Want to get rid of the popups?? - Page 3

MarkG · February 28, 2004, 04:30

we'll do it, but we'll name it "Apolyton Plus: Ego Pack"

Ben Kenobi · February 28, 2004, 05:54

Quote:

we've fought DL's for a really long time now. we're not going to sell out now

Well, I hope everything works out for you Markos, with this new scheme.

Just let me know when you want the money, and how it would be best to send it off.

I spend enough time here, so it is only fair to compensate you folks for your hard work.

Drogue · February 28, 2004, 09:07

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
+OT posts give +1

Is that even possible, having it count for some people but not for others?

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
+One risk-free DL

Maybe if you we're to pay the subscription charge for two accounts, they'd let you do it

alva · February 28, 2004, 09:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Drogue

Is that even possible, having it coutn for some people but not for others?

They could set up a different count perhaps.

Whaleboy · February 28, 2004, 09:59

If you pay for one account, you surely should be allowed a DL.

Gibsie · February 28, 2004, 10:28

No, no, no. I don't see many ads right now, I can live with it. In fact the ads on Apolyton got so obnoxious that I had them disabled.

I can actually see one ad as I write this response: it flashes lairy colours while asking "Are you stupid?". It feels like this thread.

Urban Ranger · February 28, 2004, 10:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Drogue
Is that even possible, having it count for some people but not for others?

Markos and company can hack it.

What about selling OT post counts at $0.1 each? Pay $1000 to become an instant deity

Drogue · February 28, 2004, 10:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Whaleboy
If you pay for one account, you surely should be allowed a DL.

Why? If you pay for one add free account, why should you be given two? DLs are forbidden for a reason (have a look at CG and you'll see - nothing against CG, just that's what happens when DLs are allowed).

Whaleboy · February 28, 2004, 11:29

Well its like tins of tuna. I have a free one, I like it, I buy more. Apolyton would profit, it would make more money were you allowed to buy more log-ins.

Just a suggestion, its a question of whether the consequences on the forum (which you say are bad and I have no reason to doubt that) outweigh the money.

PLATO · February 28, 2004, 11:29

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
we'll do it, but we'll name it "Apolyton Plus: Ego Pack"

Never thought I'd see that.

MarkG · February 28, 2004, 11:40

Plato, notice the smiley!

PLATO · February 28, 2004, 11:46

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
Plato, notice the smiley!

VetLegion · February 28, 2004, 20:26

I had some good ideas in the last thread about subscriptions, but I can't find that thread now.

Oerdin · February 29, 2004, 02:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Thorn
Then I'll boycott.

EvC raises a valid issue. If someone has paid for a service and he gets banned then wouldn't MarkG be honor bound to at least refund the remained of the service fee in a timely manner?

I suppose he could claim breach of contract but I suspect that would open up a legal can of worms which would best be left untouched.

Oerdin · February 29, 2004, 03:08

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
what about your tactics and our bandwidth?
using ad-blockers means that you use our site resources(cpu, bandwidth, hard disk) without generating any income towards paying for these resources
explain to me how this is right

Technically this is incorrect since both banner ads and redirect ads would still be viewed. Or are you claiming such ads do not generate any money for the site?

MarkG · February 29, 2004, 03:51

banners ads and redirects are a small part of our income, compared to pop-ups

MarkG · February 29, 2004, 03:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
EvC raises a valid issue. If someone has paid for a service and he gets banned then wouldn't MarkG be honor bound to at least refund the remained of the service fee in a timely manner?

i'm certain this can all be settled by a disclaimer that you agree to on the subscription page

no matter what you pay, the existing agreement of use of the forums and the rest of the site stands

Inverse Icarus · February 29, 2004, 04:08

make the OT pay only.

leave the civ forums free and without popups.

i'd bet that the OT is a large portion of the drain on bandwidth, and the majority of people with popups visit here, as opposed to newbie teenagers joining to talk in Civ3 - General.

Oerdin · February 29, 2004, 04:13

That would kill the OT for sure and along with it most of Mark & Dan's ad profits.

BTW how much money do they make per year off of the ads? I seem to remember one of Dan's state of apolyton articles saying something about gross revenues of something liek $300k per year. IF that is correct then even after expenses the place remains very profitable indeed.

Inverse Icarus · February 29, 2004, 04:24

yeah but that $300k barely covers the annual cost of running markos' luxurious marble mansion, spanning several mountain tops, or DanQ's Canadian Ice Fortress, let alone the leer jets needed to get the two to their hoe train.

Oerdin · February 29, 2004, 04:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Uber KruX
yeah but that $300k barely covers the annual cost of running markos' luxurious marble mansion,

I've got one of those. They are so passe.

Now if only I could get the septic tank fixed...

MarkG · February 29, 2004, 04:33

$300K/year??????????

sorry Oerdin, but that's just hillarious

(edit: we need a rofl smiley)

Inverse Icarus · February 29, 2004, 04:35

yeah, he definaly misplaced the decimal place.

$30,000,000/yr is far more reasonable

Oerdin · February 29, 2004, 05:03

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
$300K/year??????????

sorry Oerdin, but that's just hillarious

(edit: we need a rofl smiley)

That's why it's phrased as a question.

Like it was a vague memory from an article I read several months ago.

Out of curiosity how profitable is poly per year and how many how many hours do you put into the place?

The Templar · February 29, 2004, 12:53

Sure, I'd pay for a subscription (let's say I would pay about half as much as I do for Salon for the basic Apolyton service without adds, not counting any specific pay content).

However, after being banned during a drunken argument with Ming, I would want a different rule for paying customers.

Come to think of it, I bet you could make a bit of money by selling moderator immunity (assuming that the people who purchase it didn't drive off everyone else).

PLATO · February 29, 2004, 12:58

Quote:

Originally posted by The Templar
However, after being banned during a drunken argument with Ming, I would want a different rule for paying customers.

Come to think of it, I bet you could make a bit of money by selling moderator immunity (assuming that the people who purchase it didn't drive off everyone else).

Someone has already suggested a price of $150 for being able to ban Ming on one random day!

Seriously though, I can't imagine a system where the rules would be suspended just because you subscribe for ad free. Mark has already said that the rules will remain the rules.

The Templar · February 29, 2004, 13:08

Quote:

Originally posted by PLATO
Seriously though, I can't imagine a system where the rules would be suspended just because you subscribe for ad free. Mark has already said that the rules will remain the rules.

Oh, I don't think suspending the rules is an option. The price range I'm thinking of wouldn't warrant the havoc that would result. Besides, the value of the subscription would be in blocking the pop-ups, which would work whether you are banned from posting or not (I would assume).

My point was more that when you move from guest to customer, things change.

PLATO · February 29, 2004, 13:34

Quote:

Originally posted by The Templar
My point was more that when you move from guest to customer, things change.

I am sure that the obligations of poster and administration will be covered in a subscription sign up form. Unfortunately, in today's world, things will probably be spelled out in legal mumbo-jumbo. The net result will most likely be that you will waive your right to any refund if you are banned for breaking rules.

That being said, perhaps it is time to update and clarify the rules.

MarkG · February 29, 2004, 13:44

the way things are being done technically, subscribers that are banned will loose their benefits (including ad disablement) while they are banned

currently i dont see me doing extra work to change that

The Templar · February 29, 2004, 14:43

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
the way things are being done technically, subscribers that are banned will loose their benefits (including ad disablement) while they are banned

In that case, I just lost interest.