Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!ames!amdahl!nsc!voder!apple!rmh From: rmh@apple.UUCP (Rick Holzgrafe) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Shareware (was Red Ryder) Message-ID: <6722@apple.UUCP> Date: Thu, 12-Nov-87 17:41:18 EST Article-I.D.: apple.6722 Posted: Thu Nov 12 17:41:18 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Nov-87 01:49:29 EST References: <377UD069225@NDSUVM1> <172@ut-emx.UUCP> <6606@apple.UUCP> <1728@cognos.UUCP> Reply-To: rmh@apple.UUCP (Rick Holzgrafe) Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, USA Lines: 110 In article <1728@cognos.UUCP> roberts@cognos.UUCP (Robert Stanley) writes: >In article <6606@apple.UUCP> rmh@apple.UUCP (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: > >> I'm a shareware author ("Scarab of RA", a graphics adventure game [...] > >> So why doesn't it sell? I dunno - could be >> a) poor distribution ... >> or b) it's not as hot as I think it is :-( >> or c) people are playing it in droves, but not paying up, >> or d) it just takes time to get noticed... > >I am one of the many people who acquired Scarab of Ra when it appeared on >usenet in comp.binaries.mac. I was immediately impressed by the unusual >professionalism of the product [...Thanks! --rmh] > >But I am also one of the people who hasn't paid my $10 to Rick! > [...] As far as I was concerned, >the game was extremely pretty to look at, but no fun to play, and it is no >longer present on my system. I know I have a copy somewhere, because I am a >compulsive hoarder, but I sure haven't seen it in months. [...] > >Rick - tell me I'm wrong, and I'll dig the game out and send you $$ - promise. Robert, you're not wrong. The shareware deal is that you pay for it only if you like it enough to keep using it. Since you used it for only a week or two, then got bored, you certainly shouldn't pay. (But keep your copy if you're willing to give it disk space, and hand it on to anyone interested. Should you ever dig it out and develop a sudden, inexplicable addiction to it -- *then* pay. :-) Robert Stanley didn't pay because of reason b) above, which is perfectly proper: no program can please everyone, especially games. Other folks have sent ecstatic fan letters, so I'm obviously pleasing some people and not others. No surprise there. He continues: >Value for money is in the eye of the beholder, and I suspect that most >shareware users who don't pay either figure it isn't worth it (but may well go >on using the thing occasionally, anyway), or let payment slide so long that it >simply drops off the things-to-be-done stack. > >So, what's the answer, since most of us appreciate the enormous effort that >goes into creating a quality product? Perhaps an irritating inclusion which >counts the number of usages and quietly says NO (or something) when the limit >has been exceeded. Payment/registration would yield the magic word to unlock >the program. I know, easy to get around, but the *fact* that you have to get >around it will a) remind you that you haven't paid, or b) stop you using it >when you haven't paid. That's a vote for c), and a suggestion on ways around it. Possibly correct - but one reason the on-line help in "Scarab of RA" is so complete is because I *hate* turning out a lame product. Copy protection, magic passwords, and annoying pop-up demands for payment get in the way of using any program. They're not friendly, and that's a huge sin in the Mac world (or any world). Sending a printed manual to registered owners is not a bad idea, though: an on-line-only manual is a pain if it's of any size, and offering a printed manual is using a carrot instead of a stick to get people to pay. But one reason Scarab is shareware is because I don't want to run a mail-order business. (*sigh*) I've had some other mail on this issue. Joel West writes: >I think it's very difficult for shareware products to get >noticed in crowded markets. So if the product is unique >or nearly so (I'm thinking of QDial or Stuffit) it's one >case, but if there are a ream of commercial, advertised, >promoted products pushed through dealers, that's another. >Unique well-done products that solve a real need sell, history >shows. If it's a small need, maybe a small product (not >7 man-months) at a small price will do well. This makes sense to me. Certainly one more adventure game is not earth-shattering news in the Mac market or in any other. Count a vote for reason d), and I'll reconsider shareware if I ever think up such a product. (BTW, how are QDial and Stuffit doing as shareware? Anyone care to comment?) Perhaps we can draw a moral: you can't make money selling something unless you put some time and effort (and money) into marketing it. Perhaps there are exceptions but those of us without truly exceptional products had better remember the rule. I might be making more money if I sold a manual and/or hints booklet for Scarab... and spent my evenings writing addresses, licking stamps, and hassling California sales tax regulations. James T Sasaki writes: > [...Scarab] crashed my SE [on launch...] The program in question doesn't crash *my* SE (or my Plus, or my Mac II - it's nice working for Apple :-) so I presume Mr. Sasaki got a bad copy. He got it off of Usenet. That, plus the on-going flood of re-transmit requests for part 17 of 35 of whatever came by recently, suggests that a lot of software (on Usenet, at least) is not getting much distribution because it doesn't survive the trip. This may be a vote for reason a), though Usenet is certainly not the only distribution channel for Mac shareware. Please send further discussion directly to me, and I'll summarize again if the response justifies it. ...in the meantime, anyone got a good 'snd ' recording of a cash register? *CHING* $-) ========================================================================== Rick Holzgrafe | {sun,voder,nsc,mtxinu,dual}!apple!rmh Communications Software Engineer | AppleLink HOLZGRAFE1 (I don't look often) Apple Computer, Inc. | "All opinions expressed are mine, and do 20525 Mariani Ave. MS: 27-Y | not necessarily represent those of my Cupertino, CA 95014 | employer, Apple Computer Inc."