The Players Corner Archive

Over the past five years, Simutronics has invested millions of dollars to become even easier to use, more fun to play, and more reliable, while adding valuable new technologies like eScape and a complete revision of the web sites. During this time, we expanded each game and continued to add to the game systems and game staff. Simutronics will continue to deliver popular new features to you. With this modest increase, the Simutronics games at play.net will remain the best game play value on the Internet and continue to deliver new features, services, and benefits that are unique to our games.

The new pricing plan will take effect at the start of your April billing cycle.

We thank you for your support and for being a member of the world's leading cyberspace gaming community.
reg

I will say that since 1997, there was never any inflationary increase for the price, so perhaps this is making up for it.

I'll still shell out my shekels though.

-Revalos reg

No matter how many times people tell me to play DAoC, I won't pay for another graphical online game after playing Everquest. I prefer text-based roleplaying games over graphical ones, but that's my choice.

I understand what you mean, Revalos. I was just saying that $3 more a month isn't that much of an increase, even though it IS a 30% increase in a price that hasn't increased in years. And I can understand really wanting to pay to play something you really enjoy. I guess I just don't understand why, if someone is having such a hard time coming up with $10 a month, would want to spend it on a game. ::shrugs:: I'm thick headed, what can I say? ::winks:: reg

Yes. Plat = Basic + Premium + Platinum.

Basic = $12.95
Premium = $20.00
Platinum = $10.00
=============
Total = $42.95

And this one was an interesting concept...the expensive plat was a bust.. so we'll raise 3 bucks all around. I believe one poster mentioned 'prime supporting plat'.

[This message has been edited by Venus Blue (edited 02-28-2002).] reg

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Anticor Rifling, Giantman Wizard reg

- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg

But they have added new services. Premie, plat, pay-for-events, GM weddings, portraits, just off the top of my head. They all make added money to the base price already. SO you can't say they haven't had price raises, because if you wanted nicer things, you did have to pay more.

I thought it was interesting that the increase came so quickly after the plat price dropped.

Perhaps they didn't get enough people to join plat to cover the price drop?

Perhaps they are still losing more accounts than they are gaining?

Moken also had a good point. It could just make alot of people who keep their accounts for the board access or who have been trying to decide to cancel or not over the edge.

[This message has been edited by Venus Blue (edited 02-28-2002).] reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Moken:
thats bullshit... for most of us who are uncertain about moving to daoc or similar games, this might be the finaly push...

---

DAOC is 12.95 Per Month and there are a lot more GS players moving over here to DAOC...

One Month: 12.95
3 Months: 35.85 (11.95)
6 Months: 65.70 (10.95)

reg

Ok.. I saw this and died laughing. People should write simu and tell them they want the free magazine they promised them...

"P.S > I've also not recieved any free magazines that I was promised."

[This message has been edited by Venus Blue (edited 02-28-2002).] reg

I see a lot of references to graphical games that charge less, but I don't think graphics and text can be compared.

You *can,* however, compare to other text games. There are literally thousands of free text games out there in cyber-land.

Of course, not a single *free* game that I've tried (several dozen) can compare to the quality of GemStoneIII.

There are, however, pay-for-play games that compare quite nicely. Aeternity was going to be one of them, but unforunately it's been shelved for some reason and there's been no updates on their forum in months.

Inferno is another, and it's been around for 7 years.

Achaea is technically free, but you have to pay for certain "perks" like skills beyond the basics, and certain equipment if I remember right. That's been around awhile too.

If anyone knows of other pay-for-plays (or even free games!) that are comparable in quality to GemStoneIII (or better), then by all means post in the "Other Games" folder down near the bottom of Buckwheet's boards!

You'll see info about Inferno there, but keep in mind most of the posts refer to a special promotion that ended in October of this past year.

R
reg

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Simutronics will increase the price of its Basic subscription plan by $3 to $12.95 beginning in April, the first increase in this plan since opening for business on the web in July 1997, almost five years ago.

The first increase my ass. They increased it from free, to 10 dollars a month. Then from 1 dollar for an extra character on the account, to 2 dollars for an extra character. Then they came up with Premium, which was 20 dollars a month or somthin like that. Now they raised THAT to 30 dollars a month. And god knows how much Platinum is.

What's next? 20 dollars a month? 30? 40? They will keep raising the price and seeing how much they can screw us until we finally quit? When will it end? And this is important. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT. I haven't seen any increased service. I haven't seen any GM helping me without me waiting 2 hours. I haven't seen any improvement with service or any reason at all for them to raise the price. If anything they should lower the price with all the ridicules changes they have been making.

Here's some irony for you. I assisted for a GM to talk too 1 hour ago, to ask why they are raising the price of this game. I was 4 in line an hour ago. I still am 4 in line. Better service? where????? Am I blind? I don't see it.

I've already talked to 4 of my close friends about this and they are quitting. Good job Simutronics. I hope you sleep well tonight. Not all of us make a lot of money. An extra 3 dollars adds up.

<Pissed off Icedraggon>

P.S. This game was once free. Once upon a time. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Icedragon:
3 dollars a month more isn't alot? Yeah, sure. Mabye if your daddy pays for your account, or you have a great job. Let me tell you somthin, 3 dollars a month will add up. I have 2 accounts, so now i'm paying 72 more dollars a year for a text game. that's a weeks paycheck down the drain. ... That's 900 dollars a year your gonna be without. Brilliant move, Simu.

---

Uh, an extra $3 a month isn't that much - it's roughly the cost of a lunch at McDonalds. And no, my 'daddy' isn't paying for it, nor do I have a great paying job. If you're having problems making ends meet, you should rethink your monthly expenses and perhaps choose something else to spend your money on. A text based game is no where near as important as basic necessities.

P.S. This game was once free. Once upon a time.

You can't realistically expect something like Gemstone 3 to run without expenses. The world doesn't work that way. reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Moken:
thats bullshit...

---

Summed it up real nice.

FFXI is going to be pay-to-play on PS2 for the same price and you get 2 months of free play, and Asheron's Call 2 is coming out(Out Already?)
And why do they plan on raising? Their service bites donkey ass now, how much better could it possibly get for 3 bucks a pop?
Will MA'ing finally die out? Stay tuned...

[This message has been edited by Siefer (edited 02-28-2002).] reg

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I got no dukes. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Icedragon:
The first increase my ass. They increased it from free, to 10 dollars a month. Then from 1 dollar for an extra character on the account, to 2 dollars for an extra character. Then they came up with Premium, which was 20 dollars a month or somthin like that. Now they raised THAT to 30 dollars a month. And god knows how much Platinum is.

---

HAHA!

That is just funny. Umm ever heard of Genie? The monthly charge for AOL. And AOL was going to charge an extra $1 an hour to play Gemstone, after they went Unlimited. So Simu thought it would be better to move out on their own and charge $10 a month instead of AOL's $1 and HOUR. Simu save me alot of money doing that.

Um... Basic and Premium came out at the same time the day they moved to the Web and Premium has not changed since them... I got Premium the day they moved to the web.

Ohh no $3 more dollars... I pay some 3.45 for Cigartettes... just smoke one less pack a day, or cut down on the beer, drink 3 less beer a month... Its the end of the world, RUN

If you cant afford $3 more dollars a month by digging in your couch, then like other have said, Maybe you need to rethink your spending... Maybe spending all that time in Gemstone is not the best thing you could be doing.

[This message has been edited by Stinger (edited 03-01-2002).] reg

Simu products were never free. As previously noted, they began with an *hourly* fee.

Then, AOL allowed Simu to provide their game on their service, which members were paying for *by the hour.* The cost of your gaming was absorbed by a contract Simu had with AOL. So you never saw the cost, because it was included with your ISP (AOL).

Then Prodigy offered it, and again the cost was absorbed by Prodigy, which you were paying for (unless you had a comp account by being related to a Prodigy employee or a few other ways).

Then AOL went unlimited, and again your fee was paid for via your fee to AOL.

Then Prodigy went unlimited, same deal.

Then AOL was going to charge $1/hour to customers who played certain games on their service. Simu games were some of them (but not all).

Then Simu left the online services and went onto the web. And charged a fee, to recoup what they were *already getting* from the online services, courtesy of YOUR monthly payment.

You were *ALWAYS* paying for Simu products. You just never got a separate bill from them til they "went internet."

If you can't afford $13/month, then you probably shouldn't have been dishing out $10/month either and should either a) get a better job, b) go back to school and get a diploma so you can get a better job, or c)find something else to do with your time that doesn't cost anything. Like, going to the library and reading a book.

R
reg

Aerienne reg

Last Updated: 3/1/02

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YES, you can still contact me via the contacts link or email to mo-trevor@attbi.com. I welcome all emails.
And a special note for Simutronics from the bottom of my heart: You can release the info of why I was canned. Really, you can. My privacy will not be intruded upon. Now please just tell folks the truth, that you don't want to discuss it, because you have my full permission to do so if you *want* to.

Onward to the terrible truth for those who have not read it...

Trevor Rage Is No More.
Sadly, it's true. I was fired by Simutronics Corp. today. Why you ask? Well you see, I have an account I pay for, which I've used to play DR a bit, to unwind and relax. I pay for that account voluntarily for the freedom from being a GM. So that I can say what I want to say, do what I want to do, and be held to player policies.

As you may or may not be aware, Simutronics raised the prices of their games by $3 today. Not only did they raise prices across the board, but they did so in a bit of a misleading manner. The notice on the site says that basic subscriptions now cost $12.95. It does not directly point out that if you paid $29.95 for Premium, it will now be $32.95, and so on. EVERY account will be charged $3 more.

I was fired today for posting a message that disagreed with this change on the paying account. Not my MO-TREVOR account, the paid account. Additionally, my privelege to post messages with that pay account was suspended.

Furthermore, just to make this point crystal clear as a violation of rights, the account was billed under a relative's credit card, not mine. Therefore, it was the assumption of Simutronics that I made the post, despite the fact that I am not the account owner.

If you were my friend, and you paid for this account, and I played on it sometimes yet you made the post, Simutronics apparently would revoke your posting priveleges and fire me, over your post on your paid account.

I have greatly enjoyed my work as a staff member. I was able to create all sorts of systems, write hundreds of thousands of lines of code for Modus, and contribute in other ways as well for just shy of five years. Despite the differences I've had with players and staff as well, I cherished every one of you and I'm sure going to miss you. I'm sorry that the ego of a very proud and selfish man in that of David Whatley, CEO of Simutronics Corp, had to ruin what we had together.

-- Rich Mondy, aka GameMaster Trevor Rage

UPDATE:

Here's a post "Solomon" made, regarding my firing on the Simutronics message boards under Simutronics Discussions / Pricing:

Category Simutronics Discussions (1)

Topic Pricing (11)

By SIMU-SOLOMON from PLAY.NET

On Feb 28, 2002 at 18:05

Subject Re: The Firing of Game Master Trevor Rage (245)

And of course, since this is a matter of staffing, we're not going to get into this discussion in public.

Suffice it to say that things are never the way they seem to be, particularly when the only side of the store you can (and will) see is the side of the person on the short end.

Solomon

Well folks, I gotta tell ya, Solomon's really feeding you a line here. But don't take my word for it. I'm going to paste my posts on the MB's as well as the two emails I received afterward. This is the entire story of my firing, completely. The only thing I am editing out is the names of persons involved, for their privacy. I'll replace them with their GM names.

First, my posts:

Category Simutronics Discussions (1)

Topic Pricing (11)

By THE-GUARDIAN from PLAY.NET

On Feb 28, 2002 at 14:51

Subject On Pricing. (185)

Simutronics is really pushing their luck. None of your competitors charge so much for basic service, nor do they have the unbelievably expensive upgrades.

This is a risky move. If you lose a serious portion of your customer base in your products, you can't just get them right back. There's nothing you can do that will just draw everyone back.

Well, enjoy the extra golf money while it lasts, Mr. Whatley.

Category Simutronics Discussions (1)

Topic Pricing (11)

By THE-GUARDIAN from PLAY.NET

On Feb 28, 2002 at 14:58

Subject Re: New Price Change (187)

<chuckle> Despite "cost of living" changes, other companies have done just fine at 9.95. In fact, Simutronics has charged more on a per customer basis than any of its customers forever.

And the GM's who actually make the games work will never be paid like regular employees. There are benefits and destriments to that fact, but it's a fact.

I'll consider this change "OK" when Simutronics kills the account upgrades or reduces their price, and if competitors like EQ, UO, AC, AO, DAoC, etc. start raising prices. Right now all I'm seeing is poor judgement on the part of the company. You can only drain so much blood out of the turnip before you alienate your customers enough that they look elsewhere.

Category Simutronics Discussions (1)

Topic Pricing (11)

By THE-GUARDIAN from PLAY.NET

On Feb 28, 2002 at 15:01

Subject Re: On Pricing. (188)

"Simu's competitors don't charge as much, that's true. They also don't hold a candle to Simu's games."

Why then, does Simutronics have less customers than all of their big league competitors? Simutronics' customer based is minute in comparison and it's ever-shrinking. If I'm wrong on either account, I challenge someone with numbers to dispute.

And now, email.

Rich,

I've set you to Read-Only access for the message boards at this time.

Quite disappointing to see an employee flaming the company like this.

{Solomon}

And the firing email, received 11 minutes later.

Rich --

There is no good way to write this letter ... so I'll simply begin.

I got a call from the office today, asking me to read a few posts made by someone on account The-Guardian. Then I was informed that they were made by you.

As I read them I could see that, yes, they have your signature/style all over them, even though you didn't sign them. I know how you feel about Simutronics, and you and I have had many conversations in the past about what's considered "suitable" to post/write/send as a staff member. What you posted today was in no way suitable as a representative of the company, and I think you know that, even if you feel it was totally true.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time, or even the second. For the office, these postings were the straw that broke the camel. Because of this last incident, you've been removed from the Modus staff, and your accounts have been closed. I truly wish that this had not come to pass, especially after our discussion last week when I thought that things were getting off on a much better foot (at least as far as Modus went). I was hoping that we could continue making the game(s) a better place to play for a long time.

I'm sorry that this happened, Rich. Very sorry indeed.

I know you're going to be ticked off about this (to put it mildly), but I would ask that you be discreet with what you post on your own website. There's a lot of harm to innocent bystanders that could come from indiscreet posting, and you've seen it happen before ... so you know what I mean. Please abide by your NDA.

Good luck in whatever gaming experiences come your way, and thank you for all the creativity and effort you've given Modus all these years. I'm sorry it couldn't have continued.

{Siri} (MO Product Manager)

Now in closing, I've not been happy with Simu in a while. I've never voiced this publicly though, and even the post today was totally "in disguise". No one knew it was from a GM except Simutronics. In October of last year, I was suspended for a month for emailing David Whatley to voice my disapproval of how he has handled some things. Well, that's basically insubordination, and I understand that. Even despite the fact that I made all of $50 a month, putting in 200-400 hours of GM time a month, therefore helping to make Whatley the wealthy man he is... it was insubordination no less.

But today was not. Today was a voice in a non GM form, where no one knew who it was except Simu, and they only knew because they at some point decided to see who played on THE-GUARDIAN. This was my only way to voice my discontent with Simutronics. Sadly, they don't care how GM's feel. They don't care how players feel unless enough of you speak up.

This is the problem with Simutronics. They don't appreciate those who make it all possible. They pay them virtually nothing (some actually make nothing at all) and they treat them horribly. In my stint of 5 years, not once did Whatley log into MO and say Hi to us. At Simucon, he didn't recognize our Product Manager. He had no idea who she was. This is the man you are all making rich, this is the man who decides which games open, which close, and what these games offer and for how much.

This is a man who doesn't care about anyone other than himself. In fact, Solomon will ignore this comment or lie to save his job, but Whatley rips into Solomon often too. He treats his employees horribly, he's just out to make a buck. The only reason you have the games you play and enjoy playing them, is because people like me enjoy making them, despite having a boss like Whatley to deal with.

And finally, to those who feel I just broke policy and deserved to get canned and just basically "asked" for it. Please understand that GM policy does not include mention of paid accounts or how rules apply to GM's under that situation. It's just not covered. I didn't break a GM policy, I just pissed off David Whatley. That was my only crime.

And yes, I know if you piss a boss off anywhere else, he'll can you. The difference to me, is that I have worked for five years, making around 15 to 20 cents an hour, shelling out 200-400 hours. Simutronics is far from your typical employer, and the only benefit an "employee" has is the enjoyment of his or her work. If people like David Whatley try to yank that rug from under you, you have nothing left.

Could I have avoided being fired if I'd shut up and put up? Yes. But the next time you think about how life sucks as a Warrior Mage, or how you wish SystemX was done and working, consider the fact why so many projects never happen or take so much longer than necessary. GM's are virtually unpaid and they are not appreciated.

If you like your games as is, unless Whatley chooses to close it, or up rates again, you'll probably keep liking it. If you want new things added for your profession or you're at a level cap or something, it's a crap shoot. What you need may happen, it may not. This idea that your $3 will hire more GM's is a fallacy. It will not increase staff. You will most definitely not get more staff as a result of this hike in prices.

There's no reason to believe the lag will decrease. It'd be nice to think so, but it's just not so. Your money will buy you nothing. In fact, at base case scenario, if you're lucky, they won't scrap the things you're used to, like art for the games, because they have more money to fund it.

Think what you will, but the post was for myself as a player, for you as a player, and it was in a manner in which no one but Simutronics would know who was saying it. It was just one voice of many. But since I pissed Whatley off, this is what happened.

And, the pay account still has no posting rights. I'm willing to wager that no one else has had their posting rights suspended for saying the exact same things. And mysteriously, Simu will probably keep the account suspended, "because they can."

And don't get me wrong, I'm not out to damn Simu to bankruptcy. I just wish they appreciated their customers as much as their customers appreciate them. Unfortunately, some people can't seem to realize what's necessary and what isn't. Canning a guy who worked hundreds of hours a month virtually non stop for 5 years just because he griped about a price hike on a pay account, like any paying player would, is not how you build successful games.

Mr. Whatley, I like to think you once believed in making games that people loved, and building worlds that gave them joy and a special getaway from life's troubles. Unfortunately, it's all about money now. You might as well go sell out to AOL Time-Warner, you've already sold your soul.

reg

Kick his ass!

heh reg

Like most things on here about trying to oust Simu, or bashing Simu, We don't know the whole story. Just the Selective parts of the story that the disgruntled person wants us to hear to help prove their point. It is done in the courts as well. The Defense shows you one thing and the Prosecutor shows another all while trying to show you the events that prove their point.

Why would a GM have a pay account? All accounts of GMs are free not just the GM-account. So it was said, "So that I can say what I want to say, do what I want to do". So you can add more fuel to the Flames. Do things and try to hide behind the anonymous Internet, because you are doing things you know you should not be doing in the first place.

And then there is this "despite the fact that I made all of $50 a month, putting in 200-400 hours of GM time a month". Hmm that tells me a few things either this person was a terrible GM or just a lie. I know that other GMs make around $500 a month, with Senior GMs making more. Also all the GM wages are put into pool and your share of the pool is based on how much you do and work on. So either this person did absolutely nothing or the statement of how much this person made was a lie to help get more people sympathetic to his anger.

As I said this is just too fishy for me to believe. Also not hearing the entire story and back stories I can not make a judgement call until all is known. Also text logs and e-mail logs are too easy to fake on the Internet.
reg

quote:

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Also not hearing the entire story and back stories I can not make a judgement call until all is known. Also text logs and e-mail logs are too easy to fake on the Internet.[/B]

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I would agree with you on that.
reg

As for paying for the game even though it's free, there is certainly a good point to that. By being a paying customer, you are entitled to the same privileges as other paying customers. As a "comp" player you are not...and subject to much more stringent rules than the freebie folks. Or at least, that's how it should be. Apparently, according to Trevor's notes, this wasn't the case. And as such, he should probably consider being compensated in back-pay for all those months he was paying for privileges he wasn't getting.

Just a thought
reg

'lood

reg

I think that in giving themselves this raise they will ironicly lose more money due to people who were orignally undecided on if they should close their second or third account, or original account.. this will tip them over. So in raising the price they will no doubt lose money.

And to new people wanting to play and have no clue what this game is about, if you see 12.99 instead of 9.99, it's just human nature to say '' that's too much for a dumb game ''. 9.99 allways looks cheaper then 10 dollars, everyone knows the trick. You sell a car for 9,999 dollars, not 10,000. you can't do the trick with it's over 10 dollar bracket. Simu screwed theirself in the ass with this one. Nicly done. reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Icedragon:
Diablo 2 provides internet service to 1000's of people daily for free and all you have to do to get it is pay whatever the game costs and it's free. As does Diablo 1. And other internet games.

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Blizzard Software has a much larger fanbase than Simu does. The one-time $50 fee from tens of thousands of users for just one of their games goes a lot further than a $12.95 monthly charge for roughly 3000 users. Blizzard can afford it. Simu can't.

quote:

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Somone give me good reasons to why the hell simu diserve to give themselves a raise.

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Because it's their game, and they can?
reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Icedragon:
I think that in giving themselves this raise they will ironicly lose more money due to people who were orignally undecided on if they should close their second or third account, or original account.. this will tip them over. So in raising the price they will no doubt lose money.

---

Whenever a business re-evaluates fees and expenses, they first check numbers to see if they're going to be running a profit. I doubt Simu would just change things without looking at the future.
reg

I'm not sure what the bottom line figure will be for Simutronics, but based on the people that I've talked to, there's a great deal of activity going on with accounts.

Personally, I wasn't really concerned with a $3.00 increase. I realize that over time, almost everything becomes more expensive. After reading the official boards about the increase, it seemed there was confusion if just the basic subscription was increased ($3.00 per account), or if each subscription was increased ($9.00 if you had basic, prem, and plat). Anyway, it made me stop and review my account and realize that I was paying an extra $10.00 a month for something I rarely used. So this morning I cancelled my subscription to Plat. Almost every person that I have talked to has made, or is planning a similar move... closing secondary accounts, deleting extra character slots, dropping down to a basic account, etc.

The activity doesn't seem to be a protest against the price increase, it was just an opportunity to review accounts and think about what we are paying for. I have to wonder if Simutronics considered this type of reaction.

Summer

reg

If this is what most think, then what I would like to know is if there are so many unhappy customers why are you still paying Simutronics?

Honestly, for the most part $3 is not the much of a price increase when compared to other products out that there consumers will pay for. If so many consumers are going to be leaving over $3, I will help show you the door and if you stay and continue to play the game after all this bitching then obviously Simutronics has you figured out.
reg

1) There are people in the text-game world called MUD jumpers. If it's free, or cheap enough, they'll jump back and forth, adding nothing to the gaming environment, cheapening the RP for others, and generally being a nuisance - because it's no skin off their back to lose just a couple of bucks and then go off to another game. An increase in price will make those types think very seriously about their choices.

2) There are people who are habitual whiners, yet who also add nothing to the gaming environment. Simu would be well rid of these types, and a price increase might hopefully cull the herd, so to speak.

3) There are the high maintenence folks, who are constantly getting in trouble, who not only don't add to the gaming environment, but detract from it. Folks like that would likely not be willing to pay extra just for the purpose of pissing people off. So Simu will lose those some of them as well.

4) There are roleplayers, and people who don't detract from the game, but do add something to it, whether by RPing consistantly, or simply enjoying the game and not making a nuisance of themselves...who probably shouldn't be spending $10 to play, but figured they needed a break once in awhile. Those are the people who this will hurt, and those are the people Simu shouldn't afford to lose. But judging by the last time I played (a few months ago) those are few and far between, so hopefully the loss won't be too great.

5) Then there are the people who can afford it, who are mature enough to understand that Simu is a for-profit corporation, and accepting of the fact that they haven't raised their prices since the move to the Internet. Those are the folks Simu will retain.

Now:

It's my *OPINION* that Simu is hurting as far as being a "rich" corporation, but doubtful that they're in dire straights, and are making a nice profit after expenses. Based on this *OPINION*....

It seems to me that this increase will weed out the undesireables MOST, and the rest the LEAST, while still allowing Simutronics to remain a profitable business - albiet not quite as profitable as before.

IF - and this is a big IF.. IF my *OPINION* turns out to be a fact afterall, then I would think this to be a great strategic move to return GemStoneIII to more of a roleplaying game they advertise themselves to be, and not nearly the hack-n-slash they are at the present time.

R
reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Desharei:
Well Mallagra, I'm not against the price increase. I haven't actually come out and given my opinion on the matter, only cleared up a few "facts" in response to other peoples' posts.

1) There are people in the text-game world called MUD jumpers. If it's free, or cheap enough, they'll jump back and forth, adding nothing to the gaming environment, cheapening the RP for others, and generally being a nuisance - because it's no skin off their back to lose just a couple of bucks and then go off to another game. An increase in price will make those types think very seriously about their choices.

2) There are people who are habitual whiners, yet who also add nothing to the gaming environment. Simu would be well rid of these types, and a price increase might hopefully cull the herd, so to speak.

3) There are the high maintenence folks, who are constantly getting in trouble, who not only don't add to the gaming environment, but detract from it. Folks like that would likely not be willing to pay extra just for the purpose of pissing people off. So Simu will lose those some of them as well.

4) There are roleplayers, and people who don't detract from the game, but do add something to it, whether by RPing consistantly, or simply enjoying the game and not making a nuisance of themselves...who probably shouldn't be spending $10 to play, but figured they needed a break once in awhile. Those are the people who this will hurt, and those are the people Simu shouldn't afford to lose. But judging by the last time I played (a few months ago) those are few and far between, so hopefully the loss won't be too great.

5) Then there are the people who can afford it, who are mature enough to understand that Simu is a for-profit corporation, and accepting of the fact that they haven't raised their prices since the move to the Internet. Those are the folks Simu will retain.

Now:

It's my *OPINION* that Simu is hurting as far as being a "rich" corporation, but doubtful that they're in dire straights, and are making a nice profit after expenses. Based on this *OPINION*....

It seems to me that this increase will weed out the undesireables MOST, and the rest the LEAST, while still allowing Simutronics to remain a profitable business - albiet not quite as profitable as before.

IF - and this is a big IF.. IF my *OPINION* turns out to be a fact afterall, then I would think this to be a great strategic move to return GemStoneIII to more of a roleplaying game they advertise themselves to be, and not nearly the hack-n-slash they are at the present time.

R

---

I would agree with you on pretty much all of that Desh.
reg

I'm not surprised at this, but I find myself near laughter at the complete lack of business sense I've ever seen from them.

Yes he spouted off at the mouth. He did not do it purposely as a GM, he did it as a consumer of the game. He had a VALID paying opinion of the price change in MO. If Simutronics had any sort of (lack of word here)..arghgieshnfe! They would have validated his concerns and took him aside regarding the way he voices them on the message board. I don't care if they have to do it ten times. You don't see Simutronics firing OPHION for being rude to the customers! BUT GOD FORBID A GM IS RUDE TO DAVID WHATLEY...

good lords.

I swear to all that is holy under the sun, it is a WONDER this company is still afloat.

end rant.

~Rhain

reg

This was quite possibly the funniest thing I've read in a while.

Thank you

~Rhain reg

Its great to hear that a good number of people really don't care how much the game is, they will pay because "God Dammit, its not as much as it USED to be back in the day"..or "A Subway sandwich costs more than that"... Simutronics indeed loves you all very much.

As for those giving grief to those that are outraged at the increase, where exactly is YOUR line? 50 dollars a month? 2000 dollars a month? Pretend THAT line has just been crossed. Pretend its your gaming, or its your weekly groceries... Would it be fair for people to scream at you about how ridiculous it is to complain about a *measly* 2000 dollars?

Would Simu be the bad guy then? Or would it be "okay" because, by golly, they are just a business tryin ta' get by!

I don't know, my line was crossed a long time ago..But I really see this as dipping their shovel in the top layer of their graves...

My money is on David Whatley's self-sabotage problems running the direction of the company.

p.s. Roberta's post on weeding out the hackers? Not going to happen. The people that fork out thousands of dollars are not necessarily your role playing individuals as noted on EBay. What Simu will do is weed out the population in general, some good and some bad...With the decrease in the price of Platinum, if you want to see what a smaller community does, its right there. That can't possibly be their end goal.

[This message has been edited by Rhain (edited 03-02-2002).] reg

If they documented all the extra hours you put it. You are have overtime coming. Only Management on salary is exempt from overtime. I found a lot of labor laws that was very interesting.

Talk to a lawyer about how they paid you can took everything away. Lots of labor law lawyers that specialize in this field.

I seen recently a company paying everyone a salary and working them 60+ hours a week get sued for all the overtime. So you might be able to nail Simu for some cash.

Always something to look into.

As for the price increase.... I think it proves what I said all along. They are lossing accounts. Plat was a total failure. People are leaving fast again.

3 bucks isn't much. But most people have 2 or 3 accounts. Extra 3 bucks a month. How much time does it take you to make 10 bucks?

But it's all abouit greed.

edge

reg

In addition, Trevor and other GMs aren't employees of Simutronics. They are considered independent contractors, who agree to accept whatever payment Simutronics offers them, or none at all if they prefer it.

Roberta

[This message has been edited by Desharei (edited 03-02-2002).] reg

There are laws protecting everyone from being taken advantage of.

edge reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by edge:
If they documented all the extra hours you put it. You are have overtime coming. Only Management on salary is exempt from overtime. I found a lot of labor laws that was very interesting.

edge

---

Overtime has to be authorized before you have even a ghost of a chance on suing over not recieving it.

Des

reg

While I don't multi-account all my characters together, I do play them at the same time so they all can advance at once (they're all in different towns). I'll be closing one of my accounts because with this price change, if you have three accounts, you're now basically paying for four of them.

And yes, I can afford a measly $3, but that's a huge jump especially considering the normal price of $10 -- that's a 30% or so increase. I'm not going to pay extra when I see no improvements...and the improvements I DO see, none of our money is going to (re: GMs).

$9 increase? For what? Heck, I already pay over $40 a month as it is for a text-based game that I rarely play anymore because I'm bored within an hour.

I just can't wait until the next premium auction comes (I've yet to even go to one, lol), that way I can actually use my premium benefit and then I can close that account and downgrade to basic.

- Pudgee reg

Something to think about. I was premium for about three years. A little over two and I REALLY wanted to downgrade to basic because I wasn't playing as much and I thought I could save myself the twenty bucks, but if I did do this, I lose my two premie alters.

So I held on, went over three years. Got one alter. Wondered how much longer I was going to have to pay 30 bucks a month before I could get my two others.... Thought of downgrading again, thought of just holding on a few more months.

Finally, I decided to sell. Figured at least that way I'm getting SOME type of benefit.

Reading this thread.. you can see alot of people do the same thing. Summer and some others I know cancelled their Plat accounts, others are closing their secondary accounts, downgrading and what have you.

Three dollars isn't really alot of money, but it does make you stop and wonder just what exactly you're paying for, if you're getting it, and how much you're willing to shell out.

[This message has been edited by Cassioppia (edited 03-04-2002).] reg

The game hasn't had an across the board increase since the move to the web. At around
10 cents a day, is a very reasonable adjustment.

After all in the last five years, SIMU's costs have had to have gone up to do business.

They've done alot of good things in the games they produce. I've seen alot of fun and really neat concepts added to both DR and GS.

One nice thing as far as peace of mind goes if you don't care for crowds is the decrease in price for platinum games.

I personally log into prime now about once a month. I just have far to much fun in plat to be bothered with the childishness and ooc remarks that are rampant in prime.

I was on the side lines before about plat and what I observed in the first four or five months. But I must say that plat is really doing well these days.

I've had ten different things worked on by merchants, and the events have been very fun.

As a side note, comparing SIMU's games to the hack and slash games of Diablo or Ultima online should not even come into the picture.

They are different games, and have a different audience, tho a few of you seem to be confused and play GS when you should be playing those games.

As to David, well I can agree with many points made about David. Alot of the time over the past 9.5 years I've shaken my head and wondered what he thought he was doing.

SIMU's products sucessed because of the good staff that work for SIMU, not because of David. I have no personal beef with David tho hearing that Trevor is no more, is sad.

Sorry to hear that your nolonger working for them Trevor.

Jim/Celtar reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rhain:

This was quite possibly the funniest thing I've read in a while.

Thank you

~Rhain

---

Rest assured the feeling is mutual.

reg

>>As a side note, comparing SIMU's games to the hack and slash games of Diablo or Ultima online should not even come into the picture. - Celtar

$3 is absolutely NOTHING. I can afford it just as most others can. The difference is that $3 is a lot when compared to the normal price of $10. I don't care what game we talk about, all I know is that even with Platinum, $40 is so freakin rediculous for a game. Yep, GS isn't like UO, Diablo, or whatever, but $40 is still out of hand. Why are you paying more, Jim? For less idiots and such? Well the "normal" version should be enforced. You shouldn't have to pay extra to have that...and quite frankly, to me, it isn't worth it as I can find everything you do in Plat, if not more -- due to more people --, in Prime. Well, other than droppage, heh.

What would you do if all of a sudden a big mac meal cost $3 more than it does? How would you react? I mean sure, it's only $3 and we can afford it, but because we can afford it, does that justify the price change? What exactly are they doing to make the big mac better than before? Are they making it fresh now? I dunno, just what? Now ask that question of Gemstone, and what you get is nothing. Nothing really changes. Sure, new things are coming in and areas are being added, but that would happen regardless of the price change. That's what the GMs are here for, to build the world. What, if the price wasn't raised, they'd stop working on the game? What are we getting for our money?

Again, back to the amount that it was raised. It's one thing when you gradually raise the price over time, that's cool, but to raise it by 30% out of the blue, that's rediculous. Sure, everyone hates the price of gas, but at least that increases/decreases over time. It's not as if one day you wake up from $1.30 gas to all of a sudden $4.00. When the price you pay for something is a low amount, you raise the price by a minimal amount. If you raise it by a high amount, that totally looks like whoa.

So yeah, $3 is nothing for me, but when I ask what I get for those $3, and the answer is nada. More this, more that? Uh, I don't see any faster implementation of things than I did before. Sure, I'm seeing "new" things, but those new things would happen regardless as that's what GMs do. More money going to the GMs as incentive to build all this? Yeah right.

- Pudgee reg

But I have to be a realist, and realize that SIMU is a business and needs to make money to continue to be viable.

Tho they have a small employee staff, that small group needs to make "X" amount of money to have any quality of life. Sure the cost of living out in St. Louis is not as costly as say where I live. At 32.4kay a year in Denver, barely make it.

That same 32.4 kay a year in St. Louis would afford me a decent standard of living.
Even with the 1,000.00 a month I put out for child support.

I tend to doubt that most of the folks who work at SIMU make even that much, Pudgee. I won't get into what David makes, its part of the perks of owning ones own company.

So that said, I see the need for a price increase of 3.00 per account at SIMU. In five years the cost of living has increased at least by 15%. I am sure I can look up the numbers and get those but I doubt I need to.

3% to 6% percent a year is pretty normal for cost of living increases. So SIMU is caught in a real bind not being a SONY or Microsoft.

They might have a smaller work force but with that smaller work force comes a much smaller cash flow. Balancing that is a real tricky issue I am sure.

Keeping "Good" employees is hard for any company anymore. Loyalty from the employees and from a company itself is a concept of the past.

Paying those employees a decent wage becomes a serious factor in keeping the good employees. One that even SIMU faces.

What I love about both SIMU employees (Onsite staff) and SIMU contracters (GMs, Hosts and bb monitors), is that its truely a labor of love that makes them work for SIMU.
Its not about money, hence why we even get the quality of creative work we do get in SIMU games.

Not many companies get this level of "Labor of Love". What do they get for this loyalty?
For the time they put in? Long hours, and constant whining by people without a clue usually.

If it was so easy to do what SIMU does, their would be more companies of its type out there opperating successfully. After 9.5 years of playing Online multiplaying games of all Genres, I have come the conclusion that SIMU does damn well.

No, they are not perfect by any means. Nothing done by humans ever is, but it is a hell of alot better than anyone else has ever done it or probably will do it for some years.

My big worry is that SIMU will not remain viable enough to opperate as a company and will close its doors. That bothers me, I am loyal to their products and enjoy this hobby that I have played since March of 1978, online being the current form of roleplaying that is the best out there.

So yes, we have to take the snerts and idiots with the good that SIMU offers. They
"Have" to bring in cash to remain viable. Its not about buying a @#$# sports car for David that the company makes money. I always loved that example of Ginger/Rhaindrops.

The guy saved up a couple years for that car and it was used. Give me a #$# break. I was eye balling a 1977 Porsche 911SC, if I had picked it up for 11kay and it was in mint condition. Then drove down to SIMU con, would folks assume I was rich to? Or just had a love for sports cars, older Porsches to be exact?

Remains me of 1987, when both my wife and I were getting our Top Secert clearances updated by the FBI. They gave us no end of crap about our finances. Two sports car's and a sports bike, plus our standard of living.

They were grilling us over this, how did we live? etc..I finally told the Sob, here let me break down the numbers for you lady.

Credit, is our friend. Payments etc to live how we lived. You know what was funnier? She further gave us hell about our apparent
transiant nature. Err lady? I'm in the military, they tell me to move, I #$#$# Move!
So yeah I moved every 18 to X amount of years. Get a bloody clue.

Anyhow this long winded and rambling rant is drawing to a close, because I tend to meander as we all know.

Final remarks are, SIMU is not a greedy bad guy because after five years they raise the price to play their enjoyable games by 10 cents a day.

Their games are not perfect, nor are the staff or players. But they, the players and staff do the best they can by and large.

Jim
reg

That explanation doesn't seem right to me. Though maybe it is, I don't even pretend to know what goes on in the minds of the SIMU braintrust sometimes.

I'd just wish somebody would say what exactly this price increase is for. I don't think a company goes 5 years with the same price, then one february day comes up with the idea "hey, lets charge everyone 3 dollars more". Or at least they shouldn't...

'lood
cancelling his extra character slot so the price is only increased 1 dollar reg

A 3 dollar hike across the board overnight is quite a large increase, not for the individual, but for Simu since 3 dollars times how many customers they have is a lot of money.

I do however have a feeling that this won't work in their favor. With the number of accounts being cancelled, downgraded and people now looking over their account and deciding what to keep and what not to keep, it may not give Simu as much as they were hoping for afterall. I know personally I will be deleting one character slot that I've rarely used off my account so that this only becomes an increase of 1 dollar, and I know some of my friends who I recently got involved in GS are quitting (since 3 dollars for you guys is 5 dollars Canadian for me).

This wasn't a good move on the part of Simu. Internet technologies really aren't supposed to get more expensive, it's not like gas or the cost of housing, internet and computer technologies get cheaper and cheaper as they get better and better. Not the other way around.

GS has improved over the years, no doubt about that. But since it is a game, and part of the internet, and maintenance wise and technology wise not better off than any other internet game available, it's EXPECTED to improve. Justifying a price increase because the product is doing something it's already expected to do is foolish.

It's almost like selling me a car for 20 grand, and if the car works and does all that it's supposed to reasonably do, asking me to pay an additional 6 grand (30 percent) to keep it.

- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard

[This message has been edited by LordKranar (edited 03-03-2002).] reg

'lood

reg

I'd be interested in a breakdown of where these extra funds are going too.

I'm not convinced that Simutronics cost to run the business has increased that much. It is, afterall, still a text game, with a decreasing customer base. It has one tiny room with a couple of servers, and on site staff that live in the ghetto of St Louis because they are all former players that would work for Simu for FREE if you asked them to.

I think it would be great if they use that money to up the GM's bonus checks. They deserve it, maybe more talented ones would apply. I'd also love it if they used it for a business consultant onsite.

I've got a sneaky suspicion that they are getting the one last squeeze out of the players that they can before they shut down.

reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rhain:

I'd be interested in a breakdown of where these extra funds are going too.

I'm not convinced that Simutronics cost to run the business has increased that much. It is, afterall, still a text game, with a decreasing customer base. It has one tiny room with a couple of servers, and on site staff that live in the ghetto of St Louis because they are all former players that would work for Simu for FREE if you asked them to.

I think it would be great if they use that money to up the GM's bonus checks. They deserve it, maybe more talented ones would apply. I'd also love it if they used it for a business consultant onsite.

I've got a sneaky suspicion that they are getting the one last squeeze out of the players that they can before they shut down.

---

It is their right to increase prices whether their cost of doing business is going up or not.

Also, if they were to pay the GMs more as everyone has always suggested the next price increase would be quite a bit more than $3 per month.

reg

It's none of our business where that extra money is going. We're not owners of their stock. Do you ask the president of the Movie theatre company where the increased cost of popcorn is going? Personally, I think THAT is a more reasonable complaint than $3/month for unlimited recreation time. Afterall, that popcorn you buy for $4 a bag only costs 23 cents to make.

R - who used to be a concession clerk at 2 different movie theatres, and KNOWS where that money is going.

reg

However, I would like to thank Simutronics for prompting me to take a long look at my account. I am going to delete three character slots I hardly use. I am considering downgrading my account to basic after the Ilyan Cloud. I will miss the type-ahead line, but, for extra $20/month in my pocket, will manage.

Last night I watched over a friend's shoulder as he played DAOC, and liked it quite a bit. For now, I'm keeping my account (of five years), but I'm starting to have doubts.

-TB

[This message has been edited by TinkerBell (edited 03-04-2002).] reg

Seeing that is looks like it's because they are lossing accounts makes people think the future is not so good.

Do you want to keep riding a dead horse? Has their poor customer service finally killed them?

I mean. It's a business. Someone is running it into a ground and trying to save their job by increasing the price of the game. Which affects use all.

Now I am amazed how bad this is pissing off people. But they finally crossed a line it seems.

edge reg

quote:

---

Ya know what? It's a private corporation. If they put the money toward the cost of better coffee for their office, that's just fine. If they put it toward the cost of a new pool table in their rec room, that's ducky. If it goes to pay for a new set of tires for Whatley's sports car, that's swell.
It's none of our business where that extra money is going. We're not owners of their stock.

---

No, im no stock holder, but i am an account holder-- one who would be more likely to continue being an account holder if this price increase wasn't going to a coffee machine or new tires.

Do I have the right to know? no.
Do I have a right to cancel my account? yes.

Does SIMU have the right to increase the monthly fee whenever and by whatever they feel like ? yes.
Do I have the right to quit because they do this? yes.

'lood reg

and

<<Do you ask the president of the Movie theatre company where the increased cost of popcorn is going?>>

Yes I do. As you know, being a professional snacks and goodies slinger, concession stands are where the theatre makes its money, not the ticket prices. So I'm well aware that the increase in my popcorn price is going towards that renovation to stadium seating that I see two sets down.

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to ask where this money is going. Its their right to keep that info to themselves, I just noted it would be interesting to know.

reg

R
reg

Sure, 3 dollars isn't a change when your daddy is paying for the bill like the deal is with most of you children <not all> who are saying it's not a big deal. When you work for your money you'll realize that payin an extra 3, 6, 9 dollars ect if you have more then 1 account will piss you off even if it isn't that much more.

Saying it isn't a big deal will be represented below.

<SMOOOOOOOOOOCH> <simu's ass> reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Icedragon:
And to all the ass kissers, people who say 3 dollars isn't a large change and congratulating simu for this extra kick to us when we are down <due to some bad growing pain changes in my opinion> your the reason that Simu takes advantages like this.

---

Gee, sorry.

Aren't you the one who only makes $72 a week? You're either working part time or minimum wage (likely both), so of course this will seem like a big pocketbook hit to you. Again I'll say, if you're not making much in the first place, Gemstone3 is the last place you should be putting your money. Go pay your rent.
reg

Heh, well what's said here -is- kinda true.

I mean c'mon, you have GameMasters that will build your game for free, and you have these old school nuts saying how they wish we were still being charged $3+ an hour to play.

If Simutronics does somehow end up going out of business, I'm sure they'll keep this game going for only 20 people all because they'll still want to pay $3+ an hour. I mean, heck, a small amount of people paying that much an hour is the same as hundreds of people only paying a flat fee of $10 a month. It's good to have easy money coming in from SOMEWHERE.

- Pudgee reg

reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Taernath:
Gee, sorry.

Aren't you the one who only makes $72 a week? You're either working part time or minimum wage (likely both), so of course this will seem like a big pocketbook hit to you. Again I'll say, if you're not making much in the first place, Gemstone3 is the last place you should be putting your money. Go pay your rent.

---

Is it possible for you to say one thing that makes you sound like a decent human being? I don't think I've seen one post from you where you aren't speaking out of your backside...

[This message has been edited by Dustin Brookthorn (edited 03-05-2002).] reg

I hope this isn't really the reason for the increase, because that says that Simu can't find a cure so it is up to all of the regular players to shell out more money in order for the chaos to stop. Which is silly, since those people hording up to ten accounts obviously aren't suffering financially and have a pretty high bar for what they will fork out for Simu product.

And the regular players lose again

reg

I've decided as long as I expect no benefits from the company and enjoy just running around with the way things are now, I may as well use this as something to pass time and shell out the 3 extra bucks. reg

What's the point? Seems like a waste of time... reg

I'm going into this not expecting it to be a long term subscription or something that I'm really going to end up caring about. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dustin Brookthorn:
Is it possible for you to say one thing that makes you sound like a decent human being? I don't think I've seen one post from you where you aren't speaking out of your backside...

---

Tell you what, the next time I post I'll tailor my message to meet your very specific guidelines.

If you have a problem with me, take it up with the admins. This hardly the place for it.

[This message has been edited by Taernath (edited 03-05-2002).] reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Taernath:
Tell you what, the next time I post I'll tailor my message to meet your very specific guidelines.

If you have a problem with me, take it up with the admins. This hardly the place for it.

[This message has been edited by Taernath (edited 03-05-2002).]

---

I don't have a problem with you, nor do I think the admins need to waste time on you.

quote:

---

Gee, sorry.

Aren't you the one who only makes $72 a week? You're either working part time or minimum wage (likely both), so of course this will seem like a big pocketbook hit to you. Again I'll say, if you're not making much in the first place, Gemstone3 is the last place you should be putting your money. Go pay your rent.

---

I don't understand why you think people complaining about a 30% price increase would mean that they can't pay their rent, or they only make minimum wage.

I used to make minimum wage, I wouldn't be where I am at now if I didn't start somewhere. Because they might have to budget for that 10$ you don't want them to play with you?

I'm not a customer of Simutronics but I was thinking about it, with this price increase I don't think my account will reopen unless I put it on ebay. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dustin Brookthorn:
I don't understand why you think people complaining about a 30% price increase would mean that they can't pay their rent, or they only make minimum wage.

---

Because the price increase is only an extra $3 a month. Icedragon mentioned earlier in the thread that $72 was an entire weeks paycheck, which leads me to believe he works part time and makes minimum wage. (this isn't meant to be a knock at you, Icedragon)

There's a difference between not wanting to pay the extra $3, and not being able to afford it. Personally, I get a lot of enjoyment out of GS3, and an extra $3 is still worth it.

quote:

---

I used to make minimum wage, I wouldn't be where I am at now if I didn't start somewhere. Because they might have to budget for that 10$ you don't want them to play with you?

---

That's hardly what I said. My point was, if you have a very limited income, there are more important things (rent, food, clothing etc.) that you should be spending your money on.

A simple $3 shouldn't make or break your bank. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dustin Brookthorn:
I don't understand why you think people complaining about a 30% price increase would mean that they can't pay their rent, or they only make minimum wage.

I used to make minimum wage, I wouldn't be where I am at now if I didn't start somewhere. Because they might have to budget for that 10$ you don't want them to play with you?

I'm not a customer of Simutronics but I was thinking about it, with this price increase I don't think my account will reopen unless I put it on ebay.

---

I went back and reread his post and I think you were placing more into it than was really there.

He said he was responding to someone who said they were making 72 dollars a week and so that person was either only working a very few number of hours or minimum wage or both.

IF that were case then he agreed that a three dollar increase may seem like a lot.

Then he pointed out that if that were your sole souce of income then perhaps you should review your spending habits and see if this was truly a worthwhile use of your resources.

I agree with everything he said and am surprised you took such offense.

I happen to agree that this price change has made me take a look at if I wish to keep my premium status and all my characters.

Its simple economics, don't take things so personally.

reg

From a purely economic standpoint, this price increase is outrageous. As evidenced in the posts made by people that are against it, it's not actually paying the $3 more a month, it's the principal behind it.

Simutronics really picked a terrible time to jack up their prices. They *should* have waited until the summer when they actually start offering more services and events...would have been much more justified than offering empty promises. Then again, most of us could do a better job running the Simutronics Corp. than the people who do now.

------------------
I have long been searching Elanthia for the following items: "a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion" If anyone has any information on any of these items, PLEASE E-mail me at Shadow019@aol.com reg

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to hatching some evil plots. I noticed a happy customer the other day, and I am not the least bit amused!

-- David
reg

'lood
"No Mr. Lebowski, that had not
occurred to me."

reg

Back on topic, it seems Mr. Whatley has decided to grace us with his intelligence. Hey Dave, how about a race? That p.o.s. you just had repaired or whatever against me for the company. What do you say?

------------------
I have long been searching Elanthia for the following items: "a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion" If anyone has any information on any of these items, PLEASE E-mail me at Shadow019@aol.com reg

oh, and we have a good advertising section

'lood
maybe next time reg

Somebody said that this might be a ploy by Simutronics to squeeze whatever money they can out of what's left of their subscription base before they close their doors for good. It's true that they are losing more accounts than they are gaining, so is this actually a possibility?

Can anyone say Gemstone 4?

(Thanks for pointin me to the advertising section, I'm headin there now.)

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I have long been searching Elanthia for the following items: "a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion" If anyone has any information on any of these items, PLEASE E-mail me at Shadow019@aol.com reg

We're actualy accelerating spending on the product and marketing side. The redesign of the web (still in the works) was a biggie. eScape was a major strategic enhancement to support two different cool things coming up (you'll hear about soon).

Plus we have some big project pokes in the fire.

-- David reg

I didn't save up for the NSX, nor was it used. I bought it new, off the showroom floor at Dave Munganast Acura. I didn't save up for it because I bought it just like everyone else does... on time! Big car payment. Got it paid of, finally, last year. Whew!

Employee loyalty is not such a thing of the past as you might imagine. Our average salaries (exclusing HCEs) is higher than you guessed. But even still, when times were tough I've had people take pay cuts (with a promise to get it back to them all later, which I did).

One horrible time for me personally, a few years ago, was a time when I had to do our one and only layoff. Probably the worst day of my life.

But after announcing it to the folks I had to let go, most of them came up to me to tell me how sorry they were I had to go through that, and that they'd stick by me. I told em I'd fix things and hire em back ASAP. And for those who stuck by, I did. Some of those people have turned out to be star performers these days.

I value loyalty, and try to reward it in kind. Business goes in cycles, like the economy... sometimes up, sometimes down. Loyalty is what gets you through.

The key difference between Simutronics and a lot of .com's is that we played it smooth and steady. We never let ourselves get lured into wacky business models where making money was somehow not part of the equation. So we never went public and I never became a paper billionare, but we stuck the fundementals and we're still here and still doing strong while a lot of contemporaries (like our friends at Kesmai) are gone.

The price change is part of our business fundementals. It's only $3 in all this time and its going to go towards growing the business (aka the products) not towards a new NSX for David.

Although... I hear that in 2004 they will redesign the NSX entirely. So plan on another price increase then. <WINK>

-- David

ps. For those who do not know my sense of humor.. that last line wa me kidding.

[This message has been edited by Bardon (edited 03-07-2002).] reg

quote:

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It's only $3 in all this time and its going to go towards growing the business (aka the products

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A new GS 3 server (call the old one , the fallen, more apt description), and a pretty front end for linny, santa?

and, i heard 2003 was when they are redesigning the aluminum on your exotic, though i don't follow that line of cars (not a moment too soon either, 13 years is a long time on the same design).

'lood
2500x3x12 ~= 89,740,... j/k

reg

Actually they redesigned it slighty for this year. Looks cool, but not major. I thought it '04 for the all-new beast.

-- David
reg

My question is this:

When are Simutronics policies and procedures going to be stated clearly so they're not open to interpretation by the GM's?

When are there going to be a set of standards and guidelines that are followed while enforcing policies?

Pretty much when is there going to be something everyone can follow and none of this one GM can enforce the rule this way and another can enforce the same rule that way?

P.S. I don't believe you when you talk about loyalty, I've been a customer for 5 to 6 years. GM Krylan decided to try and give me a warning one day, it was overturned by Daecir in Feedback, so about a month later he tries the same thing and now I'm locked out of your games.

I don't think that's a good business strategy for a long term loyal customer. Maybe that coder (Krylan) should be working on something a little more important, maybe something he was assigned to?

My business now goes to Dark Age of Camelot where a lot of the Gemstone III family is moving to.

[This message has been edited by Dustin Brookthorn (edited 03-08-2002).] reg

quote:

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Well I am glad to see you posting David, if it's really you. I haven't heard anyone say it's not so I can only assume it is.

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heheh, yeah its him, trust us (no html changes or webcams needed this time...)

And he's said before (though he could have changed his stance since july) that hes not here in any official capacity, just here to give a perspective on some things.

So, don't expect revalations of biblical proportions (i heard he does a good plague of locust though)

'lood

reg

Bardon whistles.

Bardon's eyes glaze over after several pages.

Wait, a plague of locust! Now that would be fun.....

Bardon bounds off gleefully looking for his dusty GM command manuals.....

-- David

[This message has been edited by Bardon (edited 03-08-2002).] reg

I want a picture of you, in front of the NSX, holding a sign that says:

"I (heart) Gnomad"

And also some of that "favoritism" I keep hearing so much about. reg

They could have an option of paying 15$ a month, for a prime acc, and to have your character cloned into Gemstone: Fallen, so you could play the character in both realms when you wished. This would probably reduce the load on both servers and increase profits.
-Zentalin reg

60 cents to piss!

Stop your whining...
-Zentalin reg

"a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion"

What's all this talk about Gemstone:Fallen?

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I have long been searching Elanthia for the following items: "a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion" If anyone has any information on any of these items, PLEASE E-mail me at Shadow019@aol.com reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Shadow001:
Hey David, mind doing me a huge favor

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Hey David... Me Too? I don't want any freebies, I just want my account unlocked. reg

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I have long been searching Elanthia for the following items: "a dark spidersilk backpack with anicent elven runes expertly stiched around the edges", "some dark roguish chain mail", and "a silver hilted dark mithril falchion" If anyone has any information on any of these items, PLEASE E-mail me at Shadow019@aol.com reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Shadow001:
Yeah, I'd say Dustin deserves it, especially since his account was blocked by a GM who is supposed to be developin and not interacting with customers. What do you say?

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Just to note... Krylan attempted to lock me out TWICE. The first time he tried Daecir didn't buy his story and removed the warning and lockout that Krylan gave me.

The second time I guess he made his story a little more believable. reg

Roberta - who would like Bardon to stick around, but knows if people ask him for stuff here he'll probably find something less demanding to do with his spare time.

R
reg

quote:

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Originally posted by Desharei:
Folks, please bear in mind that Bardon is a guest of the Player's Corner, just as you are. He is not here to answer personal requests about your characters. As usual, you can use the standard feedback options on the GemStoneIII *official* website, or e-mail Bardon at his play.net address.

Roberta - who would like Bardon to stick around, but knows if people ask him for stuff here he'll probably find something less demanding to do with his spare time.

R

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I wasn't making the request looking for an answer from him.

I certainly didn't expect one.
reg