The AI Engine

Hmmm.. The goal is to write a lot of it or all of it in C++ anyways to run on the web server. You'd need a constant connection, though for the logging-on and community of the bots.. and that would knock a lot of people out of here. I think I want to have both- a downloadable version to complement the online version.

But expenses are getting in the way. It's too much to host the site with any host that allows .exe files, which is what C++ creates. *sigh*

Prof, is there some sort of program that lets you run exe's? I think the reason no one trusts EXE's is because they could be malicious and take down N number of sites if programmed 'wrongly'

Shucks Prof... Those expense problems really suck. I'd be more than willing to pay a yearly membership to keep the project going, but that won't help unless there a few other people doing it as well (since, like most people here, I'm far from having $5000 to hand out - or I would). Also, membership fees would make the site seem like just another one of those money making gimmicks. I do have a suggestion though...

How about an optional "Friend of the Forge" membership that costs a certain amount a year and gives you a couple bonus honor points... You could also make FoF member's names appear with a special symbol next to them in the User list and chat list (and their bot's names too!). Hey just that would make it worth it.

Let's estimate... 30 FoF members x $20 a year = $50 a month! (US dollars of course, were not talking Canadian pesos here!)

That should cover server rental for the next little while! And I just figured 30 people would sign up as FoF members, I think that's a safe guestimate... when you consider how many people are in the user list these days (you could probably come up with a better estimate with the help of server stats). $20 a year isn't much for this quality and quantity of entertainment, you could be surprised by the feedback. As long as the whole project remains non-lucrative, I don't mind paying for something this good. You could end up with enough to get a dedicated server and, eventually, be the dedicated professor!

Comments? Suggestions? What d'y'all think?

Prof?

Sounds reasonable. Maybe there could be a couple of members only options to sweeten the deal and make the bots of those prepared to pay that little bit better.

Well I think that would be a great idea! Though I am not sure I would be able to do it even if I wanted to! I live in Australia which means that I would be spending about $50 instead and at 17 I really don't have that sort of cash Maybe we could have special FoF memberships for minors like me or overseas ppl so they can still make the contribution to the Forge. It is an equal opportunity thing

By special FoF memberships I mean one that costs a little less or something with fewer incentives.

Sounds very reasonable and follows the natural progression of most websites that are still running.

Too many membership levels wouldn't be such a good idea I don't think. You don't want it to become a status thing... You wouldn't want people at the top of our honor list just because they have money - personally, I think we've got plenty of financial status symbols around us. Although putting a price on honor points would definitely be an incentive.

Perhaps just donating whatever you can could be good enough for the special membership. IMHO, even if you just have a few (currency) to spare, that's no reason not to become a member and want to donate to a what one may choose to consider a good cause.

You can donate now if you want. It will not change your honor points. I don't think Prof believes in that.

Yeah, I already donated and will again in the near future, but unfortunately, it won't be enough to pay off all the profs server bills. That's why I figured some kind of incentive would serve a purpose. I don't believe in changing honor points because of donations either.

Also, let's not forget, if the special membership was in place, it would have that beloved "ripple effect" which would get more and more people donating and consequently give the prof more freedom to improve this site.

I've considered something similar to that before. I had a whole list of incentives, such as the ability to pop up a chat window for your bots on a remote site, custom pictures for your bots, import/export (since it's CPU intensive).. The Honor boost and FoF mark also seem like good ideas. Annual payment is a better idea than my original monthly. That way you can pick the amount. Maybe even a fund drive of some sort, where I can price out what I need, then try to reach it. I see local parks somehow making millions this way, and there are as many people here as would use those parks.

This would help the current cost of the Forge, but wouldnt be enough to upgrade it to its full potential.

I agree on the one hand that it shouldn't be too much of a status thing, on the other hand I've noticed that at another site that I go to where the only thing you get for donating is a little symbol by your name, people are more than happy to keep donating.

A number of people here seem to have a different picture for themselves or their bot. How do they do this? Maybe, like you said, it could be only a bonus for paying members.

Finally, one thing that I think people would pay for is the ability to have more control over their bots. If you could get your bot to log on whenever you wanted, and to speak to whomever you wanted, then bots would get a lot more practice with real people.