killerexpress22

I've tried to stay out of this as much as I could. But I really don't get why there are arguments going back and forth here. I really could not care less if a model was locked or not, really. I mean, seriously, who cares?!
It doesn't make any difference to a consumer whether a vehicle is locked or not. I agree (to an extent) that it can restrict new modellers from having a high quality model to learn from. But I really don't get the "Us VS Them" mentality here. We're supposed to be one community, not one small "elite" group, and then "everyone else".
I don't mind if a modeller wants to protect his work. In fact, being a script developer, I completely understand it. I don't necessarily agree that ripping a model from another game makes it "yours", but, I digress. The thing that I have a problem with is when a modeller releases a WIP gallery image, and then says "Oh by the way, this model is never going to be released." Well then, why in the hell did you even tell us about it? To inflate your ego? If you're waiting on a so-called "locking" feature, well...its not against the rules to release said screenshot (as opposed to posting a picture of something that you have no intention of ever releasing), but why not wait, then? If I was a 3D modeller, and I had vehicles in the works, but I wanted to lock them, personally, I would keep quiet on the matter. It just avoids the confrontations altogether. No one knows you have anything in progress, and then when a locking feature arrives, suddenly, you're a hero because you just released 3 different vehicles.
I have not kept myself updated on the whole "lock feature" situation. But even if Oleg implements some sort of feature in Zmodeler that prevents re-importing a model, I hope that all modellers know that it would not be a 100% guarantee. People have been getting past licensing/activation locks in software for years, including software by Microsoft and Adobe. So your little Zmodeler lock...don't expect it to stop everyone, is all I am saying. Like, if a YFT filter for say, 3DS MAX or whatever comes along...it may or may not look for Zmodeler's lock flag, right?
But all that aside, if you want to lock your models, sure, be my guest. But there are just two things that I have a problem with. Firstly, what if this "lock" feature never comes? Hypothetically, if there is absolutely no way to lock your models, are you just never going to release them? Because that would definitely "deprive" the community, as others have been talking about.
And secondly...if you're going to lock models, that shouldn't mean that new modellers should never get to use your work in some fashion. Personally, I think that releasing a locked model and denying permission to use it when anyone asks, is wrong. If you've got custom parts on there, I can understand the desire to have it locked. But when someone asks you, "Can I use your vehicle as a starting point to work with?" and offers to credit you, don't say no. Maybe give them an unlocked version of the car with no lightbar or other police parts on it? I am not saying that there should be a "rule" that "veteran modellers have to help out new modellers", but we should avoid having an "elite" group of modellers that have access to all the good vehicle models.
I am just a "script dev" to most of you. But I do have some "modelling" experience, if you can call it that. I was one of those "glue and stick" guys who would ask an experienced modeller for permission to use their vehicle as a base, and then take a publicly available lightbar, create the dummies for the lights, and presto, I'd have my own "vehicle". For those who are old enough to remember Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (the old one, Need for Speed III, not the new one) and NFS High Stakes, remember CarCAD? Those were the days. I also used to play around a little with GTA:SA models, just for myself. I'd take an unlocked DFF, and see what I could change around with it. But I never actually released anything.
So I do know, and can appreciate the effort it takes to model a vehicle. I'm not trying to take sides here, in fact, I'm trying to question the need to even take sides!
Whether a vehicle is locked or not, doesn't really affect anyone much. But at the same time, modellers should still be willing to release some things unlocked, or at least, provide unlocked versions of higher quality models (with custom parts removed, if desired) when a new modeller asks permission to use a vehicle.
The issue is not whether models should be locked or not. That should not be debated at all here.
The real issue is, we need to avoid creating an "elite" group of people who have access to a greater selection of resources. I don't remember what the sites were called, but I remember back in the days of NFS High Stakes, I could go into the "Development Resources" section of the downloads area, and there were subsections in there. One for vehicle models, where you could find unlocked versions of CVPI's, Caprices and god knows what else. It may not have been the best CVPI model, but it was definitely decent. And if you wanted to use the best locked CVPI model out there made by "Bob Smith", you just ask Bob, and most of the time, he was more than willing to help!
You could take a vehicle, then you could take a lightbar, then you could find rambars, laptops, prisoner cages, and all sorts of different parts. You take all those parts, you take CarCAD or Zmodeler, you put them together, and, presto, as a new modeler, you just made your first car!
And for those modellers who scratch-make a lightbar, and don't want to (understandably so) release it unlocked to the public, maybe there should be a stickied thread in the Modding section. This thread would have links or screenshots of the various vehicle models, lightbars, and other parts out there that are available:
This CVPI was made by Modder A, it is unlocked, and can be downloaded here.
This CVPI was made by Modder B. It is locked, but he has indicated that anyone who wishes to use it can send him a PM.
This lightbar was made by Modder C. It is locked, but he has indicated that anyone who wishes to use it can send him a PM.
(and so on)
THOSE are the days that I miss. Where anyone who wanted to learn how to put a vehicle together had unlimited resources to do so.
 
TL;DR
Modellers - Lock your stuff if you want, but remember it ain't always going to stop every ripper out there. Oh, and if you're never going to release something to the public, just never let us know it exists. And please, help out the new guys, will ya? If someone asks to use your locked model, don't just keep it to yourself.
Consumers and new modellers - It won't make a difference whether a model is locked or not. It will still run in your game. And if you'd like to use a lightbar or a vehicle that is locked, just ask. Veteran modellers are people too.
Why can't we be friends...