[Scummvm-devel] GOG-Affiliate program, recent additions to website

[timofonic]

clem <clemty <at> gmail.com> writes:

> 
> > (Eugene Sandulenko <sev <at> scummvm.org> to clemty <at> gmail.com,
> > cc sev <at> scummvm.org, Max Horn)
> > 
> > Hi Clem,
> > 
> > First thing I am really puzzled with is why did you post this message
> > on forums? There is scummvm-devel for such things, then there is e-mail
> > after all. So I took liberty and removed your post from here, and
> > quoting it below with my comments.
> >
> 
> I saw the svn commit when the GOG-change was made to the templates; I voiced
> my concerns in the channel. Nobody seemed to take it seriously.
> I'm surprised that the GOG "affiliate program" was not discussed on -devel
> beforehand myself actually.

I think you are looking into it too seriously.

> Was there any prior discussion about the affiliate program on the channel?
> I can't find one in the logs offhand.
> 
> I posted on the forum because this seemed the obvious place to reply to the
> announcement. I also posted there to have opinions from other (forum) users. 
> I am not happy that my post miraculously vanished over night.

It was a polemical post that is better discussed directly to the project
involved people. I see nothing wrong there.

> >> I'm a bit concerned where this takes the web design.
> >>
> >> In my opinion, the top bar of the forum is getting cluttered.
> >>
> >> It started out with "Forum Index" and "ScummVM website" next to the
> >> logo (originally because there might be confusion if the ScummVM logo
> >> was linked to one thing or the other, like with most phpBB2 templates)
> >> and the phpBB2-specific things like Login/logout to the right.
> 
> > No problem. Give me a nice-looking replacement and I will publish it.
> 
> My suggestion is to remove the GOG link, remove the banner from the main
> page and have the respective link(s) on "where to buy games" on the wiki:
> http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Where_to_buy_games
> 
> To ask more provocatively, why is there just the GOG banner up? Why not also
> make the forum link to Amazon, ebay, and the other sites selling ScummVM-
> supported games? Because it does not generate revenue? 

What's wrong with having revenue? A project like ScummVM costs money and some
efforts are limited because lack of resources, like buying games to developers
or necessary utilities for their work (like IDA Pro licenses, books...). The
ScummVM Team needs money for make the project progress, if donations are not
enough there must be other ways of get it and a GOG.com banner is totally licit.

If you know a better way for helping the ScummVM project in a monetary way or a
way where they don't need money and have everything they need (totally
utopical), please explain your plan.

> >> I was not too happy about the addition of "Contact us" because it does
> >> not belong to these two navigational categories. I voiced my concerns
> >> in the channel but eventually got used to it.
> >>
> >> Now there's an advertisement up there. In bold text. While I can see
> >> that money may be useful for the project, what is the justification of
> >> having it more prominent than the other links?
> 
> > The main reason was to attract attention of old forum readers, who may
> > miss the announcement. Since we have number of links over there, they
> > just can go unnoticed.
> 
> I think the announcement is enough to announce it, there is really no need
> to make permanent changes to the web design for that. If you mentioned it
> again in the 0.13.0 release post, I'm sure all regulars will notice it.
> 
> Again, more provocatively asked: people sending out bulk email could as
> well claim that their message otherwise could go unnoticed. That does not 
> make them right. But at least I can delete/filter unsolicited email,
> whereas I'm stuck looking at the link at the forum.

Even more provocatively?

The ad is totally related to the project. It's a DRM-free, fast and cheap
service for getting classic games so it helps stop warez and makes more people
to enjoy the ScummVM supported games in a legal way. What's wrong with this if
even helps to the ScummVM project get some bucks for paying the tools for it?

In other words: Do you know some philantrophic millonaire that loves ScummVM and
want to pay for all the project costs so the ScummVM project can avoid this kind
of way you personally don't like? ;)

> >> Moreover, the gog banner on the main page also doesn't fit the design.
> >> In my browser window it is a different size than the sf.net banner and
> >> the position is also seemingly arbitrary.
> 
> > Give us a replacement. Or provide the button size which I could request
> > from GOG.com. Give us replacement of PHP code which generates the page.
> 
> Ditto to above. Remove it.

Aren't you a bit obfuscated about this? Please see the bigger picture.

> >> In conclusion, I liked the original design better. Any chance to get
> >> back to that?
> 
> > Do you mean to remove both button and link on the forums? Well, I could
> > also remove the news item altogether, but I really would like to hear
> > sound reasons before doing that.
> 
> Yes, I would prefer to have both the button from the main page and the
> link from the forums removed (and the "contact us" link, or at least move
> that to the bottom of the page). I don't have that much of a problem with
> the news item/the announcement on the forum (other than it's a pretty
> thinly veiled advertisement), but at least I don't have to look at that
> constantly.
> 
> It might well be that I'm the only one thinking like that, but I still feel
> I need to voice my opinion on this matter. Any opinions from other readers?
> 

It's OK to express your opinion, but it's OK to respect the opinion and actions
of others. Maybe being too provocative is not helping this project.

Regards.
timofonic