Mass Effect Forum Update

projectego · 08-28-2007, 08:33 PM

Hi guys,

Just a quick update to let everyone know just what's going on with the Mass Effect Forum. The reason I am posting this is because I've received a number of PMs from members eagerly awaiting the launch of the forum and I thought this might be one of the better ways to address the questions.

You may remember that I created a thread concerning who might be interested in the Mass Effect Forum sometime ago to try and determine just how many of you would be interested in signing up.

This is the current situation: I'm not entirely confident that a Mass Effect Forum would be a great idea from a financial point of view. Nowadays I invest my cash into website opportunities that I believe will pay for themselves after time; And while I'm currently making around very, very little profit from my network and I simply do not have the capital to throw around to cover the expenses of another forum and support my family. I don't mind taking a loss for a while, but I really need to be 110% comfortable with something before I invest in it.

I've wanted to create a Mass Effect forum for the longest time, not just because I love the look of the game but well, I love designing websites; it's a passion of mine. Please don't think that because the forum isn't up yet that I don't want it as much as you do.

Another alternative would be for me to request donations to be put towards the Mass Effect Forum. It will cost me approximately $300 to purchase a fourth vBulletin forum script ($160), a base template from eXtreme pixels ($30) with which to design the template off and a new PhotoPost vBGallery gallery license ($99). Not cheap, is it?

I've decided that if I can receive even 25% ($75) of the amount needed through donations, then I would happily put the remaining $225 forwards. If you're interested in putting forth a donation towards the Mass Effect Forum, please feel free to send me a PM and we can discuss it from there. It would potentially take a single donation of $25 from three members to cover the $75.

As a thank you to any and all members who donate, I would add your name to a 'credits' page on the Mass Effect site with full details of how you generously contributed to the site. I would also provide you with a life-time gold membership subscription. That's pretty much the only things I can think of at the moment.

I'd just like to point out however before anyone insinuates anything negative about me requesting donations that I'm also the person who is giving away a free copy of Fable 2 upon launch - potentially two copies, in fact. So believe me when I say that I'm not a big fan of asking for donations and this is indeed a last resort.

Please bear in mind though that no-one is compelled to donate and I advise you be absolutely certain you want to before you do. Every little helps however and I only hope I can reward those of you who do donate, one way or another. If you have any questions at all please go ahead and post in this thread or send me a PM if it's concerning payment worries.

I'll also be making a news post about this on Mass Effect X shortly.

Thank you for reading and goodnight!

Edit: By the way, I cut off huge chunks of texts here and there in order to shorten this post so that is my excuse for why certain bits might not quite connect or make sense.

Albion Knight · 08-28-2007, 08:42 PM

Count me in for $25 Steve. But like you I'll wait and see if the rest can be collected.

projectego · 08-28-2007, 08:50 PM

Thanks a bunch, AK! That's really good of you and I really appreciate it! Please remember though: I won't be offended if you decide to retract the $25 at a later date.

Hexadecimal · 08-28-2007, 10:09 PM

hmmm... I'll see what I can do

Edit: ok, I'm in, and so is Andy, he's just having net troubles right now
there's your $75, Steve-o

Dark Drakan · 08-28-2007, 11:27 PM

Yeah im in Steve as i said to you before, i have great faith in Mass Effect and know its going to kick *** so count me in. Sorry for late reply ive been having major internet issues, took me 15mins to quick reply to this thread

Walker · 08-28-2007, 11:34 PM

Would me blowing some money on a Gold or Silver subscription here serve the same purpose? I've been considering doing so...

projectego · 08-29-2007, 12:01 AM

Awesome! thank you so much, guys! I'll have the Mass Effect set up sometime tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

Would me blowing some money on a Gold or Silver subscription here serve the same purpose? I've been considering doing so...

It certainly would. Each and every subscription goes towards server costs and general website... stuff. I'll also be be transferring all gold subscriptions to each and every forum under the network, meaning that if you do decide to purchase a gold subscription here, it'll also be waiting for you over at the Mass Effect Forum at no extra cost too.

Hexadecimal · 08-29-2007, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectego

Awesome! thank you so much, guys! I'll have the Mass Effect set up sometime tomorrow. Wish me luck!

YAY! finally

Walker · 08-29-2007, 01:14 AM

Hmmm... okay, I'll fork over ten bucks (or, if I'm feeling really generous, twenty, so I can get a Gold subscription here and on Masseffectx) so I can get my mom's paypal password and enrich your sites.

Though, out of curiosity, if I wanted to "donate" instead, I would do that how, exactly?

Hexadecimal · 08-29-2007, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

Though, out of curiosity, if I wanted to "donate" instead, I would do that how, exactly?

hmmm... I was going to say click the "Donate" button up top... but now I see it doesn't actually work, just takes me to the forums main page... Steve-o, we've found something else that doesn't work

Walker · 08-29-2007, 01:30 AM

Well, even though it doesn't work, where is this "Donate" button you speak of? All I see is "Home-Forums-Gallery-Quicklinks-User Cp-Search-Premium-FAQ-Members" in the toolbar-majig, and below that "Fable 2 Forums>Forests of Albion>Bowerstone South Tavern>Mass Effect Forum Update" and then the links for premium memberships and the Fable 2 contest, and my PM's link.

Hexadecimal · 08-29-2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

Well, even though it doesn't work, where is this "Donate" button you speak of? All I see is "Home-Forums-Gallery-Quicklinks-User Cp-Search-Premium-FAQ-Members" in the toolbar-majig, and below that "Fable 2 Forums>Forests of Albion>Bowerstone South Tavern>Mass Effect Forum Update" and then the links for premium memberships and the Fable 2 contest, and my PM's link.

oh... I guess Staff see something different... never mind then

Walker · 08-29-2007, 01:49 AM

Or I'm oblivious or looking at the wrong page. I'm not sure why I don't/didn't, so I was asking.

It seems like I remember seeing it, some time ago, I just don't remember where.

Hexadecimal · 08-29-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

Or I'm oblivious or looking at the wrong page. I'm not sure why I don't/didn't, so I was asking.

It seems like I remember seeing it, some time ago, I just don't remember where.

for me it's on the second line of buttons, in between Online and Email

Walker · 08-29-2007, 02:04 AM

Oh! That's not staff, that sounds like Supporter. I assume those are the buttons to change "show online status" and go to your projectego.net e-mail. Which I, as a still non-supporter, do not see.

So maybe I didn't see the button at some earlier point.