Re: PBW Needs you!
 

i like geo's plan. pay to be ad free. i still think you should run pay for play tourneys, in the theme of "charity balls"

the only mod game i have had trouble getting people to show for, was my devnull game (which unfortuneatly underwent massive problems with turns not running properly, and me dropping the ball, and the game getting scrubbed) which was my only non-themed game since the PBW Beta test. i always figured it was hard recruiting because i didnt bother to think up a theme or plot for it. I thought the P&N games were popular, people always show up in spades for Junkyard Wars, and I saw a handfull of new Devnull games running, the Last time i looked.

are people really having a hard time getting Subscribers for Mod games?

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

There were a few Puke. I think you have such a good reputation for running good games that you haven't seen the problem though.

Pay tournaments with cash prizes would be something I would be interested in. But I would be worried that we might be opening ourselves up for legal issues with something like that. I'll try to find out some more info about that.

As far as the PBW admins making any moey off the site. I don't think any of us would complain if the thing actually made some cash. Everyone who has ever made a website has dreamed of someday getting enough traffic to be able to put a little jack back in their pockets from it. I don't talk about it much because frankly it's never looked like it was feasible with PBW.

It's always been a labor intensive thing. We all spend a lot of time administering it. But we do it for the love of the game. The donations have always pretty much covered the expenses, and not much else more. And that is fine if that's all it ever does.

If the combination of 5 dollar yearly fees and advertising brings in enough that we can say it turned a profit, fine. But it'll only really be a profit in name. It's not going to by a new Miata or anything. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif But what would make me feel kind of wierd is if we turned a profit because a handful of very loyal (and addicted) players sent us large amounts of money. I think it's better if everybody pay a little bit.

Geoschmo

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

You should probably go with the ads anyway, whether people pay or not. Regular banner ads (as long as they're silent, unlike some I've seen!) don't bother me in the least, and if you get a little extra money on a per impression basis, then why not? At the very least, it might act like another $5 per year donor.

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">wow, thanks for stoaking my ego. seriously though, on the pay-tourneys with cash-prizes, i know the same thing is done at game conventions with large doom/quake/unreal/whatever competitions, and the same with "magic the gathering" style card tourneys. i dont think we would have a lot of problems, since its not really gambling, and other people do it.

if you set up PBW as a non-profit entity, you can start writing off your expenses and getting a tax break. also, you could look at the tourneys as a fund-rasing "raffle" where people chip in, and have a chance at a prize.

heck, if you set up as a non-profit, not only can the PBW crew write off all their technology-related expenses, but donors can write off any money they send you. Tax deductable video games, baby, oh yea.

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

i also think someone should create an "official PBW shipset" for Geo and the Admiral (whatever happened to the Admiral?) and LL and crew. then you could put a little ship icon of the appropriate size, next to each persons name when they are listed on a game, or when they appear on the PBW forum. the ship type would show what level of donor they were, and oneupmanship would ensue.

or you could just use a stock shipset.

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

My 2 cents:

1) I am going to use my wife's Paypal account to donate to PBW. I should be ashamed of myself, but she makes so much on E-bay selling excess junk that a little of that money ought to go to support my internet sites.

2) We are at the mercy of Geoschmo and the PBW admins. I appreciate them eliciting our opinions, but the real future for the PBW site is up to them. I don't even have a problem with them getting filthy rich off me for 2 reasons: this is America, and it just ain't gonna happen, the playership is so small.

3) Feeding PBW off of contributions is simple and probably sufficient if they are happy as starving artists. The boys do a good job and I respect them for adding to a great game. But for the 800 or so Users, where will we be when Geoschmo gets tired of carrying the responsibility and costs of running the server? Back to solo games against a decidely less than optimal AI? PBEM also sucks in comparison to the automated PBW service.

4) If PBW administrators want to be paid for their work (not unreasonable) and the Users want a reliable PBW service, Users should be expected to pay a fee. It's up to the PBW admin's to determine what the market will bear.

5) I would encourage PBW administrators to approach MM about supporting the PBW site even further. SEIV is MM's most successful game. But why is PBW participation so low? The PBW system is so easy to use and if there are thousands of SEIV owners out there, there should be thousands of PBW Users. I suspect this is a marketing issue. Properly marketed, PBW and MM should both be able to fuel further sales for each other's services. For example, I was introduced to this Intel Forum by the PBW site. This has raised my awareness of other game titles. I just might purchase Space Horse to play with my 12 year old. I don't propose MM fully funding PBW, just enhancing the relationship. This does not always mean cash, but cash is helpful. Both parties stand to benefit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

I donated my pizza and beer money. If they want to have a small party with it, thats cool with me.

If enough people give they could have a really good party. Just a little payment in kind for the hours they put in making our lives a little better.

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

In order to improve our organizational effectiveness and accelerate new games to market, it is crucial that we leverage our global web resources to enable better marketing methodologies, maximize reuse, optimize resource utilization and customer leads, strengthen our centers of excellence and optimize intellectual property (IP) creation. The alignment of the regional PBW resources under the regional general management team will ensure consistent career enrichment within the regions.

I am pleased to announce the addition of Scott Adams to the PBW management team. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

im wearing steel toed boots with your name on them, if i find out who you are.

(edit: rudness removed)

this community exists in a microchosim. the rest of the internet is made up with muther-sporkers like you. if people want the level of inteligence and maturity found within all the Users (except for me) on this forum, and if they want the level of gameplay found on PBW to continue, they will contribute. you mooching naysayers can kiss my fuzzy butt.

no free lunch, beatnick.

[ September 11, 2002, 00:35: Message edited by: Puke ]

Re: PBW Needs you!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">they can party all they want with my rent money, but ill be darned if im giving up my pizza and beer. or beer and pizza, as it were.