Converting Daz3D Female Characters (Plans to v2.0)

Next month will mark one year from the game's first release and I'm sure most players would agree that the lack of truly detailed & realistic character models has been holding back the game's potential for far too long. 

Frustrated with this situation, I have been experimenting to convert Daz3D models for use with the game. This is a very challenging task as Daz characters are mostly meant for still renders and its powerful character customization options aren't game-engine-ready at all. However, I'm happy to say that after a lot of trial and error, I have finally figured out a method to make these models usable for LifePlay while:

• keeping most customization options, and
• not tanking performance / frame rate.

The new Daz3d models will dramatically improve the game's graphical appeal but it's still a time-consuming conversion / adaptation process so I will focus on the most important priority for now: the female character models (the male characters will remain the same for the time being, but if popular demands call for it, I can repeat the same process for the men in the future). Also, the introduction of Daz3D female models into the game will take place over three upcoming beta versions as per the plans below:

• v2.0 Beta 1 (ETA 30 Mar): converts and adapts the models, morph targets, textures and shaders. This release will allow the player to simply test out the new models in the character creation menu and customize her facial and body features. No animations or clothing / other assets yet for the new models by this point so v2.0 Beta 1 will be mostly a tech demo version to show progress, but you will be able to at least save the characters to be used for the later versions.
• v2.0 Beta 2 (ETA 13 April): retargets the (sex and other) animations for the new models. This release will allow the player to play the game basically as usual with the new models ... except everyone's naked / in very poor-fitting clothes for now.
• v2.0 Stable (ETA 27 April): converts and adds clothes, hairstyles and other assets for the new models. By this point, Daz3d female models will have now been fully implemented into the game - giving it a major facelift.
• v2.1 and later will return to creating new adult content / gameplay mechanics ... 

What happens to the current female models? They will stay in the game files and be referred to as 'Legacy' and you will be able to choose between Daz and Legacy to use for each of your character / NPC that you're editing. For NPC generation, there will be a new slider in Esc > Customize NPC Distribution to set what percentages of NPCs use Daz or Legacy models - so you can have a mix for variety or simply scroll to 100% for the one you prefer.

One final point: due to the popularity of Daz3d models in adult visual novels, some people (myself included before I started this conversion attempt) associate Daz3d with characters with unrealistic body proportions (giant hips and thighs etc). However, rest assured, these proportions are simply how those visual novel authors decide to utilize the customization options, nothing to do with the base Daz models. Even with the new Daz3d models, LifePlay itself will stick to its 'philosophy' of neutral realistic base model with a lot of customization options so that people can tweak their character / NPC to whatever shape they want, realistic or fantasy.