I can't really get behind this, just because of the TL+ member only forums, other than that I don't have too many issues with it. I don't have any revenue source to pay for this either, being an incoming college freshman, but when I do, I'll try it out for a month so I'm not guilty of sour grapes haha. I hope this goes well though, I want to see TL grow.
On June 22 2013 06:26 Piy wrote: Don't like the commercialisation at all, but whatever I guess. Whole feeling of the community is so changed from a few years ago, makes me realise why I participate less and less.
Just my opinion, not just on this issue, but also the general trend of modern e-sports. Regardless of how much money people are making now, I had a lot more fun with Starcraft 5 years ago. Now I don't play or watch it, and endless adverts and sponsor shout outs and reddit posts about the stagnation of esports' growth just make me not want to. Was just better when I could watch an hour or so of fresh BW VOD's, play at the A/B ranks and not have to spend forever finding games (back when Iccup was a viable server) and enjoy the community interaction on TL.'
Feels now like something great is gone forever. I would love nothing more than to go back to BW being the niche game it was with a decent, dedicated following and a fun community; the thought of never truly getting to experience my favourite game of all time again is very disheartening and depressing.
Can't wait for the next good competitive RTS tbh, will hopefully be fun again.
This... i think sth in my heart died today.. TL was the last site i expected to implement sth like this.. build by fans run by fans... i will miss the good old times.. i always tried my best to support TL with the little i have but now i think i will adblock it again... im not trying to be offensive btw i just cant understand why the old system worked for so long and now suddenly they need to make sth like this other then greed i hope someone can give me some good arguments so i can get my faith back into my so loved number one website.
I created TL in 2002 when thought we could fill a special spot in the BW scene. In the first eight years it was a completely voluntary job for me (first I was an SC progamer, then I supported myself through poker). I think you should know that I worked my ass off the eight years before you created your account, without ever expecting this would one day become a business.
Today TeamLiquid.net has become a monster to manage that can't be ran based on anyone's passion alone. As a website offering so much to its users it is impossible to maintain without monetization. We have about 200 staff members the vast majority of whom are voluntary. However as with any organization we absolutely must have paid quality staff to lead and accommodate such a massive group of people, and to create revenue to pay for all the costs involved with running a website as large as this.
In terms of monetization I believe we have always stuck close to the principles that drove me to do this for eight years as a hobby. We've never considered doing popups, we have never locked popular public content behind paywalls, and we have never put up donation buttons. I think that we do a decent job at creating revenue sources that do not create negatives for those who don't want to spend money. Think of the store, non-instrusive ads, pay-what-you-want models, and TL+, which takes no functionality away from anyone who isn't interested in buying it.
no offense, but we heard the "well this site costs money, it's hard to just break even" argument quite a couple of times. It came up on various occasions, last time i recall was the opening of TL store. I don't buy it. Judging by TL's unique clicks per day and the estimated revenue of the shop and other cooperations, such as papa johns pizza deal and sponsored threads, i assume TL was making quite some (not naming any numbers) in profit before the introduction of TL+. And i did take into account that people get paid as well.
If this is hilarious to you, open up your finances to the users. I would be more inclined to support TL by such a feature if i knew this site was having a hard time on breaking even.
He never said he had trouble breaking even. He has two pro teams, staff to pay, and a massive site that he must maintain. People have to live their lives. He's trying to do it in the most non-intrusive way possible and still people give TL shit about it. If you aren't going to support it, don't try to discourage others not to also just because you don't think TL should make more than you believe is "just".
On June 22 2013 08:22 oneill12 wrote: I don't have a source of revenue for now, being a student still but I would like to support TL this way in the future. Also in a country with living standards like mine a couple of bucks means way more than in others. Very hopeful that TL grows and I like TL+
you're my third gift. i will gift the next two people who would like to contribute but dont have the funds to do so.
Poor male engineering student will striptease for membership? I dunno... I got nothing. D: Will eat snot for... too far?
On June 22 2013 08:22 oneill12 wrote: I don't have a source of revenue for now, being a student still but I would like to support TL this way in the future. Also in a country with living standards like mine a couple of bucks means way more than in others. Very hopeful that TL grows and I like TL+
you're my third gift. i will gift the next two people who would like to contribute but dont have the funds to do so.
i cant pay for it right now! please help me mr lawyer man.
This is cool. It's often really hard for people to monetize things. The whole throwing money at the screen thing never works, but this is one way to at least give people that opportunity to throw money at TL.
On June 22 2013 06:26 Piy wrote: Don't like the commercialisation at all, but whatever I guess. Whole feeling of the community is so changed from a few years ago, makes me realise why I participate less and less.
Just my opinion, not just on this issue, but also the general trend of modern e-sports. Regardless of how much money people are making now, I had a lot more fun with Starcraft 5 years ago. Now I don't play or watch it, and endless adverts and sponsor shout outs and reddit posts about the stagnation of esports' growth just make me not want to. Was just better when I could watch an hour or so of fresh BW VOD's, play at the A/B ranks and not have to spend forever finding games (back when Iccup was a viable server) and enjoy the community interaction on TL.'
Feels now like something great is gone forever. I would love nothing more than to go back to BW being the niche game it was with a decent, dedicated following and a fun community; the thought of never truly getting to experience my favourite game of all time again is very disheartening and depressing.
Can't wait for the next good competitive RTS tbh, will hopefully be fun again.
This... i think sth in my heart died today.. TL was the last site i expected to implement sth like this.. build by fans run by fans... i will miss the good old times.. i always tried my best to support TL with the little i have but now i think i will adblock it again... im not trying to be offensive btw i just cant understand why the old system worked for so long and now suddenly they need to make sth like this other then greed i hope someone can give me some good arguments so i can get my faith back into my so loved number one website.
I created TL in 2002 when thought we could fill a special spot in the BW scene. In the first eight years it was a completely voluntary job for me (first I was an SC progamer, then I supported myself through poker). I think you should know that I worked my ass off the eight years before you created your account, without ever expecting this would one day become a business.
Today TeamLiquid.net has become a monster to manage that can't be ran based on anyone's passion alone. As a website offering so much to its users it is impossible to maintain without monetization. We have about 200 staff members the vast majority of whom are voluntary. However as with any organization we absolutely must have paid quality staff to lead and accommodate such a massive group of people, and to create revenue to pay for all the costs involved with running a website as large as this.
In terms of monetization I believe we have always stuck close to the principles that drove me to do this for eight years as a hobby. We've never considered doing popups, we have never locked popular public content behind paywalls, and we have never put up donation buttons. I think that we do a decent job at creating revenue sources that do not create negatives for those who don't want to spend money. Think of the store, non-instrusive ads, pay-what-you-want models, and TL+, which takes no functionality away from anyone who isn't interested in buying it.
no offense, but we heard the "well this site costs money, it's hard to just break even" argument quite a couple of times. It came up on various occasions, last time i recall was the opening of TL store. I don't buy it. Judging by TL's unique clicks per day and the estimated revenue of the shop and other cooperations, such as papa johns pizza deal and sponsored threads, i assume TL was making quite some (not naming any numbers) in profit before the introduction of TL+. And i did take into account that people get paid as well.
If this is hilarious to you, open up your finances to the users. I would be more inclined to support TL by such a feature if i knew this site was having a hard time on breaking even.
He never said he had trouble breaking even. He has two pro teams, staff to pay, and a massive site that he must maintain. People have to live their lives. He's trying to do it in the most non-intrusive way possible and still people give TL shit about it. If you aren't going to support it, don't try to discourage others not to also just because you don't think TL should make more than you believe is "just".
People like you are poison to any community.
yes, im poison to the community for disagreeing with you. i see.
I'm happy with this, now I get to kill 2 birds with 1 stone! I can feel safe browsing TL at work again because I won't see any suggestive Thai hooker ads, and I get to support the site I love even more :D
On June 22 2013 08:22 oneill12 wrote: I don't have a source of revenue for now, being a student still but I would like to support TL this way in the future. Also in a country with living standards like mine a couple of bucks means way more than in others. Very hopeful that TL grows and I like TL+
you're my third gift. i will gift the next two people who would like to contribute but dont have the funds to do so.
Poor male engineering student will striptease for membership? I dunno... I got nothing. D: Will eat snot for... too far?
On June 22 2013 08:22 oneill12 wrote: I don't have a source of revenue for now, being a student still but I would like to support TL this way in the future. Also in a country with living standards like mine a couple of bucks means way more than in others. Very hopeful that TL grows and I like TL+
you're my third gift. i will gift the next two people who would like to contribute but dont have the funds to do so.
i cant pay for it right now! please help me mr lawyer man.
enjoy
<3 you are amazing thank you, I'll send you the striptease video momentarily. Guys the secret forum is super super cool. Do not miss out. Come join movie night, and lots of fancy other stuff !!
I watched the video and I'm not entirely clear why I would buy such a thing. So basically you can like certain posts. Get access to a hidden forum similar to that of the admins/staff/etc. Send mass PMs. Guess we'll get first dibs on the shop as well as discounts. I don't know guys heh.
Team Liquid has been home to me for a long time, now. The site outage made me realize just how much this place matters to me. There is no place more incredible on the web.
I'll buy a subscription as soon as I can afford it.
On June 22 2013 09:13 yokohama wrote: I'm happy with this, now I get to kill 2 birds with 1 stone! I can feel safe browsing TL at work again because I won't see any suggestive Thai hooker ads, and I get to support the site I love even more :D
Haha, have to say part of the reason I paid is for the same reason. Some of the ads popping up made it awkward to browse at work.
EPT
People should be for this.
