The Papertoy Network!

Should I stop what I'm doing?

I'm having a bad day....

One of my new projects seems to be DOOMED and before I throw it out, I need some advice. Here it is a short description of my project (and some other bla bla):
But if your not interested in the whole story, just scroll down and see if you can answer my questions.

Matt Hawkins asked me to be in a book about papertoys, there was an interview and the last question I got was: "What's the future of papertoys?".
I don't know exactly what I answered but one answer should have been, that EVERYBODY should have the opportunity to create a custom skin and not only people who have Illustrator (or other design programs) skilzz.
Another answer should have been: customizing the paper models shape.

The first answer is already done by papercritters which has +14000 (!!!) models (which is a discussion on it self: do you want quality or ... ).
The second answer is the one I'm focusing on right now!

The starting point of the papercraft model would be Grumm (of course!) but only the body and head will be used of the original Grumm.
My idea was to create simple body-parts by extrusion (for the people that don't know what I mean: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrusion).
An extrusion example:

This would be done in Flash so everybody who can go online would be able to create a customized Grumm.
So I started to experiment with different shapes, searched for inspiration in Gundam/Mecha and decided that the hand and feet are nice to create this way. I made a system to connect the hands/feet to the body in a way that the builder (you!) could decide the posture of the model (create your own hands/feet AND the posture of the model!!). And I tried to keep it simple!

This project rocks! I started to experiment in Flash if it would be possible (yes, it is possible) and I created the first model...

Here it is: it's just a prototype but you get the picture.
I still think it's great!

Until.....
I came across something that looks very similar to the model that I made but that project is a vinyl toy.
(I'm not going the tell you who or what.... but it's kinda spooky: he also got inspired by the same stuff, and the prints he used would have been my choice also)

My questions are:

Does the model I made remind you of something?
If you do know what I mean, should I stop this project?
Is this project to close to the vinyltoy?
Give me advice in what to do.

Remember this: this model is a example, but in the end the builder (internet user) will create it's own body-parts

If hope you could help me out, that would be great.
(I have put a lot of time into it, but if it's to close I will abandon this project immediately!)

:::::: Update #1 ::::::

The model that I'm talking about:

Nick Mannion's MOD:1 Robot Figure

:: Influenced by the early 80’s Transformers TV show
:: MOD:1 are Ultra Stylised Robots with custom graphics
:: Designed by Artist Nick Mannion
:: Features removable blaster/jet pack accessory
:: Toy stands 7" tall and 13" Wide
:: Comes in window display box

:::::: Update #2 ::::::

Thank you all for your comments.
I going to finish this project :) (oh I'm such a drama queen)

These are the comments that convinced me:

* This model is an evolution of Grumm (true)
* It's paper
* that inspiration sometimes hits multiple people
* the forms are perfect to build with paper
* The world of designer toys is crowded by robots, monkeys and mecha's
* Everybody seems to love this project (and I like it too)

So thx for the comments and I hope I can show you something soon!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matthijs Kamstra aka [mck] on March 31, 2008 at 1:42pm

Thank you all for your comments.
I going to finish this project :) (oh I'm such a drama queen)

These are the comments that convinced me:

This model is an evolution of Grumm (true)
It's paper
that inspiration sometimes hits multiple people
the forms are perfect to build with paper
The world of designer toys is crowded by robots, monkeys and mecha's
Everybody seems to love this project (and I like it too)

So thx for the comments and I hope I can show you something soon!

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Permalink Reply by Nick Knite on April 3, 2008 at 7:40am

"..and I hope I can show you something soon!"

or me.. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Matthijs Kamstra aka [mck] on April 4, 2008 at 12:04pm

You want me to show your version here... :-)
Of course you post it yourself, I don't mind (this project is not a secret any more)

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Permalink Reply by Nick Knite on April 7, 2008 at 1:33pm

go ahead, you have the pictures.. ;)

i am still trying to figure out on how to customze it,
so it is working with the joints you made..
not really an easy task, my brother.. :D

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Permalink Reply by Matthijs Kamstra aka [mck] on April 7, 2008 at 2:19pm

oke, while you're working on a custom of mine.... I'm working on a SIZZA custom! ;)

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Permalink Reply by Scott Schaller on January 15, 2009 at 8:33pm

Sorry I didn't get a chance to comment on this one sooner, but I just joined the site a month ago. But I wanted to let you know what I thought about it. As a design teacher I am often faced with students who are sitting far apart, but end up designing similar things. They didn't copy from each other and they didn't "cheat". Sometimes ideas just happen, sometimes they come from that part of our brain that saw something cool and wants to be a part of it, it is the basis for most things creative. I was taught that creativity comes from a variety of places, but rarely does the idea spring from nothingness. Rather, we are influenced at all times by what we see and what we do or don't notice. It can't be helped. So, if you think it looks like a vinyl toy, so what. Instead of worrying about whether something is vaguely similar, remember that you are creating a 3D canvas for the application of art, not the end product. By the time you add your art and others do the same, none of them will come close to the vinyl toy that looks passingly like yours. This Grumm mod is freakin fantastic and I want to build one. Now. ; )

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Permalink Reply by JustUs on January 16, 2009 at 10:02am

Quote "I don't know exactly what I answered but one answer should have been, that EVERYBODY should have the opportunity to create a custom skin and not only people who have Illustrator (or other design programs) skilzz.
Another answer should have been: customizing the paper models shape."

About this, I myself use MSpaint to do my skin and model shape. So i bet EVERYBODY can do it too.

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Permalink Reply by - T A P P O - on January 16, 2009 at 2:11pm

hey dude unlucky mate im a vynal toy fan and i have seen them in the shop but you should go ahead and make a paper toy version of it i meen your not making money of thair idea

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Permalink Reply by Matthijs Kamstra aka [mck] on January 18, 2009 at 6:31am

I almost forgot about this project... I remember that I had to stop because the math was giving me a headache.
But I'm now better at that, so I should be able to finish it now.

thx again for all the nice comments.
specially the last comments (for reminding me why it was a cool project to start with)