Floating licenses and affiliate program

This has been a good discussion. I think FG might be better off with several types of floating licenses. This is because there are really two very different ways these licenses are going to be used:

1) The "Demo" Floating License: This is a license which would be used at a Con or to actually demo the software in a real group. The characteristics of a "demo" license is it’s only needed for a few days and tends to benefit Smiteworks USA as a marketing tool and doesn’t hurt the sales of other licences. This license could be very cheap (or even free in some cases like at a Con) and for a very limited time. You could offer a small discount to someone who uses a demo license and upgrades to a lite or full version.

2) The “Traditional” Floating License: This license shifts the cost burden from a player to the GM and in return gives the GM the ability to easily recruit, add and change players. It competes directly with the lite version and would have some impact on new lite license sales (the most commonly sold license). The pricing should probably somewhere between the full and lite licenses.

I have to admitt I like what I see so far, we have a dialogue. :)

And yes, I agree there should be some kind of 'short-term-floating-license' available for demo-games and cons etc.

I like the idea of a one-time price for the floaters as well... it gives me an option to demo my stuff to anyone who is interested without them having to gamble and buy a light license first or for me to buy them one. (( You guys KNOW who you are.... ))

- Obe

Another option that is a derivative from another tabletop I used previously:

You download one program. If you enter the appropriate license key, then it enables usage based on the license.

1. Basic - Only can connect to hosts that have floating licenses, otherwise acts as demo.
2. Lite - Enter license key, and can connect to any host.
3. Full - Enter license key, can connect to any host, and can host games. Additional license keys can be entered to add floating licenses.

Cheers,
JPG

Ok... I just got SUPER confused.... Is that not what we have been talking about this whole time? If not that is how it should work.

Well, four pages is a lot to read. But, yeah, my understanding is that we've been discussing the system moon_wizard suggests.

I think what Moon Wizard is saying is that in that VTT it uses all one program but that one program acts differently depending on which key is used.

Ahhh... I see now. Where as that is a great idea from the view of the end user, its a bad move for the developers in the end. It makes it MUCH easier to break the code and create pirated copies.

In other programs, your code is checked when you download updates. Thus if you settle with current version, you don't need "just now" connection to network, so don't spoil your rpg session.

I have noticed that this model encourages developers to release minor bug fixes faster :) Normal cycle is about 2 weeks per update (size is from few kilobytes to up) so if one version of the program or license is cracked it won't effect next versions or atleast it could be isolated. Perhaps same as in Time Machine - you are required to connect to server in last 30 days to use program?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ukki

Perhaps same as in Time Machine - you are required to connect to server in last 30 days to use program?

---

No, please no. I want to be able to continue to use FG even if the worst comes to pass and SmiteWorks goes bust.

Spyke

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spyke

No, please no. I want to be able to continue to use FG even if the worst comes to pass and SmiteWorks goes bust.

---

Seconded ... most strongly