TalkIRC -- I'd be interested in where you got that 250 dollar figure. That might be true in the US, but I know I don't know what server prices are like in France or Germany.
However, I do know what a programmer/system operator costs, even on the cheap, and it's on the order of $US 100,000/year or higher. Let's pretend that the dev is willing to work for really low wage, say $US 60,000/yr. That's $US 5,000/month, or 500 subscriptions. I'm pretty sure we have that many. We might even have twice that many; I don't know. We might even have 5 times that many. However, if we have two devs, the salary figure doubles.
The point is that if the (1) dev we apparently have is working on keeping the game running (and doing things like implementing some small improvements and changes), *who* is supposed to be adding the new material, generating the publicity and paying for it? The Event Team does give us some new material, but they are volunteers with day jobs.
As a paying customer (two subscriptions), I receive my money's worth. If I did not, I would not be paying. Yes, I'd love to have more, but I'm realistic. I'd love to see advertising, too. If we knew that Winchgate had half a million in extra cash, I think we'd be justified in wondering why it wasn't being used to hire more people. We don't know, but I really, really doubt it.
If I had the 3D modeling skills, I'd be volunteering. If I had the programming skills, I'd be volunteering there. I can afford to do that -- but I don't have those skills. (FORTRAN from my scientific programming days does not qualify me.)
I am not "defending Winchgate". I am attempting to point out the reality of the situation.
However, I do know what a programmer/system operator costs, even on the cheap, and it's on the order of $US 100,000/year or higher. Let's pretend that the dev is willing to work for really low wage, say $US 60,000/yr. That's $US 5,000/month, or 500 subscriptions. I'm pretty sure we have that many. We might even have twice that many; I don't know. We might even have 5 times that many. However, if we have two devs, the salary figure doubles.
The point is that if the (1) dev we apparently have is working on keeping the game running (and doing things like implementing some small improvements and changes), *who* is supposed to be adding the new material, generating the publicity and paying for it? The Event Team does give us some new material, but they are volunteers with day jobs.
Talkirc
...as a paying customer you should want more from your dollar then we're getting now, we all should want more, and if we as a whole don't soon see more, those of us that will stay till the death of the game will find the big tree a very empty and lonely place to be.
As a paying customer (two subscriptions), I receive my money's worth. If I did not, I would not be paying. Yes, I'd love to have more, but I'm realistic. I'd love to see advertising, too. If we knew that Winchgate had half a million in extra cash, I think we'd be justified in wondering why it wasn't being used to hire more people. We don't know, but I really, really doubt it.
If I had the 3D modeling skills, I'd be volunteering. If I had the programming skills, I'd be volunteering there. I can afford to do that -- but I don't have those skills. (FORTRAN from my scientific programming days does not qualify me.)
I am not "defending Winchgate". I am attempting to point out the reality of the situation.
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Remembering Tyneetryk
Phaedreas Tears - 15 years old and first(*) of true neutral guilds in Atys.
(*) This statement is contested, but we are certainly the longest lasting.
<clowns | me & you | jokers>