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[Klaim]

Today I took a look regularly at the http://www.wolfire.com/humble page see how much incredible money was gathered in so short time.

Then I asked myself : assuming that this kind of offer really works only if you sell products that are already known for some time and were successful.... does this "model" works if you don't have set any time limit?

2DBoys tried with a time limit too and it was successful too.

But what if you allow "pay what you want" forever instead of one week? Will it still work or is it a big factor because people think about it like a limited special offer (like on Steam)?

[dspencer]

IIRC Radiohead's "In Rainbows" was the first pay what you want. No time limit. Did great.

[Martin 2BAM]

People get more enthusiastic if there is some sort of time-pressure involved.
"Oh I should get it RIGHT NOW, or else I'll forget and the offer will be over".

Not necessary for success, but for old products I think it makes the difference.

For instance, offers in the supermarket: 2x1 cans of tomato sauce for the next 3 days.
Tomato sauce has been there forever, and you wouldn't really care to buy it if there was no time limit. But with the time limit you go: "I'd rather stock it but have 2 than 1 next week."... even if you're not a fan of tomato sauce.

[moi]

There's no point doing that without time limit
1-time limit=added pressur=2x sales
2-without time limit what you're doing is just decreasing the perceived value of your games forever.

[Oddball]

The games over at Charlie's Games are all 'pay what you want' all of the time. He seems to do ok enough to stick with it.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

i was thinking of doing it permanently for a smaller game one day, but not a big game; it'd reduce the value of it too much.

[Chromanoid]

"pay what you want" should always have a time limit.
1) (already mentioned) pressure to take the offer in time
2) only those who are interested will buy the products in the time frame because only the interested people will know about it. after some time there will come a critical point, where greedy people will exploit the offer
3) (already mentioned) as a result the monetary and perceived value of your product will permanently become zero
4) special offers are only special if they are limited

when you want to use a permanent pay what you want pricing scheme it is the same like using a donation based distribution and this is (as i know) not that profitable.

[Oddball]

When I did a 'pay what you want' offer I ran it for one week. I only really got any serious payments in the first two days. After that it was virtually all $1(the minimum) payments. If I ran another I'd limit it to a three day offer, say over a bank holiday weekend. It is a great way to up your 'units sold' figures though.

[team_q]

IIRC Radiohead's "In Rainbows" was the first pay what you want. No time limit. Did great.

Remember though, just because one thing, that was bound to be successful, does something new, and becomes a success, doesn't mean that it will work for everyone else.


Also:

IN RAINBOWS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOAD.

[Klaim]

i was thinking of doing it permanently for a smaller game one day, but not a big game; it'd reduce the value of it too much.

I think a smaller game cannot have the same popularity necessary to the success of this kind of offer. No?

[Movius]

Take a look at the Tarn Adams' income thread.

[Eraser]

Take a look at the Tarn Adams' income thread.

But do you consider DF a small game? I don't.

[Zaratustra]

Aquaria is hardly a "small game" either.

[Klaim]

I don't think it is either.
For me all those games are "big". Dwarf Fortress too. But I dont know about the money details for this one.

[The Monster King]

Take a look at the Tarn Adams' income thread.

that's different, there are constant updates to Dwarf Fortress.

still i'm not sure a "pay for what you want" that last forever is much different, if you end up buying it later you'll buy it for equal to whatever you would've paid on limited time or more.

[Blindsight]

The only thing I can say about time limits on offers is, "Today is the last day to send in your dollar!"

If you aren't aware of that phrase, look it up.