Appaloza Launches $4000 Design Competition & Announces In-game 3D Printing API for Developers

Way back in April, which seems like an eternity to me, we announced the Alpha launch of 3D Pioneer Systems’ Appaloza 3D model marketplace. The site which was conceptualized to counter the possible intellectual property dilemma that soon may be upon us because of 3D file sharing, promised to launch sometime later this years.

Well today is that day, as the Appaloza marketplace is launching for both designers and consumers alike. The site has developed and changed substantially since April’s announcement that they were looking for users to test their system out. In addition to the laundry list of features which were announced back in April, which can be found here, Appaloza is expanding the concept even further, as well as announcing a design competition with $4000 in prizes.

Let’s start with the new features before getting to the contest details. Appaloza will soon be launching an API which will allow game developers to integrate 3D printing, via their platform, into their mobile games, enabling users to print out items directly from those games.

“3D Pioneer have identified an unexploited niche in the market where companies in the gaming and entertainment industries are looking to exploit the fast-growing 3D printer install base, but face technical and economical hurdles,” explained Joshua O’Cock, Chief Marketing Officer of 3D Pioneer Systems. “Companies will require confidence that their designs will be looked after, protected from unwanted copy, printed in high quality, and via a great user experience. Appaloza will serve as a gateway to enable the exploitation of the booming 3D printing technology and offer new business models, revenue streams, and levels of brand loyalty.”

We have seen other companies integrate 3D printing into mobile gaming, like Toyze, who we recently covered. The concept of Apalloza is a bit different, a bit more integrated. Let’s use a game that has yet to be launched, which 3D Pioneer Systems has created as an example. It’s called ‘Tangled Tut’ and it will be the very first mobile game that is integrated with Apalloza, and it will offer the gamer the ability to 3D print a reward received within the game.

“Through Appaloza, a gamer can 3D print their trophy or unique reward with the single finger-tap and without leaving the app – or if they’re not yet connected to print, the reward will be waiting for them in their Appaloza library,” explained O’Cock.

Have you ever played a game for hours, just to collect a reward, which is basically useless, except perhaps for providing you with bragging rights to your friends via social media. What if that reward was actually physical, in that you could click a button and have it 3D printed in your office or living room within an hour? That’s just what Apalloza allows you to do. Since the files are protected, only those who actually earn the rewards can 3D print them, making such rewards a sort of achievement type collectors item for gamers.

An example of a 3D printable reward in a mobile game

All this is coming very soon. With that said, designers can immediately sign on to the site, and upload their designs for a chance to win over $4000 in cash prizes. The ‘Appaloza 3D Showdown’ will award the top 10 models uploaded to the platform with $100 in cash, while also awarding 300 (yes that’s three hundred!) runners up $10 in cash. It’s a way to populate the marketplace with awesome 3D models, while providing a bit of competition for their early member base.

Additionally, Appaloza will gradually be pre-populating their platform with over 600 free, never-seen-before, 3D printable designs for anyone to download and print.  If you are a designer, you can get started now by uploading your very best designs without the fear that someone will steal your rights to that work, and if you are just a 3D printing enthusiast, check out some 500+ designs which are already available.  Each time a designer uploads a file, he/she will have the option of protecting it, by only allowing for it to be streamed directly to a 3D printer, or allowing for the design to freely be downloaded and redistributed.   Let’s hear your thoughts on this innovative new 3D printing application, and whether you are participating in their $4000 giveaway in the Appaloza forum thread on 3DPB.com.