GameBanshee Forums

Originally posted by Buck Satan

Actually, I've taken down the link to our donations page. I anticipate that we will be a part of Flashlink for a good long time, and I'd rather see people receiving something for their money. Remember, I'm only looking to bring in enough revenue to pay the bills, I don't feel it would be right to accept donations above and beyond.

The reason I asked was, what if this still didn't cover the cost.

Second thing on my mind... I was expecting the price to be higher..(I pay $40.00 a month for cable, but spent more time on the internet) I was prepared for a lot more than $25.00 a year... (I had $50.00 put back)

Could people decide to help by offering to pay for someone elses membership for a year? Have something like a contest. The part I haven't figured out yet would be how to do this without giving personal information out.

Thanks Buck

That clears up alot.
Weasel has a good idea.
Or maybe people with credit cards could pay for those who don't.
The bottom rule would be of course, that you:
A. Know the person.
B. Trust the person.
C. Got the money from the person in cash.

That may also work, for those who don't have credit cards.

I, for one, have my doubts.
Though gamebanshee has the most loyal members there are on the internet. Many of the things you have to pay for can be found somewhere else online and it seems illogical to pay for it. But I've never used the information so I can, and hope, to be wrong.

I hope it helps you out financially Buck.
Perhaps you should keep some of the the pop ups and other commercial links to earn back a little money or to make some reserves?

Originally posted by Buck Satan
I would see more revenue from a $25 donation than a $25 subscription, but unfortunately a donation won't get you access to the subscription-only areas. Since the service is run by a third party, it's totally out of my hands.

I understand this, but I still think you should not remove the donation possibilities. You have only just started this cooperation with Flashlink, we don't know yet whether it will really cover all your expenses for the board.

The reason I am not convinced Flashlink subscriptions will cover all your expenses is:

1. GB will loose some users who can't or won't pay for the service
2. Some, perhaps many of the old users mainly use the fora, and do not need access to walkthoughs etc.
3. Many new users will be reluctant to pay, especially initially, and seek the information they need elsewhere.

Buck, please keep us updated how it is working!

Perhaps we should all try to contribute to make the subscription areas as attractive as possible? Walkthroughs, maps, reviews, lists of items and NPC:s (if applicable)...what more could be suitable?

Well....
Although it is annoying that you have to pay, the tendency of the internet since the "new economy" bubble burst, is that users now have to pay to get the good stuff of the net.
I doubt many people will have a reason to be annoyed over this
Sure there are free sites, but they are also run on a basis that will make it impossible to keep free, if they get popular (if they even have decent content) - it is simply not possible at this time unless adv. revenu(sp?) goes up again - wich I fail to see as plausible.

It is - pay or the site will go - I know I don't want GB to go. It is the only forum/site I've been a regular at ... ever

Flashlink here I come ....

As for following up on C.Es proposel - I am willing to help anyway I can.

Hey hey boys and girls!

Sorry I've only just seen this, I only got back from a weekend away exactly 2 minutes ago (now thats addiction! ). @ Buck, I agree with CE, keep the donations up for a little while, maybe 2 months, and wait until you see wheter Flashlink kicks off well.

Not to sound completely pathedic here, but...


**begins sobbing uncontrollably**

Now my only alternitives seem to be buying the Game manuals that give a ton of spoilers. While I understand that this was all that could be done to save Gamebanshee, I still really hate the effects. A lot of people come around for walkthroughts (sometimes they only use it once or twice) and now they have to pay for a service they may rarely even use...

Well, as Ode said, as long as the forums are still free, I will thrive. I've been out of a job for a long while now, but maybe when funds pick up I may be able to make a small donation...Perhaps. Aww....Nuts!

I'm more than willing to pay for these (even though I stopped using the actual walkthroughs several months ago). On top of that, I'm willing to continue submitting reveiws and articles (considering that they end getting posted on the site from time to time *hint hint - Morrowind Review - hint hint*)

Even though the forums are really the only thing I go to on this site, thats not to say that I may never need one of the walkthroughs in the future. Oh well, I figure it's worth it, especially if I get access to an entire gaming network, rather then just one site.

It's fine with me, and I doubt I will use Gamebanshee much, and don't now, still vist the forums. Wish you didn't need to do this.

it's a good call Buck, though i can't afford the cost, but as long as the forums are free i'll come here... the walkthroughs have helped me more than once, and it's nice to know that ppl in GB help ppl out in their problems RPG and RL wise so just want to congratulate you Buck for your great site!!!

I fully understand your decision to become a part of the Flashlink network. Don’t get me wrong I think you and all of those who have assisted you have done a fine job in building and developing gamebanshee into what it is today. However, if I can find the same material on a “free” site I will be very likely to ignore gamebanshee and use the site that will not cost me any money. I am not criticizing you or your decision to make this a part of the Flashlink network; I am merely stating my thoughts on the matter.

The rogue carefully checked the door jamb and was positive that there was no trap on the treasure chest. Carefully, he utilized his lockpick and with a dexterous flip of his wrist, lifted the lid.

It was the treasure he has long sought on his quest. A gaming site like no othere. All the treasure was laid out for all to see.

The rogue carefully marked his map so he could make his way back when more time permitted so he could plunder the bounty. Only a matter of days passed before the rogue attempted to enter the hallowed halls...only to find that the DM has placed a new trap on the treasure room...a "cash trap".

Needless to say, the rogue was extremely disappointed that his "life quest" had been snatched away from him without warning...he would just have to look elsewhere for his bounty.

*****
Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed by the "commercialization" of the site. I did just recently discover the site and love(d) it. However, I don't game enough or buy enough games to warrant the cost of an annual subscription. I just went out yesterday and dropped my $20 for the "official" cheat guide. I guess the site charging for something that costs the manufacturer money isn't a topic of discussion that came up anytime recently in this decision.

I am not against people making money for their work..it's just to bad that sites like this pull people in and then change things on them. I had planned to be a long time user of this site..but at one book a year (about what I buy)..thats cheaper than the site subscription.

I love the site still and will lurk in the forums but as far as paying.. I just don't see utilizing pay sites. This won't be the first one I've dropped for that reason.

Originally posted by Ragin Cajun
Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed by the "commercialization" of the site. I did just recently discover the site and love(d) it. However, I don't game enough or buy enough games to warrant the cost of an annual subscription. I just went out yesterday and dropped my $20 for the "official" cheat guide. I guess the site charging for something that costs the manufacturer money isn't a topic of discussion that came up anytime recently in this decision.

I am not against people making money for their work..it's just to bad that sites like this pull people in and then change things on them. I had planned to be a long time user of this site..but at one book a year (about what I buy)..thats cheaper than the site subscription.

I love the site still and will lurk in the forums but as far as paying.. I just don't see utilizing pay sites. This won't be the first one I've dropped for that reason.

Bioware and Black Isle do not loose money becuase people do not purchse official guides. the only reason they are official is because the developers helped them with the information. Also, GB has a far more extensive array of information on any one game covered then any book has. On top of that, it does not reveal spoilers.

Also, at the rate in which Web-Advertising is going, very few free sites will remain as such. Once people start going to thsoe free sites, because of that reason, they will be forced to make their site a pay site, or go down because of costs. It's a sad fact, but the entire internet is slowly become a pay-per-view basis. No amount of trolling, or complaining will stop that, and by saying you won't visit this site, or pay twenty dollars, and have access to numerous sites, won't stop this wave.

Originally posted by Ragin Cajun
I had planned to be a long time user of this site..but at one book a year (about what I buy)..thats cheaper than the site subscription.

It would depend on how many games you bought each year...and how many guides.

One game and one guide covered at GB..not worth the money to subscribe.

Two games and two guides covered at GB..now the price to subscribe looks better.

Three games and three game guides covered at GB...Now you have lost $35.00 by not subscribing.

*************************


Now a question for Buck...will the subscription to Flashlink only cover Gamebanshee or all sites that use Flashlink?

@Weasel-Buck already said that the subscription to Flashlink would cover all sites using Flashlink, that was part of the reason that he opted for Flashlink in the first place.

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
@Weasel-Buck already said that the subscription to Flashlink would cover all sites using Flashlink, that was part of the reason that he opted for Flashlink in the first place.

Thanks Ode...I missed that Well this is IMHO even more of a reason to pay.

Originally posted by Aegis
Bioware and Black Isle do not loose money becuase people do not purchse official guides. the only reason they are official is because the developers helped them with the information. Also, GB has a far more extensive array of information on any one game covered then any book has. On top of that, it does not reveal spoilers.

Also, at the rate in which Web-Advertising is going, very few free sites will remain as such. Once people start going to thsoe free sites, because of that reason, they will be forced to make their site a pay site, or go down because of costs. It's a sad fact, but the entire internet is slowly become a pay-per-view basis. No amount of trolling, or complaining will stop that, and by saying you won't visit this site, or pay twenty dollars, and have access to numerous sites, won't stop this wave.

This has not happened yet and until the internet becomes a completely "pay per view" basis I will not pay. There will be free sites out there for a long time to come and while you may enjoy paying money to view a site I do not.

Originally posted by Azeroth


This has not happened yet and until the internet becomes a completely "pay per view" basis I will not pay. There will be free sites out there for a long time to come and while you may enjoy paying money to view a site I do not.

Thats fine, but keep in mind that the quality of most free sites is no where compared to that of GB's coverage.

Originally posted by Weasel


Thanks Ode...I missed that Well this is IMHO even more of a reason to pay.

No worries.
According to Buck Flashlink has a number of good quality sites operating under it's banner as well, so it should be value for money.

Originally posted by Aegis
Thats fine, but keep in mind that the quality of most free sites is no where compared to that of GB's coverage.

That is a very good point. However, my reasons for coming to gamebanshee are usually to view the forums and that is only every couple of months. While I do enjoy the quality of the content that is offered by gamebanshee I really don't utilize it enough to make paying for it worthwhile. Usually any questions I have about games or the like can be answered by someone on the forums or someone I know personally.