Column #221; By DanQ - Page 3

atawa · August 14, 2003, 13:44

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
Well that's ok, since our subscriber fees will pay for super-whizzy (TM) equipment.

Thats not the point, there are still a lot of people out there on dial up

DrSpike · August 14, 2003, 15:57

Well correct me if you know better but I don't think a 50% boost (for example) in avatar size for subscribers would bother the 56K modem users, if the server is being upgraded to handle the numbers problem.

Rasbelin · August 14, 2003, 18:02

Indeed, Spikey. Having e.g. 120x120 px custom avatars wouldn't hurt much, plus broadband will soon beat dial-up modems globally.

Skanky Burns · August 14, 2003, 20:39

I had a dream last night that Apoyton had already implemented the subscriber scheme, and rather than increasing the size of avatars allowed, they just allowed you to have as many avatars as you wanted. So some enterprising individuals decided that to make an massive avatar in sections and ended up with an avatar 3 "normal avatars" wide, 4 deep.

I wasn't impressed, although I was glad that avatars were finally back.

FrustratedPoet · August 15, 2003, 04:40

That should be in the "You know you've spent too much time...." thread.

/edit: and as if by magic, avatars came back online when I posted this.

Frozzy · August 15, 2003, 04:45

They were on quite some time before.

Panag · August 15, 2003, 16:12

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike

Well to be consistent I'd say you need a certain post count for the larger avatars, even for subscribers. 500 seems about right.

So non-subscribers: 0-500 posts use bog standard, then small custom after 500.

Subscibers: 0-500 custom, then large custom after 500. This could also be a little higher perhaps, maybe 1000.

hi ,

, the site owners have always wanted to keep apolyton for free and the same for all , .....

have a nice day

DrSpike · August 15, 2003, 17:56

Quote:

Originally posted by panag

hi ,

, the site owners have always wanted to keep apolyton for free and the same for all , .....

have a nice day

Uh, it was Dan who invited discussion of possible subscriber benefits. Do you even read any of threads you post in?

Panag · August 17, 2003, 10:47

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike

Uh, it was Dan who invited discussion of possible subscriber benefits. Do you even read any of threads you post in?

hi ,

do you , .........

cause , huh , Dan is not alone , ....... there is still Mark , aldo many proclaim the fact he shall never return , ......

if you would read a bit of history and put one and one together , if they really wanted to go on the " paying tour " they would have done it like that , ...... they can have it implemented in less then 4 hours , ...... and till this very day apolyton is still for free , .......

have a nice sunday afternoon

DrSpike · August 17, 2003, 11:56

Look, I don't claim to have a unique insight into the owners' minds; all recent posts about possible subscriber benefits were responding to THE OWNERS' SUGGESTION to discuss possible subscriber benefits. Hence your earlier response was, even by your usual standards, stupid.

Atahualpa · September 20, 2003, 04:54

avatar was the first thing I have turned off

VetLegion · September 21, 2003, 15:14

How about extra statistics for subscribers? That wouldn't hurt the rest and most people like them. Some possible stats:

- average post length (letters, words)
- timing of posts, most being between xx-yy
- number of threadkills
- average number of responses per initiated thread
- time spent logged on this week, total..
- number of references to poster in threads he didnt post in
- mean time between clicking 'reply' and 'submit' (is it possible? would show who is the slowwit

)

Basically, all of the existing stats (number of posts, etc) can be expanded in some way. This could be calculated on request or once in a period of time, if it would be server-load intensive.

DrSpike · September 21, 2003, 15:59

Some of those would be interesting.

Asmodean · September 21, 2003, 16:52

Quote:

Originally posted by VetLegion
How about extra statistics for subscribers? That wouldn't hurt the rest and most people like them. Some possible stats:

- average post length (letters, words)
- timing of posts, most being between xx-yy
- number of threadkills
- average number of responses per initiated thread
- time spent logged on this week, total..
- number of references to poster in threads he didnt post in
- mean time between clicking 'reply' and 'submit' (is it possible? would show who is the slowwit

)

Basically, all of the existing stats (number of posts, etc) can be expanded in some way. This could be calculated on request or once in a period of time, if it would be server-load intensive.

These are great. I have a feeling that references to poster in threads he didn't post on would be hard to implement, though. But what do I know

I don't see what the last one would be good for. Except maybe for bashing.

As for number of threadkills: I have a feeling that I would be high on this one

Asmodean

DarkCloud · September 21, 2003, 17:05

Quote:

number of references to poster in threads he didnt post in

That woudl be a great option

Panag · September 22, 2003, 16:39

Quote:

Originally posted by VetLegion
How about extra statistics for subscribers? That wouldn't hurt the rest and most people like them. Some possible stats:

- average post length (letters, words)
- timing of posts, most being between xx-yy
- number of threadkills
- average number of responses per initiated thread
- time spent logged on this week, total..
- number of references to poster in threads he didnt post in
- mean time between clicking 'reply' and 'submit' (is it possible? would show who is the slowwit

)

Basically, all of the existing stats (number of posts, etc) can be expanded in some way. This could be calculated on request or once in a period of time, if it would be server-load intensive.

hi ,

, sounds really great , only one Q , can it be done , ......

Markos would love such a thing but with him still a while away , ......

have a nice day

Atahualpa · September 22, 2003, 16:46

Quote:

- mean time between clicking 'reply' and 'submit' (is it possible? would show who is the slowwit )

Actually it would show who thinks most about what he writes

But you cant take quick reply into account here, a feature that I use very often (and just again).

ata

Frozzy · September 22, 2003, 16:46

Quote:

Originally posted by VetLegion
- average post length (letters, words)

This one would stop the demo gamers from subscribing

Skanky Burns · September 22, 2003, 19:21

And me, too.

Alexander's Horse · October 13, 2003, 10:46

Very interesting article Dan. I'd like to see another article on your philosophy re donations and the like i.e. why you aren't comfortable with them. Why you consider this a "venture" rather than a business etc.

Seems like much of the rest of the internet is full of beggars.

Rasputin · October 13, 2003, 12:23

extras for subscribers..

Big Stickers saying "Im a Geek i pay for Apolyton Subsriptions"

or a discounted T shirt

with " I got this for my hard earned cash"

Alexander's Horse · October 13, 2003, 19:45

"All I got from Apolyton was a PCR and this lousy T shirt"

DarkCloud · October 14, 2003, 11:31

Another idea, a reduction in the flood control to 20 seconds

for die-hard spammer-subscribers

You could also do a "Member of the Day" thing a la Civgaming.net ... something like a "Donor of the Day"

or grant mod-powers for one day in one forum section per dollar donated to apolyton

Qilue · October 15, 2003, 05:22

As a dial-up internet user, I should mention that if subscribers got bigger avatars thus increasing the time required to download a thread, I would disable all avatars my preferences.

Alexander's Horse · October 15, 2003, 07:33

If I had to pay to come here, I wouldn't come here.

DrSpike · October 15, 2003, 07:48

Do you think that makes Dan and Mark more or less likely to move to subscriptions?

PLATO · October 15, 2003, 08:06

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
If I had to pay to come here, I wouldn't come here.

From what Dan has said, Content on the site will always remain free. The subscription service is merely a financial move that will grant a few yet to be determined features that do not relate to content. Basically a way to contribute to the site's financial help while still receiving value for the dollar paid. That keeps it a commercial venture and avoids any complications associated with accepting donations.

So, Horse, you will always be able to come for free, but will be invited to contribute to that which you enjoy. Not a bad deal.

Alexander's Horse · October 15, 2003, 09:02

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
Do you think that makes Dan and Mark more or less likely to move to subscriptions?

Do you think that makes you more or less likely to ever to play mp civ?

DrSpike · October 15, 2003, 09:29

If you leave I'd say its marginally less likely, since there would be one less old woman to nag me.

Alexander's Horse · October 15, 2003, 10:11

the fact you've joined the civ mp user group is just a travesty