I think it would be awesome if we could set up a service which would allow people to donate to AGS game companies. It would handle all the currency conversion issues and transfer all the money for a small percentage of the donations.
That way, for example, you could donate to companies like Screen 7 Entertainment, SOCKO! Entertainment, Herculean Effort Productions, and even CJ himself.
Anyone else thing this is a good idea?
So, anybody who wants to get some free money just has to make a "game company" and they can get a small portion of a donation, split between them all... :P
I think that anyone of the ones you mention, if they want donations, they would most likely set up some sort of Paypal account... and in that regard, I'm pretty sure CJ already has one of those. Could be wrong though...
CJ doesn't have one, because the loon won't let us pay him. Though it says SPECIFICALLY in the documentation that we can give him money, he won't give us any way to give it to him.
Okay... well, if CJ doesn't have one, I guess I'll "collect" the donations for him, and send them to him. ::)
Send all donations to:
HAPPY DUDE
1313 Mockingbird Lane
Smallville KA. 90210
Well, CJ DID used some sort of "click bannar to donate" thingie in the past, but that's now history...
For raising money for "AGS game companies", I think it's the owners' own business, as Cj did not had any real preference or whatever on how people would use his engine, he won't encourage nor discourage any one to make money from an AGS game, due to this, I don't think it's a good idea to start some "joined" force on money handling.
And we all know any money raised by this for CJ would just get spent on booze and his harem....
Hehe yeah, if we want to donate, just send p0rn to him.
THe only donations I can remember were to remove ads from teh ezboard.
And since we don't have ads on this board, we can keep our money! (SUCKED IN CHRIS!) ;D
Seriously though, CJ has said once or twice that he doesn't like accepting money for AGS because it's more like a hobby to him (at least, I think that's what he once said) -- and any financial contributions wold probably change all that.
I seriously reckon you should create a donations thing CJ. It's not like you're asking for money but im sure you'll be given it! I don't like accepting money either, but donations are different, its not like anyone HAS to donate.
:)
There was a similar discussion on IRC recently. Here are some facts:
1. CJ doesn't want the obligations that come with accepting money
2. Hosting the web site, buying his C compiler, paying for broadband, etc. must all cost him money and AGS wouldn't exist (int hye same way, at least)if he didn't buy these things
3. Lots of people (including me) would love to have an "official" AGS T-shirt or mug
4. Cafepress are teh evil
5. Lots of digital photo printing services do T-shirts and mugs (Comet do bulk discounts)
6. Zazzle is another cafepress-like thing
7. There's talk of custom Amazon shops
8. Surplus funds above Chris's costs could go to a Mittens travel cost help fund, or AGS Awards prize fund, or to buy CJ the "CJ04 AGS" numberplate or something else.
9. Oh, and Amazon and lots of other do the affiliate commision thing.
I think he'd probably already have a C compiler anyway since he's a programmer by proffession.. My school gave a few programming tools to me for free even. But CJ, I don't know why you won't accept money for webhosting.. that's gotta run over $100 a year, easy, doesn't it?
Quote from: Os Último Quão Queijo ^_^ on Mon 12/01/2004 22:25:01
So, anybody who wants to get some free money just has to make a "game company" and they can get a small portion of a donation, split between them all... :P
I'm not just talking about CJ in particular. For example, if you especially like a certain AGS game, you could send the company a little cash as a donation.
Yeah, that's called shareware. If they wanted to do that they'd put that somewhere in their game I think. Trying to set up a central donation for everyone wouldn't work and it'd create confusion.
Indeed, I think that asking for donations is each and everybody's own business. If somebody wants to do it, then let him set up a PayPal accound and say "GIVE ME MONEY!!111!!!", but there is no reason to start a whole new wave.
Yeah, I think what you're basically suggesting is setting up our own version of paypal - but that's an incredibly complicated thing to do, and if you're handling money there are several legal criteria you've got to meet.
So as Barcik says, I think it's better if people just set up their own donations thing via paypal or whatever, if they want to accept donations.
As for me personally,
QuoteBut CJ, I don't know why you won't accept money for webhosting.. that's gotta run over $100 a year, easy, doesn't it?
This website & forum costs $95/year to run. I have a full time job and that's not a cost that causes me a problem. If we were still with ezboard where it was costing more like $50/month, I probably would be asking for donations.
Quote2. Hosting the web site, buying his C compiler, paying for broadband, etc. must all cost him money and AGS wouldn't exist (int hye same way, at least)if he didn't buy these things
But then, I would have those things anyway. If I stopped working on AGS, I wouldn't suddenly give up my broadband or sell my compiler. So it's not a related cost.
Quote8. Surplus funds above Chris's costs could go to a Mittens travel cost help fund
That's actually quite an interesting idea, and deserves some further thought. If donations could somehow be used to help people come to Mittens, that could well be a worthy reason to collect them.
QuoteI seriously reckon you should create a donations thing CJ. It's not like you're asking for money but I'm sure you'll be given it! I don't like accepting money either, but donations are different, its not like anyone HAS to donate.
Oh I know - but there are a fair few people here who are at school/college without jobs, who would probably donate, and I wouldn't feel right taking money from them. I've heard of stories of kids begging their parents to give them money so they can donate it to their favourite counterstrike forums, and that's really not something I want to be a part of.
QuoteIf donations could somehow be used to help people come to Mittens, that could well be a worthy reason to collect them.
A good idea...
/me seconds
A good, socialist idea - the mittens help fund - but I'm afraid several problems could arise:
We won't have as much money as to help ALL who don't have enough funds and want to come. Most probably, as there are nice people here, I don't think anyone who could afford the travel would ask for money - but at the same time, there would be too many people who really lack money (especially concerning the ticket to USA... bah...)
So, we would have to make a sort of a commitee to decide who should get help. And how do you imagine the rules for making such decisions? Friendship? Amount of posts? Of games released? Analysis of their family's income?
This could be difficult.
distance travelling?
You're exactly right Goldmund, it would be very difficult to set up the criteria for the thing, there would probably be complaints of unfairness; and some people might not want to donate money if it was being used for mittens.
It's probably not a practical thing to manage, but it's an interesting thought nonetheless.
An interesting thought but once you allocate funds for individuals (or attempt to anyway) then various people's quirks come in.
To avoid any issues with dishonesty or trying to solve the problem of who might be more deserving, a Mittens fund should be spent on the event as a whole- e.g. If it costs money to have people stay somewhere, instead of having people pay, it would be paid for in part (or whole) by the fund. In a situation with no cost (Grandfather's cabin in the Ozarks) then some cash could be given to the owner of the establishment to show thanks, repair possible damage or dirtiness, or at least to compensate for utilities & water cost.
Helping people with their travel to Mittens cost becomes more complicated when we consider than many people under 18 will be unable to go. They would be the ones most in need of financial assistance and it would be stressful to determine which of the over-18 people is in dire need of assistance.
Other uses of the money could be prizes for events, payment for admission to a museum or themepark, dinner for all at a restaurant. If we take these common-to-the-group costs into account, I'd doubt very much that there were be any remaining funds.
So, the 'buy hookers and drugs for CJ fund' it is then.
Heh, Yakspit -- but, as it is the people who donate and then go to a museum, they would pay for it all the same -- you don't need Paypal for that, so what's the difference?
Also, aren't you afraid that unhappy people who cannot afford to go to Mittens would think better than to buy those luckies who went some extra fun?
Good point. At least if funds were acquired through item-sales people would be getting something for it. Personally, I'd love it if everybody could pull together and make sure than anyone who wanted to go to Mittens, and was physically able to, could. Just so many impracticalities.
OK, so if donations are off, how about a competition is organised for a nice digital picture to go on official AGS merchandise and then people can make their own arrangements to get them printed (which seems to be as cheap as any other method, especially internationally). For example:
1. A nice bluecup picture
2. That "Lord of the Onion Rings" pic by Nacho
3. Some AGS characters with a catchphrase...?
Lots of people would love these on a mug, mousemat or T-shirt, whether the money goes to CJ, mittens or some unrelated corporation.
http://fotopic.net/about/printing.php seems cheap for mugs and t-shirts
http://www.pixum.co.uk/ have baseball caps and other stuff
anyone recommend any other printers?
For crappy quality and outrageous prices, check out www.paypal.com . No cost to the individual doing the selling, but the end prices end up being quite pricey.
Feel free to send me money whenever you want.