A while ago I decided to cancel the old plans to have a 2-tiered structure, free account and premium. I don't want to charge money for extra features, and my feelings remain the same.

However there's been some persistent feedback that some people would be happy to contribute a modest fee for services. In some cases people want to contribute, in other people don't wish to see adverts (they feel strongly against adverts or adverts interfere with gameplay due to their system setup).

I was also thinking I could completely remove the top part of the game window (with logo and advert) for such users gaining significant space.

Note I have no plans to change the current service or that a user will get any additional features.

I'm just after some feedback for now.

Nick

Edited at 18:20 Thu 14/08/08 (BST)

It probably wouldnt affect me, as we all know what im like at playing!!

Its a great idea for those who take the games seriously though (E'spesh those,who as you said, has games affected, due to Ads wtc) Id probs contribute just for the fact its a great site you have given us anyway.


~Paula~



Edited at 18:33 Thu 14/08/08 (BST)

How about donations? alot of free sites offer this feature..You could use paypal or another form along that line, I know id donate

A great idea nick-

Just to lose the ads at the top will convince many people to sign up to this.

What kind of fee are you thinking at the minute? And would it be monthly or annually or one off?

I think if you give an idea of the figures you are thinking and the term they would be valid for you'dd get better feedback from people.

Maybe also an annoucement as per the new table thread, to get lots of people who dont post's views on it.

Be even better if you didnt have auto start on the premium accounts though

Or even doubles!!!!! lmao

For me adverts are a part of the site, they really do not make that much of a difference to me as the gameplay for myself is perfect. I lag once in a while but that is usually down to my own doing with limewire etc... and even the lag I get which is down to funkypool, it does not stop me enjoying the game and is not even close to severe enough for me to pay to exclude it, but like you say, my sytem set-up is different.
I would, however, donate to a cause that I think is worthwile for the site. The only trouble, Nick and I'm sure you respect this, is the amount. I don't know you from adam, and I could donate say £20 because I think some feature is very cool, for it to turn out completely different to what I expected or even what you say it will be.

I'm kinda struggling to get my point across without maybe coming across disrespectful or spoilt or spiteful, but I'm just trying to hit a note of realism, and I hope you can see that. It would need some kind of reassurence.

I think if the game were to have premium, users would need to have alot more choice, as in choices about things that suit them personally, that wouldn't affect others..

Not sure if that makes sense, hopefully someone will know what I'm getting at

i do. just little features that you done get normally, like bigger character limit on posts and more table colours....things like that.

I think if the price was reasonable enough just to remove the ads plenty of people would do it.

Again, i dont think people can really say they dont like it. Its just another option that if you dont wanna use, you dont have too.

A lot of forums that i see on the net have bonus features just for people who pay as apposed to people who visit for free.
But, in this case i think removing the ads would create a lot of interest

Yeah, and I also mean like when some features are introduced, if you're paying for the game, if that feature isn't wanted personally, then you shouldn't have to put up with it imo..

Obviously, I don't mean things that are to do with how rankings are done, and other things that should remain equal accross the site..

As in say avatars at the top of the table, alot of people dont like it, if it bugs you enough and you are paying, maybe you shouldn't have to have it..

Agreed that alot of people would be interested if ads were gone, majority of people on here complain

Makes no difference either way to me.

For my part, I would happily donate a bit, but other than that the game is fine as is for me.

Great idea chris this would be much better for everyone.
I think it would be harder to find new members to play on the site.
This site appeals to alot people mainly because it is free the younger members would have trouble paying any subscription fees as they wont have a debit or credit card to do it and i doubt there parents will give it to them.

As long as the is still an option to have a free account on here it might no be so bad, but i have to say that i would be against this decision

Can you the features that the free accounts would get and what the premium account would get please

The thing is that if the site start to charge some people might leave and go to yahoo pool

I stick with this site because its a good site to play on and i have some good friends on here now

Please dont change it

Edited at 21:06 Thu 14/08/08 (BST)

Also to be a moderator will you have to have a premium account or would you get upgraded to premium for free as part of been a moderator?

The option to have free account is still there. This is just another option.

I dont think youd have to have premium to be a moderator either.


There are no extra features really other than not seeing adverts, which to some people will be enough to pay a little.

I see nick is thinking of making premium either 3 or 6 months long on a snooker thread. So you would pay £x every 3 or 6 months not to see adverts. This x would have to cover the average income over the same period of the user seeing adverts.

I think the introduction of a system to allow people to donate in exchange for having no ads, or any other cosmetic change (the old "golden cue idea" is a very good proposal.

Some sites i use offer a donation based system which give you access to services for a time based on donation amount. This lets you make a small donation first to see if you like it, and offers a discount for users wanting to make larger donations.

Just a little request to people to please read Nicks initial post before replying. The core game will always be free.

No id stay like i am nick, i no i have had a moan but to come on a site just to have no ad, when actually i could get something for it, if you say it users setups. i think i would do that to be honest then pay to come on here.

Team Uni Sex.

I didn't even notice there were ads lol.

Thats what i meant



~Dot Cotton~

Well imagine the amount of people wanting rid of the adverts yes?

Charge them say...a fiver per year (not very realistic IMO)

It would fund the site very well, probably even better than the actual adverts??

How are the advertisers going to feel about not being shown to a lrge proportion of users. I'm assuming that the money collected from users wishing to get rid of the adverts would cover the reduction in income from the adverts I suppose.

Edited at 00:37 Fri 15/08/08 (BST)

It must do.


Its a great idea I'm just thinking how many users would do it ?

And sometimes i just have a pure black screen..

and then i have adds sometimes..

Yes sounds a great idea Nick. I think many people will pay for what you mentioned.