New Donation System |
Oct 10 2012, 03:55 PM
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#1
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Watching YOU Group: Root Administrators Posts: 1 850 Joined: 11-June 07 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 1 Active Squad |
Today we're ready to unveil the new donations system for GPX, which we've been working on for the past week or so.
Due to flaws in the old system that, in hindsight, made it completely unsustainable, and the disturbingly large (three quarters or more each day) of users who block all advertisements (without which GPX cannot exist in the first place) on the site, we've decided to implement a new microtransaction system to help keep server costs maintainable. This new system will allow users to activate special effects, referred to as a Plus, for all users of the site. These effects include doubling the amount of Pass Orbs or Poke Chests you're able to earn, having infinite use of Heart Sweets, being able to hatch eggs before they're an hour old, and many more. Users will be able to buy Credits, either for themselves, or another user, that can then be spent towards any Plus the user desires. In addition, buying Credits in denominations of ten or more will allow you to disable ads for 60 days per ten Credits purchased. Once a Plus' counter is filled up, that Plus will be active starting at Reset, and for the three days thereafter, along with a randomly-determined multiplier. After this three day period is over, that Plus' counter will be reset, but the counters of the other Plusses that weren't active will not. We felt that extending it over three days, as opposed to just one day would be much more fair, so that in the event that you should spend Credits on a Plus, but then be otherwise occupied for a day with school, work, or other affairs, you can still take advantage of it for the remaining two days. All users will receive these benefits, regardless of having purchased any Credits or spent any towards the Plus, with the exception of users who have contributed under the old system. We decided the fairest way to handle the users who already have bonuses from contributing, rather than allowing them to double-dip between both the old, deprecated system, and the new one, was to allow them to choose which donation system they'd like to receive bonuses from. Users who contributed under the old system will be able to keep their existing perks, or upgrade to the new system and receive the new ones (and in addition, a free bonus of 15 Credits as a thank you for your continued support!). All users, regardless of when they've contributed, will continue to have a separate user group. One large advantage that the new system also has over the old one is that it's completely automated - that is to say, when you complete your purchase, in most cases (essentially, unless you pay via eCheck), you'll instantly and automagically receive your Credits (as opposed to how it was before, when I had to manually change the user group of each and every contributor). One thing I wanted to make sure to make absolutely clear is that Credits will never, in any way shape or form, be able to be used in any way that only benefit the purchaser. Our core philosophy has always been that the entire game should be available to everyone, whether they are willing to and able to contribute financially or not, and that there should be no gameplay advantages to said users (as much as we do greatly appreciate any and every financial contribution you make!). Even with this new system, however, and any future additions we may make to it, this philosophy remains completely unchanged. We hope you'll enjoy the new system, and the benefits it will bring to everyone! We'd very much like to not have to return to penalizing users who block the advertisements on the site, but if this new system proves unsuccessful, for the good of all GPX users, that will likely be the next step we'll take. If you've contributed between when the old system was discontinued (when the v3 site went live) and today, you should have already been given an appropriate number of Credits. If not, please PM me about it, including the email on the PayPal account that you used, as well the transaction ID (you can find this information in an email you would have received from PayPal, as well as on PayPal itself). A more detailed explanation of everything will be available soon in the help page, along with answers to several questions we anticipate you may have. This thread will automagically open 10 minutes after being posted. Please take the time to read the entire post before replying, yup yup. This post has been edited by Big Bidoof: Oct 10 2012, 05:13 PM -------------------- |
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Oct 10 2012, 03:58 PM
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#2
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Zerkadelic Group: Root Administrators Posts: 3 688 Joined: 11-June 07 From: Texas Member No.: 2 My Favorites |
Please take the time to read everything on the page itself before asking questions, posting a complaint, or purchasing some credits; especially the note at the bottom.
I hope this helps both the site and its users! -------------------- Want a rotating avatar like mine? Check out my website: randimg!
Thanks to all of the people in this thread and this thread for the various avatars! |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:03 PM
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#3
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Megalomaniac out for world domination Group: +Donors Posts: 2 684 Joined: 12-June 07 From: ZodiVille $$$ Member No.: 3 Greatest Team Ever |
And do note if I notice a decent amount of people inside of this thread clearing proving that they haven't read a single thing, I will take action. We're seriously stressing the making sure you read EVERYTHING in it before you post some kind of complaint about it. A question, constructive criticism, or suggestion is fine, but just posting a whiny complaint that proves you didn't read anything is not.
-------------------- Overtaken by Net & Zodi on that track!
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Oct 10 2012, 04:05 PM
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#4
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Surviving Life Group: +Donors Posts: 32 Joined: 19-September 09 From: San Jose, California, United States Member No.: 64 154 Ruby Team |
I really, really appreciate how you guys stuck to that "core" philosophy of never creating an "unfair" advantage that only benefit the purchaser. This is so different from other games that ask for donations. Usually, donors/subscribers have all these stupid, unfair advantages that other non-paying players just yearn to receive (but can't, because of money problems and/or parents won't let them).
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Oct 10 2012, 04:05 PM
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#5
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you got some nice boulders Group: Administrators Posts: 741 Joined: 7-January 08 From: Boston Member No.: 795 porgeymins |
This is a quite nice revision of the system you have here! Having the benefits extend over three days is great, too. I wonder how much I could benefit from this Trinkets-wise... hm. That Hatch+ will be getting a lot of use.
Now I have to choose whether I want the new benefits or the old ones, although this new one is pretty enticing. This post has been edited by Rhapsody: Oct 10 2012, 04:06 PM -------------------- |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:05 PM
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#6
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Mephi from underworld Group: +Donors Posts: 324 Joined: 20-May 09 From: Finland Member No.: 25 170 Party |
This is pretty nice idea C: Might donate a bit later
This post has been edited by Mephistopheles: Oct 10 2012, 04:07 PM -------------------- (English isn't my first language and I also suffer from dyslexia. So sometimes my English might be out of this world...) ->Dragon Cave<- ~~ |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Pokémon Trainer Group: +Donors Posts: 114 Joined: 28-November 10 Member No.: 121 702 Active Squad |
Does the tab for it have to be at the very top? I've clicked it twice already thinking it was still the party button.
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Oct 10 2012, 04:05 PM
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#8
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Elite Trainer Group: Members Posts: 81 Joined: 3-January 10 From: France Member No.: 78 399 Waifu everywhere |
Very interesting, I like the concept! :p
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Oct 10 2012, 04:06 PM
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#9
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This one does not have time for your solid waste excretions. Group: Administrators Posts: 421 Joined: 12-May 09 From: Massachusetts Member No.: 22 312 Team Awesomecakes |
I think this new system is excellent and I'll donate to it as soon as I get home. I love how everyone benefits from it.
-------------------- Please use the Help Page and appropriate Help Forum instead of PMing me. Only PM if it's something you need me or an Admin for specifically. |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:06 PM
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#10
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I'm under yer bed instigating night terrors >8) Group: +Donors Posts: 56 Joined: 2-April 10 From: The District, USA (DC) Member No.: 91 319 PENI- Uh.. SPACE ENVY |
I want the hatch power. Now. Must. Get.
edit: but... I'm so anti-ads. I'm afraid of getting a virus or spyware... so... ehh... wait. the powers wouldn't be permanent. poooo. now decision making is difficult ;; edit 2: each time I read this, I get some different conclusion. Is my reading comprehension that poor? I shame my native tongue >,< edit 3: ohhhh. I get it now. conclusion: I can't afford to continue buying stuff to get no ads, but I want perks which I can't get without switching over. blargh. I hate making decisions. It's nice everyone benefits from the counter though! I can live with ads, I spose. sooner or later. why make a decision now when one can procrastinate...? edit a million: Putting "read carefully and thoroughly etc" on the top would be more effective in making people do so. I've studied human behavior. If a person is inclined to skim or totally ignore the main content of the thread, they aren't going to read bottom bits. Bold and large text helps too. This is a lot to take in. Also, there's stuff explained in the gpx tab of "plus" that isn't here. It took reading both like 5 times for whole kinetics of the process to sink in. I took me forever to realize credit were akin to interactions to pass counter. I kept thinking obscure ways a plus counter would work. *facepalm* I never thought I'd need Spark Notes for a game xD This post has been edited by Boogie Ronnster: Oct 10 2012, 04:39 PM -------------------- Call me Ronnie (or Ronnster) Please :> NOTICE: I'm not that active at this moment so I will be uber slow with PMs and might not clickback or whatever. Maybe I'll be back in full force someday... like for the SWSH... I don't wanna miss out on the prize... <.<
KotRT (click to show ) Maybe I'm just a dreamer (click to show ) credits and personal notice (click to show ) |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:06 PM
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#11
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Pokémon Trainer Group: +Donors Posts: 8 Joined: 18-September 09 From: NY Member No.: 63 846 Active Squad |
Whoa, neat! o-o Some of those new "Plus"es sound soooooooo useful & it's pretty cool that it benefits everyone too. For 3 days! Does it say how many credits are needed to fill a counter or is that a secret? :P But this seems like a good way to encourage more donations without making it seem "unfair" for users who can donate to be able to receive more perks. This way, everyone wins!
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Oct 10 2012, 04:06 PM
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#12
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Flooooon Group: +Donors Posts: 63 Joined: 15-April 09 From: Wales, United Kingdom Member No.: 11 832 Active Squad |
So if I was to upgrade to this new donation thingy, would I still keep the + at the beginning of my name? That's all I care about at the moment really, lol. This sounds pretty awesome though so once I get money and my question answered I will most likely switch over.
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Oct 10 2012, 04:07 PM
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#13
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My life's a theater. Group: Members Posts: 1 902 Joined: 26-July 09 From: BlahBlahland Member No.: 50 181 MonoPoison |
omg this is awesome omggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
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Oct 10 2012, 04:07 PM
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#14
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The Manticore Group: +Donors Posts: 168 Joined: 12-April 09 From: One of the Buffalo Member No.: 10 532 Burds4Manti |
Interesting. I'll have to think about which system I'd prefer.
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Oct 10 2012, 04:07 PM
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#15
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Made of random and Joltik love / Totally not a fangirl Group: +Donors Posts: 935 Joined: 28-March 09 Member No.: 6 080 Diamond Party |
Aside from all the stuff about the system itself: Could you move the Plus tab button somewhere else? I understand you want to make it as eye-catching as possible (at least for now), but to be honest, the way it is now suggests that it's more important than the Main page. In the long run this will probably get a little annoying.
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Oct 10 2012, 04:07 PM
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#16
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Adorable Demonic Pinecone Group: Advisors Posts: 2 345 Joined: 10-July 08 From: Alterion Member No.: 2 319 ORAS Team |
Don't know if I'll get any, but hope it helps keep up the site
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Oct 10 2012, 04:08 PM
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#17
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Pokémon Trainer Group: +Donors Posts: 120 Joined: 17-July 09 Member No.: 47 440 Active Squad |
I think this is a good plan.
I donated a long time ago to support the site and hide the ads. Will the ads return once my "credits" expire? EDIT: I see I have a choice about remaining grandfathered or changing to the new system. EDIT2: Removed my grumpy thoughts and just hope this provides an effectively way for the community to support the developers. This post has been edited by ThunderMoss: Oct 10 2012, 08:39 PM -------------------- * * * |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:09 PM
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#18
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Prepare yourself. Group: +Donors Posts: 123 Joined: 1-July 09 From: Pennsylvania Member No.: 40 898 Favorite Pokemon |
This sounds like a really great idea! I'd donate, but I don't have much money right now and I need to save it until I at least land a job.
Also, I just noticed that the Plus tab stays selected even when I'm viewing a different tab. :/ Bug maybe? -------------------- My art thread. Click on my eggs and Pokemon and I may click yours too. ^^ And don't forget, Keldeo is the most adorable pony Pokemon ever. |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:09 PM
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#19
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Catch me if you can. Group: +Donors Posts: 121 Joined: 23-July 12 From: New York City Member No.: 168 510 Active Squad |
So basically, you're letting every single user (with the exception of donors) on this site get the benefits of plus effects we buy with our own hard earned money? That sounds like something Obama would do...and I'm not a huge fan of sharing the wealth. And the effects seem like way too big, doubling pass orbs and all that for 3 DAYS.
Could we nerf some of these plus effects? -------------------- |
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Oct 10 2012, 04:10 PM
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#20
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Cheep cheep! Group: +Donors Posts: 23 Joined: 15-October 09 From: Kalos Member No.: 68 530 Hmm.... |
I really appreciate that this system benefits all users, even those unable to donate. I'll be doing what I can to support the site.
EDIT: I want to add that I really appreciate the hard work that went into GPX 3.0, and the everyday running of the site. The new site design is one of the slickest and most intuitive of any site I visit (I wish my online banking was as shiny as this!) and it's really impressive to me the work that goes into making it this way. I'm coming up on my 3 year anniversary on the site, and I hope to keep playing as long as the site's here. This post has been edited by Spacecat: Oct 10 2012, 04:24 PM -------------------- |
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