a extrange bug… called being dishonest
2 Likes
They’ve already said they’ll implement the raw data into the analytics. You know, beyond a certain point, you’re just manufacturing drama to have something to be outraged about.
6 Likes
To be precise what they’ve said is that they are considering doing it. That’s not exactly the same thing ^^`
And personally, I prefer to have those “raw” data displayed on the models in order to have a more accurate and more pertinent search results.
And displaying the filtered data (for the rewards system) on the analytics/rewards dashboard.
1 Like
The way i see it
all download data is counted
only download data that counts needs to be passed onto users
the only people complaining appear to be those losing methods of system/site manipulation wether its been for points or to make a model look more popular than it really is.
who really wants captcha completions / errors adding to their data ?
If ONLY 5-10 downloads/day PER user counts…
The system if false.
The ONLY truth in all threads IS people angry about the low download numbers, made by purpose by bbs.
I could understand the points halving. I never Will understand false data. A download IS a download.
If MW want to counts ONLY the 5 first downloads from an user, its not fair, its a false system.
Better luck for people wanting true download data in their accounts. Its coded by the same bbs, so It could be false too.
5 Likes
5 downloads a day count against people like me I guess. I don’t really browse anything daily. I will pop in when I got some time, so that means some days I might have time to browse and grab ten things, other days I might not come at all.
This place is not really made for me though I guess, I am not the kind of user that is into the whole walled garden cult atmosphere that has sprung up around the brand lol. Plus, I don’t use the cloud, so there is another strike against me. Anything I do end up printing is not going to give the author points for it, which is a shame.
1 Like