Subscriptions, What the hell are they?

[mcornetto]

So I got the email saying a qualify for a free one for a year....

And I'm really tempted...but...you do want my credit card number even though there's no charge and I'm not finding much detail regarding what the subscription is all about.

I pay you for a discount and some points is all I can really find...

I'd like more details - like how much one will cost when it's no longer free...

Cheers,

Michael

[kv]

I received the email also, however I found it gave a reasonable amount of information regarding subscriptions, it also gives a link to full details here.

What they are basically saying is that Moviestorm is still free, and you can still buy addons, use the site and post your movies etc, however by subscribing you get points, with these points you can purchase addons at a discounted price compared to the price you pay if you stayed a free user.

[wizaerd]

I received the email also, however I found it gave a reasonable amount of information regarding subscriptions, it also gives a link to full details here.

What they are basically saying is that Moviestorm is still free, and you can still buy addons, use the site and post your movies etc, however by subscribing you get points, with these points you can purchase addons at a discounted price compared to the price you pay if you stayed a free user.

So if I already own all the content packs, there's no real incentive to do this subscription thing today... And there's no telling when new content will be available, or if it's even content I would be interested in, so the subscription may not be a cost effective measure. As I can tell, today, there's no real incentive for me to subscribe...

[Moviestorm]

So I got the email saying a qualify for a free one for a year....

And I'm really tempted...but...you do want my credit card number even though there's no charge and I'm not finding much detail regarding what the subscription is all about.

I pay you for a discount and some points is all I can really find...

I'd like more details - like how much one will cost when it's no longer free...

Cheers,

Michael

We can't honestly say how much it'll cost you a year from now. What we can tell you is that right now, a month's subscription costs $7.99 (or the approximate equivalent in sterling or euros). If you go to annual, you pay for ten months.

[mcornetto]

I received the email also, however I found it gave a reasonable amount of information regarding subscriptions, it also gives a link to full details here.

What they are basically saying is that Moviestorm is still free, and you can still buy addons, use the site and post your movies etc, however by subscribing you get points, with these points you can purchase addons at a discounted price compared to the price you pay if you stayed a free user.

Thanks, that answered my questions.

[wizaerd]

We can't honestly say how much it'll cost you a year from now. What we can tell you is that right now, a month's subscription costs $7.99 (or the approximate equivalent in sterling or euros). If you go to annual, you pay for ten months.

But what is the incentive to pay that $7.99 this month, and next, or even the month after that if we already own everything? What exactly does my $7.99 today get me?

[Moviestorm]

But what is the incentive to pay that $7.99 this month, and next, or even the month after that if we already own everything? What exactly does my $7.99 today get me?

If you already own everything, there's no real need to subscribe right away.

However, if you create or use mods, you'll need to subscribe before January 31, as after that, modding will only be available to subscribers.

We'll also be rolling out additional subscriber benefits as well as new content packs, so there will be more incentive later on.

[peet]

If you already own everything, there's no real need to subscribe right away.

However, if you create or use mods, you'll need to subscribe before January 31, as after that, modding will only be available to subscribers.

We'll also be rolling out additional subscriber benefits as well as new content packs, so there will be more incentive later on.

Forgive me if I missed it - what was the reason for giving a credit card # if the subscription is free for a year?

[primaveranz]

However, if you create or use mods, you'll need to subscribe before January 31, as after that, modding will only be available to subscribers.

Ah......

[Moviestorm]

Forgive me if I missed it - what was the reason for giving a credit card # if the subscription is free for a year?

Because the subscription system we use requires billing info in order to process the subscription.

[Walvince]

Ah......

Ah......

[primaveranz]

I guess its one way to kick start the marketplace.
If you can sell $7.50 worth of AddOns a month you get your MS sub for free....

[sisch]

However, if you create or use mods, you'll need to subscribe before January 31, as after that, modding will only be available to subscribers.

Hang on - am I understanding that right, if one subscribes after January 31, one won't be able to mod or use mods?
Or is it supposed to say that any films with mods won't play any longer after January 31 if you don't subscribe?

I might as well say it here ('cause I already said it on TMU, and I don't want to 'back-stab' anyone) - I'm not happy with this.

It's not the monthly subscription fee as that which makes me unhappy; it's that you connected the modding and use of mods with the subscription.
You're practically 'forcing' the serious moviemaker to subscribe - and for me, there's a difference between buying an add-on pack I want and paying for something every month, without even knowing in advance if the new content packs will have things that I will want and need.

Don't get me wrong - I love Moviestorm, I enjoy working with it; but loving something doesn't mean that I don't have the right to critisize and see short-comings. Without mods, neither 'Saving Grace' nor 'The Afflicted' would have been possible.

As you seem to grow in directions that don't interest me that much (Photostorm, Widgets, Music-packs - which would actually interest me, but not with the strict restrictions on them), and spending time and resources on developing those things (maybe instead of things that the more 'serious' moviemaker would like to see; like more costumes or faces) I see myself paying (at least at the moment, and only in theory in the first year) for the right to use mods - mods I will have, once the Modders Marketplace gets started, to pay the modders for, too .... so I'll pay twice for them.

So yeah, again - I'm not happy with this.

[Moviestorm]

Hang on - am I understanding that right, if one subscribes after January 31, one won't be able to mod or use mods?
Or is it supposed to say that any films with mods won't play any longer after January 31 if you don't subscribe?

After January 31, you will need to be a subscriber to use or create mods. It doesn't matter when you subscribe.

[primaveranz]

After January 31, you will need to be a subscriber to use or create mods. It doesn't matter when you subscribe.

Yeah I'm concerned too. I understand the "Create" mods bit, because you can recoup that if you want by selling addons.
But the "Use" bit? Surely that limits your potential "modders marketplace" customers to subscribers only?
Also does that means that all the mods I have created in SketchUp for my own use become useless at any time in the future if I don't subscribe?

[peet]

Because the subscription system we use requires billing info in order to process the subscription.

Your answer is sorely lacking. Why don't you keep track of when someone's free subscription is up and then ask for a credit card? Companies that ask for credit cards in order to take advantage of a free offer often end up charging a person in the future without their knowledge. I would rather not have a hassle down the road and if I don't give out my credit card to whomever ("the subscription system") I won't need to worry. Sorry, I fell for that story once and I'm not in the habit of going against common sense.

You guys need to hire a more qualified marketing team.

Or maybe your company has so much money you don't have to worry about what one person thinks.

[equinoxx]

After January 31, you will need to be a subscriber to use or create mods.

I'm a little troubled here, as well. Leaving other modders out of the equation, for the moment, if I'm clear on this, it'll cost me a minimum of $80 a year (after the first year) to use my own content in my movies?! Hrm...

Sisch, save me a seat in the "not happy" corner.

[tkd27]

I see myself paying (at least at the moment, and only in theory in the first year) for the right to use mods - mods I will have, once the Modders Marketplace gets started, to pay the modders for, too .... so I'll pay twice for them.

So yeah, again - I'm not happy with this.

This is an important point - if we ended up paying for a modded content pack but then discontinue our subscription, it's worthless. I dunno - maybe mods sold through the marketplace will be treated like content packs and only back channel mods will be subject to the subscription model? Either way, if it's just a subscription to use mods, that's terrible. Spread out over time it starts to make iClone look affordable. That's a scary thought...

[peet]

Hang on - am I understanding that right, if one subscribes after January 31, one won't be able to mod or use mods?
Or is it supposed to say that any films with mods won't play any longer after January 31 if you don't subscribe?

I might as well say it here ('cause I already said it on TMU, and I don't want to 'back-stab' anyone) - I'm not happy with this.

It's not the monthly subscription fee as that which makes me unhappy; it's that you connected the modding and use of mods with the subscription.
You're practically 'forcing' the serious moviemaker to subscribe - and for me, there's a difference between buying an add-on pack I want and paying for something every month, without even knowing in advance if the new content packs will have things that I will want and need.

Don't get me wrong - I love Moviestorm, I enjoy working with it; but loving something doesn't mean that I don't have the right to critisize and see short-comings. Without mods, neither 'Saving Grace' nor 'The Afflicted' would have been possible.

As you seem to grow in directions that don't interest me that much (Photostorm, Widgets, Music-packs - which would actually interest me, but not with the strict restrictions on them), and spending time and resources on developing those things (maybe instead of things that the more 'serious' moviemaker would like to see; like more costumes or faces) I see myself paying (at least at the moment, and only in theory in the first year) for the right to use mods - mods I will have, once the Modders Marketplace gets started, to pay the modders for, too .... so I'll pay twice for them.

So yeah, again - I'm not happy with this.

When did Microsoft Vista's "bad decision making team" take over Moviestorm?

[tkd27]

When did Microsoft Vista's "bad decision making team" take over Moviestorm?

lol - hilarious point notwithstanding, I'm willing to give the Moviestorm team the benefit of the doubt. They've been notoriously user friendly up to this point, and I do also recognize that they have to be able to make enough money to sustain their continued growth I just worry about a subscription model where you're not actually subscribing to anything. You're just constantly repurchasing the software. And that would be really really crappy if it turns out to be the case.