Are you tired of new companies every week?

Sometimes it worries me a bit. I know that there are lots of people out there who copy. But I don't go around trying to accuse people. If I find a doll at a company that I really like and consider buying, then I do my research ^-^

 

Yes! So much agreement.

As to the rest... I go straight to the news section each time. I love seeing new dolls. I don't care about keeping track of them - it's like reading, my other main hobby. No way could I keep track of, let alone read, every book being released. That doesn't mean I only want a book a week to come out! The more variety the better. I love browsing bookstores and doll webstores.

I don't really understand why people in the hobby, established or newbies, feel the need to know about every doll and company out there. Again - I don't to know need every book published worldwide to find an awesome read, and sometimes people can recommend a brilliant surprise. Yay serendipity.

The thing that does bother me is that so many dolls are virtually interchangeable - and I don't think that's anything to do with the age or price. So many of the older and mroe famous doll companies bring out doll after doll with a wide forehead, pointy chin, big round eyes, a little rosebud mouth and a vapid expression. So do newer companies. I can't tell them apart, and I heartily dislike them all. So it's the lack of innovation in style, not the poliferation of companies, that bores me. It's like if every second book was an inane chicklit about an incompetent bimbo who eats/drinks/shops/whines/lies/fails too much but somehow ends up with a fabulous job and a man - oh, right, it already is. I know people like those dlls, and those books. But I can't for the life of me tell them apart.

All the looking at identical dolls is worth it, though, for the surge of excitement I get when I see something that catches right at me and that I can tell apart immediately - Narin Dandelion, ResinSoul Lu, the Dollstown pouty little girls, practically any Sooom zodiac doll...

Viva variety.

 

It doesn't bother me at all. I like the fact that there are new companies, it gives us more of a choice when it comes to finding the perfect doll for our characters. And I know that some people are worried about copies, it's going to happen and there nothing that we can do about it, so why stress?

 

The new doll companies make me kind of 'eeeh' and such. They don't bother me but to be honest I don't pay them much mind. They could be amazing later but I'm not too interested. I've seen amazing pieces, migidolls Miho is amazing but I would never want to own him. I don't like Volks myself, and my close friend has a Delf Shine he is gorgeous but not for me.

As far as dolls go I'm a basic person. I like Lati, some Luts, DOD, and right now that's about it. I'm the type who is loyal to companies.

 

Well, considering my doll was purchased from a new company, I have to say I like the new opportunities. I never would have actually bought a doll if that company hadn't existed.

 

The thing is, though, that you don't like this particular style, so they are probably going to seem very much the same in that they are all blah to you. However, for someone who likes more stylized features, there maybe quite a bit of variety within the same style. I have a number of big eyed stylized dolls, yet I find them quite different from each other. I like variety too and my resin crew kind of runs the gamut from ultra stylized to ultra realistic, however, I don't think working within a particular style means there is no innovation--it maybe that the artist loves that particular style and wants to stay within it while still producing new dolls.

 

Thank you so much for pointing that out. I've seen mention in this thread countless time how alot of the new dolls look very, very similar and can't be told apart from one another, but in all honesty...I don't see it As the person mentioned previous they would much rather see more innovation and unique sculpts such as Soom's monthly dolls, well, is it so hard to believe that to me personally it is very difficult for me to tell alot of those doll's face sculpts apart? In my eyes, those are the dolls that look so similar I have trouble telling them from one another ( obviously not body wise ). True, I really don't think that makes any of them less beautifull, it's just they're not my style so they tend to blend. So while I don't rag on companies like Soom for making dolls that I can't see the differences between, so do I not think it's very polite to lump all new companies together as having no creativity.

 

Agreed. Not all can afford or even WANT those huge chunks of resin, much less afford them. I have no place I could display such a doll and buying it to keep in the box is stupid and a waste of money(in my opinion). I have a mortgage, a growing teen and a host of other places my money needs to go, so I appreciate the smaller less expensive dolls. And as mentioned above I see no difference in the face of Vesuvius, Heliot and Amber, they are the same dolls with funky add ons...

Not to mention, I just can't justify, for myself, spending a grand plus on a doll. My innate practicality says "Holy SH----!" and my hands refuse to work.

And as someone else mentioned, why do you care if you can't keep track of them? So what? If you have a favorite one or two companies stick with them and don't stress out over the others

 

By this reasoning, "why do you care? if you have a doll or two that you like then why not just stick with that one and not worry about anything beyond that?" would be the answer to just about everything people don't care for in the hobby.

 

Mmm the self righteaous elitists that are "my way or the highway"? Oh wait there arent any of THOSE types collecting dolls! *eyesroll*

 

I like seeing all the new companies, especially when they create a product unlike the rest. I absoluetly love the monthly Soom and Iplehouse dolls because they are unique.

 

Yeah the "good ol' days" were simpler, and easier for me to keep track of company facts etc... But hopefully with more competition will arise more and more great dolls! ^^b

 

I have been around since the days of JUST Volks.. Back in 1999 I was buying their Garage kits when they came out with their FIRST line of dolls.

To be honest I am very happy about the onslaught of new companys. It means a few things for the Market as whole.

1. More choices when we want new dolls.
2. The more companys that make them the better the molding technoligy gets (nicer molds and cheap prices)
3. Competitive manufactures.. Whats that mean for BJDs, NEW exciting dolls.

I mean really do you think that Soom would be doing the exciting new month dolls and Souldoll the Centaur and Gawd all the cool limited that have come out this past year IF there were only 3 or 4 companies?? NO they would not.. Why bother when you don't have too. If everyone's going to buy you ice cream why make new flavors?

But on somethings I do agree.. Some of the doll are starting to look like re-worked recasts of the same old thing.. But you have to take the good with the bad... bear in mind that the ones that look alike never stay in business long. People always go for quality..

There is verity even in the same ness that you may see.. When you go to the store and you buy fruit.. You buy a basket of strawberry, a bag of oranges or a bunch of Bananas, right? Well to you they all look just about the same.. but if you took the time to look at each one.. none are exactly alike. Each strawberry has its own shape, number of seeds and green leaves at the top. Some have stems while others don't. The same with the oranges Yeah they are all round and orange (snark) but they all have their own shape and pour count if you look close enough. Each ones skin has its own density and diversity. And yes the same with Bananas..

And Guess What its the same with BJDs if you don't take the time to look at the little things that make them special they are all going to look alike.

I have always made it a point to see that people love their dolls for a reason weather I think its the ugliest thing I have ever seen or the prettiest. It does not matter to me they love their doll and I have NO RIGHT to tell them different. Its what they love. Someone some where loves the doll that you dont and some one some where hates the doll that you love. Its just the way it is.

 

I always look at every new company that pops up in the news thread. You just never know who might come up with a sculpt for a hard to match character.

I agree that it can be exasperating to see so many new companies with very generic, rough-looking dolls. I'm not talking taste here, just poor finish work and sculpting on the heads and bodies. As long as the companies are not scammers or pirates I don't see them as harmful. The best new companies will stick around and get better. The less talented or those out for a quick buck on a 'hot fad' will fall by the wayside.

It'll all work itself out in the end.

 

i know what you mean. i have been into this whole thing for about 3 years now, and even from three years ago it is like OoO;;;; because you're right. there are tons of doll companies. the thing that i think makes me kinda frustrated is that even if i really like a doll company i can't get anything from the smaller ones. i find that there is a large language barrier.

while more variety is great, i have to be honest i used to know right off the top of my head who all the popular companies were, but now i have no idea. i wish DOA would have a directory that was link to every company in alphabetical order. that was kept up to date of course. i know that would be a lot of work, but i think it would make it easier for everyone....cause yea. i know what you mean.

 

In a sense, it can be bad because it's oversaturating the abjd market.

In another sense, it can be good because it gives us doll buyers more options.

But I agree that there is a point where, whenever abjd becomes less popular, a lot of these newer buisnesses will have to close. It's bound to happen one day.

 

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171927 <-- comprehensive list of known BJD companies that is frequently updated

I think an interesting thing is that some people are complaining about how all the new dolls coming out look generic and all the same, but at the same time when a radically new sculpt comes out (examples: Dollshe's new "rhythm" body and Bobobie's 50cm Luna) people complain that it's too ugly or weird. There's only so many ways to sculpt a BJD that consumers will accept.

Personally I would rather see new clothing/shoe/wig companies than "resin only" companies...

 

Me too... especially when I get tired of browsing the same handful of sites for outfits or especially shoes, and especially when so many sites offer few or no clothes, shoes, wigs, etc for their dolls. One of my favourite newcomers is Honig Doll, because (while I'm not super keen on their one doll) they have a nice line of really pretty and low-priced clothing. It seems hard to find that anywhere lately.

 

I LOVE it ^^

New companies=more dolls to choose *-*~

 

I agree. I would much rather see more clothing, shoe, furniture and wig companies than any more new doll companies. I rather have more options to customize my dolls than new dolls. And low priced doll clothing is sooooo hard to find.