Originally Posted by carboniteaddon
Carbonite was created by three people, one of whom financed the project. I wrote the addon. Haavok wrote the tools. He and I are still around if only once every few months.
We would have liked to make it more that it was and is, but economics stopped that. Haavok was laid off, my hours reduced and then down to just a share of donations. Donations have been very low for the past few years. People generally won't pay for what they can get for free (thanks Blizzard).
I work on and manage other people working on games all day long and have little desire after I drive my 45 minutes home to think about, play or work on more games. That would be like an auto mechanic coming home and then fixing his neighbors car for a few bucks, then the next neighbor and so on. I know one of those mechanics. He works on our cars after work because he needs/wants the money, not because of fun or some duty to the well being of our cars. I work on Carbonite because I want to see it stay alive and because people get enjoyment from it. My wife thinks it is not worth the grief, but I carry on.
I have said it before, if you want to donate for whatever reason, then do so. If you don't, then don't. That is your choice. Expect nothing in return, except for our thanks. God has always taken care of me and continues to, so I don't 'need' the money now, but I'm sure we can put it to some use.
It is now very late after all that rambling and I'm sure I will regret it in the morning.
So to those of you enjoying the addon, may you continue to enjoy it!  |
Are we sorry that you fell on hard times? Yes. But as you claim it, you don't need the money anymore. And the decline in your donations is a direct representation of your efforts towards your product. Donations aren't a handout. Donations are made for worthy causes. Many have donated in the hopes that the you would continue to develop the addon faithfully or at least to fix the majority of the error, and yet you've mislead them. Here and now you've confirmed that you are only active a few days out of the year and yet some people, unknowing of the truth, donate to you.
I wonder, do you return your donations? Or do you rightfully believe that your current product is worthy enough for such a grateful contribution?
As to your mechanic analogy, that's only one sided since you didn't mention the money aspect of it. Because if you already paid him (donations), he really has only two options. Return the money because he doesn't/can't do the job, or suck it up and do the job. Of course there always negotiations where your neighbor might say, "Listen Bob, I know you paid me to maintain your car, but I'm really tired from working 12-hour shifts this week. You think it's possible to work on this this weekend when I have more time off from work?" And with that, everyone gets what they want.