History of Versions for Serene Screen - Page 2

Jav400 · 03-04-2006, 12:30 PM

Jim,

Do you happen to remember what that record was?

Jim Sachs · 03-04-2006, 02:04 PM

No - something like 3 months, I think.

Falz · 03-31-2006, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

In 2000, it held the record for the quickest program to reach a million downloads from 3DFiles alone. Versions of the program are hosted on many more sites now. I'd guess total downloads are in the 20-30 million range, but it could be ten times that. Of course, an incredibly small fraction end up purchasing. Most are happy with the free demo. The one thing that really surprises me is that sales are amazingly STEADY. It's like selling life insurance - everyone has their own wildly different personal story, but with a large enough pool the Law of Big Numbers takes over, and you can count on the outcome.

If you price something reasonably people will always find it and buy it. The main reason I ever don't buy a program I use regularly is they simply ask too much for it (though a lot of the stuff I use is free open source, hooray!).

Even small time software developers ought to know they'll make more money selling 20 copies of something for $10 than they will selling 2 copies for $60 and having the other 18 people download cracks. If something you really want a legit copy of because it becomes a pain finding cracks or keygens for new versions costs $20, then you'll just say stuff it and register it. If it costs $50 and you're not a rich person then you'll probably keep looking for cracks.

All single-task over the internet software should be priced $25 or under in my opinion. Boxed games or massive software suites are a different story, of course.

Jim Sachs · 04-01-2006, 03:20 AM

Pricing is actually an extremely complex issue, and I don't pretend to know a lot about it. I picked a number that has worked out very well, but there may be other numbers that would have done better. Lowering the price causes more people to buy, but then you have more customers to keep track of. You have to hire a bigger staff, but you have less money per customer to do it with.

Conversely, raising the price causes more people to turn to bootleg versions, but you have more money per customer from the ones who do buy, and less customer-service.

Once you set a price, it's extremely hard to do any further experimentation. Whether you raise or lower the price, half the people will be angry. EXTREMELY angry, in some cases. Death-threat angry.

Falz · 04-01-2006, 07:51 AM

I once paid $99 for a program which six months later I had the programming skills to write myself. That sucked.

03-04-2006, 12:30 PM	#21
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Jim, Do you happen to remember what that record was? Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

03-04-2006, 02:04 PM	#22
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	No - something like 3 months, I think. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

04-01-2006, 03:20 AM	#24
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,790	Pricing is actually an extremely complex issue, and I don't pretend to know a lot about it. I picked a number that has worked out very well, but there may be other numbers that would have done better. Lowering the price causes more people to buy, but then you have more customers to keep track of. You have to hire a bigger staff, but you have less money per customer to do it with. Conversely, raising the price causes more people to turn to bootleg versions, but you have more money per customer from the ones who do buy, and less customer-service. Once you set a price, it's extremely hard to do any further experimentation. Whether you raise or lower the price, half the people will be angry. EXTREMELY angry, in some cases. Death-threat angry. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-31-2006, 10:53 PM	#23
Falz Registered Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 118	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: In 2000, it held the record for the quickest program to reach a million downloads from 3DFiles alone. Versions of the program are hosted on many more sites now. I'd guess total downloads are in the 20-30 million range, but it could be ten times that. Of course, an incredibly small fraction end up purchasing. Most are happy with the free demo. The one thing that really surprises me is that sales are amazingly STEADY. It's like selling life insurance - everyone has their own wildly different personal story, but with a large enough pool the Law of Big Numbers takes over, and you can count on the outcome. If you price something reasonably people will always find it and buy it. The main reason I ever don't buy a program I use regularly is they simply ask too much for it (though a lot of the stuff I use is free open source, hooray!). Even small time software developers ought to know they'll make more money selling 20 copies of something for $10 than they will selling 2 copies for $60 and having the other 18 people download cracks. If something you really want a legit copy of because it becomes a pain finding cracks or keygens for new versions costs $20, then you'll just say stuff it and register it. If it costs $50 and you're not a rich person then you'll probably keep looking for cracks. All single-task over the internet software should be priced $25 or under in my opinion. Boxed games or massive software suites are a different story, of course.

04-01-2006, 07:51 AM	#25
Falz Registered Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 118	I once paid $99 for a program which six months later I had the programming skills to write myself. That sucked.