14 DAY TRIAL // Web designers around the Globe are already very familiar with websites like FlashDen, ThemeForest, GraphicRiver, AudioJungle, VideoHive or the Tuts+ network. What many don't know is the fact that all of these websites and more actually started three years ago inside a garage in Australia. One of the founding members of the Envato Network (which owns all of the above mentioned websites) is the charming Cyan Ta'eed.
Alongside Collis, Cyan put together a mammoth network for web-professionals, assuring them a secure place in the Web 2.0 Hall of Fame. Along with the new redesign of their marketplace network, a blog post and a video interview caught our attention and made us contact them and talk about their soon-to-be-released product 3dOcean.
Softpedia: We all know what the Envato marketplaces do, but describe what 3dOcean is for our readers. Cyan: 3dOcean will be a marketplace to sell everything 3d. Our marketplace manager, Matthias Andre, has had a great time adding everything 3d that he always wished were available in one place. You can expect everything from 3d models, to materials and shaders, to textures, and even 3d print. Everything for sale will be submitted by talented independent authors, and will be sold at very competitive prices.
We hope 3dOcean will do for 3d what ThemeForest did for themes. Softpedia: Why 3D? Why not a marketplace for Silverlight, CMSs, stock photos, office applications, scripts or logos? What clues led you to decide that a marketplace for 3D products was the best choice in your expansion? Cyan: 3d seemed like a logical choice because it fits into our network so well. A few months ago we launched Cgtuts+ a site that provides tutorials for popular 3d platforms like Maya and Cinema4d, and it's been growing at a great rate. It's also a logical crossover point for our 2d authors from GraphicRiver, and our Adobe After Effects authors from VideoHive. Softpedia: Will 3dOcean bring something new in Envato's services with its launch (payment method, other social bookmarkers, new licenses, etc.)?
Cyan: We won't be launching any new features to coincide with 3dOcean's launch, but we do plan to release some long requested new features before the end of the year including a change in how people are able to buy items.
Softpedia: Was in any way the recent redesign of Envato's marketplaces triggered by new features and/or services that 3dOcean will have to provide? Cyan: In many ways 3dOcean was a catalyst for the redesign for the simple reason that we felt the sites had outgrown the old design. The more sites we added to the mix the more it was showing its age. A great example was that many of our authors weren't aware that we operated multiple marketplaces! Since the redesign traffic between marketplaces has doubled which is fantastic for helping our buyers find what they need.
Softpedia: Can you share a little secret with the Softpedia readers about 3dOcean?
Cyan: 3dOcean will allow authors to exhibit their items in 360 degree view in a very nifty little player. In fact the player is built using a file from one of our very own marketplaces - FlashDen! Softpedia: A rough date on when to expect the new Envato toy?
Cyan: Right now we're shooting for a private beta launch in early November, and the full launch a month later! If anyone would like to be part of the private beta when it launches, they can sign up via this form
And for all you Envato fanatics, here is the 3dOcean logo featured on the private beta sign-up form.
