SavyGamer: Now with optional subscription option.
I have decided that I am going to ask you fine people if you would like to consider optionally donating some money to me for running SavyGamer. I explain everything in detail on the donation page here, but feel free to ask me any questions about it in the comments here.
Deleted this site from my bookmarks.
You have GOT to be kidding.
Not really, quite a few people have requested something like this, and it is entirely optional, if you do not want to donate, nothing changes except a link at the top of the page.
Wow, over-reacting much?
Massivly overeacting much.
My god! You’re asking for voluntary donations to help you save me money! You sir have insulted me and now I shall never visit this site again!
Wow. Woooooooow that is something special. Apparently nowadays just merely asking for donations for a service somebody provides for free is contemptible behaviour.
xfh: puhlease man, he’s just trying to make some money off the hard work he’s doing. Since when is that wrong? Also, the key word is OPTIONAL. I wouldn’t be opposed to some ads on the site either, it’s just the way the internet works. One of the reasons I refuse to use an adblocker.
I also resisted using an adblocker for a while based on this very argument. But at one point, I was too annoyed. There are two kinds of ads that I can’t stand, and I believe I have the right to avoid.
1. Those with extremely inefficient (or too many) flash code that slow down my 4 core 3.4 GHz rig.
2. Those with extremely distracting content such as, flashing stuff, sound or too suggestive stuff.
When there’s more ethics around internet ads, I might remove my adblocker.
Would be more willing if the podcast/game night was regular.
That’s a good point. I’ll try on work on both of those at some point.
“…if you do not want to donate, nothing changes except a link at the top of the page”
What link is this you speak of?
“Subscribe” at the top.
OH RIGHT. Well, that makes sense ha ha. For some reason I expected one to be added.
I would only consider donating if there was a better sense of community here. As someone has already said regular gaming nights and or podcasts would be good.
And how about some sort of site suggestion section? Maybe subscribers could get extra features like submitting their game reviews. Stuff like that.
Thank you Rei Onryou for subscribing to the SavyGamer Hookers and Blow fund.
You’re welcome 🙂
Not forgotten.
Can it get us email alerts about particularly good deals for formats of our choice?
The problem is I am loathed to do anything that takes my concentration away from the main focus of deal hunting for everyone, and I don’t want to spend time doing things to attract subscribers that could be better spent hunting bargains and doing other things for the site.
That said, I always have a few ideas for new things in the pipeline.
As for email alerts, there is always the categorised rss feeds if you want them sent to your email inbox. There are quite a few ways to set up a rss getting sent to you via email.
kk, thanks for repplying, bit shot of cash, but ill try to send some your way soon, you’ve saved me enough.
monthly quid on the way, help keep you in games. 🙂
Happy to Lewie. £1 a month is a measly sum considering how much money you have saved me in the 6 or so months I’ve been a regular visitor to your site. I see nothing wrong with giving someone help with a service that they are willing to offer completely free of charge if that service is as comprehensive and useful as this one. Talking of which I’m going to subscribe to RPS as well I think, let’s keep you both going!
Thanks.
I would be happy to put up with adverts really. If it was subscription there should be something for it. Maybe those with limited offers announced first for subscribers or something. I got a free Lara Croft through the Times like that, but my friend missed out because he was slow.
There might be things like that in the pipeline if I can work something out. No promises though.
I’ve already got close to the kind of amount I would be getting from advertisers from subscribers, just in a few hours. Advertising is rarely a good deal for sites the size of SavyGamer.
I am absolutely against this kind of thing. Subscribing shouldn’t be about getting extra value, it should solely be a nod to Lewie and Willeth to say, “thanks for saving me cash, here’s a few pennies in your direction instead of in the pockets of The Hut Group”. We all get plenty from SavyGamer and if it goes the way of having a different product for those that pay and those that don’t, I predict a huge drop in readership.
Yeah, I’d only want to have occasional freebies I have managed to secure be just for subscribers. I’m not going to have any deals that are restricted to just some people.
Nothing on the web site will ever be hidden from non-subscribers.
I have an aversion to subscriptions but I will try and send a donation your way. I don’t visit the site much, but I do enjoy reading your bit on RPS. Plus you always have been nice and friendly 🙂 G’luck
Don’t you get any sort of commission when anyone follows your links and purchases an item?
Rereading my comment ^^ I realise it may come accross as an accusation. I dont mean to imply Lewie has done anything wrong, just that I had thought the combined commission from so many sales would have totally eclipsed any donation/subscription scheme.
I do, as I mention on the subscription page it is about 3p per person a month. It is not enough for me to comfortably live on.
Sorry, I hadn’t realised you talked about this on the link you provide.
Has anyone made y’know, THAT joke yet, about your optional-payment-per-month suggestion? Just wondering how predictable/twatty anyone has been, other than that xfh guy.
It’s probably a fair thing, given that you’ve saved me a fair few quid in the past. Can you please tweet a polite, subtle “Thank-you to everyone who has subscribed, I appreciate it!” style message in a couple of weeks? As a reminder?
Most of the response has been positive.
I’ll probably remind people about it from time to time.
Excellent, dude. And now I’m about to buy a new Xbox thanks to you.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
I should probably add that it’s not that I can’t AFFORD £1 a month that I ask for a reminder, but for another reason 😀
Subscribed – excellent value, I hope you can continue to do this for a good while longer! If you are looking for new site features, it would be great if you could subscribe to email alerts on certain categories – like say Steam sales.
Thanks!
Next game you save me money on, Ill make sure to subscribe that day, Promise ^_^
I am definitely going to donate but I think Savygamer has cost me more money than saved in the past few months…
Sub’d. Don’t use you an awful lot but I’m a nice person 🙂
Also, I second the “Subscriber reviews thingy”. Just because I want more portfolio work. I am a terrible terrible person.
Not a problem, Lewie. You definitely save me more than £1 a month (although as someone else has pointed out, the amazing savings probably mean I’m spending more on games than I ever have!) but more importantly I value your time and work. I like that this is quite a simple, no frills site that provides a (n excellent) service. I’m happy to pay what is really a minuscule amount for a service which I could otherwise get for free anyway, if only to see it continue.
That, and I like to fuck with traditional models of economic theory.
instead of donating cash could i donate a game for you to give away to one of your subscribers or anyone you see fit? (or keep for yourself)
i have a mass effect 2 (pc) download code (the free one with dragon age 2) and i do not need it seen as i have it on xbox and playstation!
if not could i give it away on your site? 🙂
keep up the good work hopefully soon ill have a full time job and be able to donate to you!
I’ll Take it! Been trying to save for it but am about to subscribe now XD
Subscribed. I funking love this site.
have sent a small donation. great way to make a living, doing something you love. good luck to you, i check your site almost every day.
Thanks for the continued contributions everyone. You’re all wonderful.
You’ve saved me a ton, so sure!
Wait… an XKCD from a few weeks ago just came to mind…
http://www.xkcd.org/870/
“The more you spend, the more you save!”
You could always ask people to just make one off donations. I think letting people pay what they like is a much better option than asking for something in particular. Perhaps suggest that they throw a pound your way for every 20-30 pounds they save, eh?
There is an option for exactly that, at the bottom of the subscription page.