Paid Modifications

Paid Modifications



I know the coders spend alot of time coding and configuring their mods, but what are your views on Modifications that cost money?

In my opinion and i have always stood by this is that you shouldn't have to pay for a Mod, a mod is just an add-on, big or small its still an add-on.


But what are you views?

 

I disagree 100%. A mod isn't just a "mod" - it's a piece of work, full of functionality and additional features. Nothing entitles anybody to free add-ons for their software. You could possibly even consider add-ons "software" as well.

People who are used to being able to download anything and everything from vBulletin.org, for example, may tend to believe that they should be entitled to free modifications from any- and everywhere. Such is obviously not the case.

 

I agree with Nick 100%

Too many people have this misconceived notion that all things Internet should be free. Some go beyond that and think that all SOFTWARE should be free.

It takes some software hundreds, thousands, and sometimes millions of man-hours to program.

I'm sorry, but if you really think it should be free, learn the skills and then do it yourself.

 

So the time spent coding and supporting a mod is worth nothing?

As someone that makes a living creating and supporting vBulletin add-ons thanks for telling me I have no worth. :thumbup:

 

I'm with Nick and Chani on this (edit: and gnatster). There is a lot of effort that goes into some of those mods. Actually, just releasing the littlest of mods also takes effort. I could go on a rant about this, but I'll save it since I don't feel like it showing up in google.

Out of curiosity, Tech, have you ever released a mod? And supported it? And it was more than just a couple of copied lines of code from the software files?

 

I don't see a problem with them at all. If the author wishes to charge for their mods, then they should have the freedom to do so.

 

I agree 100% with what has been said; mod authors should be able to charge for their products. Yes they are a virtual extension of existing software, but at the same time, like any software project they take time, knowledge, and effort to create. I know I have a very special appreciation for the good folks that release and maintain mods. It's a lot of work.

 

I don't mind paid modifications, as long as two or three things are not found in the modification:

1. Code encryption. Deal with it. Things get pirated, and these crappy measures don't help anyone. All they do is encourage copyright infringement and nulled copies so people can avoid this rubbish (same with the next point as well). It doesn't help, people want to be able to see if there are any bugs/security holes in software, and quite frankly, no big company for internet software like forums does this, because it's not worth it.

2. Any ridiculous anti piracy measures. Aka, constant call backs and reliance on developer site's being online. Bad move. Your site crashes, it takes down your customers with it. Sure, vBulletin has them to a degree, but they're not required for the software to run.

3. Higher cost than original product. Bloody freaking stupid. You just can't compare a hobbyist or small company product with a few features to something like vBulletin or Invision Power Board. It didn't take the same man hours, work, cost or what not. It hasn't got anywhere near the feature set. Maybe vB SEO might get a pass on this one, somewhat due to the feature list and product being impressive itself, but most paid mods just don't compare to the base product, and don't need that high a price tag.

Oh, and a few things that I dislike, but are in paid mod marketing and not the actual modification

1. Ridiculously stripped down 'Lite' versions. I know vBulletin did this with vBulletin Lite, but I don't think they should have bothered. If your 'Lite' version has less than 10 or 20% of the features of the full mod, just cut the rubbish and concentrate on the paid version. Best example? One mod I saw had about 100 features, and the free version had about TWO. To the point of lacking anything that'd make it usable. Solution, scrap the free version.

2. Advertising a paid mod on a free modification site. Especially how many get mentioned in feature set on the above lite version topics. I don't care how many features your 200 dollars elite version has if you're releasing a free version with less than half of them. It's frankly advertising a commercial product where it's not wanted, and should be banned on sites like vBulletin.org

3. Any paid mod developer complaining if the company who made the original software uses their 'ideas' or even code. Look who made the entire product your work depends on, or your entire business depends on. Hell, most of the time, half the code in these add ons depends on the base forum software. If you complain or even sue them (which has never really happened, because most people have more common sense), then your business is dead in the water. If the company who made the original product your work is an addition to (and this also counts for fan work) wants to use it or even buy it, you should be quite honoured. Same if they make it obsolete.

 

Isn't the whole reason behind the lite verstion to be a come-on to the paid version if you like teh free one enough? It's a good try before you buy method, provided the lite version has most of the same functionality.

How is a coder to advertise to the masses unless they create a decent free version. This is the monster that vb.org has created. Many do advertise on sites such as this and other admin forums. However, the community is quite fractured and the only central point at this time is vb.org.

Your post is very good and hits a lot of good points. I'd be interested in your ideas of how the coder gets word of his paid version to the masses.

 

My idea of how he advertises to the paid masses was that vBulletin.org would finally implement their directory of third party paid products for vBulletin, and people didn't need to resort to ridiculously stripped down Lite versions and sneakily trying to advertise paid work where it's not allowed.