Re: PBM deposits & value for money

From: nospam@here.please (Evilb)

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000

On Sun, 05 Sep 1999 21:23:26 +0100, ColinForbes
<timewyrm@suilven.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Hi,
>There's been an interesting discussion in the Middle Earth mailing list
>along the lines of questioning whether, if players paid a deposit, they
>would be less likely to drop out (assuming the deposit were
>non-refundable should they do so).
>
>Obviously this is a big can of worms. Personally I don't think it would
>work ...
>
>This has also led to some points being raised as to whether PBM players
>are generally willing to pay what a game is actually worth. PBM's can
>take a far chunk of development time not to mention the time to actually
>run a game, plus material costs. A substantial number of commercial
>PBM's make surprisingly little money and many actually make a loss. I
>would guess that even some big PBM Companies don't operate at the
>profits people think they do - without the love of games and gaming in
>general many GM's would certainly find more profitable means of
>employment.
>
>Anyone got any thoughts?
>
>Colin.
>

The problem is that the margin between a supposedly professional
company, and an enthusiastic amateur is very small, so many ppl are
playing free games.

Personally, the deposit idea will almostly certainly put ppl off.
The pbm scene is still very amateurish, and very blinkered. It needs a
bit of a shake up.

References

PBM deposits & value for money
ColinForbes <timewyrm@suilven.demon.co.uk>
Sun, 05 Sep 1999 00:00:00 +0000