Am I the only one that’s amazed that this even happened? I mean, seriously? People have nothing better to do with their money? This game had better be better than just about anything out there.
Jack: For me, donating wasn’t just to pre-pay for this game. It was in reaction to the excellent games and other services that Zarf has provided over the years. Of course, he put those past games out there without asking for money, and no one is obligated to pay for them after the fact, but I happen to believe that it’s worth it.
Some people donated specifically to get the game. Others donated because Zarf is going to be spending time on improving the tools that are used throughout the IF world, and they think it’s worthwhile. The combination of things that he has done and will do made it useful enough for these people.
You could argue that in most cases, the donors are not going to see returns specifically on their investment. I may not find the game worth my $25, since the $5 iPhone one would probably be almost as good, and any individual who donated to support Zarf’s infrastructure improvements probably would have seen the same improvements without their specific donation… but just like an NPR or similar fundraiser, the overall effect is worthwhile.
I flit in and out of the IF world, so this is the first I’ve seen of this, but its exactly the sort of thing I think we’ll see more of in the new internet, filesharing “copies of data have no real value” economy. You are not paying for a copy of the game (which essentially has no value), you are paying for the game to even *exist*, which does have value.
Emily Short's Interactive Storytelling 
OMG, “eleet” :)
Hahahaha, that’s beautiful. Not to mention an awesome achievement! Way to go, Zarf (:
Am I the only one that’s amazed that this even happened? I mean, seriously? People have nothing better to do with their money? This game had better be better than just about anything out there.
Jack: For me, donating wasn’t just to pre-pay for this game. It was in reaction to the excellent games and other services that Zarf has provided over the years. Of course, he put those past games out there without asking for money, and no one is obligated to pay for them after the fact, but I happen to believe that it’s worth it.
Some people donated specifically to get the game. Others donated because Zarf is going to be spending time on improving the tools that are used throughout the IF world, and they think it’s worthwhile. The combination of things that he has done and will do made it useful enough for these people.
You could argue that in most cases, the donors are not going to see returns specifically on their investment. I may not find the game worth my $25, since the $5 iPhone one would probably be almost as good, and any individual who donated to support Zarf’s infrastructure improvements probably would have seen the same improvements without their specific donation… but just like an NPR or similar fundraiser, the overall effect is worthwhile.
I flit in and out of the IF world, so this is the first I’ve seen of this, but its exactly the sort of thing I think we’ll see more of in the new internet, filesharing “copies of data have no real value” economy. You are not paying for a copy of the game (which essentially has no value), you are paying for the game to even *exist*, which does have value.