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vStyler
Comment #22 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:36 PM
Comment #22 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:36 PM
Ive looked at, I think, all of your work within past few months and this looks to be the best so far imo.
Nicely done. Also, I'll have to agree with Frogboy on the START dealy.
Nicely done. Also, I'll have to agree with Frogboy on the START dealy.
PixelPunk
Comment #27 Thursday, February 15, 2007 7:41 PM
Comment #27 Thursday, February 15, 2007 7:41 PM
Looks nice. Another buy before you try skin to nickle and dime me.
I have 4-6 skins that are really nice from some great authors, but they add up to more than the cost of windowblinds. Most of your skins are REALLY great essorant, but since you start charging for the latter ones, I would imagine your user/fan base shrinks since they cant use your material anymore without giving you and Stardock more money. I miss the days when you put your work out here at Wincustomize because you enjoyed it, not to make money from it.
I expect all the artist camps to come out and say they should get something for all their hard work. Recognition isn't enough anymore. From a consumer point of view, $5-10 for a skin breaks down to %25 - %50 percent on top of the cost of the program itself to run it.
Again, I really enjoy your work here. But to see all my favorite old time authors go for the buy before you try takes away from the enjoyment of it. Now I just have to wait for new authors to pick up the reigns and keep the fire burning. They are the ones now who are doing it for the enjoyment.
I have 4-6 skins that are really nice from some great authors, but they add up to more than the cost of windowblinds. Most of your skins are REALLY great essorant, but since you start charging for the latter ones, I would imagine your user/fan base shrinks since they cant use your material anymore without giving you and Stardock more money. I miss the days when you put your work out here at Wincustomize because you enjoyed it, not to make money from it.
I expect all the artist camps to come out and say they should get something for all their hard work. Recognition isn't enough anymore. From a consumer point of view, $5-10 for a skin breaks down to %25 - %50 percent on top of the cost of the program itself to run it.
Again, I really enjoy your work here. But to see all my favorite old time authors go for the buy before you try takes away from the enjoyment of it. Now I just have to wait for new authors to pick up the reigns and keep the fire burning. They are the ones now who are doing it for the enjoyment.
essorant
Comment #29 Friday, February 16, 2007 9:08 AM
Comment #29 Friday, February 16, 2007 9:08 AM
It's a tricky call PixelPunk.
WB skins are a huge investment of time, and after making them for six years (I have probably made well over a hundred if you go back to the really early ones) the proportion of sold/free skins is still pretty small. One thing's for sure, I'm not likely to be able to retire on my profits any time soon!
I'm sure my next WB skin will be posted here for free. It will be listed alonside Nuage, which people can buy, and Largo and Jitter, recent ones which are free, and all the rest in my back catalogue that are free, and the skin packs which you can buy... etc.
I personally am not too worried about having or not having a fan base. I still make them for fun, otherwise I would have stopped already, and I don't lose any sleep over stars or download numbers. If people like them and use them, then that's great and really appreciated.
I think that's why all the skinners make them in the first place.
In the end it's consumer choice. If you like it and want it, buy it. If you prefer not to pay, then you'll find lots of quality free stuff to choose from. Once authors have made the journey to 'Master' level, they can charge for their skins too - if they want to!
Not to worry - there'll always be another skin along soon!
WB skins are a huge investment of time, and after making them for six years (I have probably made well over a hundred if you go back to the really early ones) the proportion of sold/free skins is still pretty small. One thing's for sure, I'm not likely to be able to retire on my profits any time soon!
I'm sure my next WB skin will be posted here for free. It will be listed alonside Nuage, which people can buy, and Largo and Jitter, recent ones which are free, and all the rest in my back catalogue that are free, and the skin packs which you can buy... etc.
I personally am not too worried about having or not having a fan base. I still make them for fun, otherwise I would have stopped already, and I don't lose any sleep over stars or download numbers. If people like them and use them, then that's great and really appreciated.
I think that's why all the skinners make them in the first place.In the end it's consumer choice. If you like it and want it, buy it. If you prefer not to pay, then you'll find lots of quality free stuff to choose from. Once authors have made the journey to 'Master' level, they can charge for their skins too - if they want to!
Not to worry - there'll always be another skin along soon!
NewJerseyDevil
Comment #31 Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:36 PM
Comment #31 Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:36 PM
I like it. Only things I dislike are the start button, and the lack of a flash. I think the flash is the most annoying part about the skin.
Still good though.
Still good though.
essorant
Comment #32 Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:28 PM
Comment #32 Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:28 PM
NewJerseyDevil - "The flash"? Do you mean the guy who runs really quickly? Not sure if you mean the 'glow' effect on the min/max/close buttons. I made one, but I genuinely prefered the skin without it.
(I'm thinking of making an alternate Start button a free download on my website.)
(I'm thinking of making an alternate Start button a free download on my website.)
warreni
Comment #36 Monday, February 19, 2007 10:54 AM
Comment #36 Monday, February 19, 2007 10:54 AM
To the folks who object to this skin being a master skin ($), I want to say that, as treetog pointed out earlier, essorant has contributed a ton of free, quality skins to this community, and this is a pittance of a financial incentive for him to keep producing. I just bought it, not because I'm ready to change my current desktop right now (enjoying Fortune at home and kittymalone's Sunken Treasure at work presently) but because I want to support essorant and say that I appreciate his quality work. Having tinkered with it a bit, I have some measure of an idea of the amount of time and effort that goes into producing a single WB skin, and essorant has clearly gone out of his way, by producing extra matching icons and bootskins on his website, to make this a very good value. Now, I'm taking my soapbox and going home. 
Frogboy
Comment #38 Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:32 AM
Comment #38 Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:32 AM
One other thing I'd like to add to the Master discussion.
Next time someone argues that "pro skinners" on the net should be instantly given Master access, this is why we don't. The whole Master Skin concept only works because the people who have become masters have demonstsrated over time a consistent level of support for the community.
We've gotten a bit beat up by some skinners who weren't active WindowBlinds skinners (msstyles skinners) who felt they should instantly be granted master access. But if we did that, I feel the system would fall apart and it would be damaging to the community.
sladisky
Comment #39 Thursday, February 22, 2007 3:15 PM
Comment #39 Thursday, February 22, 2007 3:15 PM
I'm new to all this but I made the purchase because of the great way it looks, I'm 49 years old with heart disease and need something to do because my docs. completely disabiled me, I under went the install of a pace maker/defribrillator 3 weeks ago but because of a very weak heart muscle it may do no good. I'm not crying on your shoulders but I like to do things but I'm really limited now so if I bothered you I'm truely sorry. I do not know how you designers feel about sharing info but it would do a lot to keep me busy designing skins.
Thanks again for the skin and listenning
Rob
Thanks again for the skin and listenning
Rob
RPGFX
Comment #40 Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:38 PM
Comment #40 Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:38 PM
Nice. One of your best in a while. I'll be purchasing it!
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Comment #21 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 5:45 PM
Comment #18 Carl
made startmenu compact
Could you possibly refresh my memory on how to do that? Is it done through SkinStudio..if so, what size should be input? Thanks!
Also, to Essorant...this is a wonderful skin, very polished and easy on the eyes, definitely an everyday skin! Thanks so much for doing this!