Forums » General
While I'd like Guild to stay alive, I don't think this will work out...
Gameplay-wise, I'd support with a monthly fee, but I'm not sure if I'll do it, since the userbase has gone to hell.
Sadly, I think there are probably about only a hundred or so humans behind the active characters...and at $5/month that's only $500/month. At $10/month, it's only $1000/month. You'd probably need 1500 people at $10/month to make the game fly.
***Someone get working on the Slashdot story.*** (Stress that the game runs on Linux and you just might pull it off.)
If you start altering the internal game, then you risk alienating the free players..and they're the ones who might get friends to come join (and possibly pay). I got several people to join Vendetta once i started playing...some of them have moved out of contact but still as far as I can tell play (and may even pay).
The ability to just "donate" needs to be removed if a flat rate subscription is to be created. If people pay by "donating" then too, some will demand more influence because they "donated more."
I know PayPal can do automatic flat-rate monthly payments.
Gameplay-wise, I'd support with a monthly fee, but I'm not sure if I'll do it, since the userbase has gone to hell.
Sadly, I think there are probably about only a hundred or so humans behind the active characters...and at $5/month that's only $500/month. At $10/month, it's only $1000/month. You'd probably need 1500 people at $10/month to make the game fly.
***Someone get working on the Slashdot story.*** (Stress that the game runs on Linux and you just might pull it off.)
If you start altering the internal game, then you risk alienating the free players..and they're the ones who might get friends to come join (and possibly pay). I got several people to join Vendetta once i started playing...some of them have moved out of contact but still as far as I can tell play (and may even pay).
The ability to just "donate" needs to be removed if a flat rate subscription is to be created. If people pay by "donating" then too, some will demand more influence because they "donated more."
I know PayPal can do automatic flat-rate monthly payments.
Thanks everyone for all your good wishes and supportive thoughts. We do really appreciate it.
Some people have suggested creating some sort of monthly payment system, by which people can contribute a monthly fee and receive an added benefit. We have given some thought to this. It's more an issue of whether we could generate enough money to keep us afloat, even minimally.
In any event, seeing as how the game is unfinished, we frequently break things, and there's a great deal of gameplay missing.. we've obviously been kind of reluctant to ask people to pay for it. But here's a slightly different idea:
What do you guys think of the concept of having a separate class of accounts (those who paid a monthly fee), which, rather than having an in-game benefit, would instead give access to making suggestions about the game or debating game direction. Potentially we could put some things up to a vote, among those users, periodically. In the short term this could amount to basically moving the Suggestions forum to a "paid only" location. But, there are a lot of other possibilities.
Some games (like A Tale In The Desert) have large parts of their game design based on the users making proposals, gaining support amongst themselves for their ideas, and then submitting them to the developers for final approval and implementation. They have a whole in-game system for this. I think it's a concept with great possibilities, since the people who play the game are often the ones most acutely aware of its flaws and untapped potential. We've seen the basics of this with the Petitions on our existing Suggestions forum.
Of course, there has to be some structure and oversight to keep the signal-to-noise ratio from being completely insane. We wouldn't be required to implement suggestions, of course, and would have the final say on anything. But it might make for a cool way to get people more involved in the game they play, a way for us to get good ideas, and for everyone to get some.. value for their contribution.
Anyway. The final question would be really whether we could interest enough people to maintain sufficient income to keep the company alive. I appreciate the people who have said they would support us, in the "Whales" thread. Many thanks to those who have donated, as well.
Some people have suggested creating some sort of monthly payment system, by which people can contribute a monthly fee and receive an added benefit. We have given some thought to this. It's more an issue of whether we could generate enough money to keep us afloat, even minimally.
In any event, seeing as how the game is unfinished, we frequently break things, and there's a great deal of gameplay missing.. we've obviously been kind of reluctant to ask people to pay for it. But here's a slightly different idea:
What do you guys think of the concept of having a separate class of accounts (those who paid a monthly fee), which, rather than having an in-game benefit, would instead give access to making suggestions about the game or debating game direction. Potentially we could put some things up to a vote, among those users, periodically. In the short term this could amount to basically moving the Suggestions forum to a "paid only" location. But, there are a lot of other possibilities.
Some games (like A Tale In The Desert) have large parts of their game design based on the users making proposals, gaining support amongst themselves for their ideas, and then submitting them to the developers for final approval and implementation. They have a whole in-game system for this. I think it's a concept with great possibilities, since the people who play the game are often the ones most acutely aware of its flaws and untapped potential. We've seen the basics of this with the Petitions on our existing Suggestions forum.
Of course, there has to be some structure and oversight to keep the signal-to-noise ratio from being completely insane. We wouldn't be required to implement suggestions, of course, and would have the final say on anything. But it might make for a cool way to get people more involved in the game they play, a way for us to get good ideas, and for everyone to get some.. value for their contribution.
Anyway. The final question would be really whether we could interest enough people to maintain sufficient income to keep the company alive. I appreciate the people who have said they would support us, in the "Whales" thread. Many thanks to those who have donated, as well.
YES YES YES.
and also different way of displaying my character name when I pay :)
and also different way of displaying my character name when I pay :)
I like the idea, but the problem is still solid income, so you could get this game out to a lot more people and see what happens. If you get another thousand players and 50-100 of them would pay, you are starting to add up a few bucks there.
Lovely!
:]
:]
Yeah, I like the idea. Really, anything is great as long as it keeps Guild Software, Inc. alive.
I'd be in for this - it's a great idea.
Oh, yes, I'm totally in for this. Whatever keeps Guild alive, I'll do.
Long Live Guild Software! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Long Live Guild Software! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
*joins the chorus*
but pretty please with sugar, whipped cream and a cherry on top (and a biscuit foundation), make payment available for people who do not own a credit card.
i do want to pay, very much so, but with the present means of payment i wouldn't know how (sending a monthly check... i don't know).
of course, if i'm the only one who wants that, it'd be sheer insanity wasting time and effort on something like that and i'm sure i could manage to pay somehow.
but pretty please with sugar, whipped cream and a cherry on top (and a biscuit foundation), make payment available for people who do not own a credit card.
i do want to pay, very much so, but with the present means of payment i wouldn't know how (sending a monthly check... i don't know).
of course, if i'm the only one who wants that, it'd be sheer insanity wasting time and effort on something like that and i'm sure i could manage to pay somehow.
Good idea. I'm in.
oh and ability to have multiple characters should only be available to paying members :)
I have trouble dragging myself away from the game as it is...Lord help me if it was no more.
Whatever it takes im in.
What would be the payment procedure for UK based players?
Whatever it takes im in.
What would be the payment procedure for UK based players?
good idee, to see....?????
My own opinion is that the universe needs to be expanded to say, 50 sectors, and a lot more people need to be enticed to the game as quickly as possible. Get em hooked, then bleed em dry.
I've posted it in the "Whales" thread and i do here again. I am willing to pay a monthly fee.
But i have the same problem like toshiro, i have no - and i don't want - a creditcard. So it would be nice, if there will be found a way how to pay without it.
Linda (-:
But i have the same problem like toshiro, i have no - and i don't want - a creditcard. So it would be nice, if there will be found a way how to pay without it.
Linda (-:
Sorry to all "non german speakers", but i'll answer Lin in our own language.
Moin Lin.
Hatte das gleiche Problem. Ich mag die Dinger auch nicht und habe folgerichtig auch keine. Aber bezahlen per PayPal geht tatsächlich auch ohne Kreditkarte.
PayPal Konto einrichten, von deiner Bank ein Guthaben überweisen und nach Gutschrift bei PP kannst du die Kohle dann weiter transferieren, auch in Dollar. Ich nehm das gleich mal in Angriff, dann kann ich ab Januar meinen Beitrag leisten. Hoffe bloß, daß das dann auch hilft.
Gruss, Chris
Moin Lin.
Hatte das gleiche Problem. Ich mag die Dinger auch nicht und habe folgerichtig auch keine. Aber bezahlen per PayPal geht tatsächlich auch ohne Kreditkarte.
PayPal Konto einrichten, von deiner Bank ein Guthaben überweisen und nach Gutschrift bei PP kannst du die Kohle dann weiter transferieren, auch in Dollar. Ich nehm das gleich mal in Angriff, dann kann ich ab Januar meinen Beitrag leisten. Hoffe bloß, daß das dann auch hilft.
Gruss, Chris
Huh? CIPOBO (hope you don't mind me replying too) I tought you could only pay to paypal by credit card? (or did I just read it wrong, my german isn't that good)
Anyway, I don't have a credit card too, so :(
Anyway, I don't have a credit card too, so :(
i thik it's a good idea, but it depends on how much it would cost. i'm a student with no job ( :-( ), so i can't afford to pay too much.
"What would be the payment procedure for UK based players?"
u can use paypal. they even take switch/solo debit cards.
"What would be the payment procedure for UK based players?"
u can use paypal. they even take switch/solo debit cards.
Thats what i thought too. But you can take use of paypal without a credit card. You have to transfer money from your bank account to paypal and then via paypal to the recipient.
Can someone translate what CIPOBO said for me? Babelfish returned this:
Moin Lin. The same problem had. I do not like the Dinger also and have logically also none. But pay by PayPal goes actually also without credit card. PayPal account furnish, from your bank assets transfer and after credit note with PP can you the coal then further transfer, also in dollar. I nehm equivalent times in attack, then can carry I starting from January mine for contribution out. It hopes only that then also helps.
So I'm confused.
Moin Lin. The same problem had. I do not like the Dinger also and have logically also none. But pay by PayPal goes actually also without credit card. PayPal account furnish, from your bank assets transfer and after credit note with PP can you the coal then further transfer, also in dollar. I nehm equivalent times in attack, then can carry I starting from January mine for contribution out. It hopes only that then also helps.
So I'm confused.