28-02-2004 13:30									#61
	Increase the size of your Attachments

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

	28-02-2004 14:54									#62
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

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.

	28-02-2004 18:07									#63
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

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

	28-02-2004 18:17									#64
	Put an end to popups!

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.

	28-02-2004 18:59									#65
	Full PM-box? Change here!

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

	28-02-2004 19:28									#66
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

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.

	28-02-2004 19:38									#67
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

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

	28-02-2004 19:53									#68
	Get a bigger avatar today!

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).

	28-02-2004 20:29									#69
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

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.

	28-02-2004 20:29									#70
	Inflate your Upload Space

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

Never thought I'd see that.

	28-02-2004 20:40									#71
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Plato, notice the smiley!

	28-02-2004 20:46									#72
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by MarkG Plato, notice the smiley!

	29-02-2004 05:26									#73
	Tired of ads?

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

	29-02-2004 11:56									#74
	Get a bigger avatar today!

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.

	29-02-2004 12:08									#75
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

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?

	29-02-2004 12:51									#76
	Increase Your PM Length

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

	29-02-2004 12:57									#77
	Increase the size of your Attachments

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

	29-02-2004 13:08									#78
	Increase Your PM Length

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.

	29-02-2004 13:13									#79
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

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.

	29-02-2004 13:24									#80
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

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.

	29-02-2004 13:28									#81
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

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...

	29-02-2004 13:33									#82
	Inflate your Upload Space

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



sorry Oerdin, but that's just hillarious

(edit: we need a rofl smiley)

	29-02-2004 13:35									#83
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

yeah, he definaly misplaced the decimal place.

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

	29-02-2004 14:03									#84
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

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?

	29-02-2004 21:53									#85
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

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).

	29-02-2004 21:58									#86
	Increase the size of your Attachments

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.

	29-02-2004 22:08									#87
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

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.

	29-02-2004 22:34									#88
	Suffering from ads?

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.

	29-02-2004 22:44									#89
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

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

	29-02-2004 23:43									#90
	Get a bigger avatar today!

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.