30 seconds evaluation
 

I have a suggestion. How about a key-file that works for 20-30 seconds, so people can evaluate the program in full? By doing this you would prevent people finding a pirated key to check the full product. I think that many people who finds a pirated key for evaluation, then sticks with that key, as they then have the full version. But if you can evaluate the product in full without searching for pirated keys, you probably if you like it will buy it. I did find a pirated key, and directly when I saw the Lionfish, I decided to pay for this amazing aquarium. I've sent money in cash, so I should recieve my real keyfile within a couple of days. If I didn't have the chance to evaluate this in full, like I did, I wouldn't have bought it. It was the lionfish that got me convinced that this is a product worth buying. Also, a salute to Jim, who takes the time to visit and write in these forums. You are my hero! :)

.
 

.

I've seen something like that on anti-virus.
Panda antivirus updates itself, but you need to have a registered user and password to access the updates.

Maybe something like that would be the best option.

The demo must be completely limited. Not by serial, just limited, so there's no way to get all fishes, as they are not there, not just disabled.

Then, when an user purchases the aquarium he'll receive a serial, and a username (maybe his own email?)
the same info should appear on a database on the server, and whenever that person decides to download it, both user (email) and password(serial) must match, and then he could download it.

This will make useless any keygen, as if the serial isn't registered, or the email doesn't match the serial, the program can't be downloaded.

I think this is one of the best ways to stop pirating the software. You won't see any serial for panda antivirus out there, and if you find one, you'll have an antivirus that will never update, so it will be useless in a couple of months.

My 2 cents :)

I agree with your posts to prevent pirating. Still without being able to evaluate a product in full would stop me from buying it. Like I wouldn't buy a car just by seeing a photo of it. Not after reading the specifications either. To make me buy the car, I would have to drive it, to feel the comfort, listen to the engine, and so on... The same goes for computer programs, you have to try, so you know what you get.

Not knowing how much you spend on cars down in Staffanstorp, – but up here they cost a bit more than $20... I bet you have spent 200 kronor (~$20, Yanks) on dinner at a restaurant somewhere without marching into the kitchen demanding to sample the food first.

/Tiny Car Price

One more thing,

Instead of the 30-second version of the real aquarium. Wouldn't it be possible to put a short avi/mpeg/qt/whatever with the aquarium on serenescreen.com so Spyder and the likes of him could see what it looks like before purchasing? I have a hard time imagining that it would repel more presumable byuers than it would attract.

/Tiny Thought

I agree with tiny. A short mpeg, avi, flash, or even an animated gif would look real nice on Jim's site. The still pictures just dont do this program justice.

.
 

.

Tiny Turtle, the idea of having a AVI-clip is really nice. About what you write about cars and dinners... I've bought games that costs $30-50 dollars because I've seen nice screenshots, or read a nice review. Some of those games turned out to be really bad. How often do you buy an audio CD without having heard the tunes on it? You don't buy it just because of a nice cover, do you?
Of course I won't demand when being at a restaurant to get a free sample before order, but changing money and then send oversea for something you haven't seen, or that you already have a pirated key for is a different thing.
I have bought this screen saver, because it totally outstanding, and I do want to support Jim's hardwork. But if I hadn't seen the Lionfish, I wouldn't have bought it.
I will most probably buy the rest of the work he does, as I'm sure he will only release better products all the time. My original mail was to prevent pirating of SS. Your suggestion of an AVI might be an good idea.

Yodel, I get your point, even though I use my credit card instead for such payments.

On a side note, I can't help marvelling about how many members of the forum say/write/whatever that they wouldn't have bought it without the Lionfish. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's interesting that the SS seemed to sell pretty well long time before there was even talking about Lionfish. My guess is that history will repeat itself and we'll have posts "I wouldn't have paid if I didn't like the moray eel/octupus/whatever".

Note: Before some folks start flaming, – I said "It's nothing wrong with that", didn't I?

/Still Tiny

Tiny Turtle, I agree with you partly, that some people will buy it when they find new nice creatures. Just like some people wouldn't buy a car without air-condition... :)
I've talked to others who thought that some of the other fishes were more impressive, but for me, I must say that the Lionfish is just amazing.
I guess quite some people will probably buy it when they see the 3D-background, or if the function of feading the fishes will come...

The suggestion of an animation on the Web site is a good one, and we have been looking into it for a long time. The main problem is that the animation quality would be so low compared to the real Aquarium, I'm afraid people would think that's how the real thing would run. If HTML/Java/Flash/Whatever were powerful enough to do this kind of program, then I would have used those easy languages instead of C++/Direct3D.

There's a fine line between showing people what they will get, and giving too much away. Most people in the industry believe that I am already giving away far too much with the 3-fish demo. There are several million people who are completely happy just having to type "TESTFISH", and never pay anything.

As has been mentioned before, the problem with a timer is that it's so easy for hackers to defeat. Also, I think I would be a little disappointed if I paid for a program, and the only difference was that the timer got removed. I'm happier when I see new things after registering.

People... sometimes you just gotta have faith.

I have purchased things without seeing them before have been wonderfully surprised and satisfied. If the purchase is a disappointment, I write and tell the manufacturer and more often than not, get a refund.

I have paid for two screensavers in my life and Snoqualmie is the other one. I had only seen the demo before my 20 dollar investment. I have to admit that I first got SereneScreen as a crack from a friend who said, "You HAVE to see this!"

When I did, I bought it a day later because, aside from the fact that I was very impressed, I didn't want to feel guilty becoming a part of this community with a cracked version running on my computer, for I very much so wanted to belong.

When you get right down to the black and white of the issue. It is right to pay for something someone is selling if you want it. It is wrong to figure out a way to get it without paying.

Any defense for the latter will sound like excuses and there is no excuse for stealing.

It may sometimes feel so right to do it to large bubble butt corporations like Micro$oft but it doesn't make it right. To do it to Jim is just criminal.

Ok. Rant over. Sorry for getting so fluffed up. I just feel if you are going to steal from someone, don't come and rub it in their face. That is just so rude. If you believe stealing is right, keep it to yourself and don't defend it.

Lightfeather,

Where did anyone in this topic "rub it in" about pirating the Aquarium?

And what's wrong with having a bubble butt?

Morgan, you're right -- there haven't been very many in this Forum (and I think you might have deleted them). But the attitude is very common on the Alt sites that we monitor.

Feldon,

I guess it is just a general feeling I get from posters that state, in not these exact words:

"Hi Jim! I really love your screensaver, but you know, I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't hunt for an illegal cracked version first."

That may not be rubbing it in, but since there isn't much Jim can do about it, telling him that there is no way you would pay for the aquarium unless you could steal it and play with it first seems a bit like a childish rub.

This is all my humble opinion. Please Excuse any offence.

And there is nothing wrong with bubble butts. I just thought it was more fun to say than some other choice words out there.

Lightfeather, I wrote that if I can't see what the product is capable of, I wouldn't buy it. An AVI would be nice. This thread was created to prevent pirating, and I really hope that Jim doesn't take this as any "childish rub" but perhaps it will give him some nice ideas for the future.

.
 

.

If you're talking about the Broadband question, I moved it to the Coffee House. I should have e-mailed you about it, sorry.

https://www.feldoncentral.com/forums...=&threadid=689

Treating people differently because of my personal opinions is not a luxury I allow myself.

Its nice to know I left a memorable impression on you. LOL