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[eclectocrat]

I'd like to keep my game free on PC/Mac, but I'd also like to get some money. Donations can certainly work, but I'm thinking about incentivizing donations without punishing non-donators. In particular I don't want to limit the game too much, if at all. What kind of incentives would you find acceptable?

I'm releasing on a 6 week schedule. Donators get the latest version, non-donators get the previous version.
and/or Donators get a special sprite pack that allows you to play hard mode in winter.
and/or Donators get a special 'wizard' mode that allows limited editing of the game world.
and/or Etc...?

Furthermore I'm considering 'selling' the donation-bonus version via portals like Desura and Indievania, although I don't think I can set a pay what you can model.

What is a good way to encourage donations without splitting your game into 'lite' and full versions?

[Leroy Binks]

I'm glad someone posted this topic.  While I feel an advanced copy of the game is donation worthy, a demo or lite version is not. 

I like any sort of physical reward versus entirely digital ones.  Backgrounds or mp3 is in reality worth very little and doesn't make it off of your donor's computer, but a mini-poster or a key chain takes advertising for your game out into the world, which is one of the underrated results of group funding incentives.

[PompiPompi]

Hmm, that is really stretching the definition of donation, heh.
Why are you so scared of selling your game? Sure, a free game feels more... cool? indie? artistic? I would think. But if you need money, then leverage it.

Of course you can have both a free version and a non free version. But I wouldn't call it donations if you get incentive... That might even have legal issues.

[Uykered]

Why can't you just have a minimum pay what you want thing, instead of donations? And a free version along side that.

[eclectocrat]

Why can't you just have a minimum pay what you want thing, instead of donations? And a free version along side that.

I like this. Does anyone know of any portals that support pay what you want? I'd rather not have to setup my own e-commerce thingamagig.

[Leroy Binks]

Why can't you just have a minimum pay what you want thing, instead of donations? And a free version along side that.

I like this. Does anyone know of any portals that support pay what you want? I'd rather not have to setup my own e-commerce thingamagig.

http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=22080.0 

Somewhere in this thread....

[TylerYork]

Kingdom Rush (http://armorgames.com/play/12141/kingdom-rush) uses this tactic to great affect. I am pretty sure the game has made a lot of money. Here's what they do:

• The entire game is free
• You can get some cool things for going Premium, including more upgrade stars and cool Star Wars skins for your troops
• When you click to "buy" Premium, they actually ask for a donation.
• The donation can be $0, BUT because you've already pre-selected to buy Premium, you likely pay anyways.
• You can pay the minimum ($1) or as much as you want. They tell you that you're super cool if you pay $3 and that you're their biggest fan if you pay them $5.

I would strongly recommend checking out their Freemium flow and emulating them

[mikejkelley]

Incentivize your donation with a donation. Ie, a certain amount of the proceeds go towards a charity. That way you're actually doing something