Originally I never planned to accept donations, but several people suggested that I should try it.
So I decided to give it a try. I put paypal link to front page. If you donate any amount, it will be highly appreciated.
Here are some facts:
- the work on duelboard costed me incredible amount of time
- it also costed me some considerable amount of money, I had to buy dedicated server-computer, and I'm also paying monthly fee for internet connection and server housing
- Duelboard does not produce any profit. There is some advertising on the front page and on forum pages, but its monthly income is hardly sufficient to buy two dinners.
If we donate, what cause would it go to? To feed you? Or would the money be used on further game development?
QuoteIf we donate, what cause would it go to? To feed you? Or would the money be used on further game development?
I'm the only person who works on the game (if we don't count people who create & donate graphics), and I'm not getting paid for this work. In fact I had to invest money, and time. So I think that whatever I do with donated money, it still can be considered as "spent on game development". If I buy a lunch from it, it was spent on game development.
As I said, this game runs on dedicated computer, which costed money, and this computer is housed by internet provider company, for monthly fee. If the donation could at least pay that fee, it would be also "spent on good cause".
I already said it before, and I'm not going to lie: I'm not planning any further *big* improvements on Cyberbattles. As you see, I'm still doing small improvements from time to time.
The reason why I'm not spending much time on Cyberbattles is, that I have to spend majority of my time actually earning money in paid job, to - as you said - "feed myself", and to pay for a room in which I live. I'm spending remaining of my time on another project, which I currently consider more perspective than Cyberbattles (it is infamous Mud project).
y not give all this up? it seems like the amount of effort and resources you have put into duelboard just seems not worth it. Maybe you should think about handing over control of duelboard and its operations to someone more financially stable.
Matlu,
Which country do you live in and what is the dollar (US) exchange rate? Suppose I donate 1 dollar, what is that quivalent to in your currency and what could you buy with it? Just to give everyone a rough idea on a good amount to donate.
Matlu -
Perhaps you should modify cyberbattles so you can make a profit.
$10 - people can modify their tech/life balance by 10%
$20 - 20%
Or something like that.
Quote from: The_Gu3st on December 03, 2005, 08:03:00 AM
Matlu,
Which country do you live in and what is the dollar (US) exchange rate? Suppose I donate 1 dollar, what is that quivalent to in your currency and what could you buy with it? Just to give everyone a rough idea on a good amount to donate.
This country is quite poor (compared to the USA, or UK). I found some statistics on internet and I can tell you that for example last year's average monthly salary in this country was approx. 780 usd (gross, before paying taxes and some other fees). Educated people may earn twice as much or more, but common people mostly consider $1500 (gross, monthly) very high salary, beyond their reach.
Funny thing is, that most goods here are singificantly more expensive than in usa (like electronics and such stuff). Food and clothing is maybe slightly cheaper.
So suppose I donated 10 US dollars... how much would that cover of your monthly ISP fee? Or how many dinners could that buy you?
Questions i received asked through PM:
QuoteHowever, before I donate, I'd like to know a few things.
What is the monthly fee for your ISP?
Do you have a seperate computer just to run this game server? How much was the computer if so?
There is separate dedicated computer used just to run this game. I don't remember how much exactly it costed, I bought components and built the computer myself, but it was something between $500 and $600. This computer is physically placed in IPS's server-room, which costs monthly $50.
QuoteSo suppose I donated 10 US dollars... how much would that cover of your monthly ISP fee? Or how many dinners could that buy you?
I don't understand why are you so concerned about my dinners :) Anyway, $10 is enough for 2 average dinners in very average (not very fancy) pub or restaurant. There are also very fancy restaurants in the city, where dinner costs significantly more than $10, but "common" people like me have never been inside :p
QuoteAlso, can you give me a good idea on a decent amount to donate?
no, this is voluntary donation. You are welcome to donate as much, as *you* consider reasonable, based on what "imaginary" value has this game for you, or maybe what money you'd be willing to pay, if it was pay-to-play.
QuotePerhaps you should modify cyberbattles so you can make a profit.
$10 - people can modify their tech/life balance by 10%
It's not very good idea, at least not for this particular game. There exist many games which work as you described, but they were designed with this in mind.
QuoteCan you add a high score list for EVERY single player on a dedicated page?
this could be done
QuoteMake it so that the game-start timer resets everytime someone leaves a game
not a good idea, anybody could sabotage a game by permanent entering and leaving so it could never start
I really don't see why this is an issue. If you end up alone in a game, you can type /quit and you are instantly back in lobby.
and please, this is not right thread to discuss such stuff
Well honestly, I could careless what matlu does with the money I'm sending him, just as long he doesn't quit. I'm sending him money because I think he has done a great job with duelboards and he has worked very hard. Us all have made it rough at times and probably put couple hundred gray hairs on his head, so the least we all could do is send him some money. If everyone chips in to send him 5 or 10 dollars or even 1 dollar, he could easily buy him self some dinner and possibly do some future updates :)
Matlu, I will send you what I told you I will, as soon as I get my monthly paycheck.
Thank you very much, it's nice to see some appreciation for long hard work
lol i would but i dont have a job
I'm donating, Matlu definitely deserves it! ;D
Just one thing matlu, when will you add electropulse and virus?
As soon as my parents give me their credit card...
I am also donating, gotta give Matlu incentive to make Electropulse and virus ;)
Or... create an NPC in your RPG game in exchange for each donation.
Matlu, im not sure how much trouble it would be; but perhaps you could host monthly tournaments that could cover your technology fees. Like a 50/50 type thing, where say 16 people put in 2.50 each and the winner gets like 25% sencond gets 15% and third gets 10%, mean while you use the remaining 50% (these are just figurative numbers) to fund the technology, compensate for your hard work and dedication to this game, or even buy meals. I understand that this may be considered gambling and that you must be a certain age to gamble (most people on this site are too young) or maybe even consider a charity tournament where people would donate 1$ to be eligible and the winner gets the title "Player of the Month" or some other honorary title. If I had a credit card i would have already donated, but i dont have one, and am in no hurry to get one (I prefer my debit card). If there is any way that i can make a donation using my debit or cash or something please let me know.
remember shopzilla.com - the smarter way to shop...You want it? You got it at shopzilla.com! Compare different prices for the same product and save! Gooogle will pay Matlu for each click on that ad so go ahead and click it! (its on the page with the list of games)
Quote from: Stitchy_11 on December 13, 2005, 08:07:42 PM
If I had a credit card i would have already donated, but i dont have one, and am in no hurry to get one (I prefer my debit card). If there is any way that i can make a donation using my debit or cash or something please let me know.
I can donate with my Debit Card, through paypal.
dont donate with your parents' money (for those of you still living with mom and dad), but get a job and donate with your own hard earned money.
Who is donating with parents money?
idk whoever that may be :shrugs:
Quote from: willie on December 13, 2005, 09:49:45 PM
remember shopzilla.com - the smarter way to shop...You want it? You got it at shopzilla.com! Compare different prices for the same product and save! Gooogle will pay Matlu for each click on that ad so go ahead and click it! (its on the page with the list of games)
Different people see different ads - google can somehow target them based on your location. I for example have never seen that particular ad.
But anyway, clicking an ad which interests you from time to time is a good way to help me. Just please don't overdo it, one click per day is enough. Really.
QuoteIf I had a credit card i would have already donated, but i dont have one, and am in no hurry to get one (I prefer my debit card). If there is any way that i can make a donation using my debit or cash or something please let me know.
Paypal donations should work with debit cards as well (I'm not expert in this area though, I just think it should be possible, but I may be wrong). If it doesn't work, then I don't know. I could only give you bank account number in either Czech or German bank, but I'm afraid that fees you would have to pay for bank transfer to different country would be too high.
Question:
You gave some figures of your base and monthly expenses ($500-600 base price + $50 a month for ISP and server), is this price represented in USD or Czech Koruna?? (I hope I got that currency correct).
Symbol $ stands for USD.
600 Czech Koruna equals to approx. $25, so I could hardly buy a computer for it.
http://www.xe.com/ucc/ go there
Thanks Matlu, for everything. :-*
Quote from: The_Guest on March 18, 2006, 08:41:51 PM
Thanks Matlu, for everything. :-*
Oh, it's Duelboard's birthday :) I thank you 8)
yup and me and dodger have another present for you ;)
Shhh it was supposed to be a surprise!
I THANK YOU ALL 8)Â HIGHLY APPRECIATEDÂ :) REALLYÂ :-*
:) :-*
Quote from: matlu on March 19, 2006, 12:49:52 PM
I THANK YOU ALL 8) HIGHLY APPRECIATED :) REALLY :-*
Glad we could make your day. You deserved it.
I still didnt make his day, im still trying to find a credit card...
Why don't you have your own Card? Like me :)
ill get to is soon enough, im just lazy :(
You're a waste of oxygen Gut.