Re: Just wondering... EvilOgre.com

Ryan is right saying that there should be a last name - which in fact
there's not - and this doesn't look "good", imho, along with a valid
email address on the EvilOgre.com site.

Clearly, all that follows is *my opinion* and by no means meant to
imply any misbehaviour, just expressing strong concerns.

Steve wrote:
Just thought I'd address some of the community concerns about Evil Ogre Software as they were raised: 

I'm listening.

1. Sharing of source code between Evil Ogre Team members

I've clarified this to refer to components, which is completely optional. Providing component source code to other developers is so they can use your components to build better products for sale on EvilOgre.com

"Providing"? At what title? Free? If *I* want to release something *free*, I simply do it. I have done it already and will do it again.
More thoughts on source code later on, since I've got a few
other things to say.

2. What do we do with your source code?

Evil Ogre Software needs to limit its exposure and protect its name. We 

Please let me tell you that right now you're not doing an
outstanding job, at least from my point of view, about it :-).

want to be synonymous with quality and innovation. Your code needs to meet 

Microsoft wants the same, you know? <g>

our standards and we need to be able to meet the promise to our customers of being able to support software we sell should you be unavailable to support it. 

Ok, I have a few questions about this.

1) What happens if my code doesn't meet your "standards"?
2) What are your "standards" like?
3) What happens if I want to remove my program from your
   site?
4) Would you please expand on the "we'll support software if you are
   unavailable"? Again, I'm not implying any malice here, but you see,
   I'd rather choose who's going to support my program and by the way,
   is there any exclusive with you? See, because if there's not, this
   also poses a problem with customers from other sources, say that
   some bug is solved in two different ways, this could be going to be
   uncomfortable for some customers. Instead, if there's an exclusive,
   then I want to be sure that you'll intervene *only* if I'm really
   unable to, not just because I didn't reply to a mail for 3 days, for
   instance.

Sorry if I look... how to say... suspicious, it's just that it doesn't
feel "good" till now... I hope you understand my concerns.

We will continue to pay you for as long as your product is on our site and is selling, but we reserve the right to adjust the percentage if you are no longer supporting the software. 

Ok, let's discuss this, too :-)
"Adjust the percentage", eh? By a factor of...?
Please expand.

Source code provided is specifically for the Evil Ogre administrators to review for quality control, and will not be made available to anyone else, including other EO developers without your prior consent. 

Please, would you expand on this "quality control"?
The question stands still in full place, what happens if I refuse to
make you see the sources? You say that letting you see the sources is
optional, so I'd like to understand if you mean that the quality
control is optional too...

Again, I'm not implying anything "bad", but if you're a developer(as it
would seem) I think you can understand the point I'm trying to make.

Yes, we'll sign an NDA. We're not out to steal your code, we want to help you sell it. 

I *never* said your intent was to steal code, far, far from me saying
something like that. But you'll agree that this source code thing is at
least uncommon for resellers of any kind.
This troubles me more for the "concept" of it rather than because of
doing it.

When I see something weird, I try to investigate it because I'll
feel more comfortable when I've understood it.

I think what was under-stressed in this thread is what EO provides. It's in

Mhhhhh... I guess it was understressed because no one went far explaining *exactly what* you'll do to promote the programs.
You now have the chance to go full length explaining, please let us
appreciate your work and your marketing by sharing with us
what you do.

our best interest to spend as much as we can afford on advertising and promoting your products. We have our own products for sale too, and we want as many visitors to come see as many useful, quality products as possible. 

That's understandable and again, I'm full eyes ready to read what your
promotions for the single software looks like.
The thread started out of interest, and that interest still applies,
since you took the time to answer here - which is very positive.

If we can increase the number of visitors and sales you'd get, I don't think most developers would have a problem with 30% profit on sales they don't have to work to bring in on a continuing basis. 

Uhm... and how about the last 7 months spent doing it? How about the
knowledge inside it? See, these are all things that should be
rewarded, along with the value that a good product takes to your
site.

I think that a 30% on sales isn't very fair, should be at least 45%,
imho.

Most of you have your own hobby sites. How well do your products sell? Do 

Well, the conclusion that most of us have hobby sites is just yours,
backed by what facts? Your home page shows just one product and
leaves two links empty, like if it was work in progress. Does
that look "professional" to you?

Please don't get me bad, but I'm trying to make up my mind.

you have time to write software and promote the products? Can you pay for advertising up front or get the traffic needed to support the product? Just some things to think about. 

Well, if I have a product on Download.com, have a website and Google
ADs, I'm doing promotion. Google ADs can be cheap, you can target it
based on your budget and doing the right keywords you may have
very good returns with a low budget. And Google, it surely reaches a
very wide user base :-)
Do you see my point?

This is a good business plan and it has a lot of potential. It's not for everyone, but it shouldn't be disregarded. 

Nobody is questioning the model, I'm questioning the classes :-)
And I'd love to see you expand on the "not for everyone" thing.

Thank you for taking the time to answer, this was overly appreciated.

Steve 

Andrew
.

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