The Master Skins!
What are they and how you can get them!
Friday, January 19, 2007 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Master Skins. What are they?
A Master Skin is a skin made by a user with Master access or higher that is premium content. On WinCustomize.com we have access levels:
- Citizen
- Apprentice
- Journeyman
- Master
Users can rise up through those access groups based on merit -- becoming part of the skinning community and contributing to it in the form of skins, themes, icons, wallpapers, helping other users, writing articles, etc.
Once they get to Master level, they can choose to submit a skin and ask for a price on it. By the time they've become a master, they've probably provided a lot to the community for a considerable amount of time. This becomes a way for users to "give back" to the skinner for all the hard work they've done as well as for the skinner to be able to help support their hobby.
It also provides an incentive for up and coming skinners to create great stuff to share freely with others. By doing so, they too move up through access and can one day become a master. Half the income generated by master skins goes to the author and the other half goes to help maintain the site. WinCustomize.com subscribers get a 20% discount on Master Skins.
Master Skin Example: Suite 18
Master skinner Adni18 has uploaded literally hundreds of skins and themes to WinCustomize.com over the past 6 years. In that time, his skins and themes have been downloaded over 11 MILLION times.
Today, Adni submitted a suite called Suite 18. It contains a WindowBlinds skin, 4 gadgets, a wallpaper. When he submitted it, he made it a Master skin for $9.99. If you're a subscriber, it is only ~$7.99 (though the price is only updated during the checkout phase).
The Inevitable Debate
Master Skins are integrated into the main gallery section. You'll see a little tag by the skin if it's a Master skin. Now some people are going to say "I shouldn't pay for skins". I'm not one to argue what people think they should pay for. One of my main "day job" activities is helping produce PC games. PC games make millions of dollars (GalCiv II certainly did). Are games worthy but skins aren't? I certainly don't make that distinction. What I do know is that if the community wants to encourage long-time skinners to keep making cool stuff, then making some income to help pay for computers and software and their time seems to be a pretty worthy thing.
I also like the idea that it provides an incentive to up and coming skinners to make stuff. Skinning is fun. It's supposed to be fun. But it can also be a lot of work too. I used to skin a lot a few years ago. But I'm not very artistic and with 3 small children, it's hard to find the time. But I applaud those who dedicate the time to share their great creations with the rest of us. And I am glad to have a way to contribute in my own way back to them. Plus, it provides another incentive to subscribe to WinCustomize.com and help keep the site growing and running.
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Reply #23 Friday, January 19, 2007 8:47 PM
Reply #26 Friday, January 19, 2007 9:10 PM
"I want it and I (think) I can't afford it. If I can't get it free, I'll complain."
It's the old, standing out side the window of the department store, wishing you had what was inside. That mentality has been around for years.
Reply #27 Friday, January 19, 2007 10:09 PM
The Masters deserve it. Some lower rank deserve it as well, but as mentioned above, this could be a little incentive for more creative ambition.Reply #28 Friday, January 19, 2007 11:23 PM
I thought my last two wb's were just about at that level...then I always find stuff I missed or needed fixing.Theres kind of an nth degree where its just obvious.I see maybe 20 or 30 here that qualify.
Reply #29 Friday, January 19, 2007 11:33 PM
Reply #30 Friday, January 19, 2007 11:41 PM
Reply #31 Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:27 AM
Reply #32 Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:34 AM
Yep, I'm all for it and look forward to getting some more of this exciting premium content....cos I've not become so tight that I squeak when I walk.
Once our big move is done, I'll be ponying up for a couple of premium skins that've caught my eye.
Reply #33 Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:08 AM
| ::The number one reason people will complain about this.:: "I want it and I (think) I can't afford it. If I can't get it free, I'll complain." |
Hopefully 'they' will realize that the skinners work very hard to produce all this free stuff with very little accolades from most. I'm not talking the ' regulars' most of them know the score. The complaints usually come from the infrequent member or visitors. Just look at the request section at times.
Example: The ' can someone make a skin cos I just love the program/band/movie balnkety blank and can you make matching accessories with all the bells and whistles just for meeeeeeee.
I never mind paying for skins - its my choice if I want it or not. I think they deserve to make a bit of money for their time and artistic talent.
Reply #34 Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:26 AM
Reply #35 Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:37 AM
..it took me more than a year to became an Apprentice and now i have a job that take 12 hours of my day....., me no happy
Reply #36 Saturday, January 20, 2007 5:01 AM
Reply #37 Saturday, January 20, 2007 6:50 AM
Buy or don't buy the choice is yours.
NO OBLIGATION!
Reply #38 Saturday, January 20, 2007 8:59 AM
I'll try again later but WANT IT NOW!!!! ;0)
Reply #39 Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:26 PM
Reply #40 Saturday, January 20, 2007 3:31 PM
Though I do agree with one of the posters that said you might want to consider a seperate section for nothing but master skins. That way it may keep some of the whining down to a dull roar.
Speedy
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Reply #21 Friday, January 19, 2007 8:08 PM
Yep one chidren (18 month)and it's hard to work on skin in more of my staff and family.
I agree with this great idea. for these masters authors who deserved it well