1. It seems to me that there are several user levels of Blender user. There should be at least some tutorials setup for each of these. Some of these levels that I see are:
a. Total noob. Needs to learn about 3D in general as well as Blender. Needs a rather long series of tutorials to get them to a basic proficient level.
b. Total Blender noob. Has learned about 3D principles and may have used them in any one of the other 3D programs out there but need a shorter series of tutorials to get up to a basic proficient level in blender.
c. 3D professional but a noob in Blender. Only needs either a overall tutorial on how to do most everything in blender, or a quick list of equivalences from their program to Blender.
2. It seems to me that there are several types of information that users are looking for from tutorials. Some sections would be series of tutorials, others would be single tutorials. Some of these series could be:
a. How to model
b. How to rig
c. How to edit video
d. How to render
e. How to animate
(you’ll notice that many of these have Blender modes)
f. How to do a Star Trek transporter
g. How to do a greenscreen
h. Modeling a tree
i. Specific plugin tutorials, etc.
3. It seems to me that the biggest complaint about Blender tutorials is that they aren’t centrally located. While its great that there are a ton of user tutorials, it is essential that Blender have its own set of tutorials for access by new users. It would be nice if a hierarchical structure of tutorials could be developed on the wiki for the basic set of tutorials that lead people through all of the above mentioned paths. Each tutorial section could then have a ‘further reading’ link section that links to these user tutorials.
4. Another major concern is the version validity of the linked tutorials. It is essential that the wiki tutorials mentioned above be maintained at the current release. However, the ‘further reading’ tutorials would not have to be maintained. Maintaining this huge database of tutorials would be a daunting task for a single person. I have a proposal. If such a wiki of tutorials could be created, we have a huge user base. If each of us could commit to merely checking a single tutorial for validity with each new release, the validity of each article could be updated. Once they are all checked, users could probably update the tutorials themselves with new screenshots or minor corrections. If the tutorial needs a large updates beyond the users skill level, it could be passed on or tagged for a more skillful user to update.
5. Because of the varied resources of Blender users the wiki tutorials should provide a consistent presentation mediums. What I mean by this is that every tutorial should include the HTML tutorial, a downloadable PDF link, in a consistent format that could be printed and stored in a binder, and a video link, again, in a consistent format on a single video server (vimeo?). Further reading links would not have to maintain this standard (but it would be nice).
6. There are other topics related to Blender usage that don’t fall into this setup, but that should be added. Some other topics I see would be things like:
a. Make a cheap green screen
b. How to light a video for CG
c. How to make money as a Blender Artist
d. Adding sound/foley to your videos (sound site resources as well)
e. Recommended systems, peripherals, office layouts, office lighting, etc.

Just some ‘brief’ ideas.:)

Statik
aka Rod Naugler

http://free3dmodels.fleshsoft.eu/blender_tutorials.php

and anyway, i’ve started to collect videotutorials links…. :)

happy blending

So I’m working on a system where you can submit a videotutorial (or you can mail me if you don’t have where to host, or you don’t have the time to upload it to youtube or vimeo).

I plan to collect tutorials in any language with a database, to allow you to search for a specific subject

Here is the link if you wanna submit videotutorials

I think there is some reinvientig-the-wheel in approaching that Blender and Blender Foundation must act exactly as Asutodesk do with its software. My thoughts are that Blender open’s issue is not related only to a license for the app, but to a whole panorama around it.

Perhaps this open, this jungle panorama, is not helping Blender to reach at some points reputation and features and standarization enjoyed by other 3D packages. I’m not saying that this shouldn’t be amended. But most of proposals here written I think exists yet, and the problem is more an efficient communication issue than a knowledge generation one, I think.

My english is not enough to self explain me better than this, but in conclusion I can say that when I was not able to find something related to Blender inmediately, I ever discovered something interesting in the way, and soon or later, found finally what I’m looking for in community’s website.
Only MHO ;-) (not so humble)
Raimon

Because as said before in early posts, a lot of the documentation is out of date, and when 2.50 comes out, all the videos will look slightly different and will confuse new users.

I was reading a post on slashdot (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/10/0541217), as the BGE is now having massive updates, maybe now is the time to push it forward more into the open a bit more.

Im just wondering but how many of the lectures are actually in the Uk? Im based in newcastle and have yet to hear of anything in the north of england… :(

- so sorry for my english, but I hope you understand my thoughts…

Vince

(http://www.cdschools.org/54223045235521/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55205)

I’m actually planning a re-write starting in a week or two. I’ll see if BlenderNation will run an article on it when it’s finished.