I personally think that BYOND has taken a different approach these last few years. Everything about BYOND now is just, in simplest terms, Members Only. What do I mean by that? I mean, everything that was once available for Non Byond Members, have been completely stripped away. The ability to create hubs, post demos, and libraries? To add Graphics? Change Game Titles? What may seem like a way to promote users to get a Membership can, or more like, is flat out elitism. If you're a member, you have it all dandy, but if you're not, you're locked down til you pay that 18$, which isn't much, til once you get a membership, its like "Okay I'm a member. What? Do I get a trophy or something?" Only to find out that you just... "rank above" the Non Members.
I think BYOND really should have just let Non-Members keep the freedom they had before more or less, rather than shut down everything for them forcing them to get a membership. This also goes without saying that the update should prevent any unnecessary ripping, but it also restricts some potential originality.
This post may also be deleted considering it has negative feedback about the update if not BYOND in general.
ID:197821
 Jan 25 2012, 10:22 am
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I don't mean to be dismissive, but you've been on byond all of a month. I would wager to guess most of us who've been paying for memberships are happy to do so, and are content with what we get.
On the flipside, non members still get to use the engine free of charge, which is pretty rare for all-inclusive game engines. | |
@Nadrew I get that BYOND would no longer be here because of which, and that we can still create games and play them (for if we couldn't then BYOND truly wouldn't cease to exist), but the whole idea of "Become a Member to Create a Hub, Demo, etc" was a tad bit drastic from my view. Again, BYOND is a gaming site. So what about the kids (Not nessecarily "little kids" maybe like 12 - 18 yrs.) who do want to publish a game but don't have access to becoming/buying a membership. Obviously they're outta luck unless they can find someone else to publish it for them. However that is also an issue considering the person they have publish it, might get the fame for it (should that ever be the case). And good grief! 24$ for a year.
@Techgamer. I've been on for more than a month and have been a member once. I don't wish to announce who I am infront of BYOND for... "personal reasons". But in the short time that I was a Member, it felt like I really was just a regular Non-Member, just with a customized Homepage, and other features that I forgot about lol. I'm not saying "BYOND is evil for doing this". I'm saying they could've went at it with a more different approach. Aside from that, the blog system is nice as well as the "forum" look. | |
What is the different approach, out of curiousity?
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Stephen001 wrote:
What is the different approach, out of curiousity? How everything is more towards "forcing" players to become members inorder to gain features that they originally had? Publishing hubs, demos, etc. While Non-Members are limited to the point that they might have to either become a Member or rely on a Member to do the stuff listed above for them because they aren't a Member. In other words, Power to Members, Little-to-none for the Non-Members. | |
No, I meant what is the different approach for BYOND to make money?
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If you don't have $24 (for an entire YEAR - that's $2 a month), you should have higher priorities than making a BYOND game... such as getting a more stable job.
And don't pull that "but what about the kids?!" crap either. Mow some lawns or something. BYOND gives you a free service, it won't kill you to give back a little bit. | |
Unwanted4Murder wrote:
If you don't have $24 (for an entire YEAR - that's $2 a month), you should have higher priorities than making a BYOND game... such as getting a more stable job. No offense on BYOND behalf when I say this. I can afford it. I've bought it before. Its just I'd be better off spending 24$ on other things than to rank over a majority of a site just to gain a few privileges that I used to have when I was a Non-Member. Doesn't really seem all that catchy other than helping the site of course. | |
24$ is more than I spend on a decent weekend out on the town with friends, and I'm a poor college student. If you can't really afford it, you got some problems son.
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I never said I couldn't afford it. I could if I wanted to. All I'm saying is, what would be the point? Just to get privileges that I used to have as a Non-Member? I would be better off putting the money to future maintenance of my forums.
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So do that. Being a member isn't a necessity by any means.
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We'll be changing a few things around. This is a bit of a work in progress but IMO it's better than the old system. Bottom line is that we do need to bring in some money or we will go under, and I'd assume that'd be bad for everyone who cares about BYOND.
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I personally understand and don't mind the changes because I'd hate if BYOND shutdown due to lack of funds. Hopefully people will develop good original games that would increase traffic or even cause in game purchases so that the site could profit.
p.s did the whole $1.00 + 10% of all purchases thing change or remain the same. | |
That's still the same.
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As a continuation to what Stephen was saying, If you have any suggestions to a different approach that Byond could take please let us know, Tom's doing his best with the site to keep it alive and make money.
Frankly it seems this is the most suitable way of doing it, but if you truly have a better way for Byond to make money and it works then i'm sure Byond/Tom will listen. | |
You're far from "forced" to become a BYOND Member, you can still create and play games just as openly as before; you simply need to find a new venue for advertising your game if you don't want to become a Member to utilize the features BYOND provides for that.
Also, it's $24 now, not $18.