Premium Previews

from WinCustomize Forums

Currently, downloading a master skin is like picking out attractive people from over a mile away.  You never really know what you get until you get a chance to see it up close.  With dreams, the tiny preview image and video do so little to represent the beauty of top quality choices while alternatively hiding flaws from lesser quality selections.  User comments typically remaining strictly positive, by users who appear to have not even purchased the dream, compounds the level of uncertainty a potential customer already has. I would like to propose a simple new method for releasing premium dreams which would allow higher quality dreams to prosper and lower quality dreams to achieve the attention they deserve.

A Premium Preview would release as a free dream on the same day as the normal Master Skin.
The Master Skin would have a link to the Premium Preview.

The Premium Preview would have the following characteristics:
-Full Resolution
-No More than 10-20 consecutive seconds of dream footage without being interrupted with a full screen "Like my Dream? Purchase the full version" message.
-Shortened length (No smooth transition)
-The opportunity for the author to provide sound in the dream preview which could be used to narrate a small story, help create the environment, describe experiences making the dream, and give direct information to potential customers/supporters.


If users were given the opportunity to briefly examine the quality of Master Skins I cannot see how this could lead to a reductions in sales of worthy dreams.  I am not proposing to change the current pricing.  I have no problem paying $5.00 for a good cheeseburger--but I do, however, have a problem paying $5.00 for a sneezeburger.

8,989 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It would be hacked and we'd see all the premium dreams on piratebay before we have the time to spell "copyright".

Sad but true.

Shortening the length of the video wouldn't work for dynamic dreams.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It would be hacked and we'd see all the premium dreams on piratebay before we have the time to spell "copyright".
End of quote

I wurz going to say, isn't there a way to record video from your pc?  What's to stop someone from doing that.  I mean, maybe they could put a giant watermark over it.  That'd stop em.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Far more bandwidth being used, dream pricing would have to increase to justify that and really it probably boils down to ..if the preview isn't good enough for someone.. no one is forcing them to buy it.

There are risks in purchasing many things in life. If the risk is too much.. don't jump. 

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Its a good idea...but I think its a bandwidth issue for winc and makes the process more complicated...the flash preview for mine was 59 seconds(the dream is 4:09) and 9 mb just for that little window...a full rez at half length would still be 75 mb.

I did consider linking to a short version on sendspace but I dont know how many times it could be viewed before they cut off access.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

-No More than 10-20 consecutive seconds of dream footage without being interrupted with a full screen "Like my Dream? Purchase the full version" message.
End of quote

I could edit that out in a few minutes

-The opportunity for the author to provide sound in the dream preview which could be used to narrate a small story, help create the environment, describe experiences making the dream, and give direct information to potential customers/supporters.
End of quote

The author can already do that in the flash preview.

I suggest making the flash preview larger for Master Dreams. Currently the max size is 300x300. They should increase it to 600x600 for Master dreams if the creator wishes to do so. That would give a better prospective to customers and keep the dream from being ripped

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It would be hacked and we'd see all the premium dreams on piratebay before we have the time to spell "copyright".

Sad but true.
End of quote

 

How can showing a preview would put a premium dream at risk of being hacked? If you insist, wouldn't selling it would put it at risk as well?

 

Go on with the thread :D

 

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting samgoodman, reply 6

How can showing a preview would put a premium dream at risk of being hacked? If you insist, wouldn't selling it would put it at risk as well?
 
End of samgoodman's quote

Most dreams are nothing but a video. If you display it at full resolution, it *will* be ripped.

Ofcourse, selling a dream puts it at risk too, but I have yet to find a single pirate who actually BUY something to be able to redistribute it (they would need to buy ALL premium dreams to make a complete pack).

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would like an entirely different .dream created for the preview.  After these interruptions, the dream should not resume exactly where it left off.  Parts of the dream could have half of the dream washed out in color, or an annoying solid yellow.  Add an obtrusive watermark.  Just be sure that at times the true quality of the Master Skin is available.

Overall, I would like a dream to be created that at times accurately demonstrates the quality but overall will be a garbage/annoying version one would not want to use.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I really think the current previews are enough for most people who are willing to buy a dream. I can't see how a big effort like a distorted full screen preview would result in better sales. If you're not convinced by the small preview, I don't believe higher resolution will make any difference.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

isn't there a way to record video from your pc? What's to stop someone from doing that. I mean, maybe they could put a giant watermark over it. That'd stop em.
End of quote

With Camtasia Studio (<- this is not spam! ->) you are able to record a video from any part of your monitor, when you start the editing you are able to add a full screen watermark (there is an option to change the watermark with what ever you want).

;)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There are risks in purchasing many things in life. If the risk is too much.. don't jump.
End of quote

You are damn right! when i buy my t-shirt from (my always loved site :grin: ) deviantart.com i start reading the comments from people saying that their tshirt were too big or too small.., thankx God mine was just the correct size ^_^

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Its a good idea...but I think its a bandwidth issue for winc and makes the process more complicated...the flash preview for mine was 59 seconds(the dream is 4:09) and 9 mb just for that little window...a full rez at half length would still be 75 mb.
End of quote

what about this:

i started a video tutorial for my next cursor theme MT-FX and uploaded the links to my journal at deviantart, the videos are able to show without the problem that they (the videos) will get errased by the site where i post them.., take a look: MT-FX

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i start reading the comments from people saying that their tshirt were too big or too small.., thankx God mine was just the correct size
End of quote

 

Good for you.. Goldilocks ! :P ;P :lol:

 

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

video tutorial for my next cursor theme MT-FX
End of quote
very neat...so what resolution are they?I couldnt tell any difference between hd is on to off unless I went fullscreen(which was definately better)but they still look very compressed and jerky.

Too jerky and too compressed might convince people not to buy. 8O

 

If thats a cursor your making you have ambition mister...wow.

 

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If thats a cursor your making you have ambition mister...wow
End of quote

no worries! it is much more easier than EvolveFX...., but right now i have to stop it becouse of my job and that my free time is less than the old days at school :'(

 

...oh! btw., when i finish it, it wont be for free., i'll wait till i get into Master level (like in one or two years., lol) and it will be my first, not the last Master Skin...., it is time to get some money!:thumbsup:

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Too jerky and too compressed might convince people not to buy.
End of quote

for the dreams stuff, Camtasia has the option to select an especific area to record anything on your screen, so, as you say, making a full screen video record wont be an option....

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If thats a cursor your making you have ambition mister...wow.
End of quote

 

I'll agree , even though as a cursor it may not showcase all the work you are doing as well as it could, the modelling by itself is very impressive Imo.

Great job mate.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The Premium Preview would have the following characteristics:

-Full Resolution

-No More than 10-20 consecutive seconds of dream footage without being interrupted with a full screen "Like my Dream? Purchase the full version" message.

-Shortened length (No smooth transition)

-The opportunity for the author to provide sound in the dream preview which could be used to narrate a small story, help create the environment, describe experiences making the dream, and give direct information to potential customers/supporters.
End of quote

 

...o_O  

 

i didn't took the time to see the new preview option for Dreams.., how come you want more than that???!?! It's the first time that i see an really smooth animated preview on this site, it makes my own animated preview (the ones that i created for my own cursor themes at deviantart) to look like crap!

To be honest, what you are asking for is help for you to rip this themes! :typo:

Take a look at this one and tell me if i'm wrong: Video Option to preview the skin is awsome....:(O

 

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If I wanted to rip the dreams I would host up the .wmv of the premium dreams I already purchased.  The only thing I really want is a Full Resolution preview.  That small preview is not necessarily representative of the quality on a 1920x1200 monitor. How about a 10 second clip.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

When you purchase a DVD of a movie do you get a full screen preview of what it will look like on your TV? A good movie costs a lot more than a cheeseburger,the store should let you watch it first on your TV at home to try it out.;)

When I had satellite TV they gave me no such option,nor did they when I had cable connected.

Both of these services cost far more than a cheesburger......with fries and a shake.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

When you purchase a DVD of a movie do you get a full screen preview

Typically, I do through hidef commercials.

I truly do not understand what it is you people are defending.  You guys act like this ammount of money is so insignificant that it does not matter if you like what you get or not.  If indeed this argument had merit, WinCustomize would not collect such an 'insignificant' ammount of money.  Also, if the amount is so insignificant, all people willing to purchase me some .dreams can contact me via AIM @ "da coo kid eric".  Until something changes, unfortunately I will continue to limit my purchases to the person I am sure will produce top quality 1920x1200 dreams, TheMasterBaron.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well,I agree with you...a better preview is a good idea and done like you say I dont think they would be worth ripping,they would be a mess as an actual dream.

Rendering out a half rez dream cut down in length wouldnt be hard but I still dont have a way to host it in high enough quality to do them justice...and good idea or not,I dont think Wincustomize is going to do more than they are now.

A full rez version as short as 10 seconds wouldnt tell you much more about the dream I made(4:09)than the still does.

 

Something I am looking into is maybe packaging 3 dreams together and pricing them at say...5.95.

3.99 is the least you Winc allows you to charge because of all the transaction fees.20%of that is the fees,Winc and the artist split the rest.

Problem is,I'm not sure Winc is set up to allow for a 450mb dream upload with 3 seperate dream files(and 3 times the preview needed)...maybe,I havnt asked yet.