Message #826

From: David Smith <djs314djs314@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [MC4D] commercializing cubing
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:05:11 -0800

Hi Roice,

I think you should definitely receive compensation for all of your hard work!  Having seen your program, I believe (or at least would hope) that people would gladly pay for it considering how unique and enjoyable it is.  Paying five dollars for the many hours of fun that I know your very original program will provide seems like a bargain to me!  Hopefully, word about your program would spread throughout the cubing forums.  If your program were just like another Rubik’s Cube program I don’t think it would sell very well, despite the amount of work and effort you would have put into it, simply because there are so many free versions available.  Your program, however, is very unique and will appeal to puzzle fans and also those with a mathematical inclination.  If you choose to sell it, I know I will buy one!

All the best,
David

— On Tue, 1/26/10, Roice Nelson <roice3@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Roice Nelson <roice3@gmail.com>
Subject: [MC4D] commercializing cubing
To: 4D_Cubing@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 8:18 PM

Hi all,
 
Here’s a non-technical question I’d be curious for any and all to weigh in on.  I’m on the cusp of releasing another (beta) Rubik analogue program I’ve worked on a bit over the past half year, and was planning to post it free as I’ve done with other hobby projects.  Then this blog post shows up in my reader today describing "the radical idea that you should sell what you make."  I’m curious what others think of this.  Is it unrealistic to expect people to pay, say $5, for a Rubik like program?  Would doing something like that injure the commercial-free spirit of communities like this?  Is the Rubik software market simply supersaturated with freeware, such that it’d be hopeless to try to charge anything for yet another Rubik program?  (I tend to suspect the answer to the last is yes.)

 
These projects are an incredible amount of fun, but an equally incredible amount of work.  I happily pay for physical puzzles on a regular basis, but have always downplayed the monetary value of the software versions.  How come?  I don’t think I’ve had any fundamental reversal in my plans or anything, but the blog entry at least made me want to post this.

 
I’d love to hear your thoughts,
 
Roice