WinCustomize Subscription Totals Won't Make The Goal: What Next?

With the WinCustomize Subscription Not Even At The Half Way Poin... What Now?

Published on October 25, 2005 By joetheblow In WinCustomize Talk

We have talked about this extensively on other threads, but now with the moment of truth upon us the question is what will happen to WinCustomize?

If this site was owned by a person and that crash with the server happened, it would have been a lost.

In fact, the idea that this happened only shows how much work is going on behind the scenes of this site that has to be costly and probably more than Frogboy will admit.

After reading the Does Stardock 'need' WinCustomize? thread as well as other threads on the message board/forums, the question is now what is next.

I think the answer will be more extreme that what we been talking about. Will it be a totally subscriber only site period (this would avoid the multiple account thing because even if you do that you will only get so much and view so much)?

What happens to the Wincustomize User Pages? How will un-subscribers be able to view it or download from it?

Will there be whole sections of WinCustomize off limits to outsiders?

I think the immediate response will be no downloads unless your signed in (unless its wallpapers, CursorXP or something) Not sure about the rest. I am guessing with the need for new restrictions that there will be a total site redesign for subscribers.

Personally, I think it is a sad day for all of this come November 1st 2005. The other sites just don't compare. I visited one site of the alternates to WinCusto and my browser crashed because of the pop-up attempts. Can you believe that?

I don't think many people will like the subscriber idea and will think Stardock is leaching off of artists. People will leave probably from what I read of some of the comments. I find that funny since most of the comments of 'leeching of artists' came from people who started off here and got there notoriety due to the 'leeching' of hosting their stuff, keeping it save, and organizing a community around it.

I always said that WinCustomize is a symbiosis between the artist and Stardock. On can not live as well without the other.

But with the restrictions soon to come on its way, what will happen to WinCustomize? What is next?

Comments (Page 5)

_TAPPER_

on Oct 27, 2005

I USE, THEREFORE I PAY!
It only seems appropriate to me.

Lantec

on Oct 27, 2005

timed trial with no restrictions and a partial subscript to go with it?

Why not release full-blown timed version with a half dozen good skins and no download ability. It is just to try out after all.

For non-customers/subscribers have a portal page linked to the stardock site that diplays the current top skins from each section. Give them FULL access to the screenshot section. That's the best advertising area on the site.

Contributors should get access to forums and ratings and maybe some kind of download ability commensurat with the amount their skins are downloaded.

HG_Eliminator

on Oct 27, 2005

ok ... lets put it like this .. Stardock customers .. get full acess to the site .. but do not get "WC subscriber extras" like the private WC suites/skins...subscribers get full acess plus the WC extras..

this I believe will remain the same..

im gathering that the non paying part of the community , are the ones who will be getting the brunt of the changes...

I actually cant see how a person who has not purchased WB can actually skin it effectively."theres parts of the shareware that are disabled"

BUT however IMO if a non paying individual uploads a skin then they should be able to download a percentage of their uploads total..something to the effect of if their skin is downloaded 500 times in a day then they should get like 25 meg of download off the site.(this is just a rough estimate to give an example) .. that way those who actually try to contribute in other ways aren't left out in the cold.....

Autumnmist

on Oct 27, 2005

if a non paying individual uploads a skin then they should be able to download a percentage of their uploads total

That is an interesting idea (and it solves the whole issue of who gets to decide which "artists" get full access and which don't). Though it also opens up the potential for determined freeloaders to upload a skin and download it themselves through multiple accounts a number of times or upload a few skins and download it themselves.

HG_Eliminator

on Oct 27, 2005

Though it also opens up the potential for determined freeloaders to upload a skin and download it themselves through multiple accounts a number of times or upload a few skins and download it themselves.

it wouldnt be hard to track offenders .. I believe they already can see whos doing what by ip adress...

Sleeping Dragon

on Oct 27, 2005

I guess I would have to say that all should endeavor to subscribe to WC if they hang here and download here.

We also need to realize that the $20 for a WC subscription and $50 for OD is worth every penny, but there are those who simply cannot afford that kind of money. Groceries need to come before computer stuff. I have been there. ...and then there are those who have the money but will not part from it. The former should not be berated for their lack of funds. We as members should do what we can to help them belong. The latter is a typical breed in this world and they should cough it up if they care at all about this site.

That being said, if someone debates the pro's and con's of subscriptions, we do not know their financial situation. I would suggest that we err on the side of compassion instead of judgement. ...and the members should step up and help a brother out from time to time. It's as simple as pushing a couple of buttons and subscribing for another.

Sleeping Dragon

on Oct 27, 2005

The Status Quo [not the group] needs to change. It should NOT be about current contributors buying more frequent subs...or ones for others as gifts.
It SHOULD be about each and every site visitor's willingness to support the site and contribute by paying for that which he is so eager to receive

Understood. But every little bit helps, right? I guess in dealing with the masses there needs to be rules such as these, and I am all for it. It does not negate my feelings in post 66.

Bichur

on Oct 27, 2005

HG_Eliminator

on Oct 27, 2005

SD you are a very kind and generous person ..

starkers

on Oct 27, 2005

All I can say is that I would have a VERY hard time justifying paying $60 for ObjectDesktop when I wouldn't have any skins to use it with unless I paid an extra $20 for Wincustomize! I

As an ObjectDesktop subscriber, you would have access to downloads on WC....the d/l restrictions would not apply to you in that instance. A Wincustomize subscription has additional benifits, such as access to premium content and a personal page within the site, but that could come at a later date if you can't afford both subs at once. So if you want ObjectDesktop to grace your machine and enhance your computing experience, go ahead and get it.

starkers

on Oct 27, 2005

Anyone else having problems with forum pages loading? The post I just replied to appeared to me as the last entry, but when my comment was added there were several others in between

Jafo

on Oct 28, 2005

I would suggest that we err on the side of compassion instead of judgement. ...and the members should step up and help a brother out from time to time. It's as simple as pushing a couple of buttons and subscribing for another.

I really MUST stress....

This is a noble sentiment.....very much so...to finance another's membership...and cannot be praised highly enough.

Everyone will appreciate the generosity, not just the recipient but the site as a whole....

If only such positive community attitude was a contagion...

MountainDragon

on Oct 28, 2005

SD you are a very kind and generous person

I will second that!!

And perhaps we could look at WinCustomize as a public (to this community) library of skins. Most communities have public libraries, funded by public money, collected in the form of taxes, right? So here we have a community with a public library, and it should be funded by public money. Where does the money come from? The community. What defines the community? Members who contribute.

There would be no issue if WC could be run for free. It can't, and those who can pay but won't, believing they should have access for free (subsidized by others) need to grow up.

Cynder-Elluh

on Oct 28, 2005

Extremely well said!

If only such positive community attitude was a contagion...

It needs to be!

Vailene

on Oct 28, 2005

I have a very optimistic feeling that come November 1st, 2005 we're going to see a lot of positive changes. Of which, will effect the non-subscribers in a negative way, but not everything in life can be free.

There are too many people on the internet that just get on for the simple purpose of leeching. Whether it be skins, software or other. In this day and age it can be very easy and very tempting to leech. But, sites such as this one can be the starting point and "big brother" and limit access to those who wish to leech.

I myself wouldn't mind seeing the site revamped in a big way. Perhaps, it would be best to make it a "registered user" site only. Those with subscription of course, would have unlimited access and downloads as they do now. Those who register an account (and only 1 account, none of that multiple accounts stuff) should have a "restricted access" level and have 30-60 days to decide to subscribe. This would allow those considering to subscribe to have the chance to see what's offered in limited format.

To avoid those that wish to just make multiple accounts, the "limited access" would help that by just preventing them entirely from the "subscriber content" so if you had 12 unsubscribed accounts it wouldn't matter, you'd get all the same stuff anyways. Perhaps an email address validation would help as well.

Whatever happens it needs to be as I've suggested. I have no authority here but my suggestion would stop leechers in their tracks and also add the versatility to the non-subscriber (but registered) to decide if they want to subscribe by seeing the limited (but great) content they have access to. If you'd really want to be picky show them all content but of course add the "subscribe now" button to download whatever specific content.

Those who say Stardock and Wincustomize have leeched off of the artists are idiots. (No offense). Many of the artists with any "credible" content are subscribers themselves and probably half of those numbers have gotten their subscription by the skinning contests or being an employee.

In closing, If you want to leech, don't come to Wincustomize after October 31st. Because I doubt you'll be happy with your access levels and content available to you. There are plenty of "leech friendly" skinning sites and you're leeching is unwanted here.

If you are a registered or non-registered user and still can't justify the subscription despite seeing it's benefits. Then you haven't been paying attention to the forums or you're just caught up in your own leeching methods to care.

If anything, don't even get a subscription for the community. Get it for the benefits you'll wreek of for the next year.

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