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[Dvergar]

I (a non-donor, sorry) was wondering why this whole project piggie-backs on the paying donors, yet is played by mostly non-donors, that doesn't seem right, why is DF free?  Or at the very-least, why is it free of advertisement, both the forum and the game-client.  It is my understanding that the game pulls in $1000-$3000 a month (maybe?) but considering the fact that this is Tarn Adam's full time job (maybe?) but-(as little as I know about donation-income)-but isn't that both insecure and pretty darned near close to minimum wage? 

I know nothing of Tarn Adams's background, but couldn't he be making a lot more with a

normal[unquote] job?

In short, afaik Tarn Adams is shorting himself to do something he likes (perfectly fine, even advised) but why doesn't he make use of advertisement, or even a retail version in order to make up the difference?

[qwertyuiopas]

It is entirely his choice, and it is quite possible that he just wants to give the world an unique, fairly good, free game.

Also, you use /quote not unquote, and for the use you used, it would be better to type out "s.


If you really want to know though, ask him yourself. And maybe he might even poost here(unlikely, but possible)

[Mephansteras]

As far as I know the main reason is that the game is in alpha, so he feels that it is not in a sellable state yet.

What his final plan is once it goes out of Alpha, I don't know. But for now our donations are funding the development of the game.

[Typoman]

that is a question you need to direct at toady. but as far as i can gather. he isn't motivated by the money. it's an end to a means. as far as advertising goes. on the site almost no-one would see it, almosty everyone uses an ad blocker these days. in the game client... i would immidiatly stop playing despite the game being so good. advertising in-game is a nono as far as i am concerened (i can sort of understand  if you are in a hyper-realistic game set in the present and having adverts where they make sense like the bilboards. but made-up ones are so much better than having products shoved in your face while trying to have fun.) in a fantasy game like this not only not set in out universe but seemingly a long while in the past, the immersion break would be terrible.

It is entirely his choice, and it is quite possible that he just wants to give the world an unique, fairly good, free game.

this.

As far as I know the main reason is that the game is in alpha, so he feels that it is not in a sellable state yet.

What his final plan is once it goes out of Alpha, I don't know. But for now our donations are funding the development of the game.

this also

[Ironhand]

Toady is benevolent.

You should be grateful.

[Grendus]

If I had money I'd donate. Starving college student ftl

However, the game in it's current state, even with the incredible flexibility and 'fun' factor, probably isn't marketable. The gaming community has been watered down so much that people will whine and bitch bout the ascii or the keyboard based controls(they do every few weeks in the suggestions forum). While the Bay12 community is constantly growing, it's very slow compared to more mainstream games. Before the game goes to market, if it goes to market - what Toady decides to do with it ultimately is his own choice - it will need at bare minimum a graphical update, a control overhaul, and an official get-started guide. The learning curve currently is one of the harshest of any game I've ever seen, there's no way your average gamer would put up with the game's complexity currently

[Typoman]

and making it less complex would be a sin

[Zantan]

As far as I know the main reason is that the game is in alpha, so he feels that it is not in a sellable state yet.

What his final plan is once it goes out of Alpha, I don't know. But for now our donations are funding the development of the game.

I would like to add that Toady has stated that at the current pace, it will take a couple decades to arrive at his vision of DF 1.0.  I don't think he's even assuming that DF will get past Alpha.

[Skorpion]

- Because Toady believes in free games.

- Because no sane developer would take this on.

- Because people give him enough money to live on and continue to make DF.

[Dvergar]

Alright, fair enough..... I now have a new appreciation for Tarn Adams, working on a solo-indie project that is supported by unreliable donations must take a lot of determination.  I have strong doubts I could dedicate so much to a project such as this, especially if I had the experience to take another better-paid route.

[qwertyuiopas]

{Warning: posting from memory of old happenings. Do not trust as a full source, look it up in the dev-log or wherever}

When he went full-donation, he had saved up ~6 months of funds, in case he didn't get enough(He would go back to regular work ~december if donations hadn't been good enough).

He had a backup plan, but didn't have to use it.

[Dvergar]

Regardless, I doubt he is making the same kind of money he could in a "normal" job (P.S. the [ quote] [unquote] were for emphasis beyond normal quotes, I didn't want to be offensive). 

EDIT: Forgot to preview and mock code accidently got read

[Ziusudra]

Just put spaces in the [ quote ] to keep SMF (the forum software) from parsing it.

[Strant]

I hate advertising in video games.  I could never support that.   Although...

On the wall is an image of a dwarf and a cola.  The dwarf is drinking the cola.  The cola is refreshing.

Then you use adventure mode to figure out what cola it's advertising.

[Someguyo]

On the wall is an image of a dwarf and a cola.  The dwarf is drinking the cola.  The cola is refreshing.

That's awesome, I'm going to sig that.