Premium Account Wish List Items

[fluke]

I am starting this thread to get ideas on what people *wish* premium account access could provide. Before posting to this thread, you must read the following:

CMX's "Happy New Year 2006" post explaining premium accounts:
http://forums.cmgsccc.com/showthread.php?t=9958

Code Breaker web page on premium accounts:
http://www.cmgsccc.com/premium/

And Neo's "Ok. Listen up! (READ HERE OR RISK BEING BANNED)":
http://forums.cmgsccc.com/showthread.php?t=10045

These are pie in the sky ideas that I think would make the premium offering better. The ideas may not be feasable and no one is under any obligation to follow them. I have already been told some of my ideas would require being accepted by Pelican which may or may not ever happen. I don't care if they are feasible, they are still what I *wish* could be possible.

Please take note that this is not ment to be a loophole by which people can complain. I am happy with what I already get for free. What is being offered is also an interesting deal. While I am trying to provide feedback on what more I would like, that does not diminish what is already provided.

OK, on with the wish list...

Subscription to CB updates included in a "bundle"...
I would like to see something around $99 where Premium Gold for one year is combined with the next 3 updates to CB mailed to me.

Code requests should be treated like a call or bug track system instead of a forum...
The problem with a forum is that it is sorted by request date by default with possibly more than one thread for the same game. A call track system makes it easier to tell requests already exist, what information is required for a new request, allow more detailed search options and makes it easier to read the status of the request. So, for example, if you try to submit a game as requiring a code without telling what the code is supposed to do (unlimited health, unlimited ammo, etc) then the request would cause an immediate error message instead of alowing a forum full of requests stating that there are no codes for game X, but no information on what codes they would like. Also, ticket headers could include game publisher and game release date to make it easier to search on those items. Lastly, the status field could provide such information as pending, working-on, already provided, code added, functionality provided by save game, code technically not possible or code would alter ESRB rating.

Easier RSS access to all forums...
The current vB RSS support seems to only work for forums that users are permitted to use while not logged in. I would like as part of a premium account some authorization string I can include in the RSS queries to get all the forums. I would also like support for the Firefox RSS "subscribe to" icon to add a subscription to the current forum I'm reading.

Trial access to Premium Standard included with newer CB versions...
I would like it if there was an activation code with newer versions of CB to get a taste for Premium Standard account access during a free trial period (might only be a week or so).

Add a final comment to your own closed threads...
Premium Gold allows you to close your own threads, but it would be nice to be able to add a final post to threads you started that moderators closed (keeping in mind that abuse of the function would result in a ban).


Joke wish list features that I don't expect to ever happen:

CB (swimsuit?) calendar...
I think I could sell 50 premium subscriptions with four words alone: "CMX in a speedo" Or maybe "Neo in a speedo"? Anyways, the idea is an online calendar with pictures of the moderators or other CB users for each month. Best of all, it will help us remember the moderator's (and maybe other forum member's) birthdays better along with game, game related movies or game system release dates.

CMX webcam...
There is should be a Platinum subscription which allow you to monitor CMX's office to make sure he really is working on our code requests and not slacking off playing with a PS2. Then again, playing with a PS2 might be working on our code requests. I'll have to think this through more.

A chance to win something...
As part of subscribing, it would be really cool if I had a chance at winning a free CB or Pelican DVD remote or TV input switcher or Magnavox Odyssey system or USB drive or something.


Ok, I am done for now.

[Twilight Soul]

My wish is that aside from paying for premium memberships... that you can WIN it by getting up to 5,000 posts. For a gold membership, one would need 10,000 posts. If that's to easy (doesn't seem it to me) then feel free to up it. I think it's pretty fair since that amount is VERY hard to get. Would be nice for those of us with not enough money.

[fluke]

Just to play devil's advocate, if your posting 5,000 posts towards getting free premium access then it is highly likely that the posts is more noise than signal. Also, the bottom line for subscription money is that at the end of each month theplanet server co-location fee needs to be payed or we all loose access to ALL the forums. I am just glad that the forum operators haven't taken a cue from PBS or NPR on how to "fund drive." :)

It would be nice to be able to have "sponsored" accounts. So, instead of just paying to upgrade my own account, it might be desirable to be able to pay toward someone else's membership. (Behind the scenes, I might get tips on solving a game or get to borrow a game or whatever). The reason I can think of for not offering sponsored accounts is that someone that has had their ride payed for them might not have the same incentive to honor the terms of service.

I would also like the option for single month subscription options such as Standard Premium for $3/month.

[MWong]

My wish is that aside from paying for premium memberships... that you can WIN it by getting up to 5,000 posts. For a gold membership, one would need 10,000 posts. If that's to easy (doesn't seem it to me) then feel free to up it. I think it's pretty fair since that amount is VERY hard to get. Would be nice for those of us with not enough money.
Not going to happen. Just imagine the spam and the banned members for spamming. Some people are already spamming to get a avatar.


Flukes Wishlist:
1) Doubtful
2) Already in place ... CMX added 3 subsections to the Code Request area: Advanced Code Request (Need More Time), Need the Game, Finished Code Requests ... with the code request all members should be writing for an example would be Unlimited Health/Ammo and thats all CMX responds in that post the completed code.
3) Maybe ... that might be possible
4) No
5) No ... Staff members closing threads are final.

Joke Wishlist:
1) No ... lmao @ the thought of the swimsuit calendar idea
2) No ... that just seems weird
3) No

... thats a very funny wishlist.

[fluke]

So... what about sponsored and single month subscriptions?

Is there any plans for different payment methods other than Paypal?

[MWong]

Haven't heard any ideas of other payment methods ... sponsored payment options is a no, same as swapping gold/premium accounts between user accounts.

[Twilight Soul]

Is paypal really even safe? I've played around with purchasing this stuff. Just don't want cmgsccc.com taking advantage of me or my money.

(I've never tried it before or used my bank/debit card to buy stuff off of here.)

[c2s]

Drawing for a free month once in a while.

[Neo]

Is paypal really even safe? I've played around with purchasing this stuff. Just don't want cmgsccc.com taking advantage of me or my money.

(I've never tried it before or used my bank/debit card to buy stuff off of here.)
Paypal is safe enough.. Thousands of websites use it with no problems. CMGSCCC.com has been using Paypal for as long as there as been an online store, and there haven't been any problems.

As for taking advantage... that's just paranoia. We do run a legitimate business.


Neo

[Twilight Soul]

Paypal is safe enough.. Thousands of websites use it with no problems. CMGSCCC.com has been using Paypal for as long as there as been an online store, and there haven't been any problems.

As for taking advantage... that's just paranoia. We do run a legitimate business.


Neo

Hmm... I might consider a gold membership, then. Need to open a bank account tomorrow. Been waiting to since I got my check. :p

Edit: I've been ogling it (gold membership) for hours now, I admit... it's tempting me. It's like... cheesecake! Tomorrow.... tomorrow...

[Dub4Me]

The ability to have colored custom user names, like Neo, only I would want blue. :D

[Neo]

The ability to have colored custom user names, like Neo, only I would want blue. :D
That requires html to be enabled for user titles. For security reasons, that's not gonna happen.


Neo

[Dub4Me]

That's ok then. :D You other guys need to quit wishing and just join! :cool:

[fluke]

Alot of the safety issues with Paypal is not due to merchant fraud. The transaction system seems to be well thought. Once you approve something as an one time transaction, the merchant can only accept or decline the approved amount. They can't change the approved amount. If they attempt to double bil, then the second charge request in a new transaction and need the approval of the account owner.


The biggest paypal safety issue seems to be "Phishing." If you don't know what phishing is then check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing


Things you can do to reduce problems with Phishing:

- Run the NetCraft anti-phishing toolbar: http://toolbar.netcraft.com/

- Do not click on web links inside emails that claim to go to paypal (or ebay or online bank accounts or etc)

- Do not cut and paste links inside emails that claim to go to paypal (some emails take advantage that in some fonts the capital eye/"I" and a lower case el/"l" look the same so your might be going to paypai instead of paypaL)

- Do type www.paypal.com into the web browser manually


Things I did to reduce my exposer to Paypal problems:

- I did *NOT* verify my paypal account

- I signed up for the Paypal Providian credit card

- I did *NOT* give Providian my SSN #

- I do not use the Paypal credit card for anything other than Paypal purchases

The advantages this gives me:

- Unverified paypal accounts normally have a $10,000 spending limit (forever, not per month or per year) and then require verification to spend more. Purchases placed on the Paypal credit card do not count towards the spending limit which means I never need to verify.

- Without my SSN #, Providian does not do a full credit check and puts a $500 per month limit on the credit card (unfortunately, they quickly raise this limit after deciding your credit rating is good).

- Any charges on the card other than paypal charges are clearly fraud since I do not use it for anything else.

[fluke]

That requires html to be enabled for user titles. For security reasons, that's not gonna happen.


Neo

Instead of enabling HTML, it would be possible to impliment something like the BBcode color tag. That isn't to say that I think enabling colors for user titles would be a good idea. I think it could potentally be as anonying as allowing a blink tag.

[MWong]

Instead of enabling HTML, it would be possible to impliment something like the BBcode color tag. That isn't to say that I think enabling colors for user titles would be a good idea. I think it could potentally be as anonying as allowing a blink tag.
No BBcode color tags will be used at this time until the RPG is back up and runing or unless a site store is back in service like previously before.

[DontStop]

My only concern is how long are you guys planning to have these subscriptions? I mean the PS2's lifespan is becoming short with the PS3 around the corner so I guess my question would be what comes after the PS2 ends its era?

It would be awesome to have a future codebreaker device for the PS3, Revolution and Xbox 360. But there was never such a device for the current Xbox which still baffles me to this day. I would've thunk that it was easier to hack an Xbox rather than a PS2. But anyways, I'm going off topic here so I'll just stop.

I just want to make sure that I'm going to get my money's worth if I pay for a yearly subscription.

[MWong]

If you paid for it this year you really will be getting a full year out of the membership ... next year I am thinking games will still be coming out especially since you look at Xbox moving to Xbox360 they are still making Xbox games almost 4 months later.

No codebreakers for Xbox and GCN for legal reasons as you would probably reas over the site. So due to legal reasons will the not be a current XBox.