ID:40227
 
Yep! That's right! Thanks to a number of people not even contacting me about whether they need to pay or not, or atleast giving me some assurance that they would pay, the hosting service locked the servers until they receive payment. So far I see about 150 Euros missing.

Folks this is not my job, it's my hobby. These servers were supposed to be self-sufficient, requiring me to do little more than make sure the software gets updated regularly. But now you've pushed me to start acting like a business. And you probably won't like the consequences.

Over the next day or two, I will compile and publish a list of those slackers who have not paid and how much they owe. This list will be made publically available on this guild blog for all to see, and to know how untrustworthy you are. You want to get off that list? Then pay up as soon as you see your name appear. Better yet, if you know you are a slacker, pay first *before* your name appears.

Apparently my idea of letting the users pay for the servers, there-by making them self-suporting isn't going to work anymore. My hobbyist attitude is too relaxed for you to be responsible enough on your own to pay on time.

So some things are going to change yet again!

First off: price increase. Not sure how much yet, but it will be enough to insure that servers are no longer underfunded.

Second: signed PDF-format emailed contracts. Not entirely sure how to word the contract, but it will require enough info for me to have legal options if you decide to not pay. Oh and if you are under 18, it will be your parents who co-sign.

Third: an email warning system. One notice sent 1 week prior to payment due date. After that the account gets locked. One or two weeks beyond the due date means your account and all it's files will be deleted. No warning, other than the conditions specified in the contract or Terms of Service document.

My forth idea was regarding some sort of in-game advertising, but I'll hold off and give that more thought.

Stay tuned for the black list!
Maybe you should have a list of the hosted games and their status on payments, good or bad. That way the public can be aware of a game's hosting status and be able to warn whoever the person is who needs to pay before drastic measures have to be taken.

A simple color system could be used...

Green: for all paid up

Yellow: for payment due date comming within the next 2-3 weeks

Red: for due within the next 48 or so hours.


Maybe even put a donate button for each game incase someone feels they want to contribute to their favorite game. Of course donations couldn't be done for the hosted anime games though.
Naruto revenge of the super saiyans 8, or something along those lines missing out on thier payment?
I'm confused on one point, When you took down the servers, even the games whose owners have paid up were taken down, correct? I have no problem with you using methods like this on the slackers, (Its your money they have been wasting), but if you are shutting down the games that have paid consistantly, thats not right...

Anyway, just my 0.02$
I agree with Techgamer.
Unfortunately (had you read the post) the hosting service locked the servers, not me, due to several missed payments. I only pay from money received for the hosting. If people don't pay, I can't pay the service. It was meant to be self-sufficient that way.

People who have paid will be credited with the time lost *plus* a free month when the servers come back online.

If, for some reason, digitalBYOND does not come back online or is delayed greatly, I will refund the difference to everyone's accounts.
I'm just paypal'ing you the £10 from February which I think means I'm paid in full. You can close the account, I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be overdue a ton of money if I wanted hosting in the future.
digitalmouse wrote:
Unfortunately (had you read the post) the hosting service locked the servers, not me, due to several missed payments.

This was your mention in the post:
I've let the hosting service lock down both servers.

From the moment I read that I thought that you told them to lock them down, not because you failed to pay them but because you wanted to send a clear message to the slackers.

This is what it should've been:
The hosting service locked down the servers since I couldn't pay up.

-- Data
Android Data wrote:
digitalmouse wrote:
Unfortunately (had you read the post) the hosting service locked the servers, not me, due to several missed payments.

This was your mention in the post:
I've let the hosting service lock down both servers.

Point taken- I can understand how it was badly worded. I'll edit the post.
Good on you digi, that's all I have to say. It worked long enough, but you knew you'd have to get more involved at some point.
if my benefactor, aka Sothem has stopped sending you lump sum payments then i would appreciate some notification. The fact that the server has been locked out with no warning and all my player files are on there is a huge problem. Its not that i wouldnt figure out payment, its more I was allegedly paid for for months and months according to Sothem, and yet Whenever i catch you on msn i dont get any replies. At very least you could send an offline message or let me know the status. I think its more than fair for you to publically post the accounts on digital byond and their current debt and payments. Its a hobby i understand but im not going to pay more than is appropriate because there are a bunch of shitty rips on the server who are deadbeats. Point being, the character server being hosted on digitalbyond takes up less than a percent of CPU, while the other games tend to take up at least 50% of a cpu (2 cpus total). Soo, i would appreciate some sort of more detailed explanation than this. If digitalbyond is doomed to go south because of dumbasses id rather not go down with the ship. 10 months of accumulated player saves are on that locked server that you didnt bother to warn me about and Im more than a little pissed off about it.
Masterdan wrote:
if my benefactor, aka Sothem has stopped sending you lump sum payments then i would appreciate some notification.

It was not your payments at fault, as far as I can see. The servers are supported by *everyone* not just your supporter.


The fact that the server has been locked out with no warning...

Stop right there - if you bothered to watch the digitalBYOND blog, you would have known this was an issue over a week ago - I've said to everyone who has an account with me: 'keep an eye on the dgitalBYOND Members page for updates' I can't force you to read them, and I'm not going to send around mass emails when this does not apply to everyone.

Also I got no warning about when the servers would get locked. I reported the slacker issue when I got an email from the hosting provider saying that if I didn't pay, they would lock the servers until I did pay. It was just as much a surprise to me as it was you. But I made a post about the issue over a week ago, so no-one should be surprised that it was coming.

Whenever i catch you on msn i dont get any replies. At very least you could send an offline message or let me know the status.

You know I'm in a different time-zone as you. And I have replied several times, even offline. I cannot fix the fuck-up that is MSN.

I think its more than fair for you to publically post the accounts on digital byond and their current debt and payments.

Thanks for that support. The list shall be appearing shortly. A few real-life issues are taking more importance, but I will certainly post the deadbeats.

Point being, the character server being hosted on digitalbyond takes up less than a percent of CPU, while the other games tend to take up at least 50% of a cpu...

Yep, and I've generally had no problem with your use of the service.

...you didnt bother to warn me about and Im more than a little pissed off about it.

I understand your anger - I'm not too crazy about it either - but the warning was given out over a week back.

I have someone willing to pay off the debt for now, so hopefully we can get the servers back online as quickly as possible.

Yeah well, i appreciate that and i am sympathetic. Im more mad at the fact that people would abuse your immensely cheap service. Its a wicked good deal and youd have to be a complete ass to not make payments. I think you should take a 3month-6month deposit first.
I agree with what your doing, I want to pay my next years worth (it runs out in May-June) but I don't want to pay it if its supporting people who aren't paying.

Please be tougher and make them pay in advance and slice them off the day it runs out, it is not your problem if they cannot handle that simple business transaction that the rest of the world goes by.
PLEEEASEE put the server back up i beeegzzz you. i made new char in goa and its pwnage xD
Gogeta126 wrote:
PLEEEASEE put the server back up i beeegzzz you. i made new char in goa and its pwnage xD

Are you thick in the head? Were you dropped a lot as a child? Read the friggin' blog post.
I don't understand why we all have to suffer because of a few "slackers" Hey what can I say people are lazy and cheap and they too advantage of you.
its not his choice. He simply refused to pay a 150 dollar bill. He said he raised the money and its just a matter of waiting now.
Do we have an eta yet?
Pulling out a contract seems like a good idea :}
Page: 1 2