I don't mind the idea of them but I'm super picky with them which is why I've only ever adopted like, two, lol. I like to think of various AUs for my own OCs, so I usually look for ones that seem more versatile and simplistic, but lately it seems like a load of them have lore or very specific concepts that's just not compatible with anything but the designer's own ideas for them. Which is fine! They're allowed to do what they want and make their species what they want, but that's just not for me. I like searching them up, but I rarely buy any.
So I'm mostly just asking this to see what kind of answers I get, and also it seemed like a fun question.
For me, I'm honestly just kind of... Confused by the point of them if that makes sense? A lot of them are pretty cute, I admit that, but I don't think I could ever own a CS design since I myself like to have a lot of freedom with my characters, and not having full rights over a design would feel really constricting, no matter how small any restrictions are. Of course that's just my own opinion, and who knows, maybe someone can enlighten me to what makes CS so popular and loved, ha ha! ^^
I generally tend to not care for a good chunk of CS, mostly I adopt for like...the artist/design, but there's a few I've gotten attached to due to their lore/setup. Rarely design traits are what grab me in.
I guess ppl like to nitpick CS because they think of it like "omg these aren't original designs. It's just a kemonomimi with xyx!!" Which is true! A lot are like that! But I've always felt like CS were less about the physical species traits and more about the world and story/lore they're connected to. Personally, it makes it a lot easier to think of a story and get attached if the species has a strong or interesting lore! Unfortunately, I have noticed species starting to diverge from that and just simply be collectables. And that's fine, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's just not for me. I get bored or find the species harder to work with bc I don't have a lot of ideas myself. I completely understand it from a creator's POV though. When there's a community, there's drama. Drama and work. Not everyone has the patience or time to deal with it, maybe they just want money, or to share their ideas. Nothing wrong with it, buy or don't y'know? No one's forcing it.
Now, one thing I do not like is the obsessiveness some creators, or even fans have. Thankfully, I haven't seen this much personally. I do know it exists, though, and have heard my fair share of stories. A lot of CS....are bland look-wise. It's inevitable. There's only so much you can work into a species. When I see people try to claim those ideas as their own it rubs me the wrong way. If that person is not making any profit (offbrand species) or claiming their design is part of the species, you gotta just suck it up. You likely aren't the first to ever think of the idea, so you're gonna find things that ppl will have similar thoughts. Don't create a species if you aren't ready to face that reality. There's also those that think they can just take someone's character back and other wacky TOS stuff.
Idk. I'm generally neutral. I like a couple and own a fair amount but I'm not obsessed or seek them out besides a select few. Design > CS. Typically if I get a character that is a CS that generally isn't of interest, I void/ignore the CS part and just go about it as if they weren't. Sometimes it's kinda sad because I feel like some adopt makers think that they absolutely must have a CS to sell a design.
Edit: Also, I notice a lot of ppl say they don't like CS bc they don't completely own their character: you absolutely do! Once you have purchased it, that baby is yours. You can do whatever you please.
I know this is an old thread, but I'd like to add to it.
I absolutely ADORE closed species, but only if they're done right.
By that I mean they're original, not just design-wise but in regards to lore and the like.
Species that are just regular animals with one different trait, for example, are not ones I'm a fan of. This includes waterdogs, sushidogs, and species similar to those.
BUT, there are a ton of CS that take an originally simple idea and run with it. Jolleraptors, CCCats, snaptraps, etc.
Jolleraptors in particular are my favorite, not only because it's easy to get one without using money, but also because the community is incredible. Maybe I'm biased since I'm fairly active in said community, but shh.
I understand why people may not like CS, hell, just a few years ago I felt the same, but over time I looked past my initial distaste for them and really began to appreciate all the work that goes into the species themselves.
Yes, while some species are harder to obtain, that just makes it so incredibly worth it when you finally get a character belonging to your dream species.
Lol I won’t lie, I’ve been debating making a knock off fluffy shrimp, and creating a water dog anyways even though they are blatantly labeled closed species, and then just putting in the th description
“I only made a character of THIS closed species despite it being closed because I don’t respect the owner for taking an idea that already existed. Normally I wouldn’t make a closed species oc unless I was authorized to do so”
I don't like them, most of them look like they are from the now abandoned pet site thesporkenedken/this Halloween mini pets
despite me being in a CS for a long time, i have some CS things I dislike:
- Too limited traits. Very strict traits are my worst enemy imo, and it restricts my creativity and making a potential idea on designing a myo.
- Most CS are just a mixture of 2 things and already existed. I dislike people gatekeeping CS concepts and whenever they see something similar to the CS's concept, they go mad. Some CS don't mind if someone's OC design is similar to the CS, as long the OC isn't called a "official."
- The CS are easy to get, like some adopts/myo slots are too cheap (unless its for FTOs) to the point I lost interest in them and even harder to trade them.
- A CS community become popular and then the species "died" after it's popularity. It makes me sad seeing a CS group in the height of their success/popularity and then few months/years later, it's gone. It can be either the species is now discontinued for reasons, or the creator of the species disappeared.
I have to admit i find joining CS fun (unless of course they’re super restrictive and stuff obviously, i wouldnt join CS like that) though i do see why some people dont like them. They’re pricey, and most of the times are just cash grabs. I mainly use CS ocs for personal use but still- the more popular they are the harder to get which is kind of a bummer lol. Other than that i dont have any super strong opinions about them other than that lol.
Edit: forgot to add in i dont really like super unoriginal species with like, little to no lore. Like if youre gonna slap together a cat and a human and give them a glass tail at least give them some interesting lore other than “their liquid is actually their soul!!!!1!!!111!!11!!1!!” ive seen that far too many times i get kinda annoyed lmao-
welp this got necroed again.
Still somewhat stand by my first post (sheesh has it really been 4 years?) but ig I don't mind "characters as trading cards" as much anymore because hey, different characters suit different needs. And if that need is to look pretty then that's fine. Plus compared to 2017-18 I've only seen one major freak-out over vauge similarities within the past few months (could be bc i'm an outsider though)
Though I feel more strongly about bad ToS. The main reason I avoid CS nowadays is because of how shady some peoples' rules have gotten. Things like "revoking", changing ToS without notifying/sticking it in obscure places, or strange invasive tos like "you have to constantly use these designs" or "you can't private them for any reason". This goes for adopts across the board, but for CS specifically I'm not gonna pay for a MYO if i'll have to forego privacy or have unfair ToS sprung on me for a design I made.