It's Official - I am coming out of semi-retirement

[akcranker]

Good to hear your back Shaun but I would say like others that please take the time when needed to spend with your family and relax so you and your family don't get burned out on your continued development of Puresim.

I'm all for the subscription feature. I've always been. And don't cheat yourself. I'd be willing to pay the full $35-40 we pay every year. You've always released a high-quality product and squashed all major bugs in a timely manner. Better than any other Sim developer out there IMO.

Either way you go I'd be willing to pay for an updated product and I look forward to any new features you can bring to the game.

One suggestion for improvements on the game... I'd really like to see if you can improve on the Multiplayer feature. This hasn't really ever taken off as it's intended. More people use it as a solo feature to run all 30 teams. I'd like to see it used for lots of leagues that draw in more users and I think we still have some bugs that need to be worked out.

Again good to see you back Shaun and I'm always willing to support you and Puresim. Say hi on MSN sometime. It's been awhile since we chatted online.

Cory

[cdvalenta]

This is some great news.
 
I would be all for an upgrade charge or a new version discount. Like everyone else on these boards I think PureSim is great and would be willing to pay for upgrades or new versions.
 
I don't like the idea of "subscription". I don't think it would work for this type game and you would back yourself into a corner and be forced to deliver some type of update every X months or something. 

[jzicc]

My suggestion (looking at it purely from a business perspective -- as you mentioned that hardly anybody volunteered a paypal donation)  would be to stop anymore free updates and go to a $27.95 for those who have never purchased the game (this would entitle the new user to 12 months of patches) and for those who already have the game, a fee of $20 per year for the ongoing updates and revisions.  This would start with an end of summer expansion pack for $20 that would entitle you to the next 12 months free updates  --- possibly include a $40 lifetime update option ? 

-- just my 2 cents

[sovereignstar]

This news pleases me.

[FranklinNoble]

This is outstanding news! I'm still playing PureSim at least once a week, and I'm glad to see the game will continue to be developed.

[DonBraswell]

Shaun I was so excited I didn't really read through your message. Today I reread it and couldn't help but grin at the first paragraph; "I have officially flunked retirement".
Man I hope when you get to official retirement age you don't officially flunk that retirement.

Still smiling
Don

[Abev]

Shaun - the subscription method would work and I think is very reasonable.

A product I buy from Sveasoft, which provides super-charged firmware for routers, does the same type of thing. A yearly subscription gives you access to all of their updates. $20 per year would be very reasonable.

[RedSox67]

Hi Shaun,
 
I hope you know where I stand.  If you and your family want this, that's great!  I've always felt like this is a great game and I'm just leasing it from you.  Any year I spend even 5 minutes on it, updates or no, I'm happy to pay another year's lease, because there is so much bang for the buck already.  But if you're looking on votes for changes, I'm always ready for more graphics and/or sounds.  And September roster expansion. And ...
 
Bob

[jearly]

Shaun,
I have been a subscription player for a couple of years with the soccer game SAAP, and it has worked great. If this is the route you are going I will be happy to support you.
Glad to have you back from semi-reTIREment - now get to work before you get TIRED again.

[lynchjm24]

I'd be careful just going with what you hear on this site about a subscription system. I think the fact that you've developed in fits and starts might turn off some people to that type of system, where they might be afraid you'll go back into semi-retirement.

I'd also be careful putting numbers into people's heads as it's going to be tough to go up from there once they have them in their heads.

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: lynchjm24

I'd be careful just going with what you hear on this site about a subscription system. I think the fact that you've developed in fits and starts might turn off some people to that type of system, where they might be afraid you'll go back into semi-retirement.

I'd also be careful putting numbers into people's heads as it's going to be tough to go up from there once they have them in their heads.

Agreed. Shaun's already stated his decision to go ahead with a full-scale PS2008, so let's proceed from that.

Perhaps this thread should be closed out.

[puresimmer]

ORIGINAL: lynchjm24

I'd be careful just going with what you hear on this site about a subscription system. I think the fact that you've developed in fits and starts might turn off some people to that type of system, where they might be afraid you'll go back into semi-retirement.

I'd also be careful putting numbers into people's heads as it's going to be tough to go up from there once they have them in their heads.

Agreed, that's why I ended up settling on a very traditional big-bang release for next season.

Shaun

[Marsh511]

Fabulous news, Shaun!  Regardless of what the subscription structure or annual updates or whatever way you choose to charge for your great game, I'll be in for the long haul.  Your "retirement" actually coincided nicely with a very busy time with my family, too, so you actually gave me a "break" and made it easier to attend to my priorities around here...but now that you're back, I'm sure I'll find the time to get back to PureSim!  A 10 year habit is pretty tough to give up
Marshall

[lynchjm24]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

ORIGINAL: lynchjm24

I'd be careful just going with what you hear on this site about a subscription system. I think the fact that you've developed in fits and starts might turn off some people to that type of system, where they might be afraid you'll go back into semi-retirement.

I'd also be careful putting numbers into people's heads as it's going to be tough to go up from there once they have them in their heads.

Agreed, that's why I ended up settling on a very traditional big-bang release for next season.

Shaun

Yeah, this thread was above that thread so I read it first.