46 replies to this topic

[hurtand165]

So tell me how does one become a vip ?

On the old forums other than layout designer and admin there were no more levels to get up to. so what does one do to be a Vip ?

There were no more ranks you could get just by posting, the V.I.P rank was for people like Pete_w, Impersonator, Dialtone, ReAnnimator, TheRealWizard. i can't remember who else but they all had done something good for the scene.


Hurtand165

[Gazeyre1966]

I think this is a good idea but if you are looking for another way of bringing in the lucre, might I suggest a special VIP Fruit Machine area. I'm not talking about cutting off the main supply...but an area with maybe 10 good machines in it that people can only access and download once they have donated or contributed to the scene?

[Bencrest]

Hmm... not for the 10 machines idea, but would be all for say Arcade access and stuff for donators. Not essential to the site, but worth a fiver of anyones money surely?

[frankie4fingers]

Good idea for donators and the like.

[Gazeyre1966]

True Madman....Guess access should be open to everyone, although it kills me that you guys put in so much hard work and get so little reward. Really rips my guts out when these guys ask for Party Time, Pie Factory, etc...and then don't bother even posting when told they can't get 'em. I'd DEFINITELY charge if the tech to run Party Time ever came out though....1,000 noobs X £20?....lol

Ben, your idea might work. Not sure though. I guess we just have to rely on the good nature of people.

[Zoltar]

True Madman....Guess access should be open to everyone, although it kills me that you guys put in so much hard work and get so little reward. Really rips my guts out when these guys ask for Party Time, Pie Factory, etc...and then don't bother even posting when told they can't get 'em. I'd DEFINITELY charge if the tech to run Party Time ever came out though....1,000 noobs X £20?....lol

Ben, your idea might work. Not sure though. I guess we just have to rely on the good nature of people.

The whole reason the emulators and layouts are free in the first place is because the first emulator was created solely to make money for it's creator. It was produced as a gambling aid for the pro's. You bought the emulator and got a handful of layouts. Then the manufacturers threatened legal action.

Also, any layouts created for a restricted few, how long would it take for arguments to start, layouts passing between people on a 'hush hush' basis and those with the layouts developing giant ego's and pretending they are some sort of 'FME Royalty'. See, it's all been done before and that is why the scene is so mis-trusting of itself. This whole scene could have been like the MAME scene with constant updates, frequent input from the authors and geniune motivation from the masses if everything was kept civilized and within the rules.

Anything FME related has to be available for all for free. Charging, wether for a layout or even to fund a forum is in my opinion as bad as the sellers on eBay. Funding has to be a voluntary thing. Other incentives to generate though, thats a different story.

[Pgamblin]

Design an emu, make a massive donation, make a little donation, learn the secret handshake, live in dartford, design a couple of layouts, run a fruit machine company and give fruit emu the nod about releasing old tech roms, drink alot (my personal favourite), discover lotsa lost roms,sound roms, the list goes on and on and on....

So drinking a lot and also being the guard between empire roms and newbies wont help.......

[DaemonX]

I think £10 is acceptable.

This is a great place and although I haven't contributed (yet....) missus watches money like a hawk, I need to sell on ebay to get funds into my paypal lol.

I would love to have an address.

Maybe for the 'bizarre' visiters they can pay £15 for a 'unique' email, like some of the other sites offer?

EG.... DaemonX@Clownsdontkillpeople.com

of is that going to far lol

I'd pay tho. (for the fruit-emu one)

[Bencrest]

I think the main thing people need to understand is

You are NOT 'buying an Email address' - you are supporing website that you have to admit, is bound to get a huge bandwidth, through a cash donation, and are getting extra download ability, and an Email address as a way of saying thanks

[DaemonX]

Pgamblin... there is an easier way...

Just change ya title under your nick to V.I.P. Member and hope people don't notice lol

Regulars here would see it and maybe ignore it or laugh about it.

but think of the stature it'll gain you with NOOBS muahahahaaaa

maybe I'll become a VIP, I'm already a TSAR. (no NOT a To££@r)

yay payday, might go donate now

BTW, why isn't there a running total on the homepage anymore?

[BobbyL]

It's a great idea.I wanted to do it on one of my sites but my host said it has a lot of legal implications .......spam etc.....maybe they just didn't like the idea.I really like the idea of an addy for a donation (£10) though and maybe for good contributors to the site.

On another note............ excellent first issue of the Fruit-Emu Newsletter.It really got my attention (thats why I'm here now )

[ady]

It's a great idea.I wanted to do it on one of my sites but my host said it has a lot of legal implications .......spam etc.....maybe they just didn't like the idea.I really like the idea of an addy for a donation (£10) though and maybe for good contributors to the site.

On another note............ excellent first issue of the Fruit-Emu Newsletter.It really got my attention (thats why I'm here now )

A lot of people bobby don't realise that it cost's to run this site....the attitude is, well I can get it for free so why bother?, say that non-stop an FE won't stay around i'm sure.

[syco]

Yeah, agreed. People just don't realise just how many costs are involved in running sites, even if it's not directly related to hosting... It's all costs, if it's not actual dosh it's time...

I think the new newsletter is an excellent idea and looked excellent (thanks for the links too! ) I'll be donating again shortly... Just waiting for friggin paypal to load

[mythicos]

Not worth it tbh.

People will want them if theyre free and wont want them if they have to pay for them.

If they dont pay for them its far too much messing around (you guys have done more than enough as it is)

And as I said if they arent free they wont generate enough revenue to be worthwhile..

[dave1de]

I still think that the best way to get donations is to sell DVDs with the emus on for £20. This way about 12, 13 or maybe even 14 quid can go onto the site. People will pay for a dvd of fruities on it, i certainly would, the emus can still be on here, but you can charge £20 to have them all on disc.

[Dr DX]

yeah i wud pay that

[dave1de]

so you get the @fruit-emu.com part

[mythicos]

I still think that the best way to get donations is to sell DVDs with the emus on for £20. This way about 12, 13 or maybe even 14 quid can go onto the site. People will pay for a dvd of fruities on it, i certainly would, the emus can still be on here, but you can charge £20 to have them all on disc.

The emus are copyright and thus selling them would result in seriously bad blood with their coders.

Selling roms is also illegal, and that would also light the fuse on the bomb.

Neither are a very good idea..

The best way to handle it is to "pay and view" meaning, if there's enough money to fund it for the month it opens, if theres not the site goes away.

As a song once said "on and on it seems to go on, but you dont know what you got til its gone" - people will not know why this place is worth a fiver every now and then until it vanishes one day, and then theyll be sitting about complaining.

Let the funds run in the background, if there aint enough noone can complain when the place closes until enough has been donated to get it running again..

Its the same thing with the email accounts, people will want them if theyre free but wont pay out shit if theyre not..

It's life, full of tight fisted meanies and gamblers who would rather put their last quid into a losing bet than put it on a much safer no lose bet like this place !.