Inquiry into the possibility of donating to NS

[Lockdownn]

Honestly guys, I don't think Max would be stupid enough to sell the game he's been working on for almost 13 years now to a "newbie" who claims to have been here for four years and has some web skills.

[Bitely]

Honestly guys, I don't think Max would be stupid enough to sell the game he's been working on for almost 13 years now to a "newbie" who claims to have been here for four years and has some web skills.

He's got a point .
Personally I think most of you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

[Tyrnica]

I couldn't agree more. Some would call this an exaggeration, but, honestly, I was slightly wary towards, and, for a small amount of time, against the Rift theme, even though I chose to switch over before it became the norm. I've barely been here for a year.

For those who have been here since, as the forum states so well, "Antiquity," I daresay that the slightest dislikable change will make them a shade more than "wary" or "against" whatever's been altered or implemented.



The only evidence we've seen so far of your work, online or otherwise, is your advertisements. Would you be willing to show us some of your previous projects and/or work, of a more substantial level?

Those are ok. But im more into php, html and gcnc coding.

Yes. And I was asking you if you'd be willing to show us some of that coding.

I'm down for a revolt if you are.

I'm not proposing major changes; just making the enhancements that users have been asking for for years.

Such as?

[PLESSUR]

If Bitely buys NS, we are all in for it.

[TestIsland]

This thread better give someone an idea for next year's April Fool Joke... Possibly an auction for NationStates to go to the highest bidder?

[Bitely]

Those are ok. But im more into php, html and gcnc coding.

Yes. And I was asking you if you'd be willing to show us some of that coding.

I'm not proposing major changes; just making the enhancements that users have been asking for for years.

Such as?

For starters=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=353832

[The Blaatschapen]

This thread better give someone an idea for next year's April Fool Joke... Possibly an auction for NationStates to go to the highest bidder?

Well, we already had an IPO: http://www.nationstates.net/page=ipo

[The Stalker]

You know I have been curious to where all the stamp money goes, since none of the staff get paid. I mean the site ran for years free just off the ads, but with the stamps, I know people who just pour money into that. Like a ton, hundreds of dollars week.

Who gets all that? I bet if people had a choice they would put their stamp money towards paying the technically staff at the very least.

Technical really should be paid, it's the only way the game could move forward. I mean the whole R/D summit changes from two years ago never happened and seems pretty unlikely it will anytime soon at this rate.

If that's the case, you're asking of a possibility of RP players donating bucket loads of money to fund your R/D game just because you want it. Or else, having people who donate to have a say in what gets done as if they were buying something rather than donating.

Either way, not cool.

Uh where did you read that? I was asking about there all the stamp money goes since the staff doesn't get paid. And that some of the stamp money should go to technical to finish the new features they said they'd do two years back.

[We Are Not the NSA]

You know I have been curious to where all the stamp money goes, since none of the staff get paid. I mean the site ran for years free just off the ads, but with the stamps, I know people who just pour money into that. Like a ton, hundreds of dollars week.

Who gets all that? I bet if people had a choice they would put their stamp money towards paying the technically staff at the very least.

Technical really should be paid, it's the only way the game could move forward. I mean the whole R/D summit changes from two years ago never happened and seems pretty unlikely it will anytime soon at this rate.

If that's the case, you're asking of a possibility of RP players donating bucket loads of money to fund your R/D game just because you want it. Or else, having people who donate to have a say in what gets done as if they were buying something rather than donating.

Either way, not cool.

User 1 asks question about site finances and staff payment. User 2 complains about R/D. #Nativism

In all seriousness though, where does the telegram stamp money go? I'm assuming it goes towards technical expenses and other stuff like that?

[Tyrnica]

Yes. And I was asking you if you'd be willing to show us some of that coding.



Such as?

For starters=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=353832

I can see what you're talking about, but I wouldn't cal, that "an enhancement that users have been asking for for years." And as you haven't answered my other question twice in a row, I'm going to assume that you're averse to displaying your work.

http://www.nationstates.net/page=ipo

I love the "You own shares. You own 0.000000% of NationStates Corporation." It's almost like the site is blatantly telling you that you have no business being on that page.

[Elke and Elba]

If that's the case, you're asking of a possibility of RP players donating bucket loads of money to fund your R/D game just because you want it. Or else, having people who donate to have a say in what gets done as if they were buying something rather than donating.

Either way, not cool.

User 1 asks question about site finances and staff payment. User 2 complains about R/D. #Nativism

In all seriousness though, where does the telegram stamp money go? I'm assuming it goes towards technical expenses and other stuff like that?

There, you answered your own question. Keeping servers up for the game and for the massive spam people make in the forums every day.

In all seriousness, did anyone of you thought ads alone paid for NS? Seriously?

And you expect me to think that question was about site finances and staff payment when it was kind of bloody obvious? Come on.

[We Are The NSA]

User 1 asks question about site finances and staff payment. User 2 complains about R/D. #Nativism

In all seriousness though, where does the telegram stamp money go? I'm assuming it goes towards technical expenses and other stuff like that?

There, you answered your own question. Keeping servers up for the game and for the massive spam people make in the forums every day.

In all seriousness, did anyone of you thought ads alone paid for NS? Seriously?

And you expect me to think that question was about site finances and staff payment when it was kind of bloody obvious? Come on.

I never said that I thought ads paid for the entire site. I guess I want to know some of the specifics of the site's financial data. Like, what aspects of the game cost the most to keep up to date. Also, what percentage Max gets of the total revenue from the game and what percentages go back into site management. How much time and money actually goes into running the site? I'm entirely aware of the fact that those answers may not be something that the mods or admins want to make public, and I'm fine with if that's the case. It's just the concept of buying the site got me interested in how the site works as a business, or maybe even as an investment.

[Jute]

There, you answered your own question. Keeping servers up for the game and for the massive spam people make in the forums every day.

In all seriousness, did anyone of you thought ads alone paid for NS? Seriously?

And you expect me to think that question was about site finances and staff payment when it was kind of bloody obvious? Come on.

I never said that I thought ads paid for the entire site. I guess I want to know some of the specifics of the site's financial data. Like, what aspects of the game cost the most to keep up to date. Also, what percentage Max gets of the total revenue from the game and what percentages go back into site management. How much time and money actually goes into running the site? I'm entirely aware of the fact that those answers may not be something that the mods or admins want to make public, and I'm fine with if that's the case. It's just the concept of buying the site got me interested in how the site works as a business, or maybe even as an investment.

I don't think this site turns out any direct monetary profit whatsoever that could be kept by any administrator.

[Pierconium]

Yes. And I was asking you if you'd be willing to show us some of that coding.



Such as?

For starters=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=353832

There are a number of issues with that thread that will disrupt game balance that have not been addressed. Plus, that conversation has died completely twice now, so I do not think that many people are really asking for those changes, or have been for any length of time.

If your aim is just to implement random changes without consideration of the consequences then I will openly offer a 5% premium on your offer as a counter if anyone takes you seriously. I'm not saying that my wife will actually allow me to go through with it, but I would like the opportunity to outbid you if it comes to it and have that conversation just to stop you or anyone like you from ruining the game for no apparent reason.

As someone that has some actual experience with attempting to purchase one of these online games, I believe you will find that four digits is likely insufficient.

[We Are The NSA]

I never said that I thought ads paid for the entire site. I guess I want to know some of the specifics of the site's financial data. Like, what aspects of the game cost the most to keep up to date. Also, what percentage Max gets of the total revenue from the game and what percentages go back into site management. How much time and money actually goes into running the site? I'm entirely aware of the fact that those answers may not be something that the mods or admins want to make public, and I'm fine with if that's the case. It's just the concept of buying the site got me interested in how the site works as a business, or maybe even as an investment.

I don't think this site turns out any direct monetary profit whatsoever that could be kept by any administrator.

Oh, so the site is self sustaining without a profit?

[Liddell Hart]

If that's the case, you're asking of a possibility of RP players donating bucket loads of money to fund your R/D game just because you want it. Or else, having people who donate to have a say in what gets done as if they were buying something rather than donating.

Either way, not cool.

User 1 asks question about site finances and staff payment. User 2 complains about R/D. #Nativism

In all seriousness though, where does the telegram stamp money go? I'm assuming it goes towards technical expenses and other stuff like that?

Hi there, We Are Not The NSA. Oh, what's that? You are the NSA? My mistake, I thought you were someone else.

Edit: of course I quote the post you made with are not.

I thought Bitely was the guy who just bought the company that makes a major AIDS treatment drug, until he said he's in web development.

[Free Republics]

I'm down for a revolt if you are.

I'm not proposing major changes; just making the enhancements that users have been asking for for years.

Which are?

Hopefully, you're not talking about gameside war...

[Reploid Productions]

*catches up on the thread* Whoa, whoa, whoa, c'mon ladies, gents, and those of non-binary gender, calm thy collective literal and/or figurative mammaries.

Keep in mind the site owner. Y'know? That Max guy? Writes a lot of satire ripping into the whole corporate/money-wins sort of scenario? If anybody honestly thinks that he's willing to just toss the site at somebody willing to throw a bunch of money at him with nary a care for the community that he accidentally created here, I really suggest you find and read a copy of one of his books, particularly Jennifer Government or Company. Or just go read through his blog posts on his main site.

And, for the umpteenth time, after the fiasco our partnership with Jolt turned into, I really doubt he's interested in putting his foot into that sort of mess a second time, especially as the site is able to cover its operating costs on the ads/store revenue.

And let's also remember, those demanding that Bitely show us some of his work, that doing so could involve revealing identifying information about where he works and who he is IRL. Nobody, no matter how unpopular, is required to reveal stuff like that.

[Tyrnica]

And let's also remember, those demanding that Bitely show us some of his work, that doing so could involve revealing identifying information about where he works and who he is IRL. Nobody, no matter how unpopular, is required to reveal stuff like that.

Indeed, and this is why I was asking, not demanding. When he did not respond, I did not claim that he was lying. I simply stated "I'm going to assume that you're averse to displaying your work." A preference to retain personal privacy was taken into account when I made that post.

[Bitely]

This is semi related. I want to start a thread to let players submit banner designs and put I'll pay to post the best one(via adwords)on this site. Would that be possible? If so what thread would I post it in?

[TestIsland]

This is semi related. I want to start a thread to let players submit banner designs and put I'll pay to post the best one(via adwords)on this site. Would that be possible? If so what thread would I post it in?

Do you mean banner ads? Or banners on individual nation pages? It would be interesting if NationStates allowed sponsored banners on Nation pages and regional WFEs.

If you really want to get your word out, why not sponsor raider groups with TG stamps, in exchange for a prominent mention on the WFE of every tagged region. (I'd suggest sponsoring WA proposal writers as well, but you know how a mention of your name would hurt their cause.)

[Bitely]

This is semi related. I want to start a thread to let players submit banner designs and put I'll pay to post the best one(via adwords)on this site. Would that be possible? If so what thread would I post it in?

Do you mean banner ads? Or banners on individual nation pages? It would be interesting if NationStates allowed sponsored banners on Nation pages and regional WFEs.

If you really want to get your word out, why not sponsor raider groups with TG stamps, in exchange for a prominent mention on the WFE of every tagged region. (I'd suggest sponsoring WA proposal writers as well, but you know how a mention of your name would hurt their cause.)

Yeah like google adwords banner ads. It would be like a contest. The winner would get their banner put up on NS (I'd pay for it of course)

[Mousebumples]

f you really want to get your word out, why not sponsor raider groups with TG stamps, in exchange for a prominent mention on the WFE of every tagged region. (I'd suggest sponsoring WA proposal writers as well, but you know how a mention of your name would hurt their cause.)

MODERATOR NOTE: This sort of practice would be illegal under site rules. While you are able to buy TG stamps for another player/group, using the stamps as "payment" for services rendered is a non-starter.

I need to head off to work shortly, so I don't have time to search out the post that clarifies this further, but hopefully someone else has it readily available and can link it for the crowd? The closest I can find in the OSRS is this part, but I swear that there's a post by [violet] somewhere to that effect, but a quick use of the search box (which, granted, doesn't work amazingly on Thursdays anyhow) leaves me still searching.

[North Arkana]

This honestly reeks of someone trying to buy a text-based browser game either out of spite, or because they don't like the way it satires certain real life aspects of politics. I like this game/world the way it is, and I trust its owner to keep it in a good place. I don't trust someone with shorter time than my rather short time on NS to manage a world filled with hundreds of thousands of people who will react with varying degrees of want to both the idea of "Bitely's Nationstates" and whatever plans you have in mind for this game. I very much like "Max Berry's Nationstates" the way it is, even with all the trolls and spam... Sort of.

[Consular]

Yes. And I was asking you if you'd be willing to show us some of that coding.



Such as?

For starters=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=353832

That thread was started a month ago. Those aren't changes "users have been asking for for years". They're also highly debatable and there's no consensus on their merit.

I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about, Bitely.

I believe Max has in the past expressed great reluctance in letting any players donate large sums to this site, out of concern that it would create some kind of expectation, which might lead to bitterness and subsequent regret of the donation. A person can claim they are freely donating with no intentions at all to control anything, but in my experience when large sums of money get involved certain complications are inevitable and people usually do end up feeling entitled to something.