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Suppose there was a CYS app in the app store (droid, apple, windows, whatever) that let you play storygames.

Now suppose this app had a limited free version, and that you had to pay a couple bucks to access the "Premium" storygames. Or maybe you could only take 20 steps in a storygame before buying the paid app. Basically, the goal would be to get people to buy the app.

How would you, as an author, feel? Like someone is making $$ off of your hard work?

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I'm just curious. As an author, I'm not sure how I would feel.

 

my initial response would be, i dont like the idea of someone 'else' making money off my 'hard work'. but at the same time, i never wrote a story on here with the expectation of making money. would it be possible to track what stories are being read? instead of paying for the app, maybe paying for the story, or a group of stories for a low price? just brain storming possibilities.

nate

Well, the fair thing to do be to pay those who are under the "premium" storygames category. Though I'm sure CYS technically owns the stories, it would still be a nice thing to do for them.

TBH I probably wouldn't mind myself. Though I think the app would do better if it was sold for 99 cents. Lots of people get scared away if the app costs more than a dollar.

I do use an Ipad alot, but reading has always been very easy there. It's writing on it that gives me trouble. I probably wouldn't use this if this app is just about reading storygames. I'd just go to the website and read it the normal way.

I of course don't know if other kinds of tablets have a more difficult time with it, so maybe this would be a good thing for such people.

It's rather difficult to do it on a smartphone. It's certainly doable, but the general populous would find it more difficult than it's worth. So at the very least it could be made for them.

How about free with donations?

You'll get some default stories at first, but you can download more later on...

BTW Isn't this supposed to be in the suggestions thread?

I think it could appeal to people if it would not cost over a dollar. You could ask authors if they want their story to be 'premium' or for all people to view etc. Although, to be honest, I don't think that I would buy it myself if I could read the same stories online for free.

^Agreed, besides if people really wanted to read if on an app for free they could easily look for them elsewhere since i'm sure plenty of people will try and steal the stories then post them on other sites for free as their own work. 

So is CYS needing the money or is this just to make it more worthwhile to maintain the site? Not saying your being greedy or anything but just wondering.

Technically the storygames are your property once they are published on this site but as an author I'd definitely feel like someone is making money off my hard work if there were to be premium storygames.

I don't mind the idea of an app you can buy to view any storygame on a smartphone. It's just the premium idea I'm worried about. I wouldn't mind a system where there are a select few games (maybe 3-5) which are free, and then you have to pay for the app to unlock everything else, because then it ensures that they are paying to access a library of storygames rather than paying for author's individual work.

I'm not sure how worthwhile the endeavour is, as it's hard to imagine hundreds of people buying it - especially if the price is over a dollar or two - but by all means it'd be a great addition to the site if you're willing to put the time into it.

Personally if I'm not going to be making money off of my work then I'd rather just leave them free for all to read like now, which people would be able to do anyway since they were all published at Infinite Story first.

I believe over at Choice of Games, the site and the author get a cut of the payment for downloaded storygames, but the storygames over there are still free though and you can still play them without buying.

It's just the premium idea I'm worried about. I wouldn't mind a system where there are a select few games (maybe 3-5) which are free, and then you have to pay for the app to unlock everything else, because then it ensures that they are paying to access a library of storygames rather than paying for author's individual work.

-This would be a better idea if we do start putting a fee on certian stories. 

Thanks for the feedback, all.

The reason I asked... I think a CYS app would be awesome, but I don't have the ability or inclination to learn how to create one. I could, however, hire someone to write one, but that of course would require a non-trivial sum of money ($5K-10K+, I'd guess) and thus put it out of my hobby budget.

However, if I charged for the app... then I could have a chance of recouping the development cost, and hopefully more so that I could keep paying someone to maintain the app. Advertising might work, but you need a ton of users (hundreds of thousands). But in either case, there's a problem: it appears to be unfair to the authors.

Taking it a step further... I could raise the price and give the authors a (well-deserved) cut, but it's not that easy. You need 1099 forms, accounting, agreements, and then all the time to do the payouts, etc. Then there's the legal considerations (especially if we want to deal with minors). Ugh. I've done things like this before, it's a hassle. I could of course pay a lawyer and a bookkeeper to help with all this... but then we're up to needing even more money.

So... hopefully you now see the dilemma. A free app would be wonderful, but I think anyone's going to volunteer to develop or pay someone to develop it. I'm open to suggestions :-)

Also, regarding story ownership... the Terms of Service are rubbish (on my list to rewrite), but the bottom line is that users own everything (stories, comments, etc), and by posting it here they grant CYS a license to use the content. Most UGC (User Generated Content) sites work like this.

 

at one point i looked into creating an app for ipods/phones, but ran into the same problem. no clue how to do it alone and not enough money to invest in someone else doing it.

maybe the new iphone/pods will suck and that will send prices plummeting lol one can hope.

nate