How do they do it?

[Ed Kolis]

What I want to know is, how do the good folks at PBW keep PBW running as a free service WITHOUT A SINGLE AD?!? Are there really that many loyal SE4 fans who donate regularly???

[Growltigga]

enough to cover the monthly expenses of the PBW yacht, the PBW villa in Lima OH, the PBW racing stable and Geo's collection of fast Italian sportsters http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Jmenschenfresser]

And the Harem...don't forget that. Or had they not told you. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Growltigga:
enough to cover the monthly expenses of the PBW yacht, the PBW villa in Lima OH, the PBW racing stable and Geo's collection of fast Italian sportsters http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I only wish...

[Growltigga]

Originally posted by Jmenschenfresser:
And the Harem...don't forget that. Or had they not told you. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Of course I have not forgotten that, what do you think the reference to fast Italian sportsters was? who is talking about motor cars here?

[geoschmo]

In fact, if every website had people like The Admiral, Lazarus, Gimboid, Georgig, Capn, and everyone else that has helped over the months, from donating the hardware, to doing many hours of database programming and website programming for free, they could be free of ads and work off donations too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif If you count all that we could never hope to break even. But they have all generously given, so all we have to do is get enough donations to almost break even on the monthly expenses, which so far we have just about been able to do, and I can keep it running and free of annoying popup ads or subscription fees.

Geoschmo

[Growltigga]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I only wish...[/QB][/QUOTE]

hmmm.. following on from the Worldcom and Enron scandals, perhaps we should request that Geo 'Fat Cat' Schmo of PBW produces copy financial statements for audit and approval...

hmmm.. he has probably spent the cash on loose food and greasy women

[Atrocities]

I would like to say thank you for keeping the site going. I know that the donations help, and that is great. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ed Kolis]

Thanks guys!!!

(loose food and greasy women??? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )

[Baron Munchausen]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
In fact, if every website had people like The Admiral, Lazarus, Gimboid, Georgig, Capn, and everyone else that has helped over the months, from donating the hardware, to doing many hours of database programming and website programming for free, they could be free of ads and work off donations too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif If you count all that we could never hope to break even. But they have all generously given, so all we have to do is get enough donations to almost break even on the monthly expenses, which so far we have just about been able to do, and I can keep it running and free of annoying popup ads or subscription fees.

Geoschmo<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is the secret of the success of Linux, too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif If you had thousands of volunteer programmers willing to spend all their spare time and quite a bit of their work time on your project, you too could have a 'free' operating system with all the functionality of high-end Unix for workstations, and keep it up to date with bug fixes and security fixes faster than a Fortune 500 corporation can for it's own product.

There's something to be said for 'hobby' activities and 'love of the game' (or OS, for that matter) over mercenary (*cough* capitalist *cough*) interests. The profit motive is not the perfect way to motivate people to do everything after all.

[geoschmo]

Hey Baron, that gives me an idea. We could sell PBW stock. It worked for Redhat. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

Sounds risky to me... what if someone misunderstands and wants their annual dividends? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif Lawsuit time... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

And even barring a complete screwup like that, I suspect that people holding even 'token' shares would start to want to have a say in how it was run and you might have conflicts on your hands.

[Atrocities]

You could also "host" couldn't you?

[geoschmo]

We do it by keeping the overhead low, so we can pass the savings onto you, the customer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Of course all donations are happily accepted, and we do get them a decent clip. Enough to just about cover the monthly expenses. Not quite cover, but almost.

Geoschmo

[jimbob]

Release non-voting 'token' shares only.

[capnq]

what if someone misunderstands and wants their annual dividends <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Whether a stock pays dividends is entirely up to the issuing company. Lots of companies never pay any dividends at all.

[Growltigga]

Whether a stock pays dividends is entirely up to the issuing company. Lots of companies never pay any dividends at all.

Not strictly correct. Whether a share pays dividends depends on the rights attaching to that share.. as Capnq says, the majority of most shares will only attract a dividend to the extent the company declares it, and subject to local accounting conventions. Certain stock, such as preference or participating shares, will often have a mandatory dividend, for example, a dividend fixed at a flat 5% per annum or a percentage of profits post tax and debt service costs....

Geo, joking aside, you and the other fellahs do a sterling job and should be well proud of your achievements.. I dont really mind if you do have a stable of racy Italian sportsters.. (well, ok, I do)

[ August 02, 2002, 14:25: Message edited by: Growltigga ]