![I dunno :t-shrug:](./images/smilies/teal_Shrug.gif)
As for the cooldown, I am just glad Magistream isn't like Dragon Cave where refusals can happen. A little wait isn't so bad to me (unless I am breeding for gifts, but then it is just try again later when they are off cooldown).
The TOS and Privacy Policy for this forum are the defaults which came with phpBB, not something a lawyer has written for MagiStream specifically. They're also not up to date - the privacy policy says "the phpBB software will generate a new password to reclaim your account." when you reset your password. It does not do this anymore and sends a link instead. Sending a password was not good from a security standpoint.froglady wrote: ↑January 9th, 2024, 6:50:22 pm I agree that basic human needs should be free, I just made a bad choice of business. My father worked in the grocery for 50+ years, so that came to mind first. I should have said clothing store or computer store or something, I guess.
US websites need legal representation to incorporate and legal disclaimers that users must agree to so that they don't get sued off the web for things that users post, etc. (see the TOS--that was written by a legal professional).
I'm sure that the artists and coders all must be compensated somehow for the forfeiture of all rights to their work in favor of ownership by Magistream.
No matter the actual costs, my point is that you don't just sit down one day and magically put a website on the internet with 1500 unique works of art plus all the written lore and quests and shops and mating and hybrids, etc. plus all the coding that goes into making it work for absolutely free and just put in a cash shop to be mean and get rich. Most of these sites run on a shoestring after all the business expenses are paid.
The prices have been the same for 15 years. If you factor Inflation into this, the prices actually got cheaper over time, just because, money has a different worth nowadays. If anything, the prices should be higher to combat it. Not that I'm saying they should be - but I don't think that lowering them would beneficial.Zinia wrote: ↑January 12th, 2024, 7:40:54 pm While the replies here are making good points, I also feel that one of Amanda's points has been missed/misinterpreted. They didn't say that Magistream shouldn't have paid features or that the game should make the donis free, and they didn't say we should be able to get any creature "at any time." Their suggestion was 10 shards for $5 or 20 for $10, which means they're not saying it should be free, just that it could be less than 1 shard per $1, which still would provide revenue to the site without removing the challenge of having to work gradually to collect the creatures.
I was mainly trying to clarify one of the points in the original post, not necessarily saying that's what the prices should be (I actually think it would be too big of a decrease to be realistic). You make a good point though; I only joined in 2021 so I didn't realize the cost had never changed. I think your idea of a discount is a great one that takes everyone's perspective into account and could maybe make donating a bit easier for some people, without the site actually having to lose revenue by making big price drops. I have donated and will again even if nothing changes (and I don't expect it to), but that would be quite nice!Shakura wrote: ↑January 15th, 2024, 8:57:52 amThe prices have been the same for 15 years. If you factor Inflation into this, the prices actually got cheaper over time, just because, money has a different worth nowadays. If anything, the prices should be higher to combat it. Not that I'm saying they should be - but I don't think that lowering them would beneficial.Zinia wrote: ↑January 12th, 2024, 7:40:54 pm While the replies here are making good points, I also feel that one of Amanda's points has been missed/misinterpreted. They didn't say that Magistream shouldn't have paid features or that the game should make the donis free, and they didn't say we should be able to get any creature "at any time." Their suggestion was 10 shards for $5 or 20 for $10, which means they're not saying it should be free, just that it could be less than 1 shard per $1, which still would provide revenue to the site without removing the challenge of having to work gradually to collect the creatures.
Though maybe a bulk discount could be nice, like, get 1 shard free for every 5/10 shards you purchase.
But you have to remember it is a donation, not a purchase. Even though it technically is.
froglady wrote: ↑January 24th, 2024, 9:55:40 pm I think of it as one of them saying, "Not tonight, I'm not in the mood." Would you expect the other one to jump on again and again and again anyway?Go play where the Cash Shop pets have 180 day gestation periods and 90 day cooldowns (yes, that's the actual numbers for one site I play on).