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[Glaiel-Gamer]

<sensationalization>OMFG PANERA BREAD IS COPYING 2DBOY </sensationalization>

[SirNiko]

2dBoy copied Radiohead.

-SirNiko

[rob]

I think there's a difference between food and entertainment.

This is cool. I don't think I've ever been to a Panera Bread though, maybe once or twice.

[laserghost]

I'd be interested to see how many sandwiches were still pirated, though.

[Castle]

OH god dammit.

Right after I buy a sandwich full price... Always..

[phubans]

That's funny, because when I was working with 2D Boy on WoG I had to take Caltrain down to San Carlos to work at Allan Blomquist's (the guy that did the Wii port) house. And on my way there, I'd usually get a broccoli-cheddar bread bowl and chocolate protein Odwalla from Panera Bread to eat on the train... COINCIDENCE?!

[boxedlunch]

 

[SirNiko]

Yeah, this is really pretty significantly different from the entertainment 'pay what you want', especially since those only cost you bandwidth which really has no value.

By contrast, each sandwich costs a small but real amount of money to make. Too many people take them for free and you're in trouble.

When they say 70% pay the "suggested" price, I think they're actually erring a little on the side of profit, since the suggested price probably includes a little over the cost of the actual materials and labor.

I know I would be really hard pressed to go in and pay anything that was less than the suggested price, even if I was hard up on cash. I really hate the feeling of being indebted to others.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear this is working out. We need more 'redeem my faith in humanity' stories these days.

-SirNiko

[moi]

I don't think this is going to  last for long.

[Valter]

I'm worried that this is the kind of thing that is fueled more by spectacle than by specific merit, but this is still definitely interesting news.

[SirNiko]

Somebody today pointed out to me a company like Panera Bread could have an operating loss for this store and just write it off as a charitable donation and get a tax break. Coupled with the fact that it makes for really good PR this is probably a really smooth business move for them.

Not to mention, personally, I think that of all the possible places tax dollars could be going this is probably a really good one.

-SirNiko

[floatstarpx]

I don't think this is going to  last for long.

that's exactly how they prefer it, I'm sure.

the "pay what you want" aspect is the least important part for them. the only reason these things work is because they get a whole load of publicity (radiohead getting on daytime tv, indie games getting on all the top blogs, and even non-indie game websites) as a result of doing a "pay what you want". it's a publicity thing and nothing more...
you'd get more mentions on websites (slashdot even!) for doing a "pay what you want" promotion than if you'd made the game entirely free for a week, i reckon.

it's still pretty cool tho.
wtf is panera bread anyway? sounds like its made from fruit or something??

[Movius]

In before anti-trust suit

[Iamthejuggler]

There was a pub near me that used to do a "Pay what you think it was worth" deal with their meals. It worked pretty well as you had already eaten the meal, so you could make a judgement.

The panera thing is pretty cool though. It's not only providing cheap/free food for people who need it but also better off people can donate to charity in an easy way, rather than the direct debit crap which people are far less likely to do. We don't have panera here, is it a pretty good quality place?

[Inane]

it's still pretty cool tho.
wtf is panera bread anyway? sounds like its made from fruit or something??

It's the name of the franchise, kind of like a bakery equivalent to Starbucks.

We don't have panera here, is it a pretty good quality place?

They have some good sammiches and sometimes you can get a loaf of still-warm bread, but overall it's rather overpriced (e.g. I think their cheapest sandwich is about 6.50 ?)