As you may have guessed if you have read all of the above notes, (you get
a sticker, if so!) is that there *is* in fact something you can do to help
even if it cannot involve time and talent. Yes, we have spent real money to
pay for our promotional development. The wizard community has already funded
$500.00 of this development, with another $300.00 - $400.00 having been
pledged by wizards for future needs. (we are hoping to lead by example, after
all!)
But to do what we need to do, especially if it will eventually require the
hiring of external professional talent to do things like build website
content or web advertisements, is going to be a matter of money.
Some of you may be tightening your facial muscles as you read this,
dreading the idea that Genesis is somehow walking down the odious path of
pay-to-play in any way shape or form. Allow me to vehemently state, right
off the bat:
FEAR NOT. NEVER, EVER, WILL THIS HAPPEN.
What is, instead, happening is that you are going to be given the
opportunity to contribute, as you see fit, if you are able. This appeal
is, in fact, in direct response to numerous recent messages I have been
given by players saying, essentially, "How can I help? Is there a way I
could donate money to speed things up?" The idea that the community wishes
to play a role in this process is a welcome, healthy, and very very good
thing. Yes, this will indeed be possible.
A bank account has been created, along with a PayPal link to the
email address:
donations.genesis@gmail.com
If you wish to contribute funds to directly support the promotion of
Genesis, and help expedite the process of getting us to that wonderful
day when we can fling wide our doors and do what we have been working
toward for nearly a decade ... here is what to do:
1. Set up a Paypal account
2. Mail me in-game to let me know the amount you are sending. (optional)
3. Use your PayPal account to send that amount to the address above.
We will be keeping records of all donations made, and by whom. Unlike
donation campaigns in the past, this will not be anything supported by
any in-game code or content. Those who contribute will not get perks or
play advantages different from anyone who plays the game and is not able
to contribute. Naturally, when all is said and done, we will publish a list
of names of those who have contributed and do not wish to remain anonymous.
Though our on-line who-lists don't show it, Genesis has well over 100
active users. If each gave only $10.00, we would very quickly be at the
one thousand dollar level. I know for a fact, though, that there are a
number of you who yourselves would want to give quite a bit more than
ten dollars, which makes the possibilities that much more exciting. Certain
individual donors are already talking about hundreds of dollars they wish
to give.
Some of the sorts of things such monies will help to fund:
- More Denis Loubet artwork for:
- An illustrated character creation process on-line
- Small image portraits to represent all guilds in the game that
can accompany their descriptions (think game-manual style)
- Web-based banners and other advertisement material.
- A promotional poster to use in the full-scale promotion.
- Professional web-design (as needed)
- web-hosting (as needed)
- Hosting for the gizmo - the genesis machine - itself (as needed)
So, there it is. A fundraiser plainly set forth which allows you to do
something about promotion for Genesis. Those of you who have been waiting
for this opportunity - here it is! Those of you who think this sort of
thing is wrong-headed, well, you get to play for free just like always!
My thanks to all who continue to enjoy this game. I am so happy to be
moving closer and closer to the day we have been working toward and waiting
for.
Yours,
G.