07-11-2001 05:43									#1
	Buy a new Server, I'm in for $50US -- Who Else? Tired of ads?

I don't know if this is a practical approach but I would gladly contribute cold hard cash to take care of the server situation. I am good for $50US considering how much I use Apolyton.

Markos and Dan, please let me and others know if this is practical soon, but in the meantime I'll assume its a viable alternative.

I'm not asking anyone who can't easily afford it to chip in... Just if you have some cash handy, and annoyance at the way things have been, put your money where your mouth is! Its just gonna get worse unless we do something!

As I said in the title I'll kick in 50 bucks to get this idea rolling, but of course only if enough others will to make a difference.

See you on the forums! (when they #@%^$% work )

	07-11-2001 05:49									#2
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I'll put in $50.

Set up a paypal account, Mark.

	07-11-2001 06:53									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

You can buy the server, but who's going to pay the monthly bills for bandwidth, maintenance, space, et cetera? That can be quite expensive, running into several hundred a month.

Sorry guys, but that plan is inherently flawed, as much as I wish it weren't so.

	07-11-2001 06:58									#4
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

I'm prepared to negotiate on a cash donation in return for say a 10,000 post increase in my post count

	07-11-2001 06:59									#5
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

It's not a permanent thing, Rev.

The bandwidth is fine, according to them, we just need more powerful servers (CPU power is what's holding us back).

	07-11-2001 07:15									#6
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by rev You can buy the server, but who's going to pay the monthly bills for bandwidth, maintenance, space, et cetera? That can be quite expensive, running into several hundred a month. Sorry guys, but that plan is inherently flawed, as much as I wish it weren't so.

A. How do you know? Have you done the numbers?

B. CPU is the bottleneck, not bandwidth.

C. How do you think existing bandwidth gets paid for!!!???

	07-11-2001 07:17									#7
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

I'm in for five oh.

	07-11-2001 07:51									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Hell, I've paid more than $50 (30 quid) for boxed CD sets that I've barely listened to - as a retrograde payment for all the pleasure I've had from Apolyton, 30 quid is a bargain.

Not to mention some truly crap nights out that cost a hell of a lot more than 30 quid

	07-11-2001 10:36									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

If the bottleneck is not the Net connection, then they probably need a couple of servers to start a cluster farm.

Where's Lefty when we need him?

	07-11-2001 11:12									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

I'm good for $50

	07-11-2001 11:58									#11
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

No, I haven't run "the" numbers, but I used to run a gaming network and at this moment I help operate a Maxis-related network (hosted by GS, actually), so I do know a bit of ballparking when it comes to servers.

So let's say this works; we get a server, we get it hooked up, and we're ready to rock-n-roll. Now we have to transfer 'poly over to the new server, track down bugs, etc. Then when the traffic returns to normal (and it will), you've got two servers to be paying for.

If the guys at GS are willing to foot that bill and expand their network, then by all means, go for it. I'd offer money of my own, but I'm a college student and I'm already broke as it is.

	07-11-2001 16:22									#12
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Thanks everyone I Knew we could count on AH to come up with a novel approach . But we need a lot more people. We shouldn't push this until we hear its a viable alternative.

rev: What I've got in mind as a scenario if GS agrees would be: put in the new server in parallel with the old, get everything loaded, when the new server is tested out gang em together. Use both for Apolyton until/if the traffic goes way down again. GS can then do whatever they want with the old machine. I don't have any experience in this area, that's why I'm waiting for those in the know to respond before I get too excited about this.

Then again, with 10k logins, if its practical to buy a new server, and if only 1% of us have $50 they'd be willing to throw in, we're home free.

Last edited by Mark_Everson on 07-11-2001 at 16:34

	07-11-2001 22:00									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Seneca Hell, I've paid more than $50 (30 quid) for boxed CD sets that I've barely listened to - as a retrograde payment for all the pleasure I've had from Apolyton, 30 quid is a bargain. Not to mention some truly crap nights out that cost a hell of a lot more than 30 quid

Very true

I could chip in 30 £ too

	07-11-2001 22:13									#14
	Got spare money?

well actually I'd send the money to mark or dan specifically for upgrade. If the server finishes with GS I don't care as long as we can all live here happily ever after (there should be a no complaints policy, this should be a donation after all)

btw, I don't think the traffic levels will go to the old ones since the old public was civ II and CTP communities which were a lot smaller. Plus many more people will want to stay here. Look at MOO that could expand here if handeled well. This already is, and could be THE place for civ maybe even TBS etc... maybe even profitable after 20 years . And at least 80% of the civ III buyers will have net access as opposed to maybe 20% for civ II and 50 % for ctp (just a guess, but definitley a big increase ), and Civ III will sell better than CTP. In the near future we have Civ III MP release. The future is bright, we just need hardware.

	08-11-2001 04:30									#15
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I know that this won't raise much $, but I'm currently clicking on the ads like a monkey on speed

	08-11-2001 04:31									#16
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

You could just buy some of their cool merchandise.

I would like an Apolyton cap but I'm afraid the freight would kill me. Hey Mark, got any relatives mrigrating to Australia who could perhaps carry my purchase out here?

	08-11-2001 06:25									#17
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I too would be willing to put my two cents worth in or £30 in proper money!

	10-11-2001 15:50									#18
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Well, thanks to all of you who supported the concept! Since neither Dan nor Markos responded, I guess the idea was unrealistic...

	10-11-2001 18:45									#19
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by rev No, I haven't run "the" numbers, but I used to run a gaming network and at this moment I help operate a Maxis-related network (hosted by GS, actually), so I do know a bit of ballparking when it comes to servers. So let's say this works; we get a server, we get it hooked up, and we're ready to rock-n-roll. Now we have to transfer 'poly over to the new server, track down bugs, etc. Then when the traffic returns to normal (and it will), you've got two servers to be paying for. If the guys at GS are willing to foot that bill and expand their network, then by all means, go for it. I'd offer money of my own, but I'm a college student and I'm already broke as it is.

Rev,

1. Appreciate your perspective. I've learned a little about the web business from my recent trolling.

2. I would propose moving the REST OF THE SITE/GS to the new server. Since Poly OT is the main breadwinner.

3. The new server should be as similar as possible to the old server (even if that's "outdated" to ensure compatibility/ease of maintenance/quick turn on time.

4. Agreed wrt to the time element. This is why I criticize the lack of planning. Many people on this forum were asking what Poly would be like with all the added traffic. TPTB (the powers that be) should have priced a new server and thought through how to conect it quickly. Then they could have swung into action. This is mostly a GS fault, but Mark and DAn could have been more proactive to let GS know what was coming.

5. I left out donations as a source of revenue in my earlier threads. Consider it added.

6. Mark has gone on a massive thread locking jag....

	10-11-2001 21:43									#20
	Tired of ads?

Markos and I appreciate everyone's offer of support, and for Mark's sprearheading of this idea. It's not that the idea is entirely unrealistic but that even if the advertising market was not in the bottomed out state it is currently in, the bandwidth/upkeep costs would be considerable and moreover it's not the capacity of the server that is in question but rather making better use of the resources it already has. It's a trial and error process.

<I>... but Mark and DAn could have been more proactive to let GS know what was coming.</I>

This implies that we did not do something that we were should have done and this is not the case, GP. Please re-review the contents <A HREF=/forums/"/forums/showthread__threadid=33244"_.html TARGET="_new">of this thread</A>.

----------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

	10-11-2001 22:01									#21
	Got spare money?

Dan, let's agree to disagree and leave it there. I already read your thread. The readers will judge for themselves based on reading it. Thanks for providing them the link.

Although we disagree on this minor issue, I remain supportive of Poly both in terms of advice and willingness to chip in a few bucks. And I wish you lots of success and happiness in personal life.

Fair enough, Mr. Emperor?

	10-11-2001 23:18									#22
	Get a bigger avatar today!

By "making better use of the resources" he means disabling some features so it'll run faster.

	11-11-2001 06:50									#23
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

What's wrong with that? There are also all sorts of optimisations that can be done to reduce load time.

	11-11-2001 08:15									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Well, UR, from a consumer point of view, it's not nice to cut out features just because you don't want to change something on the firm's end.

But we all know how well you can perceive things from the consumer standpoint.

	11-11-2001 14:11									#25
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I could perhaps give a hint that there's a more easy way
to get cash for Ape.

See my new Help ACS, point n' click, it's that simple! thread.

	12-11-2001 06:33									#26
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Asher Well, UR, from a consumer point of view, it's not nice to cut out features just because you don't want to change something on the firm's end. But we all know how well you can perceive things from the consumer standpoint.

As usual Glonk talks about what the cosumer wants from his vast repertoire of experience. We all know how much Glonk likes these cute features that nobody else cares, such as the ability to change the background image of a cell in a table.

As a matter of fact, the two biggest features any website can provide are speed and availability. That's why simple designs are used on all the large websites.

	12-11-2001 06:44									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Sure, heh 50 bucks?

*whips out mink wallet*


I think Apolyton in its current form could make a small amount of profit just by using its own server and hosting other Civ Sites.


But hey ; I know absolutely nothing about making money on the net

except one time I had an All Advantage bar...5 or 10 bucks a month.