Express 2 PRO Membership ???

VoiceExpressVoiceExpress Member, PRO Posts: 102
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
I am an express member but thinking of changing to PRO soon, Can you please let me know if you believe that it is worth it and whats different ?

Custom Loading Screen ?
In-Game URL Forwarding ?
Direct Customer Support ?

Please let me know if you are PRO and think i should do it. (i would like my own custon screen)

Thanks

Comments

  • design219design219 Member Posts: 2,273
    I've got a pro membership, but the reason is that the first (and so far only) game I've done was for a client promotion and we didn't want to distract from their logos (and ours). Also, the links to their website was important.

    I've also just tried inserting a link to the ratings in the latest version to encourage rating well before the deletion stage. I'm not sure what that is worth, but I really like the idea.

    I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be more benefits to pro members when the final version of GS is released, but I don't know that.
  • jhaasjhaas Member Posts: 233
    With the current price difference vs the CURRENT pro options I'd have to say no.

    It all depends on if the 2 extra features are worth anther $1,900 to you.

    Sorry but "direct customer support" via email and no phone number is not "direct customer support". Not at that price anyhow. :)
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    I've seen speculation on this forum that at this stage GS wants you to know that a pro version is available and will continue to be an option when it's out of beta, but for now they actually would rather you NOT be pro. The rationale is that getting the word with the GS splash screen is actually more valuable to them than the extra 1900. Not sure, but it's an interesting idea.
  • CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey Head Chef, Member, PRO Posts: 1,803
    @scitunes, not entirely true. We would welcome anyone to become a pro member. :)

    @jhaas, we do have a skype account which can be used for a scheduled customer support. Its just been really busy around here and we haven't quite got our support system up yet.
  • TobyToby Member Posts: 478
    The pro membership is pretty nice, but it really does need more unique features than the standard express. Being able to customise the splash screen and URL linking is ok but not an absolute must have. The direct customer support is ok too (I'm waiting on a request at the moment... hint, hint support)

    You can do virtually everything with the Express Membership, so if you don't mind the tiny inconvenience of the GS splash screen or you just don't have the money - stick to $99 express.

    However $1999 is not a bad price for pro membership compared to other game engines you can buy, I just wish it had more, then I'd feel more comfortable with the $1999 price tag.
    If you can afford it go pro.

    Hoping Gendai / Gamesalad will offer a existing pro discount licence renew incentive for current pro users when it's time to renew our annual pro licence, especially if you've been here since the beginning of GS and suffered the pain. It will be interesting to see if any of the pros drop to the $99 express in a few months.
  • StormyStudioStormyStudio United KingdomMember Posts: 3,989
    is it possible to have no loading screen when you are pro?
  • TobyToby Member Posts: 478
    You could just have a blank screen if you wish while it's loading initially, just insert a black image. Not recommended though.

    Usability could be a problem, it's handy to let the user know something is happening rather than a blank screen.

    The reason for the loading screen is because there is a short delay while the game gets loaded into memory initially. You don't see this screen again unless you quit and re-launch.
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    GS has said that their loading screen does not add any loading time. The pro package just lets people look at your logo instead of GS. I don't think the pro loads any faster - at least it doesn't seem to on some of the pro's apps I have.
  • YouKnowMeYouKnowMe Member Posts: 74
    Is it possible to make a image sequence movie in the loading screen when you're a pro member
  • TobyToby Member Posts: 478
    Not at the moment, unless it supports an animated gif file?

    Currently it's limited to a single .png file
  • YouKnowMeYouKnowMe Member Posts: 74
    Ahh thats a shame... It would be very cool to see your own logo Animated at the loading screen. This would be a great feature (hint)!!
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Kind of random but i would upgrade in a heartbeat at $1,000

    I'm really hoping for a middle option down the road with maybe just some features like url but still keep the load screen.

    I dont mind the GS splash - i figure its good advertising for them which only helps them get better faster for us.
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    I was just thinking the same thing. I have a lite version of a game that gets 2000 DLs a day and I am working on the full version now (should be done soon). To hear Tshirtbooth talk about using the url to get double the sales makes me want the pro, but I just can't afford the prcie tag. $1000 could be doable.
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Yep. Couldn't pass that one up
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    I can't afford to go with the pro version right now, but I do have another idea to make Pro useful...

    Sending High Scores to a website.

    I don't know if it would work, as I do not have access to the pro version, but it might be possible.

    My game is hard... VERY DIFFICULT... INSANELY DIFFICULT... and high scores would be something to brag about. But unfortunately, iPhone scores seem to be stuck on the phone with the $99 version of GameSalad.

    Heh, so instead, it looks like I'll have to make my game a little easier.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    ...oh... and is there something stopping someone from using the Pro version for other clients?

    Here's an example...

    VoiceExpress makes a game. He then pays $50 to Tshirtbooth, where he removes the loading screen, adds the supplied custom loading screen and adds a link to the pro version.

    As tshirtbooth explains, a link in your app could lead increase sales, so this seems like a possible second-hand market?

    ...but again, I don't have the Pro version so I don't know.
  • quantumsheepquantumsheep Member Posts: 8,188
    Those of us who bought the express version when it was $499 were compensated with an upgrade to 'pro' when the express version went down to $99.

    A lovely move by the GS crew, and at that price, even with the minimal features, I didn't feel bad about spending $400 more than everyone else was being charged!

    If the pro version was $500, I'd gladly pay that again when my year is up.

    It'd have to have some significantly cool new features to make me pay any more than that though. And I LOVE this software!

    I know this is a business, and the GS guys will do what they must. But if my membership was up today, and you asked me if I would pay the $2000 to stay pro, I'd just have to say 'no thanks'.

    Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
    Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io

  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    The pricing does seem wrong. I'm about to finish my game. For linking and a custom loading screen, that's doesn't seem worth $2000 for me... I'm thinking $250 seems right for only those two features.

    The budget for my first game is $200. If the pro license was $250, I'd drop the professional music and push the budget an extra $50 for pro. But instead, I'm planning to spend $99 for the basic license and might pick up some nice music for my game.

    Does the regular version allow you to export web games without having them hosted on the GameSalad website?
  • sdparduesdpardue Member Posts: 110
    I'm not Pro, but I would change my Express membership to Pro TODAY if it were priced at $499. I think URL forwarding and the custom loading screen -- plus any other goodies yet to come through the membership year -- make that a reasonable price.

    Adding the Direct Customer Support -- via phone, Skype, with email as backup -- is expensive for the GS guys, time and resource-wise, so I can easily understand a $2K price which included that service as well.

    I'd love the flexibility of 3-tiered pricing such as this, but that's for Gendai Games to decide if it fits their business model. With the current $99 and $1999 per year membership options, my choice is to stay with Express.
  • design219design219 Member Posts: 2,273
    Another consideration is how many games do you plan to make a year. If you spread the cost out it sure gets more attractive. It would be a hard justification for one game.
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Finally broke down and went to upgrade.

    Got all pumped, hit the pay button.

    Feature not available please contact us directly.

    Doh.
  • JGary321JGary321 Member Posts: 1,246
    lol thats funny

    Guess they really DONT want people upgrading =)
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Major buzzkill

    was all fired up.

    Guess I can wait a few hours until morning. Just meant can't upgrade online. I think I've heard that before.

    Gotta say Tshirt, your post is what pushed me over the edge

    just gotta have that URL forwarding.
  • JGary321JGary321 Member Posts: 1,246
    Hope you get a cut of the commission T

    J
  • TobyToby Member Posts: 478
    I'm with Quantum Sheep on this one, if I had to upgrade tomorrow $2,000 is a massive stretch financially and especially because I have not managed to publish a game yet without hitting a technical wall so far.

    I also purchased GS at the $500 mark when it just started and was happy with the price, I'm hoping the pro price comes down to something more affordable, or put in some awesome features for pro so I can justify the price.

    Sadly I think it will be express for me unless things change when upgrade time comes.
  • StrobanikStrobanik Member Posts: 77
    Maybe there should be a middle-alternative (as someone mentioned) with ability to link to homepages, and maybe with a shared splash screen, for like 500.

    I'm like the most of you, I would love the ability to link, but I really don't mind advertising for gamesalad.

    2000 I can not afford. 500 I would pay in a heartbeat, and I'm sure lots of us would.
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