MA3 Pre-Release chitchat - Page 4

Jim Sachs · 10-01-2009, 07:46 AM

A note about upgrades (both Mac and PC) - Nova only sells new copies of MA. They don't do upgrades, nor do they have access to the database of previous users.

Any upgrades would need to be handled by Prolific at SereneScreen.com. MA3 is not really an "upgrade" - it is an entirely new program, written from scratch. It does not replace or over-write earlier versions, and they can live in harmony on the same computer (assuming the computer can handle the slightly higher requirements for MA3).

The "upgrade" policy is simply Prolific's way of thanking previous owners for their loyalty by giving them a 50% discount on MA3. They are currently scrambling to get the Mac download up and running on SereneScreen.com.

Duke · 10-01-2009, 09:13 AM

The discount for previous owners is much appreciated. Thank you!

JimO'Connor · 10-01-2009, 06:02 PM

Hi DrNemoJr,

Well, I went out on a limb, what can I say?

I hear rumors that the web site is getting the attention it needs to have Mac MA 3 be available. I'm not setting dates any longer, though.

JimO'Connor · 10-01-2009, 06:04 PM

MA on iPhone? I can't comment on unannounced products... Is that Jobsian enough for you?

kenmeier · 10-02-2009, 02:19 PM

It looks like it's been available for several days on nova developments site. Only full price. Only download.

feldon34 · 10-03-2009, 08:50 AM

Surprising that there hasn't even been an MA3 for Mac OS X beta and already Nova is selling the Mac version for download:

https://shop.novadevelopment.com/sto...oid=1033358317

Moderator Note: The two Mac OS X threads were cross-referencing each other, so I just merged them. There will be a new thread when release news of a Beta and/or Public Release become availalble.

Jim O'Connor I would be curious to know if there will be an auto-update or update notification feature built into MA3 for Mac? Or if Mac users will be just as in the dark as PC users...

Ralph · 10-03-2009, 10:04 AM

??? so what do they get if they pay their monies and do the download.

feldon34 · 10-03-2009, 10:23 AM

I haven't been curious enough to find out.

Jim Sachs · 10-03-2009, 11:53 AM

There wasn't time for a public Beta, so Jim O and Prolific did all testing privately. Nova needed the program very quickly to include on the same CD as the PC version.

feldon34 · 10-03-2009, 12:30 PM

So there is a Mac OS X compatible Aquarium 3 I can download right now (if I don't want to wait for upgrade pricing) and there's no announcement on the fan site or this forum. Brilliant.

kenmeier · 10-03-2009, 05:42 PM

yep been available for several days at least.

Jim Sachs · 10-03-2009, 08:59 PM

Yes, much to my dismay, Nova has download versions for both PC and Mac, in direct competition with our download version. You can see why I'm not eager to get the word out.

Nicki · 10-04-2009, 05:58 AM

They Capitalise Almost Every Word On That Website , and they show the aquarium running on 3 widescreen monitors - although it is zoomed so I guess that's okay .

feldon34 · 10-04-2009, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

Yes, much to my dismay, Nova has download versions for both PC and Mac, in direct competition with our download version. You can see why I'm not eager to get the word out.

I guess there wasn't a contract in writing?

Ralph · 10-04-2009, 08:34 AM

The intricacies of marketing this screen saver are beyond me.. (and rightfully so) but I do wonder who is minding the store.

Jim Sachs · 10-04-2009, 08:50 AM

Actually, it may work out OK. Getting the hardcopy back into stores is vital, since that is our only advertising. Some of the people who see it in stores will find their way to the SereneScreen website, increasing our traffic. Many of the customers who go to the Nova site instead will already have had a previous version of the Aquarium, and will be looking for an upgrade deal. Since Nova doesn't do upgrades, those customers will hopefully come over to SereneScreen.com, where we are happy to accomodate them.

Then finally, if Nova really sells a huge number of units, even my small percentage could amount to a significant income.

So things are not as bad as they might seem.

Nicki · 10-04-2009, 09:27 AM

I'm glad I bought my copy when it was much simpler

.

feldon34 · 10-04-2009, 10:33 AM

I think maybe I just need to stop posting. Cause right now I really want to say something rude.

robrob · 10-04-2009, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

Actually, it may work out OK. Getting the hardcopy back into stores is vital, since that is our only advertising. Some of the people who see it in stores will find their way to the SereneScreen website, increasing our traffic. Many of the customers who go to the Nova site instead will already have had a previous version of the Aquarium, and will be looking for an upgrade deal. Since Nova doesn't do upgrades, those customers will hopefully come over to SereneScreen.com, where we are happy to accomodate them.

Then finally, if Nova really sells a huge number of units, even my small percentage could amount to a significant income.

So things are not as bad as they might seem.

In the meantime, I imagine, many of your old, established, and faithful customers will get disgusted and take the attitude of, "I'll miss it, but I really don't need a stinking aquarium from a company that doesn't really care about their established customer base."

Sad to say, that has certainly become my attitude!

Adios

Nicki · 10-04-2009, 01:20 PM

Edit - ummm , narf ?

10-01-2009, 07:46 AM	#61
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	A note about upgrades (both Mac and PC) - Nova only sells new copies of MA. They don't do upgrades, nor do they have access to the database of previous users. Any upgrades would need to be handled by Prolific at SereneScreen.com. MA3 is not really an "upgrade" - it is an entirely new program, written from scratch. It does not replace or over-write earlier versions, and they can live in harmony on the same computer (assuming the computer can handle the slightly higher requirements for MA3). The "upgrade" policy is simply Prolific's way of thanking previous owners for their loyalty by giving them a 50% discount on MA3. They are currently scrambling to get the Mac download up and running on SereneScreen.com. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-01-2009, 09:13 AM	#62
Duke Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 17	Thanks! The discount for previous owners is much appreciated. Thank you!

10-01-2009, 06:02 PM	#63
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	Hi DrNemoJr, Well, I went out on a limb, what can I say? I hear rumors that the web site is getting the attention it needs to have Mac MA 3 be available. I'm not setting dates any longer, though. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-01-2009, 06:04 PM	#64
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	MA on iPhone? I can't comment on unannounced products... Is that Jobsian enough for you? Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-03-2009, 08:50 AM	#66
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Surprising that there hasn't even been an MA3 for Mac OS X beta and already Nova is selling the Mac version for download: https://shop.novadevelopment.com/sto...oid=1033358317 Moderator Note: The two Mac OS X threads were cross-referencing each other, so I just merged them. There will be a new thread when release news of a Beta and/or Public Release become availalble. Jim O'Connor I would be curious to know if there will be an auto-update or update notification feature built into MA3 for Mac? Or if Mac users will be just as in the dark as PC users... "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-02-2009, 02:19 PM	#65
kenmeier Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6	It looks like it's been available for several days on nova developments site. Only full price. Only download.

10-03-2009, 10:04 AM	#67
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	??? so what do they get if they pay their monies and do the download. Last edited by Ralph; 10-03-2009 at 06:38 PM.

10-03-2009, 10:23 AM	#68
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I haven't been curious enough to find out. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-03-2009, 11:53 AM	#69
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	There wasn't time for a public Beta, so Jim O and Prolific did all testing privately. Nova needed the program very quickly to include on the same CD as the PC version. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-03-2009, 12:30 PM	#70
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	So there is a Mac OS X compatible Aquarium 3 I can download right now (if I don't want to wait for upgrade pricing) and there's no announcement on the fan site or this forum. Brilliant. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-03-2009, 05:42 PM	#71
kenmeier Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6	yep been available for several days at least.

10-03-2009, 08:59 PM	#72
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	Yes, much to my dismay, Nova has download versions for both PC and Mac, in direct competition with our download version. You can see why I'm not eager to get the word out. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-04-2009, 05:58 AM	#73
Nicki Sugar Plum Fairy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,267	They Capitalise Almost Every Word On That Website , and they show the aquarium running on 3 widescreen monitors - although it is zoomed so I guess that's okay . Run you clever boy. And remember...

10-04-2009, 07:54 AM	#74
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: Yes, much to my dismay, Nova has download versions for both PC and Mac, in direct competition with our download version. You can see why I'm not eager to get the word out. I guess there wasn't a contract in writing? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-04-2009, 08:34 AM	#75
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,441	The intricacies of marketing this screen saver are beyond me.. (and rightfully so) but I do wonder who is minding the store.

10-04-2009, 08:50 AM	#76
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	Actually, it may work out OK. Getting the hardcopy back into stores is vital, since that is our only advertising. Some of the people who see it in stores will find their way to the SereneScreen website, increasing our traffic. Many of the customers who go to the Nova site instead will already have had a previous version of the Aquarium, and will be looking for an upgrade deal. Since Nova doesn't do upgrades, those customers will hopefully come over to SereneScreen.com, where we are happy to accomodate them. Then finally, if Nova really sells a huge number of units, even my small percentage could amount to a significant income. So things are not as bad as they might seem. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-04-2009, 09:27 AM	#77
Nicki Sugar Plum Fairy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,267	I'm glad I bought my copy when it was much simpler . Run you clever boy. And remember...

10-04-2009, 10:33 AM	#78
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I think maybe I just need to stop posting. Cause right now I really want to say something rude. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-04-2009, 11:29 AM	#79
robrob Registered Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: Actually, it may work out OK. Getting the hardcopy back into stores is vital, since that is our only advertising. Some of the people who see it in stores will find their way to the SereneScreen website, increasing our traffic. Many of the customers who go to the Nova site instead will already have had a previous version of the Aquarium, and will be looking for an upgrade deal. Since Nova doesn't do upgrades, those customers will hopefully come over to SereneScreen.com, where we are happy to accomodate them. Then finally, if Nova really sells a huge number of units, even my small percentage could amount to a significant income. So things are not as bad as they might seem. In the meantime, I imagine, many of your old, established, and faithful customers will get disgusted and take the attitude of, "I'll miss it, but I really don't need a stinking aquarium from a company that doesn't really care about their established customer base." Sad to say, that has certainly become my attitude! Adios

10-04-2009, 01:20 PM	#80
Nicki Sugar Plum Fairy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,267	Edit - ummm , narf ? Run you clever boy. And remember...