Ambrosia Garden Archive
    • Semi-Shareware question


      Question: If one were to make a very large plugin (i.e., 20-30 MB) with lots of quicktime movies, maxed out ships, spobs, etc., would you be willing to pay for a copy on CD-ROM? Of course a "lite" version--without the full quicktime movies--would be freely downloadable... it's just that bandwidth does cost money. (Even when your friend is the sys admin!) One of the things I'm toying with is telling a large part of the story through cut-scenes... for the full version, you'd get fully rendered cut scenes. For the lite version, the cut scenes would be a quicktime file with ONLY a text track, or possibly a flash animation with simple graphics. (Yes, QuickTime can handle Flash.)

      The cost would only be enough to cover cost of the CD-R, mailing, and the machine downtime while I do the burn (n-hours @ $15/hour -- hey, i'm a professional freelancer; $15/hour is what I charge for overhead costs). Guessing the total price to ship within the US and Canada would be less than US$10, probably closer to $6.00. (Overseas would be more, and I could probably ship air mail for an extra charge... for something as light as a CD, it wouldn't be that terribly much more.) For order handling, I might be able to use Kagi in some way... if not, just talk my friend the sysadmin to grandfathering me into Phil's credit card billing provider. ( (url="http://"http://www.philpritchett.com/")http://www.philpritchett.com/(/url) -- did the art for the latest album, as well as the associated web site for the album; Phil Central isn't my work--yet)

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    • Many people havn't registerd EV or EVO. I doubt they would pay for a plug.

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      It's all a right-wing conspiracy....
      AIM-OctoberFost
      Yahoo Messenger-OctoberFost
      (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/octoberfost")http://www.geocities.com/octoberfost(/url)

    • Oh, and such a plug that maxes out everthing is being made right now! Yes, it's called A Thousands Worlds and I'm one of the authors. It will be great. It has a website, but I forgot it. Look on the Dev Board.

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      It's all a right-wing conspiracy....
      AIM-OctoberFost
      Yahoo Messenger-OctoberFost
      (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/octoberfost")http://www.geocities.com/octoberfost(/url)

    • Even if a resource-maxing plug is under way, that doesn't mean another will be redundant. They'll almost 99.999% definately have a different storyline, ships, etc. Number of resources does not define a plug, y'know.

      I think I might pay around $4 or $5 for something, or a little more depending on the quality. But here's an idea: register an iTools disk thingy to distribute your plug on. I know you can register more than one, under different names. Just break it into a few segments. I assume to can download from iDisks...I've never used one. That way you get free web bandwidth and those who want to download can...

      Someone more knowledgeable about the subject, please evaluate this plan. I may have no idea what I'm talking about. 😉

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    • Depending on the quality and story of the plug, I might pay for it...something like 5-6 dollars...

      Should have multiple plots, good size, etc...and must be made with care and quality...no EV-Edit crap...=) PEACE YO!

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      ~Kwanza~

      "Quoted the Kwanza Man...nevermore"

      AIM: Kwanzar26

      Kwanzasoft Graphics
      (url="http://"http://www.crosswinds.net/~kwanza")www.crosswinds.net/~kwanza(/url)

      (This message has been edited by Kwanzar (edited 07-24-2000).)

    • Quote

      Originally posted by Weepul 884:
      Even if a resource-maxing plug is under way, that doesn't mean another will be redundant. They'll almost 99.999% definately have a different storyline, ships, etc. Number of resources does not define a plug, y'know.

      Or quality 😉 I've been out of the EVO community for several years and, when I play EVO, the only plug I'll use is Magma simply because the graphics quality was such a step down from EV to EVO. (I'm sorry... I'm an old timer.) I don't plan on scoping out any other plugs, hence all ideas would be mine.

      BTW, I'm a sadistic bastard when it comes to enforcing my copyrights, meaning every last little game sprite is going to be digimarc'd so I can prove ownership if anyone borrows a graphic for their "kewl plug" :mad: My career is graphic design and arts; having my work ripped-off is a very serious affront to me on a personal, moral ground, and can damage my reputation as a creative.

      Quote

      I think I might pay around $4 or $5 for something, or a little more depending on the quality. But here's an idea: register an iTools disk thingy to distribute your plug on. I know you can register more than one, under different names. Just break it into a few segments. I assume to can download from iDisks...I've never used one. That way you get free web bandwidth and those who want to download can...

      I think it's a very, very good idea, but the iDisks tend to be somewhat slow and aren't supported under older OSes. I'd just submit the darn thing to the infomac archives, but it takes FOREVER to get updates listed anymore. (Or so it seems...) And I really don't like dealing with free web space providers as they tend to be a bit evil.

      I think I'll just talk to John (my sys-admin friend) and see just how much upstream bandwdith is costing us. I might just eat the cost.

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    • No, the base plugin would be free. The CD-ROM'd version would include the full quicktime movies. The movies are a bandwidth killer, so I really don't want to put them up on the web when I'm paying several pennies per GB. (It adds up fast.) (Actually if anyone started distributing the entire release without my permission, I would be HAPPY.)

      Either way, it's not skin off my nose. It's just a matter of how much game experience one is willing to pay for.

      Quote

      Originally posted by OctoberFost:
      **Many people havn't registerd EV or EVO. I doubt they would pay for a plug.

      **

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    • Oh, if you upload it to something like an 2-drive account, (you could host it from there, easy), I could download it, segment it into 2 peices, and Post the link for each segment, you'd need it in segments for a 30 meg file anyways.

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      "...Cotton Mouse... to say that the plug is royally messed up is an understatement. I'm taking a look at it with Plug Checker, and some of these errors I have just never seen before..."-Obormot, debugger

      ERA for EV:
      www.geocities.com/rhysmctharin/erahome.html

      (still in alpha stages)

    • Why don't you just upload it to ambrosia's site, I'd still split it up, but you aren't paying for it, and if its not corrupted on the way up, you can just link to that.

      Chamrin

    • Quote

      Originally posted by Chamrin:
      **Why don't you just upload it to ambrosia's site, I'd still split it up, but you aren't paying for it, and if its not corrupted on the way up, you can just link to that.

      Chamrin**

      What's ambrosia's policy for updates anymore? I remember many, many moons ago that if the plug reached a certain size, only updates where allowed instead of rereleasing the whole thing. Theoretically some of these quicktime movies could exceed 10MB EACH.

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    • Well, I probably wouldn't pay for a plug. I don't even use plugs that much I just really like making them. And I'm pretty sure we are not going to charge anybody for 1KW are we OctoberFost?

    • Quote

      Originally posted by Alex Hawkins:
      Well, I probably wouldn't pay for a plug. I don't even use plugs that much I just really like making them. And I'm pretty sure we are not going to charge anybody for 1KW are we OctoberFost?

      Ergh! Read the original post. Downlobable with the option to pay to get the full version--with ueber cool quicktime movies--sent to you on CDR at cost. It's stupid to release a "crippled" plugin for any other reason...as I'm concerned enough as it is with protecting my copyrights, the last thing i need is to worry about people pirating my plugin.

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    • well, one thing is for sure, you will probably get nothing for your hard work in making EVO plugs except some praise.

      I am doing plugs for the expirience, and not only for having put out something thats "better than the rest".

      I want to work at Pixar, and i need all of the computer expirience i can get. This is just one step for me.

      I doubt anyone will pay for a plug.

      Its like (no offense) asking money for a rock you found on the ground.

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      Admiral Zombat
      http://www.cerolia.pyar.com

      Futurama Quotes

      "Its not like you dont have crap stuck in your neck!" -Bender

      "Ok, if you promise to shut-up, i will, against I will, knock it up another notch with this spice weasel." -Elzarr

      "Man, I hate the planet of the moochers. They take you to a really nice restaraunt, but when the check comes, their wallet is in their pants, which they borrowed from me!" -Fry

      "Well, i got some rocks, you do eat rocks, dont you?"
      "no"
      "Not even if they are sauteead in a little mud..?"
      -Bender and fry talking

      "good news everybody! I have been brought up on disciplinary charges by my old college! oh wait, thats not good news..."
      -Professor Farnsworth

      "its the biggest jamacian platter ive ever seen! Jerk chicken, Jerk beef, jerk Pork...is there any meat this man can't jerk?
      -Hermes

      "Okay, little boy, you may have your college education, and your REAl diploma... but i bet I have lost more people in my little claw, than your whole carapace! GERREREERERERERER!!!"
      -"Dr" Zoidberg

      Futurama Songs:

      "Whalers on the Moon"
      were whalers on the moon,
      we carry our harpoons,
      but their aint no whales,
      so we tell tall tales
      and sing our whalers' tune!

      The Poppler Jiingle:

      Pop..a poppler in your mouth,
      when you eat at fishy joes,
      What theyre made of is a mystery,
      where they come from no one knows,
      You can chew em'
      you can loose em'
      you can lick em'
      you can stick em,
      if you promise not to sue us you can shove one up your nose!

      Thankyou!

    • Again, I am not asking for money for the plugin. Readily downloable except for the quicktime movies---I cannot afford the bandwidth for a 30-50 MB shot of quicktime movies. CDR would be done at cost.

      AND PLEASE trim your sig. It's a bit rude considering how many people are on lower-end machines with smaller monitors and slower modems. your sig is over a screenful by itself at 640x480; even with minimum browser chrome, it's actually a screen and a half. Put yourself in others' places and think how you'd feel if you had to page through what is peripherary drivel to the topic at hand. It's like tailfins on a car from the 1950s---superfluous junk which only slows ya' down. Be a friend, will ya', and hack off some of that sig?

      MODERATORS: Can we please start a, say, 10 line rule for sigs? I'm running at 1280x960 (playing EVO at this res. is fun) so it doesn't bother me, but some people get a bit... carried away and go for these monsters.

      Quote

      Originally posted by Admiral Zombat:
      **well, one thing is for sure, you will probably get nothing for your hard work in making EVO plugs except some praise.

      I am doing plugs for the expirience, and not only for having put out something thats "better than the rest".

      I want to work at Pixar, and i need all of the computer expirience i can get. This is just one step for me.

      I doubt anyone will pay for a plug.

      Its like (no offense) asking money for a rock you found on the ground.

      **

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    • Quote

      Originally posted by foo12:
      your sig is over a screenful by itself at 640x480; even with minimum browser chrome, it's actually a screen and a half. Put yourself in others' places and think how you'd feel if you

      Im running at 1024x768, and even with NS running full-screen, that sig is over a screenful...

      Yeah, I think the limit would be a good idea

      -Gildor

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      (url="http://"http://jonpearse.cjb.net")jonpearse.cjb.net(/url)
      jon@jonpearse.f2s.com
      AIM: HEGildor

      WARNING: Apparently, I am full of potatoes and feet, and spout gizmos and cream. This is a sign of... uh... Oh hang it!