Small Opinion on Species

Just wanted to share since it's on my mind TTvTT just some small thoughts that have developed with me as the species market has grown in popularity on this site.

Personally, I feel very split with species designs. It's kind of like my relationship with humans (as a species/animal). I love humans to pieces, we're fucking adorable, come on =w= but at the same time... There's far FAR too many of us, and we're kind of wrecking our planet and it's other inhabitants ;n;

I feel like species are a really cool idea ;v; fun, collectable, makes you feel part of a group or community. The prospect of designing members of a species allows you to focus and improve on very specific aspects of design (usually colour and pattern), and making them closed brings up the value of the species, as well as other things such as making groups for the species and fun activities and stuff for those who own one, ect ect *v* It sounds like a lot of fun!

But that doesn't mean that species appeal to everyone. And that doesn't mean that species are the only way to sell designs...

And tbh it's really sort of gotten out of hand ;n; It's hard to find any designs nowadays which are that good which aren't species... Or any designs at all which focus on things other than colour. It feels like 'species' is being plastered onto any design at all just to make it more appealing... but it tends to make it less appealing, for me anyway.

Freedom is lost... Same face syndrome spreads like a disease. Focus and attention is paid to making a design look 'pretty' and not follow a function. That's not always a bad thing!!! It's just... Like I said, I feel like we're overdosing ourselves.

The point of a character design is to be designed for a specific purpose. A design made to look pretty is just that - pretty. You have to work backwards to give them a personality that fits their design. For some people this works really well! Those who prefer to just focus on the appearance of the design, or the fact they got a cool little member of so-and-so species... but then there are people like myself, among many others, who look for designs with purpose, other than just to look pretty. This is why almost all of my characters that I tend to focus on are made by myself - I had a very specific purpose for them. Whenever I adopt a character, especially one of a species... they go to waste. I have no use for them. I am not invested because I am not a part of that market ;;^;; And it's a shame.

Prices have gone a little out of hand as well... I mean hear me out! Please. I have always been a bit nervous to share this opinion, it's one of those things that people groan at as soon as they see... but it is a bit crazy. I'm glad that people are earning well off of their designs, they may really need it. But when I go to buy a species design, especially for that much... It doesn't feel worth it. It feels less like I'm buying a character design for a purpose, and more like I'm only buying half of a design (as species members are usually all carbon copies of each-other physically (there are exceptions of course, for example Lantern Dragons)) with the only purpose being bragging rights. There are so many people who I want to buy designs from in order to help further their career, but then I stop and think, every time, "what am I going to use this design for?" and I always seem to draw a blank ;n; If someone sees purpose in the design they're buying, then of course! Pay as much as you want! Pay thousands if you want! Go wild, as long as it's worth it for you ;v;

I guess what I'm saying is... Maybe the focus on adoptable designs needs to shift now. The species phase has gotten out of hand. This doesn't mean species should die out, oh heck no. Species are lots of fun when done well! But I would really, really love to see more full designs, with purpose! People designing the physical aspects and not just colours and traits. Interesting creatures! Humans! And with focus! What is their purpose? Find a theme, and stick to it! Focus on personality to form their design, ect >v< (Heck, I might even make a tutorial on how I make my human characters if I feel invested enough xD) Make that money being spent on them really worth it.

But hey, that's just my opinion on the matter TTvTT take it as you will.