I have one groan and a couple of suggestions...
You guys can not expect everyone to beleive that the usage level just suddenly jumped up and bit you in the ass, you should have been aware of the usage level for quite some time, so rather than make a request while it was still open you decide to shut the add-on section, which basically means you are blackmailing everyone into making a donation to get it back open again, I know I for one do not bow that that kind of pressure
As as for the bullshit you gave about the section being offline for updating, and would be back at a certain date, you just lied through your teeth, you knew then it would not be back unless you secured some form of funding, so why make a bullshit post!
If you want this to work your solution is to charge for uploading and downloading from OFPEC.
uploading cost users say $5 this gives them a membership to upload and download for 12 months.
Downloading will cost $10 a year, this will allow a user to download from OFPEC for 12 months.
Those contributing to the community get a 50% discount as lets face it without them your add-on section would not be there, and anyone who says they can not afford the $5 or $10 charge is talking out of their ass, without any form of sponsorship how are groups like you surposed to continue to give the service they provide.
There would have to be open information about the accounts received and the accounts spent if you want people to believe the money they are donating is going towards the running costs of the site, this would also include the perks/payments to those that run the site (I dont think anyone would begrudge the site admins their cut of the dues for their time and effort) but it would have to be completly open.
There would need to be a some form of terms and conditions for membership, and guarentees from OFPEC that a members access would be guarenteed (subject to network, host issues) for their membership term, this would be achived by OFPEC paying for the first 12 months rental, then recoup the charges back from the membership fees, this will display to potential members that you are trying to be as honest and above board as you can, the 1st years membership should also be make it possible for OFPEC to pay 12 months hosting costs in advance after the 1st year, this would guarentee the members still have access to the site and downloads even if you guys at some time decide you cant continue with the service any longer.
Also from the fees could be prizes for competions for best add-on (voted by members) best mod (voted by members) best screen shot (voted by members) per month or quarter then the members have the oppertunity of getting something back worth more than their membership fee's.
At a poit you could make all old downloads freely available to none members, all new downloads are restricted to the members area for say 3 - 8 weeks, may also require assurences from the maker that they do not make the add-on or whatever available from other sites untill that time has past (these could be offered free membership for this guarentee).
Turn your hobby into a business, and get it to pay for itself!
fuckit I may just do this myself
Topic: ADDON DEPOT: Donations! (Read 33206 times)