Subscriber Package

p

Well I'd imagine the rule would be almost identical to having your own webpage.

You can put your own things up theire, to a reason.

e.g. blatantly posting illegal links(if there is such a thing) would be a no-no.

Though it would be a personal site so I don't think you'd have moderators for them. If you did I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

- Kevin

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

leeroybrown

This thread keps oming back around to this.

The subscribers package would just be a few incentives for members who feel like supporting boards to part with cash. I'd pay if to support Boards, the extra services would just be a bonus.

Sangre

Okay I like the idead of the 'supporter' pack, a nice way to help out with running of the boards.
To me its not really the content of the pack that counts but what it is doing for the community.

Unfortunately atm, I would now be able to pay for this pack and I just want to ask the admins not to make the pack too good or too important.
I fear that their may be a boards.ie support pack elitism, probably subconsciencly though. People thinking I pay for this so I can give the muppet cráp etc, or I can post whatever I want I paid for this!

This is probably me just worrying for nothing since most of those who get the pack will be regular upstanding citizens.

But I'd hate to think that me and those who cant pay ie students were missing out on something that they would love to be involved in.

Thorbar

Sign me up for a year please just a few questions about the sevice.

What are the chances of having a DC hub being setup?

What are the chances of having a Counterstrike server hosted by boards being setup?

How much webspace are we getting and will there be php/mysql support?

If I turn into a retard and get banned from boards.ie 6 months into my subs will I still have access to my blogs/webspace/email/pictures?

If I upload a custom avatar and someone copies and pastes it as their custom avatar will I be able to skull f00k them?

Will you be having a last ten posts in blogs on the front page kinda like the last five updates to columns in fortress.ie?

Maybe you could get one of your sponsers to print a pile of boards.ie t-shirts with ads on the back ala komplett, hosting365.ie and elara and throw this in for free with the pack?

DeVore

Originally posted by Thorbar
Sign me up for a year please just a few questions about the sevice.

What are the chances of having a DC hub being setup?

Eh? None. Ask around, theres a dublin one organised through the broadband forum.

What are the chances of having a Counterstrike server hosted by boards being setup?

We already have a NS server up on troll (cos Regi likes it )... beyond that, very little chance. Its not our thing and we'd be muscling in on some people's areas to do that. I wouldnt say its impossible but its not on the agenda just now.

How much webspace are we getting and will there be php/mysql support?

Eh? Whats this webspace you are talking about? We're offering services here, not ftp access and webspace (which we already do in the members area).

If I turn into a retard and get banned from boards.ie 6 months into my subs will I still have access to my blogs/webspace/email/pictures?

Yes, or we'd refund the remainder. If you DO retain access, you can imagine the staring eye of Sauron on your account though
We havent sat down and thought that through just yet but the first muppet to bleet about his "rights" as a result of supporting boards will get 50 quid thrown back at him I can tell you.

If I upload a custom avatar and someone copies and pastes it as their custom avatar will I be able to skull f00k them?

If its the same we will police it. The system wont allow two files with the same name as it stands.

Will you be having a last ten posts in blogs on the front page kinda like the last five updates to columns in fortress.ie?

Yes, thats already there now.

Maybe you could get one of your sponsers to print a pile of boards.ie t-shirts with ads on the back ala komplett, hosting365.ie and elara and throw this in for free with the pack?

Thats actually not a bad idea. I'll have a think about it. The cost of printed t-shirts is a LOT and probably wouldnt be feasible.
I dont like branding them either but if it was someone we got along with like H365 or Komplett it wouldnt seem like a sell out.

DeV.

Thorbar

Didn't know about the DC hub set up through the BB forum nice one.

Honestly there's only really one Irish cs server active at the moment so I think there's loads of space for another server if you got a few of the lads from the cs board to admin/run it then you might inject a bit of life back into the community.

So any eta on when all this will be starting up?

DeVore

It rolled out to user-beta-test today. There are a few people who have been granted access to give it a good kickin' to test it.

DeV.

hussey

Just one question/suggestion

would it ever be possible for users to be able to have a php/servet/cgi access?

not for everyone as that could be bad, but for some trust worthy ppl who just want to test stuff etc.?

ecksor

Maybe. Not soon though.

amp

I R TEH TESTING OV TEH BETA WAT I HAX0RED FROM X0R! I EM TEH L44t!! FE3R! MEH SKILZ!?

amp

AAAGG! WHER IS MEH FORTH STAR!¬? i R NOT SAYING MODARATOR UNDAR MEH NAME! PLUS WHY IS MEH TEH NEW HOT PR0N AVATARAR NOT BEEN DISPLAYZORED?

MAK WIT TEH FIXING LIOKE ALRADY!

ecksor

Maybe. Not soon though.

amp

WAT? J00 SAID THAT ALREEDIE?! Y R J00 A NO0B WIT NO POST COUNT AND R HAF 5 STARZ?

ITZ S0 UNFARE!1!

pS X-MEN WAZ A DAFT FLIM! Y WAZ PIKARD IN R WEELCHARE? DU JOO HAF TEH STEAL NUCKLEZ OV DETH? R J00 SCANING MEH BRANE?

Asuka

At least youve got a little 'supporter' tag amp, i wasnt even afforded that

A

regi

At least youve got a little 'supporter' tag amp, i wasnt even afforded that

I was just about to look into that...

[edit] Found it

Asuka

Thanks regi I feel like a complete person again

A

Samson

I'm sure I know the answer to this already, but I'll ask anyway:
Can my customised avatar be an animated gif?

CuLT

I don't know how hard this would be to do, but reading thru ecksors journals I got an idea.
Any chance of a small shell account? And I do mean small, just something that could host a bouncer maybe?

ecksor

That is something that I would like to see happen. Although, the facility to host a bouncer or anything else that could cause abuse would be either disallowed or open only to 'supporters' or something else (the issue being traceability rather than money).

Gordon

Why do the blogs not have a button that says "View" as opposed to "discuss"? Or both.

CuLT

Originally posted by ecksor
That is something that I would like to see happen. Although, the facility to host a bouncer or anything else that could cause abuse would be either disallowed or open only to 'supporters' or something else (the issue being traceability rather than money).

Well yes I did have supporters in mind when I thought of it , its a service that most people have to pay for anyway, so if it were part of the supporters pack I would *hope* that it might be feasable.

DeVore

It wont happen with this supporters pack but its something we are interested in looking at later. Something like that doesnt just happen overnight.

DeV.

amp

J00 SHUD WERK 4 MIC$ROS0Ft!! WIT ALL J00RR "STEEMWARE"?! PRODUX!

Thorbar

Not sure if this is possible but how about for supporters you bring back the * on forums you haven't viewed in the top nav bar instead of just your subbed forums? I remember you removed this before because it was killing the db but would it be able to handle the number of supporters?

irishgeo

dont know why no suggested this but will supporters have to see banner ads on the top.

how about a supportes only forum as well?

finally where do i sign for this supporters pack?

Jesus talk about boards taken over your life, they are taking over the world.

well done devore regi cloud and the rest of the boards admin and tech support team.

keep up the mighty work.

just curious as to know when the new index page lauching?

and any word on vbullentin 3

DeVore

Thorbar, those arent bad ideas but we didnt think of them so they arent going in THIS round of the subscribers pack. We do plan on constantly adding little features for subscribers only (after all, if people are helping us keep the place running we can scratch their backs with features they would like to see).

The idea behind the pack is not so much to make money as to power regi to be able to spend more time coding cool stuff that we want. So, in theory, you should see fewer times when we say "yeah nice idea but we havent the time to implement it".

DeV.

DeVore

Originally posted by irishgeo
dont know why no suggested this but will supporters have to see banner ads on the top.

Never thought of that. Wont happen phase 1 as we are almost out of test phase but will think about it. Problem being that some of our ads are not really ads but community announcements (like boards beers, the trek etc) and one of them (Hosting 365) goes to pay for our hosting costs, which we would otherwise have to cover from supporters fees.
Tricky one, let me think it through.

how about a supporters only forum as well?

Way ahead of ya!
It will be a place for supporters to discuss features they might like to see in future and a sort of coffee lounge for them to hang out.

finally where do i sign for this supporters pack?

Details are being finalised. It will be stress tested by the Mods (to ensure we arent burying our server with it!) and then released to the public. Shouldnt be much more then 2 weeks now, maybe less. We have a few banking issues to sort out (we wont be taking credit cards on day one unfortunately... fncking banks!).

Jesus talk about boards taken over your life, they are taking over the world.

well done devore regi cloud and the rest of the boards admin and tech support team.

keep up the mighty work.

Thanks, we're kinda enjoying it actually

just curious as to know when the new index page lauching?

Ask Figment (who's up to his tits in a new job ) , nah we are planning to have a look'n'feel for community feedback Real Soon Now and it will be implemented in a few weeks. Go Go Power-Regi.

and any word on vbullentin 3

Dont get me started. Its STILL in feckin beta test. GRRRR.
Muppets.

DeV.

MindPhuck

Tom,

I dont fancy subscribing on a yearly basis. However, I still want to help out, so is there like a 'gold members' option that I can do a one off 'lifetime' payment ? If so, how much ?

Eric

Gordon

/MindPhuck throws a curveball...

ecksor

I've always wanted a gold member.

Clintons Cat

there is a drawback to the one off payment system,

mainly all your revenue will be generated in one financial tax year meaning a whopping tax bill on that capital.with no guarentee of a sustainable takeup of offers the following year to offset the shortfall.

A more viable alternative would be to offer discounts for the following year to subscribers,makes more sense with regards sustainable growth.

Well thats enough corporate speak...

davej

that I can do a one off 'lifetime' payment ?

I was going to ask the very same question! I would find this an appealing way to do it as well. Though I'd still go for the annual one if the once off lifetime payment option wasn't possible.

As for the tax drawback, I hardly see the lifetime option being taken up in droves, I mean we'd be talking about at least €200 or so wouldn't we?

davej

Wook

subscriber packages only to be bought on boards beer ? Not sure if i want to meet up with a bunch of locked pissed Irish geekds
Is there space to save away (store) signature files with the package

jd

Originally posted by ecksor
I've always wanted a gold member.

jd

Originally posted by Wook
subscriber packages only to be bought on boards beer ?

I'd just send a check somewhere, if thats ok..


[edit] oh its in the store-vg-i'll do it in the next week.
...[/edit]

[edit2] thats just the t-shirt-damn[/edit2]

Mr E

Suggestion .... how about different colour stars for supporters? Or an icon before or after the stars?

The (Supporter) beside the stars looks a bit out of place.

Anyway, I'll be signing up when its ready. Keep up the good work!

- Dave.

ballooba

Do boards have a merchant account now? Can I pay for advertising with a Credit Card?

Also was it fun explaining Boards.ie to the bank manager?

jd

Hoe about a new t-shirt in the shop for 50/60 euros say.
i assume a receipts is sent via email-so if this is forwarded to some boards address the person is added as a supporter?
jd

DeVore

/me falls over from all the questions.


Um, ok I'll try and answer as many as I can.

1. I doubt the *'s will come back unless we get a hunking great big server (actually, thats pretty likely so keep your fingers crossed) but for the moment, its not going to happen just yet..

2. We've given no thought to a "life-time membership". It might actually be bad for Boards as it means in the future we'd *have* to expand to sustain whatever structure we put in place now. Not sure I like that but I understand (and appreciate) where people are coming from on that. Right now I'll be happy if we get the pack out the door. I REALLY like Clinton's Cat's idea of a lower re-sign-up cost. Thats a loyalty thing in my mind, if you were with us last year, you should get something back for signing up for another year. That gets a thumbs up.

3. Who said you had to come to the Boards beer to buy the pack?? EH? Wouldnt be fair to country people now would it...
No, we'll take cash/cheques there if people want to give them to us but we'll be putting out Bank Details and will hopefully have a Merchant Account for Credit Card processing soon.

We're going to be taking the t-shirts off-line as the service is too expensive and isnt working as we would like it to.


Balloba, you have no idea what it was like trying to explain Boards.ie to the bank manager. I swear I could see the guy's brain actually break. They still arent sure about giving us a credit card Merchant Account, they are thinking about it


Did I miss anything?

DeV.

Gordon

I can't remember if you mentioned this - will you take Direct Debits? And will you provide the easy fill-inable form or do I have to get off my arse and go to the bank to do this myself?

ballooba

Originally posted by DeVore
Ballooba, you have no idea what it was like trying to explain Boards.ie to the bank manager. I swear I could see the guy's brain actually break. They still arent sure about giving us a credit card Merchant Account, they are thinking about it

Did you actually see the hamster jump off the flywheel and run out the back of his head?

I can imagine what he was thinking. F*cking hippies.

Ulster bank are really good for merchant accounts, they were the most forward thinking bank when dot.coms started and the first to offer Merchant accounts to dot.ies. Sorry I should have mentioned this a couple of weeks ago.

DeVore

Its Ulster Bank that we are using actually.

They asked us for a Business Plan. ROFL.
We have actually had to write up a business plan, which basically states the opposite of most business plans. We wont be making loads of profit in a really short time frame, we wont be expanding staff head-counts or exporting to the EU market and we arent really interested in making profit. We dont have an office per-se and we all have other full time jobs (currently).

We tried to explain the concept of community supported "enterprise" but the closest he could get to it was "so its like a farmers co-op. On the net." Which we decided was as good as we were going to get and so let him go so he could return to the other capitalists

He was actually fascinated by it, kinda like people are fasincated by a freak show but they dont want to get TOO close hahahah...

DeV.

ballooba

Did you get my email Dev? Sent it to tom@spin.ie

DeVore

Yup but its friday before a long weekend, if you are waiting for a reply from me today I suggest a newspaper and perhaps a portable radio. (I'll be in touch).

DeV.

ballooba

No worries, it is not urgent at all.

Bard

Originally posted by DeVore
"so its like a farmers co-op. On the net."

Aa'right Farmer, DeV... oi be orf to mend moi tractor.

[cue - theme tune from the Archers]




So... any plan on a general release date, or Mod release date for the supporters pack..?

DeVore

Mod release will be whatever time we get up on Tuesday. Pending things going ok I expect general release with the fortnight.

DeV.

Victor

Originally posted by DeVore
We tried to explain the concept of community supported "enterprise" but the closest he could get to it was "so its like a farmers co-op. On the net." Which we decided was as good as we were going to get and so let him go so he could return to the other capitalists

Technically it is closer to a (night / golf) club where you (admins) are the shareholders and we are mere members / customers. That you are not-for-profit is completely separate.

Gordon

I'm surprised you didn't give the bank manager the special freemason handshake DeV, just think - max interest rates and no charges.