How so?

Heh. I still enjoy it, but there isn't much for tinies... So I say tinies are steampunk by default: they were created to be dangerously cute!

Contraption there seem to be fewer frocks and a lot less Victorian style stuff, maybe because bustles are hard or something? and while most people using templates is fine for mainstream fashion it's a lot more limiting for niches

StereoNacht i just miss big frocks!

chavbish: I don't think it's really mesh, but more like trends and people moving on. Right now it's all about hype beast, super heroes and celebrity fashion. Back then it was a lot more off the wall with cartoons, punk, rock, anime, emo, which also entails shows and movies like repo the genetic opera, invader zim...etc.

Right now, Steampunk definitely doesn't sell as well as say, a pair of joggers or some sexy items. Artists were always hobbyists and did it for the fun of it, but as time goes on, people move on, and SL being very expensive to maintain (sims wise), they just fade away (like Saxton Shepherd)

I keep wanting to flirt with steampunk again but I don't know anyone there and I know more people in the Wastelands

Contraption Do you think the fad has passed, then?

chavbish: I believe so. Steampunk is very dependent on artists and roleplay to lead it, especially in Second Life, but since much of those artists who did it for fun left or stopped doing steampunk items altogether because it isn't profitable, it's pretty much thrown back into the backburner.

chavbish: I'm trying to resuscitate it with the engine room and bring commercial interest in it, so hopefully Engine Room will encourage designers to get back into it.

I will note steampunk in roleplay comes and goes. I remember it coming back for a little bit when there was interest in penny dreadful. We need a show like GOT in steampunk form to inspire the masses LMAO.

Contraption I did some mesh Victorian/steampunk clothes on an alt a few years ago, but they didn't sell so I stopped. Might be something for me to get back into with baked mesh? But I hate rigging and I can't do fitmesh yet.

New Babbage is still alive, and it’s inhabitants still engage in steampunk role play. I know quite a few of them, let me know if you want to be introduced to some of them.

As for “big frocks”, I saw some very pretty mesh ball gowns with flexi prims added, cause let’s be honest: nothing swirls prettier than a flexi prim full skirt!

I don’t know who makes them (being a tiny and all), but I just need to ask in the Independent State of Caledon group (or the Mondrago one) to get the answer, I am sure.

Mesh, IMO, did affect a lot of the different subcategories. Tinies, Steampunk, kids, etc., etc. Some have recovered better than others.

BTW, mesh is one of the reason I became Tiny almost full-time. I don't want to spend the amount of money on body, hands, feet, etc. requires above my tier and bought-on-sales clothes. When it comes to money spend on games, I am cheap. Being a Tiny cost me L$200 for the avatar, and I rarely pay more than L$250 for any new outfit.

But that's just me, and I understand that not everyone have the same goals in SL. Actually, it's what makes it so fun!

chavbish: I can help you with rigging and fitmesh if you'd like. Honestly, I am in full support for creators who wish to improve and put forth the love and effort for 'off the wall' genres.

mmccann: I mean, to a degree, yes considering sculpty era you can literally wear anything so long as you adjust the clipping parts. Personally, I think if risk vs profit wasn't on creators' minds these days, we'd have incredible steampunk mesh products around much akin to the amazing genre focused games we have today.

In fact, there's a few designers I won't name, but know that are extremely interested in the genre that do not want to contribute more items to it because it does not sell, sadly. :/ I've been trying to convince people for a while.

Contraption: oh, totally agreed. And sadly, I think bold out of the box stuff should be rewarded. Then again, I saw some of the folks who did surrealistic stuff for the most recent C88 and complained about lackluster sales. That doesn't bode well for anything past basic gear.

Also, don't even start me on kid stuff, There are so few designers doing kid clothing. Most comes from a handful of people who make prefab outfits, and only have a texture applied. Some do that better than others, and there's a lot of IP infringement. Plus if you want something other than a hoodie, a t-shirt, a pair of jeans, etc., you have to work at it.