MovieStorm changes their business model

thebiz · 11-25-2009, 03:49 PM

An interesting change happening at MS today. 3rd party mods and modding software will now require a monthly $7.99 subscription fee (which also gets you discounts on content and perhaps some other benefits).

http://www.moviestormblog.com/index....e_and_cheaper/

Will be interesting to monitor the response to this. I think I fall on the "man's gotta eat" side of this and I pay more than this monthly for far sketchier purposes. It also keeps the base package free for beginners. But then I am not an active MS customer at this time so Im not exactly putting my money in my mouth (you never know where that money has been). Might also hinder their younger users who have to convince mom and dad. Their demographic seems a bit older than TM's core users back in the day I suppose.

Thoughts (please read the link as my paraphrasing does little justice)?

ChatNoir · 11-25-2009, 04:27 PM

I sincerely wish Moviestorm would do well.

I am not sure about this particular approach though. My first reaction was to be concerned about the possibility of some advanced modders dropping out. (We need them, we love them.)

$8/month may seem insignificant, but it's almost $100 a year.

I just hope Moviestorm would do their best to keep advanced modders happy. (I'm talking about those who can make props characters can interact with. Please give them free subscriptions, and more if possible!

)

sisch · 11-25-2009, 05:57 PM

I have to admit, I'm appalled by this.

The subscription fee - okay.
But not being able to either mod or use mods when you don't subscribe?

That forces every 'serious' movie maker into either subscribing, or looking for another program to make their movies with.

Don't get me wrong, I love MS, but loving something doesn't mean I'm not allowed to see it's shortcomings, and one of MS shortcomings is that it doesn't have enough content. Without the mods, 'Saving Grace' and 'The Afflicted' wouldn't have been possible, and the new projects on my mind would need even more extensive modding.

Which means, if I want to keep on using MS, I have no choice.
And if you're a modder, you have to pay for making content, in a sense...

Not happy about it.

Killian · 11-25-2009, 06:35 PM

At this stage, I very much see this as a mistake, personally.

It all smacks a little of desperation to me; I hope that it's nothing to do with the company's financial situation that has led them to make this choice; don't get me wrong, they need to make living, just like any company, but this just smacks of sudden, ill concieved and not well implemented.

MS has a lot of potential, but effectively forcing people into subscribing in order to use or make mods that the parent company hasn't already made (for a lot of potential reasons), especially at this stage of the engine's life, just doesn't fill me with confidence going forward, sadly.

thebiz · 11-25-2009, 08:08 PM

I dont know if the mistake is in what they are doing now or in their initial plan of free software and revenue from content packs. Its awfully hard to start charging for things that were initially free.

Devils advacado here. How much are the many hours of hobbyism and more that you have spent using the software worth monetarily to you? What would you be willing to payfor the software if it had an expiration date of tomorrow and you were forced to buy the program (or would you spend anything at all?)

Would someone in the know mind explaining exactly what the mod tool gives you the ability to do?

mr_chatnoir · 11-25-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebiz

Would someone in the know mind explaining exactly what the mod tool gives you the ability to do?

It allows you to import Google Sketchup v6 models into Moviestorm. It has a resource browser/editor that lets you change textures and properties of some of your existing assets - props, walls/floors/ceilings. You can pack these assets into an addon, which can be easily imported by any Moviestorm user.

It probably can do more than that, but that's what I use it for.

jakechief · 11-25-2009, 08:30 PM

This would be a good discussion for "The Storm Hour" This week...

Doc Z · 11-25-2009, 08:54 PM

I'm glad MS is becoming more openended, this is what TM needed in the first place

Regards,

Doc

Lizard · 11-25-2009, 10:22 PM

I share similar views with Biz on this. I have always had concerns from the beginning on the business model of the Moviestorm group and really saw how the importer program they spoke of didn't make sense. I wasn't sure why they would create and offer a program for free that allow users to avoid buying the only products they made money from. But now that it seems that they also see this problem. I can't say I like the approach they have taken even though I believe I saw it coming.

It makes much more sense to me that this program should allow the modding to go on for free and if revenue is a must to sustain the company (as most do need) then why don't they just require a monthly/yearly subscription for the use of the main program? This makes much more sense and probably would open a lot of support for them. If people cannot be bothered enough to have a $30-$50 a year subscription... they really can't be dependable enough to buy much of anything anyway.

Content packs can still be left to be bought for those people who don't want to be bothered with the hassle of making it themselves. But have to pay monthly to have the hassle? Really? And better yet, modded content I make or bought is no good if I don't have the subscription anymore? Really? Somebody call Interpol.... we have a hostage situation!

In closing, if my opinion counted for anything, just sell/subscribe the program. I really feel the "free" concept is a failing marketing gimmick holding back the potential of what would/will be a great tool for machinimators. I hope this works out for the communities in the end.

themonk · 11-25-2009, 10:46 PM

I will see if we can get Matt Kelland back on the show to talk about this in the next couple of weeks.

And I had just approached stvndysn about DCMF opening up some more information on modding in MS.. Today... this afternoon. Now it looks as if you will have to pay to mod... Not sure if the DCMF guys, who donate a ton of their time modding and learning the ins and outs of our machinima programs will feel about having to pay to play. I was hoping to make more content available for users, and stvndysn was planning on trying to make all the mods on DCMF converted and available for use on MS.

At this point... Im not sure exactly how I feel about the subscription.

11-25-2009, 03:49 PM	#1
thebiz Huge Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,235	MovieStorm changes their business model An interesting change happening at MS today. 3rd party mods and modding software will now require a monthly $7.99 subscription fee (which also gets you discounts on content and perhaps some other benefits). http://www.moviestormblog.com/index....e_and_cheaper/ Will be interesting to monitor the response to this. I think I fall on the "man's gotta eat" side of this and I pay more than this monthly for far sketchier purposes. It also keeps the base package free for beginners. But then I am not an active MS customer at this time so Im not exactly putting my money in my mouth (you never know where that money has been). Might also hinder their younger users who have to convince mom and dad. Their demographic seems a bit older than TM's core users back in the day I suppose. Thoughts (please read the link as my paraphrasing does little justice)? __________________ Last edited by thebiz; 11-25-2009 at 04:06 PM.

11-25-2009, 04:27 PM	#2
ChatNoir Madam Chat Noir, that is. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 151	I sincerely wish Moviestorm would do well. I am not sure about this particular approach though. My first reaction was to be concerned about the possibility of some advanced modders dropping out. (We need them, we love them.) $8/month may seem insignificant, but it's almost $100 a year. I just hope Moviestorm would do their best to keep advanced modders happy. (I'm talking about those who can make props characters can interact with. Please give them free subscriptions, and more if possible! ) __________________ Chat Noir Studios online: Blogspot, Facebook, Twitter

11-25-2009, 05:57 PM	#3
sisch on my second life Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: creative closet Posts: 1,083	I have to admit, I'm appalled by this. The subscription fee - okay. But not being able to either mod or use mods when you don't subscribe? That forces every 'serious' movie maker into either subscribing, or looking for another program to make their movies with. Don't get me wrong, I love MS, but loving something doesn't mean I'm not allowed to see it's shortcomings, and one of MS shortcomings is that it doesn't have enough content. Without the mods, 'Saving Grace' and 'The Afflicted' wouldn't have been possible, and the new projects on my mind would need even more extensive modding. Which means, if I want to keep on using MS, I have no choice. And if you're a modder, you have to pay for making content, in a sense... Not happy about it. __________________ The Dark Side Sisch's Reflections

11-25-2009, 06:35 PM	#4
Killian Vote for the 2010 Ollies! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hunched over a keyboard, typing madly... Posts: 2,438	At this stage, I very much see this as a mistake, personally. It all smacks a little of desperation to me; I hope that it's nothing to do with the company's financial situation that has led them to make this choice; don't get me wrong, they need to make living, just like any company, but this just smacks of sudden, ill concieved and not well implemented. MS has a lot of potential, but effectively forcing people into subscribing in order to use or make mods that the parent company hasn't already made (for a lot of potential reasons), especially at this stage of the engine's life, just doesn't fill me with confidence going forward, sadly. __________________ Last edited by Killian; 11-25-2009 at 07:29 PM. Reason: I saw a mouse... where? There over there... Where over there? Right There. A little mouse with clogs on... Well I declare..

11-25-2009, 08:08 PM	#5
thebiz Huge Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,235	I dont know if the mistake is in what they are doing now or in their initial plan of free software and revenue from content packs. Its awfully hard to start charging for things that were initially free. Devils advacado here. How much are the many hours of hobbyism and more that you have spent using the software worth monetarily to you? What would you be willing to payfor the software if it had an expiration date of tomorrow and you were forced to buy the program (or would you spend anything at all?) Would someone in the know mind explaining exactly what the mod tool gives you the ability to do? __________________

11-25-2009, 08:30 PM	#7
jakechief Rapid Fire Studios Writer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: In your brain Posts: 1,360	This would be a good discussion for "The Storm Hour" This week... __________________ Owner of Freaky Entertainment

11-25-2009, 08:54 PM	#8
Doc Z Resident Evil Genius Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dutchland Posts: 200	I'm glad MS is becoming more openended, this is what TM needed in the first place Regards, Doc __________________

11-25-2009, 10:22 PM	#9
Lizard Coming Home Now Playing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana, USA Posts: 96	I share similar views with Biz on this. I have always had concerns from the beginning on the business model of the Moviestorm group and really saw how the importer program they spoke of didn't make sense. I wasn't sure why they would create and offer a program for free that allow users to avoid buying the only products they made money from. But now that it seems that they also see this problem. I can't say I like the approach they have taken even though I believe I saw it coming. It makes much more sense to me that this program should allow the modding to go on for free and if revenue is a must to sustain the company (as most do need) then why don't they just require a monthly/yearly subscription for the use of the main program? This makes much more sense and probably would open a lot of support for them. If people cannot be bothered enough to have a $30-$50 a year subscription... they really can't be dependable enough to buy much of anything anyway. Content packs can still be left to be bought for those people who don't want to be bothered with the hassle of making it themselves. But have to pay monthly to have the hassle? Really? And better yet, modded content I make or bought is no good if I don't have the subscription anymore? Really? Somebody call Interpol.... we have a hostage situation! In closing, if my opinion counted for anything, just sell/subscribe the program. I really feel the "free" concept is a failing marketing gimmick holding back the potential of what would/will be a great tool for machinimators. I hope this works out for the communities in the end.

11-25-2009, 10:46 PM	#10
themonk The One The Only themonk Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 278	I will see if we can get Matt Kelland back on the show to talk about this in the next couple of weeks. And I had just approached stvndysn about DCMF opening up some more information on modding in MS.. Today... this afternoon. Now it looks as if you will have to pay to mod... Not sure if the DCMF guys, who donate a ton of their time modding and learning the ins and outs of our machinima programs will feel about having to pay to play. I was hoping to make more content available for users, and stvndysn was planning on trying to make all the mods on DCMF converted and available for use on MS. At this point... Im not sure exactly how I feel about the subscription. Last edited by themonk; 11-25-2009 at 11:16 PM.

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