Thanks for creating a great community for us all to enjoy.

As for GDNet+ I personally view it as a donation and don't expect anything in return. While it might affect the amount of subscribers I would go with the path of making it obviously just a donation. The drop in revenues might be less than any of the costs involved in adding additional features/services for GDNet+ members.

With that said if you were intent on adding value for subscribers or looking to create a second tier of subscriber features at a second price point I would love to see private project hosting as a feature. Instead of having to use a service like github to host a project it makes sense to have a project hosted here so you can point people to your journal, your media showing off your game and the game itself.

The main features of GDNet+ for me were always the Journal and the web space (even if I didn't really use either to their full potential). Now that there's ftp instead of a dodgy file manager, I'll probably be using it for uploading Unity projects for online feedback / testing etc.

Otherwise I really just see GDNet+ as compensating you guys for not showing me ads (or to be more honest, as compensation for the ads you would attempt to show me, and I would block).

I'm not sure I entirely agree with Mike above - there's already the journal, showcase and web space that could be used for a project website. I don't think that GDNet needs to branch into source control hosting / project wikis or whatever as there are a great many places that already do that professionally for free.

I think you should have the ability to make non-GDNet+ donations more visible. ([url="http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/7123/donates.png"]See image here[/url]) Some people don't want to pay a monthly fee, but would be happy to donate a few bucks every so often. So make it [u]easy[/u] to donate at the click of a button, using something like Flattr (although Flattr itself may not be the best solution in GDnet's case, the idea is one that GDnet could benefit from).

Leave the GDNet Journals available to everyone - the more content you have, the more views you get. I have a journal, others read it. Others have a journal, I read it. Thus, you get more ad impressions from me viewing their contents, and from them viewing my content.
However, encourage users to customize the theme of their journal, and even have some really cool default themes that they could apply with the click of a button, and even tweak. But make the themes GDNet+ only. Non-GDNet+ members only get the default journal appearance when others read their journals. But if I read a GDNet+ journal, I visibly see it looking cooler.

(Note: The reason I don't have GDNet+? No money. When I sell my game, if I make enough, I've long intended to support GDNet regardless of what they offer)

I think anything that can bring us exposure would be welcome. I especially like Josh's suggestion of a bundle.

I'm sure this has been suggested, but going further: how about using the GDNet+ subscription as an "app store license" of sorts? You could allow developers to sell games through GD.net and take a commission from that. Going further, because this website is mostly developers and very few gamers/potential buyers, an affiliate program similar to amazon that pays commissions for sales referrals could be a good way to reach out to the gaming community... GDNet+ members could create their own banners promoting their games, with a certain minimum # of guaranteed impressions/month, and a possibility of buying more impressions for a given month...

Maybe a long shot... I don't know

I'd suggest concentrating on delivering on the bonuses that GDNet+ is supposed to bring that you don't currently bother implementing before you worry about new stuff. For that matter fix basic forum issues before worrying about new GDNet+ stuff.

I have to agree with SirCrane. First focus on providing the GDNet+ to it's fullest extent, then start thinking about improving and maybe adding features to it or exploring a new level of donation system. You have a lot of options, and you might want to listen to both sides of the feedback. For me, if you can make it easier to find funding for projects. It doesn't take me much to make my game projects, but I would like funding for the advertising portion of the games. To me advertising is proper, as I already have a team of friends dedicated to my projects. I'm one of the three people dedicated to making my fps. Coding is done by all three, modeling, animation, texturing done by all three. What we are looking for is advertising options that won't cost us 10,000$+ a week just to make sales.

What I want to see GDNet+ offer
Advertising opportunities that will boost [b]my[/b] sales
Funding options or investors willing to invest in [b]my[/b] creations
A general help list either tutorials or workshops for improving [b]my[/b] skills and games
I want to see the mods and the community staff partake more in the online interaction of the community
I want to see the community active and developing, not idle and stale

Currently, I can't say GDNet even delivers much of this, and the some that it does deliver is noted. To cry for money is one thing, but to provide the best you can in exchange for money is another. The lack of in this community justifies the lack of income you receive. Simply provide more, adjust the prices for the options you offer, then watch people subscribe.

For me, I won't subscribe until improvements are made. The options have to be about me, benefit me, and to be worth it to me. Until then it's ok, I'll pass on opting or donating.

I agree with SiCrane: You should concentrate on improving the core service -- both the existing GDNet+ features and the basic functionality that is available to all -- before you set about adding additional features.

We currently have a lot of members making a fuss about potentially leaving the site, and whilst this is something we experience every upgrade, and I'm sure won't actually be the end ( or even a big impact) of the site these people do have genuine concerns, some of which can be fixed up with relatively minimal effort. It's much easier and more cost effective to keep an existing customer than it is to cultivate another one, and if your existing users are happy with the service you will have a good basis to attract more over time.

So, after all that waffling on, I do have some actual concrete suggestions [img]http://public.gamedev.net/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img] :

[b]1. [/b] [b]Finish the GDNet Black theme.[/b]
The work so far is great, but the black theme still has plenty of problems to be fixed, and there are plenty of members who simply won't use the site, or who's usage will be seriously reduced without a properly working black theme. These are existing community members who could be using the site and generating great new content but currently aren't doing so, or are visiting less often.



[b]2. Reduce the amount of "fluff" is the standard theme, or produce a "minimal" theme.[/b]
The old site was very content-centric with very little in the way of toolbars, extra buttons, etc., and I've often seen this cited as one of the main reasons people preferred GDNet over other sites and forums.

With the new forum software everything is bigger, more spaced out, and there are extra buttons and features all over the place, many of which are seeing relatively little use. I know that work has already been done on removing some of the extra stuff from around posts, but I think people would really appreciate more work in this area. Un-needed spaces or bits of information should be weeded out, and our content should have prize position on every page.

When viewing a topic, I think the "Share this topic:" line of text and buttons should be moved [i]below[/i] the fast reply box -- very few people are making use of these features, whilst posting replies is part of our core service.

If possible, it would also be great if we didn't have to "click inside this box to load the editor" when using the fast reply box; you can't reply [i]without[/i] doing so, and having the editor loaded doesn't [i]seem[/i] to have an impact on usage of the page, so the extra click is just wasted time and effort.



[b]3. De-emphasise the "non-features" in the GDNet+ benefits.[/b]
I know that GDNet+ is mostly a donation and that plenty of our users are quite happy to accept that fact, but taking a look at the GDNet+ Benefits some of the stuff listed are clearly useful features, whilst other things are just nice little bonuses. I would re-order the list to put the actual features before the fluff.

[img]http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/8819/gdplus.jpg[/img]


[b]4. Make it easier to donate without subscribing.[/b]
The site does also just take donations. This should be made both obvious, and easy to do.


[b]5. Reward long-time subscribers somehow.[/b]
Something as simple as a badge for those who have been subscribed continually for more than 2 or 3 years, along with an automatically sent thank-you PM could help make our long-time subscribers feel valued, and if noticed may give new-comers something to aspire to.


[b]6. Fix Image Of The Day.[/b]
I know we're waiting on a new or fixed feature from Invision for this, but it's a pretty important part of the site that a lot of people are missing. Anything that can be done to speed up the process would be a great idea.

--------

I also liked the above suggestion of still allowing blogs for everyone, but only allowing customised themes for GDNet+, letting them stand out more easily.

I'll start paying as soon as that does not mean missing a meal.
No further enticement is required.

[quote name='SiCrane' timestamp='1299736236']
I'd suggest concentrating on delivering on the bonuses that GDNet+ is supposed to bring that you don't currently bother implementing before you worry about new stuff. For that matter fix basic forum issues before worrying about new GDNet+ stuff.
[/quote]


We are really looking at revamping everything once again. I have a few areas that I'm focusing on but yes, everything else will be addressed as well. We have already begun the process of continuing to work through the tracker since the GDC is over. This particular post is intended to focus on GDNet+ services rather than existing site issues.

Right now we are working through long range planning, and what we decide now will impact the site down the road. What we are looking forward to doing is translating things that may have long been just ideas of how we should do things to reality. These staff posts are designed to get feedback as far as a particular direction in one particular facet of the site.

There definitely will be more staff posts in areas outside of GDNet+ to discuss other site functionality in the upcoming weeks. We have all been extremely active working on this site and we want to get to a point as quickly as we can that we can address both the needs of our community as well as balance our fund raising efforts to ensure we can continue to operate the site.

I know somebody brought this up when the new site first launched, but allowing GDnet+ people to create or use custom styles. If you added some user created styles that were popular to the drop down with the GDnet standard box for just GDnet+ people, I think that would be a major, but simple feature.

It's not like people aren't willing to create really awesome themes. The classic black hack is a pretty awesome one, and it's not even an IPboard skin.

I'm not sure how I feel about restricting journals. Status updates are probably fine to restrict, but journals, as pointed out above, would just be limiting content on the site, which is already hungry for more content. Maybe make GDnet+ journals take higher priority so they are easier to see/find?

When I signed up for GDNet+, I subscribed for the webspace at a cool URL (gamedev.net), and also because gamedev helped teach me how to program, which is now my job.

Block all ads for GDNet+. I'm never going to click on them, I'm paying partially to remove them (and I want to support the site). To be honest I found it a bit of a slap in the face that when transitioning to the new site that ads started appears for GDNet+.

I just compared a random thread and the homepage logged in and as a guest. The number of ads appears pretty identical. Which ads am I not supposed to be receiving? The little ad that used to appear after the first post wasn't there in either case.

I'd also like HTTPS please. You have recently obtained a cert, but the https://www.gamedev.net doesn't "work" under it (all the links jump back to HTTP). As a priority the login page should certainly be usable under HTTPS, and I'd prefer if I could browse everything eventually.

Other than that I'm pretty easy going, I consider it more a donation than anything else. Some of the ideas floated here seem good, such as being emphasised somehow in the journals page.

Personally I think that site themes are pretty important. It would be nice to have a dark theme, and a minimal theme. But I think that these should work without GDNet+, in fact I think you shouldn't need to be logged in at all. I often like to browse the site when I'm not logged in and it is annoying if you have a favourite theme and you can't use it like this.

Custom themes might be restricted to GDNet+ only, I can see that making sense.

The ads must go completely for members.

The site should be customizable. Can I have this site show me only the things I care about (nothing about DirectX or OpenGL or consoles or iAnything, etc.)?

A good-sized, hot-linkable hosting space (for related projects only). But it doesn't look like you can provide this for a reasonable price. 100MB is a bit on the low end.

I personally miss the programming contests that used to be held. Why not bring back some regular contests that are only open to GDNet+ members, and have some promotional prizes donated by people that want to be associated with the contest.<br><br>I also like the idea that Mike Bossy had - private project hosting would be a great idea. However, judging from the current state of affairs I think that should be a long term goal, as it would likely require some dedicated staff.<br><br>Contrary to some of the other comments, I don't think you should not turn the GDNet+ label into a business transaction - people should want to join because of the site itself, and not because they are getting more out than they are paying for. You aren't selling products and services, you are making a website for like minded people to meet, help each other, and share ideas - period. If you do that well, then you won't have any trouble getting people to drop $40 a year into your paypal bin...<br>

When i purchased a GDNet+ when they first came out, it was because having one really set you apart in posting on the forums; and to me at least conveyed a sense of serious involvement with the community that folks seemed to admire.

I've actually recently discontinued my GDNet+ subscription as it no longer seems special or beneficial.

The site also has become quite a mess, tons of information that is a real chore to sift through;
the forums listing is is nearly five pages long, I had to do a text search to find the 'help wanted' forum! lol

The text for forum listings is also extremely close in size, so it isn't easy to distinguish headings from body text.



As said, I'd probably reconsider GDNet+ when I can use it to distinguish myself when posting content or seeking developers.

Sadly I am one of the members who remembers the site as it was in the past ten years, and the new site doesn't seem nearly as appealing, mainly visually or functionally.

just my $0.02

-Raymond

Well actually it would be pretty cool (or hopefully not too impossible) to have a Steam-like service here. I mean we are a game development site. So providing a service where people can post demos or full games (maybe or maybe not for a fee) would be central to the site. I think that would make GDNet+ subscriptions stand out from the rest.

Also, IMO, GDNet+ members should have access to more themes, have first crack at the new themes, or be able to share custom themes only with GDNet+ members.

Do we (still) have a special discount system for sites like Amazon, BN, Borders, etc for GDNet+ members?

[quote name='Alpha_ProgDes' timestamp='1299908716']
Well actually it would be pretty cool (or hopefully not too impossible) to have a Steam-like service here. I mean we are a game development site. So providing a service where people can post demos or full games (maybe or maybe not for a fee) would be central to the site.[/quote]
Sounds like they just need to get the GDnet Showcase working, and then give it better publicity/more eye-space. (Perhaps on the front page: show a random showcase, weighted so the ones posted in the last six months come up more frequently)

[quote name='Servant of the Lord' timestamp='1299910814']
[quote name='Alpha_ProgDes' timestamp='1299908716']
Well actually it would be pretty cool (or hopefully not too impossible) to have a Steam-like service here. I mean we are a game development site. So providing a service where people can post demos or full games (maybe or maybe not for a fee) would be central to the site.[/quote]
Sounds like they just need to get the GDnet Showcase working, and then give it better publicity/more eye-space. (Perhaps on the front page: show a random showcase, weighted so the ones posted in the last six months come up more frequently)
[/quote]
Well GD Showcase in its original form needs a massive overhaul. So massive that it would be something else entirely.

Maybe you could have subscriptions based on the type of developer. For instance, GDNET Silver (A), Gold (AA), and Platinum (AAA). People who have the Platinum service are making AAA games and obviously have access to every resource they can imagine. Maybe even separating GDNET subscriptions further into Mobile, WilWare/LIve/PSN, and Console/PC development could be a good thing?<br>

I am current a subscriber of GDNet+. The low subscription price is one reason that makes it easy to subscribe at that level. However, I would be willing to pay a little more for a second tier subscription if it provided additional value. One thing that I would like to see is a resource directory. Those who subscribe can put their studio in the directory, and the information is made available to all (or maybe other subscribers?).

Robert