Must pay for GameEx ?

**kenclops** · January 10, 2009

Use it on all 3 of your home computers. That's fine. Just don't give it to anyone else.

**bkenobi** · January 10, 2009

Well, I see what you mean about your interpretation of "free". However, if you are given a program that never requires you to pay for a license never expires, then that is "free" in my opinion. There are a few extra features that Tom has had to pay others for licensing and such to incorporate. Those features are definitely not required in order to use the FE. In fact, I don't think I've used any of the extra features on my cab. Now, if you use the software for a HTPC FE, then you will definitely like some of those additional capabilities. Or, if you use GoodMerged sets then you can have a cleaner setup. But, there are ways of doing the same things as many of these features with a bit of work on the user's part.

Anyway, I don't think the term "free" was meant to be misleading and it's certainly not inaccurate. Thanks for your question!

Perhaps the info about the license in the FAQ could be expanded a bit...

**ranzo** · January 10, 2009

Mhh, I have to say that myspacee is right : its NOT FREE, because free is really another meaning and means nothing to pay. The nag screen was really annoying for me TO TEST the application since I was playing with the configuration about 2 weeks and when I changed something and wanted to test it, I had to wait again these 10-15 seconds and that NERVED me !! Its ok that Tom made this nag screen, but not soooo long, especially to test things. He should reprogram it so that You e.g. have to push a button to continue. So this was (for me) a negative point and should be changed. Maybe others had the same experience in the tesing phase as me.

But to complete this post : I also thing that GameEx is one of the best front-ends and I (surely) made my donation for Tom. He is doing a great work and I hope that one time we will reach the 100% error free front-end !! :-) I am also testing as lot of things and when I find some strange things, I am posting it, but NOT FOR CRITICM, but more to get this baby fully running, so don not slash me when I am again poosting something !! :rolleyes:

Chers from germany !!

RÃ¤nz

**kenclops** · January 10, 2009

Gameex is free. I can download it and it will not stop working after a trial period. Sure, there are features you can pay for, but they aren't vital to the experience.

**bkenobi** · January 10, 2009

I don't want to go to much further with this thread cause I think everything has already been said, but I do agree with the nag screen. I think the point is to make you think about all the work that has gone into development of the FE so that you will appreciate it enough and want to help out financially. The nag screen is a pain in the butt when you are configuring since it makes small changes take forever to get through. I personally would rather have it shorter (~5 seconds rather than 20-30) so that people will still be reminded, but they won't get discouraged.

Anyway, IMO free is not having to pay. To you, free is only free if it's full featured. Obviously there are different views that won't be changed now, so I'll just leave it at that.

Thanks for picking GameEx!

**Tom Speirs** · January 11, 2009

McDonalds give me free ketchup and free use of there toiliet, but only if I buy a hamburger. If someones wants to pay for the hosting, bandwidth, and a small cut for my (and other times), ill gladly make it free. Not that Im a qualified philoshper but there is no such thing as free in this world. Ubuntu is free because the people who take care of it have good day jobs, and sponsors form large corporations. Now if you want to offer me a job, earning so much that I can afford to make GameEx free (as in your eyes), please be my guest.

Anyone posts im closing the topic. lol.

Basically, its as free as it can be, without costing me, or on the other end being fully commercial. Ive thought many times about going shareware, or trying to make it completely free, but I always decide its best as it is right now.

Just put youself in my shoes for a moment please.

**Brian Hoffman** · January 11, 2009

McDonalds give me free ketchup and free use of there toiliet, but only if I buy a hamburger. If someones wants to pay for the hosting, bandwidth, and a small cut for my (and other times), ill gladly make it free. Not that Im a qualified philoshper but there is no such thing as free in this world. Ubuntu is free because the people who take care of it have good day jobs, and sponsors form large corporations. Now if you want to offer me a job, earning so much that I can afford to make GameEx free (as in your eyes), please be my guest.
Anyone posts im closing the topic. lol.

Close it.. BTW.. Some Mc Donalds over here charge you a quarter to use the restroom. I must say tho when you need to go bad enough its worth it..

**Tom Speirs** · January 11, 2009

Ranzo, by the way, I am finding your bug reports quite useful. Please keep it up. I wonder if its worth merging your posts, so I can take a better look when I have more time?

**Tom Speirs** · January 11, 2009

Close it.. BTW.. Some Mc Donalds over here charge you a quarter to use the restroom. I must say tho when you need to go bad enough its worth it..

Judging by the state off the last McDonalds restroom I went in, thats probably a good thing

**headkaze** · January 11, 2009

also thing that GameEx is one of the best front-ends and I (surely) made my donation for Tom.

If there was no nag screen would you have made a donation? The nag screen encourages people to donate and if you use it enough for it to become annoying then you probably should pay for it anyway. In the Setup Wizard there is a "Verify Setup" which is supposed to help you test your settings before you run GameEx so you dont have to deal with the nag screen as often. After running GameEx a few times you should know by then if you can tollerate the nag screen and if not, then buy it so it goes away. It's very hard to get donations when you just ask nicely. Most people will avoid paying for something unless they are forced to (or in this case nagged to).

The registered version has more features than the free version and no nag screen, that is the difference between the two versions. Tom could make two separate downloads one he could call "free"and list the features in the free version and a registered version and list those features. The reason it's one program is because it would be much more hastle to maintain two separate downloads. So the differences you mention are trivial when you consider that he could split the program into two if he wanted to and thus comply with your definition of "free" software, but it would clearly be a hastle to do that and make no difference other than to satisfy your definition.

**Tom Speirs** · January 11, 2009

Judging by the state off the last McDonalds restroom I went in, thats probably a good thing

Just one more thing, like I say I have thought about changing to a different licensing model, but I cant think of anything better than it is now, and still respect the community and still keep things as "fair" and "free" as I can and still make just a tiny bit from it. If theres some marketing guru out there that can help, I would welcome it.

Im fairly open about what's going on here, and people know I am like that, thats why they all rise to defend it (which I appreciate).

Heck Im going to reeopen the topic, maybe some good can come out of this. I always listen.

**Tempest** · January 11, 2009

Should you decide to make it "Free", I want my money back...

Edit: thanks for re-opening the topic, I really wanted to say that!

**headkaze** · January 11, 2009

Well as I've said several times in the past when a post like this does come up (which is not often at all really and I don't even think there was even one posted last year) that I'm happy with the model the way it is now. I happily paid for the registration to remove the nag screen, and think it was a bargain considering the amount of work gone into it and the costs involved in maintaining it, not to mention how active and well supported it is. So I don't have any better ideas.

The only thing I think might be worth doing is to add a 2 day trial where there is no nag screen perhaps? That way you have 2 days to set up GameEx before the nag screen kicks in rather than have to wait while configuring it for the first time. But that is really why I added the Verify Setup anyway so probably not worth bothering with anyway (I would rather you spend time on adding more features).

**Tempest** · January 11, 2009

Well as I've said several times in the past when a post like this does come up (which is not often at all really and I don't even think there was even one posted last year) that I'm happy with the model the way it is now. I happily paid for the registration to remove the nag screen, and think it was a bargain considering the amount of work gone into it and the costs involved in maintaining it, not to mention how active and well supported it is. So I don't have any better ideas.

I agree 100%

The only thing I think might be worth doing is to add a 2 day trial where there is no nag screen perhaps? That way you have 2 days to set up GameEx before the nag screen kicks in rather than have to wait while configuring it for the first time. But that is really why I added the Verify Setup anyway so probably not worth bothering with anyway (I would rather you spend time on adding more features).

I've been setting mine up for over a year... I hope to be done by the end of this year!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I didn't donate because of the nag screen, I donated because it was worth it! GameEx was only the second piece of software that I had donated for, and the first one has zero support.

Ok, I'm done.

**ranzo** · January 12, 2009

If there was no nag screen would you have made a donation? The nag screen encourages people to donate and if you use it enough for it to become annoying then you probably should pay for it anyway. In the Setup Wizard there is a "Verify Setup" which is supposed to help you test your settings before you run GameEx so you dont have to deal with the nag screen as often. After running GameEx a few times you should know by then if you can tollerate the nag screen and if not, then buy it so it goes away. It's very hard to get donations when you just ask nicely. Most people will avoid paying for something unless they are forced to (or in this case nagged to).
The registered version has more features than the free version and no nag screen, that is the difference between the two versions. Tom could make two separate downloads one he could call "free"and list the features in the free version and a registered version and list those features. The reason it's one program is because it would be much more hastle to maintain two separate downloads. So the differences you mention are trivial when you consider that he could split the program into two if he wanted to and thus comply with your definition of "free" software, but it would clearly be a hastle to do that and make no difference other than to satisfy your definition.

@headkaze :

Hoa, You are at the wrong address, my friend : I would surely pay for the program since I know what hard work is it to do all these things. I am also a programmer and coded some games for the Atary Lynx in 65C02 and I was ALONE, just one graphic-, and a sound guy supported me and thats all ! I also have a lot of video games and all games, which I really like I have them ORIGINAL here. This is a question of RESPECT for the developper, So I have to dissappoint You when You thought that otherwise I would not have paid for it. I also did not donate EXACTLY $22 anyway...

Chers,

RÃ¤nz

**headkaze** · January 12, 2009

Hoa, You are at the wrong address, my friend : I would surely pay for the program since I know what hard work is it to do all these things. I am also a programmer and coded some games for the Atary Lynx in 65C02 and I was ALONE, just one graphic-, and a sound guy supported me and thats all ! I also have a lot of video games and all games, which I really like I have them ORIGINAL here. This is a question of RESPECT for the developper, So I have to dissappoint You when You thought that otherwise I would not have paid for it. I also did not donate EXACTLY $22 anyway...

In general the people who complain about the nag screen are the ones who donate to remove it. Whatever your personal reason for donating my point is still valid. Not everyone that comes here is a programmer (like you and I) so not everyone knows the time and effort involved. Some people think all software should be free; but that is probably why alot of Indy coders don't bother charging for their software. At the end of the day it's up to you if you donate and the amount you donate. Donate what you think it's worth or don't donate at all and when I say that I mean people in general NOT JUST YOU.

**lingpanda** · January 12, 2009

I don't think it's the nag screen in general that makes others want to purchase a license. I can't tell you how many times I've played a console game and had to sit through screen after screen of who developed the game when first starting.

**ranzo** · January 12, 2009

@headkaze, sorry, I forgot to put a :rolleyes: at the end of my line...

I would like to point out some things to think about :

1. There are many front-ends out

2. All other front-ends are FREE (as long as I know)

When I was searching for a front-end, I checked and tested all available front-ends, e.g. MaLa for usuability and comfort and I have to say that nearly all other front-ends had advantages :

1. No NAG-Screen

2. No wait-period of 15-20 Seconds

3. completely free

4. Easy configuration

5. Does exactly that, what I want to have

Lets go through the points (as a NORMAL user)

1. Cool, I do not have to wait and I can straight go into the program. We all know these "boring" pages, especially in DVDs where I also have to wait so long till the "Copyright" things are away. And now I have to see these things again on my PC ?? Not very attractive

2. Hey, whats up ?? OK, I SAW Your dam page !! I want to go into the software !!! Stop bugging me !!

3. What ?? I have to pay for it ?? All others are free ? Why payment ? Should I spend time to read all these stuff just to know why they want to have money from me ??

4. OK, ok, ok man. I waited sooo long !! And now ? Where are my games ? Where is the music ?? Why doesnÂ´t he play my playlist ?? Pfffff, comooon !! And where should I get the information ?? Hey stop that !! I do not have the time to read aaalllll these faqs, nor the time to read all the posts in the forum !! I just want to PPLLLAAAYYY !!!!!

5. Hey !! But I told the system to play my music !! And why doesnÂ´t he play !! What the f*/*--* !!

OK, lets face this situation and how can we react on that ??

1. NAG Screen : We were already talking about that and I wrote my opinin : NAG is ok and the information is ok

2. Time period is DEFINITELY too long. As I wrote before, when I tested the software, it was a, what did one said here..."a pain in the butt"...

3. The software should NOT be completely free, and how would You best tell the people why not ? When I write : "Ohhh, it was soooo much to program, please gimme something"....it will not work so good and people might say : "Hey look at this little boy out there...". So how can we react on that ?? You have to show the POWER of the software !! For example You should modify a little bit the NAG screen with some information why GameEx is one of the best front-ends ever. To be hornest : when I at the beginning tested the software, I did not know all the extra features. So a cool thing would be in the NAG screen to write something about the extra features, maybe post also a link to a video at youtube or on Your side (and please a REAL video in good quality), a "kick-ass" video. Make it clear so nobody will still have any questions about the product.

4. The setup wizard is a good step in the right direction, but (in my opinion) by far not complete. As You saw there are again things which You can not modify in the wizard and I had to modify it directly in the gameex.ini...and not everybody in the world loves "ini" files, especially when they are sooo long. So my suggestion would be to improve the wizard, but You already wrote that in one post, Tom.

Another point for improvement : The FAQs. Its a good idea to post a faq, but You should :

a) Divide the FAQ in SECTIONS, e.g.

1. Issues about Installation

2. Issues about Configuration

2.1 Issues about Mame

2.2 Issues about Jukebox

2.3 .......

It was also a pain for me to read aaaallll these FAQs when I had one problem in mind...

UPDATE the FAQs

I also posted one solution (it was the issue mp3 were not playing in the playlist. Try to keep the FAQ up-to-date. So when one of the mods found an answer and the problem is SOLVED, please post it at once in the FAQs in the right section. That should cost You maybe 3 more minutes, but we can keep the traffic in the forum LOW

c) Provide sample gameex.ini

You can post gameex.ini files to download for newbie users, e.g. :

1. Configuration 1 :

1.1 Arcade cab

1.2 Jukebox support

1.3 DVD support

Or integrate it in the setup wizard, where the user has the choice :

1. Advanced setup (as it it as the moment)

2. "Get-ready" setup : where the user just chooses in a drop-down window his arcade environment and he will get a gameex.ini, which is closest to his needs...

I think there is so many potential in the software and the people should know that, but its up to You to make this software "delicious" !! :rolleyes:

RÃ¤nz

**Tom Speirs** · January 12, 2009

Ranzo, lets not argue in this thread. Like I said before you have some good feebdback for GameEx which I am finding useful and will address when I get some time to work on GameEx again. I already fixed the news issue so you know I am serious. I wonder if you can help further though, and create a new thread called "Rando: Bugs/Issues" or something and cut and pastd your reports and suggestions in there. It will be much eaiser for me to address under a single thread, and I believe you are contributing something good to the project.

Can you do that for me?

Thanks.

Tom.

PS: I have also addressed the issue with the playlist at startup not available in the setup wizard. This again will be in the next release.

**night** · January 12, 2009

2. Hey, whats up ?? OK, I SAW Your dam page !! I want to go into the software !!! Stop bugging me !!
4. OK, ok, ok man. I waited sooo long !! And now ? Where are my games ? Where is the music ?? Why doesnÂ´t he play my playlist ?? Pfffff, comooon !! And where should I get the information ?? Hey stop that !! I do not have the time to read aaalllll these faqs, nor the time to read all the posts in the forum !! I just want to PPLLLAAAYYY !!!!!

As Headkaze said many wouldnt "donate" if they nag screen wasent there they would just race over it and dont think much about it in the future now people get reminded about it i think its like every day we get nagged on TV when a Good serie or movie are on ect. ect. they are called free channels as well they get money from naggin us with comeciels

If you just wanna play right away without any fancy things you should really just use the normal emulators they have in many cases their own GUI ...

But i see your point in one thing mby inset somekinda timer so people have a couple of days to test it and setting it up

and then activate the screen just a thought

**greatflash** · January 12, 2009

As Headkaze said many wouldnt "donate" if they nag screen wasent there they would just race over it and dont think much about it in the future now people get reminded about it i think its like every day we get nagged on TV when a Good serie or movie are on ect. ect. they are called free channels as well they get money from naggin us with comeciels
If you just wanna play right away without any fancy things you should really just use the normal emulators they have in many cases their own GUI ...
But i see your point in one thing mby inset somekinda timer so people have a couple of days to test it and setting it up
and then activate the screen just a thought

A good analogy Night.

I never found the delay irritating, any more than any other software that 'reminds' you of the work that has gone into it. I have always been of the thought that if something is giving you pleasure, then why not pay for it.

There are exceptions to this rule though, take my wife - gives me nothing but grief and costs a fortune.

I appreciate the countless hours of work that Tom puts into his project(s) and am overjoyed to be able to purchase such an involved and evolved piece of software for such a low price, and I toff my hat to Tom for making this available.

I do agree on one point though, and that is perhaps the "please wait" screen could give a couple of days grace before apearing.

One thing - I had to reformat my pc a few months ago as a hd died and I did notice that on a fast pc the wait was only a little longer than it was once I had used my key. Tom, how do you calculate the delay? I wondered if this is even longer on a slower pc? A lot of people think it is up too long and I did not think so?

**bkenobi** · January 12, 2009

2. All other front-ends are FREE (as long as I know)

FYI - Maximus Arcade costs more and stops working after 30 days.

**Tom Speirs** · January 12, 2009

OK, ive tried to address these issues in 9.80, now available.

Under most circumstances there will be a two-three day grace period.

The length of the screen has been increased very slightly, but any previous initalisation time is now taken into account.

The release also fixes the two issues as mentioned that Ranzor reported, and includes the latest version of hitotext.exe.

Ill see how it all goes.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers.

Tom.

**ranzo** · January 13, 2009

G R E A T Tom !! :-)

If time permits, I will open a new thread, titled "Bug Reports". Please pin this thread at the beginning of the forum.

RÃ¤nz

Must pay for GameEx ?

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