Re: pbm game fees

From: phil@phildee.win-uk.net (P.Shulkind)

Date: Sat, 02 Sep 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <809722754snz@spelbind.demon.co.uk>, Steve Pritchard (Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk) writes:
>
>As for the idea of PBM falling in costs so you can afford it; sorry, but if
>some games get any cheaper, the companies running them will be run out of
>business and the games just won't exist. On this bit I know what I'm talking
>about - I have to live on the income I make from running PBM games!
>
Well put Steve! As far as I'm concerned, PBM turnfees should be
higher if anything, not lower, though I do appreciate the problem
for those with limited budgets for gaming. This would enable us all
to invest more in advertising to bring new players into the hobby,
developing new games, enhancing old ones, etc etc. However (in the
UK at least) the "part timers" are forcing those of us trying to
scratch a living from PBM to keep prices as low as possible, in
order to compete. It seems that there are a lot of players who look
for the cheapest alternatives, preferring quantity rather than
quality (of service, if nothing else). So, we have a situation
where those of us running full time (only a handful of firms here
in the UK I think) are held back from developing and growing by the
need to keep our turn fees low. This is obviously not a good thing
for PBM in the long term. If the dedicated GM's are forced to
struggle in a restrictive environment they'll eventually find some
other way to make a decent income for a lot less work. There seem
to be far less newcomers into the GM scene these days that have the
determination to keep going and make a name for themselves (I can
only think of Madhouse and Pagoda over here in the past two or
three years). The eventual outcome will be that Flagship will
collapse due to lack of support from advertisers, and once there's
no dedicated PBM coverage we may as well all go out and get a
'real' job.

Yep, it really makes me mad when players criticise turn fees!! 75%
of them probably think nothing of spending 20.00 in the pub on a
Friday night just to piss it all away and get a headache! And
those with a job might perhaps do well to ask themselves, am I
really giving my employer value for the money he's paying me???

Cheers,

Phil

PHILDEE ENTERPRISES - Play By Mail specialists since 1990
PO Box 7
Rhayader, Powys         Compuserve : 100042,400
Wales, LD6 5PL          Internet   : phil@phildee.win-uk.net

References

Re: pbm game fees
chrisk@yogi.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Chris Kessel)
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: pbm game fees
lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Garrett R Le-Page)
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: pbm game fees
Steve Pritchard <Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
pbm game fees
keith.langley@mdcs.com (Keith Langley)
Mon, 28 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: pbm game fees
chrisk@yogi.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Chris Kessel)
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: pbm game fees
lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Garrett R Le-Page)
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: pbm game fees
Steve Pritchard <Steve@spelbind.demon.co.uk>
Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000
pbm game fees
keith.langley@mdcs.com (Keith Langley)
Mon, 28 Aug 1995 00:00:00 +0000