Even though I've already posted, I do support the concept of premium skins.You spend 1-2 months doing an entire suite of skins plus all the expense in programs, it would be nice if the skinner (or their spouse) could recoop some of the investment.

Maybe when people read the second question they got afraid it was an either/or situation. 

I know of a number of skinners who could make a living selling premium suites. You'd have to make two per quarter to do it but you could do it.

I know of a number of skinners who could make a living selling premium suites.

No doubt about it. Treetog does that, no?

It's a method of growth, for all sides. The masters will want to make as much money as they can (otherwise whats the point of making a premium skin) so expect GUIO style or better quality and attention to detail, the non-masters will want to get up to master so they too can reap the benefits, they will want to impress, so they try harder. The user gets a ton more premium skins to choose from, a store full of skins from the masters. WinCustomize becomes the only worth-while marketplace for skinners to show their stuff. What's the downside to this again?

Wow....that would be awesome!

I have a poll question for everyone.
My poll has two ions to choose from.

Poll question: Do you think software developers should charge for their software?

1- Yes, I like being able to support software developers and get very high quality software.

2- No, software should always be free and stay that way.
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Note that not all software that you pay for is high quality software,At least not by my definition.




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I will try this again.
I have a poll question for everyone.

Poll question: Do you think software developers should charge for their software?

1- Yes, I like being able to support software developers and get very high quality software.

2- No, software should always be free and stay that way.
-
Note that not all software that you pay for is high quality software,At least not by my definition.

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I was wondering why about the number of people responding to number 2...the free option. I'd have to say, with a lot of people having the general feeling that the internet is free, free downloads, free email, free chat, free games, etc., having as many people Select number 1 as have, is pretty impressive and supportive.

Here's my take on premium skins and whatnot. Personally I think all skins should be free, people have to pay for the software to use the skins so why ask them to spend more.

However, ideally people would donate to skin authors. What seems to be outlooked is that a large group of people are quite young, and really can't spare 10 dollars or don't have a credit card and the such, they shouldn't be alienated.

But it really is quite depressing how few people donate to support ANYTHING when it's not related to some sort of nudity (If you've used the internet for over 10 minutes in the past year im sure you've noticed this). So there are countless authors out there spending at times hundreds of hours on skins and not getting anything for it. So as an author it is quite easy to want premium skins to become more prevalent, however we have to ask what this will do to the skinning community. I personally feel it would destroy it.

What it would come down to is making things elitest, to the point where the studios who've had the most success with premium skins would probably form a good 70-80% of the skins bought. Putting that aside, imagine what it would do to the art of skinning. While it may be more popular today than it was 3 or 4 years ago, skinning seems to have lost the bulk of it's creativity. Most seem to be abandoning the artistic side of skinning for high download counts, imagine how much this would worsen once money is involved.

Though in retrospect, one could ask who cares if a community that doesn't support its authors out of goodwill is destroyed. Which tends to be my sentiment. So while I believe all skins should be free, I find myself in a position where I almost feel forced to make premium skins, concidering I MAY be working on one at the moment (depends how other projects of mine pan out).

I feel that an author doing commissioned work, as SkinStudio does, is a better way of earning an income that charging the users. And it does seem to force a degree of creativity as a company paying for a promotional skin wants it to stand out.

And now there comes the point of who should be able to sell premium skins. If it's restricted to master, there may be a slew of people releasing half-assed works in order to raise level. The level a person is doesn't reflect the quality of their work or their ability as an author, that quality is what premium skins should be all about.

Personally I think all skins should be free, people have to pay for the software to use the skins so why ask them to spend more.

If someone buys a car, gas and maintenance should be free right?

This is not about wiping out or replacing the already amount of free skins shared by the authors for premium skins, this is about giving the opportunity to up-rising authors to sell their work and motivate the ones that are just starting to contribute with more of their free work and raised their levels. As a matter of fact, new commers will strive to show better work in order to be noticed and bumped up, so the quality of free skins should be better than it is now.
There will always be free skins, here at WC as well as in every other skinning site, but it would be nice to have the chance of making a premium skin and get back some compensation for the time, money and effort spent.




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Comparing computer software to a car is just flat out idiotic. How about you compare it to something more closely related... like other computer software. When was the last time you came across a premium winamp skin or sonique skin? Truth be told I can't think of when I ever had. The whole idea of paying for skins is pretty much limited to WindowBlind authors. Its not as if WB skinning is anymore of a task, I feel quite the opposite as there's no scripting or real thinking involved at all.

I don't at all understand your logic in premium suites helping new comers. Seems to me it will discourage new authors if anything.

A better comparison than skinning software an a car, would be the skinning community and the computer game community, back in the days of Quake and Quake 2 there were hundreds of different mods, they were all quirky and fun. there were plenty of servers and plenty of players for each mod. Then along came counter-strike, which became extremely successful and ended up published and sold. Now it seems every mod tam is desperately looking to make the "next counter-strike", mods went from silly and fun to cold and calculate. Modding went from being a hobby to being an obsession. Countless mod project now never see the light of the day. And for everyone that achieves success and publisher backing, it kills 20 other mods. It's a perfect example of when the few dominate.

The problem nowadays is the amount of effort and time required to make a good Windowblinds skin.  I haven't made a Windowblinds skin in a very long time, but when I do it will always be as a hobby, and as such I will never want to charge for it. I skin for myself, if people like it it's a bonus. That's also why my skins will never be perfect, as I don't really care if they work for everybody, if some people have bugs. I make it, it works for me, great. Then I upload it to share with people who'd also want to use it. It doesn't work for them, oh well.  If the bug is simple to fix, I'll do it, but I will not spend hours on end trying to fix a bug that a few people with a specific system configuration have. And that's why I will never charge for any skin/theme/object I make. I am not interested in doing the "customer support" thing. This is just a hobby for me.

On the other hand, you have people who spend dozens of hours making sure the skin is perfect for every one. They respond to every email, they fix the bugs and make sure their things work for everyody.  This goes beyond a simple hobby and deserves to be paid.

My opinion.

Its not as if WB skinning is anymore of a task, I feel quite the opposite as there's no scripting or real thinking involved at all.

MindlessPuppet....try not to live up to your name quite so much.

I've never heard such utter tripe in all my years of skinning.

If it's restricted to master, there may be a slew of people releasing half-assed works in order to raise level. The level a person is doesn't reflect the quality of their work or their ability as an author, that quality is what premium skins should be all about

Dont worry Mindless, there may be people who release 'half-assed' skins to just up their level, but as Promotions Are Not Automatic, I dont think they will get very far.

Mmm... Its not like every single skinner out there will immidately be promoted to Master and only release premium work...

Personally I think all skins should be free, people have to pay for the software to use the skins so why ask them to spend more.

Personally, I think that attitude needs to be adjusted...

Good skins dont just appear out of nowhere...They take time, energy, and hard work. Lots of it.