The end of WinCustomize
...as we know it...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
The new subsription drive has started...
This is a site that gets 90,000 visitors a day. And today it's gotten 9 subscriptions or renewals during the subscription drive. $260 down, $49,740 to go in about a month to re-do the site.
There are two different visions for the site. Let's call them the community versus commercial views. I'm on the commercial side. Zoomba/ID/jafo are likely on the community side.
We've estimated that the new site is going to cost around $50k to make. Stardock is going to pay for anything that the community doesn't come up with. But in return, the more Stardock pays into it, the more say it's going to have on the design.
I'm pretty sure that the core skinning community is no longer big enough to pay the bills and that's fine. Skinning has become one of those ominipresent things that, because it's not a niche, doesn't really have a strong core following like it used to. It has millions of users but relatively few who really care about a "skinning community" any more than people really care about a core World of Warcraft community. Skinning is everywhere these days.
The new WC, the commercial one, will be radically different than the WC we have today. First, the S-corporation that runs WinCustomize will get disolved and become part of Stardock Software (which makes WindowBlinds, Object Desktop, etc.).
Second, WC will be funded out of Stardock Software's marketing budget.
Now this may sound bad but let's face it, most people come here for Stardock related content. When this site started, programs like Winamp, Hoverdesk, WinStep, ICQ Plus and others were pretty significant. Today, it's pretty much all about WindowBlinds, DeskScapes, IconPackager, wallpapers and a that's about it.
The community won't disappear but obviously the site will become much more Stardock oriented and the days of WinCustomize as a quasi-independent entity will come to an end.
See what we have in mind: https://forums.wincustomize.com/335824
 |
|
Page 8 of 17 | |
|
|---|
Reply #143 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:00 PM
From my reading of this thread, what WON'T be here, are things like galleries for wallpapers, Winamp, Xion, and programs that ARE NOT Stardock-based--things that are sucking up room on the server but drawing in no business for Stardock.
I'm no mod but there is only one thing wrong in that statement. Winamp,Xion, and programs that are not Stardock based WILL still be there, only not by default. You will have to turn them on in your preferences. Mods, correct me if I'm wrong.
Reply #144 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:00 PM
Reply #146 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:05 PM
Try running a multi million dollar corporation.
Doc, I could always market my incredibly dodgy Seahorse.. I might make a lot of $$.. about 50 cents a year!!
.... 50 cents.. that's pushing my luck
"If it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all." - "Born Under A Bad Star" - E. Clapton (Cream)
Reply #147 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:07 PM
Hell, I'm willing to start in the basement. I'm cheap, enthusiastic, fun to harass, and would be happy just to be a part of it all.
They'd have to be crazy NOT to hire you, IMO. You are one incredibly talented individual.....whoops....wrong thread. 
Reply #149 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:14 PM
yah....and your new name? Ed Made-Off (a new hyphenated name and with billions).
Reply #150 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:16 PM
"If it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all." - "Born Under A Bad Star" - E. Clapton (Cream)
Yeah.. that's me.
Half the time, I feel like I may as well be talking to styrofoam
It was my fave song of all time...heavy guitar Blues. And I was referring to myself.
Reply #152 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:51 PM
You're being hyperanxious about something that's NOT going to happen, TG. How many people have said that how many ways?
Can't you just let it go? Even if WC would disappear (which you will agree won't happen) your friends would remain your friends and we;d all just hang somewhaere else. I'm thinking Tahiti, but I'm open to suggestions. 
Reply #153 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:54 PM
So, currently, WC doesn't get any funding from the profits of Stardock products? WC is only run on subscriptions and ads?
Reply #154 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:58 PM
No offense to Froggy, I like him, he makes cool fish
Reply #155 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:06 PM
I remember saying something very similar, many years ago, in a similar doom thread....
bottom line is...you can't teach an old frog new tricks.... 
I'm sure frogboy is aware of that TG...this problem has been going on for years.....and there comes a time...where it's kinder to put it out of it's misery....and resurrect in a more secure format.
I have purchased membership subscriptions to 2017....and after some giveaways...am subscribed now to 2014.....it isn't the answer. Regulars can't keep trying to keep it afloat this way....and I won't be purchasing any further membership subs at the moment as the Australian exchange rate is downright unfriendly and I think it really has come down to sink or swim time for WC as we know it. I too, am Taurus TG....and don't like change....but I think you can trust frogboy to keep the essence of WC going in his new plans, though I will be very sad to see the current format go, if we don't make the target.
I will, however, be renewing my OD subsciption this month....I don't know if that is counting towards the fifty thou total or not.
I'd like to see 'em try an' stop us..... ...especially Po' & Skinhit...
bottom line TG...DON'T PANIC.....if it comes down to it....we'll all just regroup...have a wake....have a house warming...get settled in...and life will go on... 
Reply #156 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:10 PM
Sorry for my over-anxiousness, it's not all to do with this WC news.. I had a man break into my house last night, actually, he just walked in as my son forgot to lock the font door.. wasn't a nice experience and the cops have been here all morning. that, plus lack of sleep = VERY anxious TG luckily my son heard this, called 000, but the pr*ck stepped WAY over the line when he stole my smokes as well sorry, just trying to make light of it...
Oh man...I didn't know any of this. I'm sorry for your misfortune, TG. Can't say I'm sorry he stole the cigarettes, tho...I'd like you around for lots more years! 
Reply #157 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:13 PM
No, sViz...WC has needed more and more funding, as time has gone on, from SD. Ads mitigate it, but Brad is trying to stop the cash hemorrhage and I don't oppose him. I'd rather we have something than "our way" and nothing.
Reply #159 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:18 PM
don't think the Stardock staff would appreciate our topics where we photoshop the hell out of starkers
I'd like to see 'em try an' stop us.....
Well....we tend to be a shade rowdy, it's true...but I'll take that Ghetto in Tahiti I was talking about rather than lose me little family...weird as it and I am.
Reply #160 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 10:04 PM
I subscribed to WC last year (in addition to my ObjectDesktop annual subscription fee) and honestly saw no tangible return on that investment over the years when I have not. I've treated this as I paid a one time fee to support the site, but I really don't see it making sense as an annual fee.
I guess that's because I've always seen it as just a marketing arm of Stardock's, and I've argued as much in previous posts/threads over the years. I think it should be funded as a very logical and necessary (critical!) part of Stardock's support of its product lines.
I guess my only question would be in regards to the programming update. WC just went through a complete overhaul just a year or so ago and it appears as though the ups and downs of the site have only just now been shaken out. So, I'm not sure what needs updating now, but that's not really any of my business as an end-user. This is for Brad to work out with his people for the company.
Maybe something can be done in regards to Stardock's announced funding/sponsorship of Neowin.net? Their forums work quite well. Might be a cost savings to be had there.
Regardless, good luck! I will continue to support the site and Stardock's products, of course.
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 8 of 17 | |
|
|---|
Reply #141 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 7:54 PM
Hell, I'm willing to start in the basement. I'm cheap, enthusiastic, fun to harass, and would be happy just to be a part of it all.