OK, shareIT does subscriptions and can send out new keys every month (which, if I were a customer and had to enter each month would upset me) alternatively they can send out the same key each month, so I think I’ll put some text saying this is a copy of your key.
As a result, I’m going to need some functionality / database online which returns yes they have paid / no they haven’t. Which will be checked each month from the K program.
So I will require them to have internet access if they are renting, but I don’t think thats a big problem.
OK, so looking at program in order of the current layout.
I’ll disable the popup message asking them to buy.
Also I’m going to play down the fact that theres mask packs, I don’t want to give these away, except a free pack if they buy the full version.
Now I need some functionality to allow people to choose full masks easily.
I’ve thought for a while that it would be nice to be able to allow kids to post their masks online in some sort of gallery. However, I can’t think how I can easily do this at the moment.
But, I think I will head towards this are allow for big files files name or something like that.
So I’m going to have to provide a range of saved masks, I don’t just want to provide my standard masks, but ones / fun creations too.
I’m going to need some sort of selection screen, I think something a little like the face part selection screen. I guess I can do a preview too. I’m also going to need a button called erm… not sure, Full Masks. Selection of a new mask will overwrite whats on the screen. However I think I will need to ask the user if they’ve added something other than full mask to the screen, so it doesn’t get overwritten. I also need a lock for face parts they haven’t bought when loading masks.
Hmmm, maybe a download new masks button…
Maybe I could have a submit button…
I’m getting carried away here 
As Mike suggested, I will lock the program to 3 or 4 uses, but within 30 days which every happens soonest. Maybe I should make it less. Maybe I should limit it to 3 full masks selected ?
Tiger is OK for me.
Need to try and centre the printout.
Also, I’m going to need some sort of help for after they have printed, maybe something like the tutorial, something simple. Maybe I should produce some photos showing the stages of making a mask, with a cereal box (as mike suggested), glue, elastic etc… hmm maybe a few stages.
My expired screen needs to show rental / subscription option as well as full payment.
I’ve never liked hard coding my price into my nag / expired screen, in case I change things.
I’ve also don’t like the idea of requiring internet access to show the basic details.
I’m not sure what to do here.
Also what should I show, I want to try and not spring any extra costs of mask packs on them. I guess I can maybe have a small link saying mask packs. Hmmm. Although at the moment the full page, displays the packs as well.
Actually, I do agree with Blue, about how many add-on packs will I sell, maybe I need to push them on the order page.
Thoughts?
by JM
{ 9 } Comments
So a program paid for each month on subscription isn´t
a “full program” that seems a bit harsh? Why not at least
give them a mask of the month …..
If select your proposed “Full Mask” button. Have a
prompt appear saying something along the lines of ” If
you continue, changes to your current mask will be lost
permanently! Do you wish to save your work so far?”
Yes – Present the Save dialogue and on completion of
the save return to a window showing the new mask
No – Overwrite their current mask with the new one.
I like the idea of a tutorial with pictures. I know a 4 year
old who would love to help out
I agree that it´s not a good idea to hardcode prices. Can
you not launch an html page showing the `current´ prices
if you need pricing information.
With subscription, they would get the full program, but it would time out after a month if they hadn’t paid for the next month etc.
The only difference between the full version, would be that they wouldn’t get the free jungle pack. And also there only “renting the program”
I guess monkey could get involved, the photos could be of him and you.
Maybe I could make the pricing page with a valid until, please update for latest prices, and have some sort of update feature.
What do you think about the submit, download masks idea?
And “limit it to 3 full masks selected ?”
And mask packs, when should I tell them about them. Blue said in a previous post ….
“I would focus as selling the product as a complete one
with as many packs as possible including the add-ons
free, I think the more you can make this for everyone
the better it will be, as there is nothing worst than an
upset kid who wants a particular mask which is $xx
more money.
Also how do you know the standard masks cater for all
kids they may just be your likes and not every ones.
I would focus on the app it self and include all the extra
packs instead of charging for them.
How many people this year purchased an add-on pack?
You could sell the complete app inc extra packs as a one
of license, and also alongside that offer a rental version.
Now lets say you sell 10 x $15 a license a year $150
But then with your new monthly license you was able to
sell 20 x $3 a month $60 (per year that is $720).”
I still think all masks should be included and not to
confuse users with added exrtas.
Instead promote the advtange of having a full version
license as a cost saving of X Amount over the year
instead of a monthly subscription.
You could go further and make this a type of community
program (perhaps wrong wording).
Basically allow users to design new masks and save
them, then allow them to share them on your website for
other users which should help expand your mask
collection.
Your application could then have a download new masks
button which shows thumbnails of the community created
masks for download, once downloaded the child / user
could modify the mask more.
Ian did this type of thing for his DVD Cover searcher
application and it basically stopped him having to provide
new covers as his customers were doing the hard work
for him.
You could also allow users to submit their mask picture
to a gallery which you could showcase on your website.
All kids like to show off their work especially online.
Wild does agree with you Blue about the add-ons.
But I’m just not prepared to just give them away.
They were designed from the ground up as add-ons, all the functionality is in place and working. I have sold a few packs.
The Basic pack is included with the program. They get the Jungle pack free. But I intend to still sell the Cute pack and the Halloween pack separately.
If I had suddenly now decided to remove something from the program and try and sell it separately I would agree with you.
At the moment with the current release, I put up a popup message saying they can buy packs, I’m going to remove that. Also, there a buy more mask packs option on the help menu. Apart from those, the
packs aren’t mentioned or visible.
OK.
The difference from the trial to the full version atm is that :-
- theres 5 mask (aka lots of face parts) which aren’t available which are shown but not selectable.
- they only have 5 prints
- 30 days use
All of these will be available in the rental and full version.
They will get the Jungle pack free if they purchase within 10 days of the trial. Thats atm. This will apply with the new full version, but not the rental version.
I do like the idea of the community downloads / uploads, but as I mentioned before, I’m worried about the development time.
I wonder if theres something simple I can do, hmmm ?
I guess with the new pictures / help on how to mask the masks with card etc and some sort of online community the program would really appeal to parents wanting something to keep they kids occupied.
OK, I’m only got a few things left to figure out. Some things I haven’t considered before.
a) Should I still have a 30 day trial period? I’d like to have a 3 or 4 full mask limit. And I said earlier would like to lock the program on which ever happens soonest. But if I do this, I can’t
state that its a 30 day trial. As it might not be.
b) How do I simply develop a upload / download community and program functionality? Something to get me up and running.
c) I guess I’m going to have to show prices on my expired page. But I want this to be able to be updated via the internet. I don’t to use the browser control. Perhaps I can use XML and do something
clever.
d) I’m also going to have to decide where I have the download upload features etc?
This isn’t a question, but I’m just adding this, I’m going sell add-on packs separately as I’ve always done and I’m just going to be open about it and not hide it. Although I’m not going to push them.
I think its shows that the program is expandable.
Final comments?
b) This is mainly a problem to do with mask file sizes, which are 120kb plus atm.
Theres an obvious answer to my file size problem.
Don’t store pack images in my mask files.
If I ever do resize items, maybe I can store a factor number etc.
But if I have the images in the packs, theres no point at all storing them again.
Sure I will have to store the freehand drawing and at the moment, I’m still going to store my floodfilled areas. But this is going to drastically reduce the size of my mask files.
Later I guess I can also just store the flood fill co-ordinates instead also.
Guess I need to try this and see how big my files are on average.
I guess it doesn’t really matter where I store the mask files as files or records in a database, there both going to use the same amount of space. But if I store them in a data base and store them
with just a key, I can limit the cpu time used to access the records in querys, Also have a nice neat way of accessing the information.
Had some help on a forum
a) You can say “This trial will require you to get the full version after thirty days, or after five plays, whichever comes first. Click here to get the full version now!”
d) I guess I could add upload and download to where load and save is now.
Guess I can put my final plan together.
How’s work on the update progressing?
Sounds like my initial feedback has spurred quite a bit of
activity while I’ve been away!
Well I’ve put an upgrade plan and to do list together.
I’ve also tried to join the ASP, although the process takes a few days apparently, I hope to hear in the next day or so.
At which point I intend to discuss my plan and try and gain some advice. Hopefully, this round of upgrades will bare fruit.
I’ve also added to my plan some automated emailing for various point in the trial, provided people subscribe. This is something Blue discussed a while ago. Will give me a good reason to dust of the
book I bought (on his recommendation) “The Engaged Customer”.
For the last day or so I’ve been a bit bored, waiting to get to the ASP newsgroup.
Post a Comment