EmuMovies Future (Need Input)

[Circo]

First of all I would just like to thank everyone for the tremendous support of my project and website EmuMovies.com over the past four years. Back in early 2005 I started out with a single page text only little website with one really crappy NES video set to use in mamewah. Since then and completely by accident the site has grown to 100's of pages and over 32 video sets in up to 4 formats each (HiQ, SQ or 640x480 and 320x240) and (AVI and FLV, to support different front-ends). Well I have reached about the maximum size possible to keep going on even the best and most expensive shared or VPS plans. Last month EmuMovies reached a record 3,200GB of bandwidth and that sent everything crashing down. And for the last two weeks I have been struggling to find a stable long term home. I thought I had it figured out but it seems that almost every hosting situation is not suited for what I am doing here. The FTP is currently up and stable but I will not be able to take any more users with my current hosting situation, even with the site now spread across two separate servers.
What I am looking for is some true honest feedback in order to make the best decision for myself, the website, and the community. First I want to go over what my agenda for the site is this year and the foreseeable future and then I would like to put a few questions out to gauge the viability of what I am getting ready to do. First this is what the upgrade is going to look like, I am pretty excited by this :)

New EmuMovies DEDICATED server:

Operation System: CentOS

Processor: Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHZ

Cache: 6 MB

cPanel w/ Fantastico

Managed

RAM: 6 GB

HDD: 250 GB

Traffic: 5,000 GB

Uplink/Speed: 100 mbps

I have already discussed the site, types of files, usage, everything with the provider and they assure me it will be a good fit. Also since I will now have a dedicated server I will FINALLY be able to make the FTP "Read Only" for general users, which will end the problem of files and even sets disappearing because of accidental deletion, which is happening more and more.

Agenda for 2009 (In order of priority):

#1 - Convert existing video sets to No-Intro naming convention (with corresponding DAT files)

#2 - Audit and replace any missing videos in existing sets

#3 - Convert existing video sets to FLV for use in HyperSpin/GameEx

2009-Ongoing - Add new sets and release HiQ (640x480) videos for existing sets.

Questions:

#1 - Do you feel that EmuMovies.com is a worthwhile service to the community?

#2 - Do you feel that this site/project can justify a $20-$25 per year subscription
fee for secure/fast direct downloads?

#3 - Would you recommend EmuMovies.com to a friend?

#4 - Should we close up FTP sign-ups and just stay where we are?

Please keep in mind that any existing "Lifetime" members will keep that access and never be charged a subscription fee. I know this sounds silly, but I am getting ready to dump a healthy portion of savings into this and I need to assure myself that I am making the right decision here. I wouldn't say my user base is huge but it's definitely not small and continues to grow. I have been a long time member to both the BYOAC, GameEx and HyperSpin forums. I am going to post this in all three forums so that I might best gauge interest in this drastic upgrade. Also keep in mind, in the unlikely event that I decide not to make this move, rest assured that the FTP will still continue to operate as it has, I just will not be accepting any additional sign ups for accounts.

I look forward to your honest feedback, I started this project as a way of giving back to the community and also because I just love to do it :) Thanks again for everyone's support!!

-Circo

[THK]

#1 - Without emumovies no hyperspin in all its glory (not to mention other FE's) so I'd still only be playing DK & Q-Bert on a crappy pc in our living room.

#2 - Poor student, no money in the bank last 2 months, still found a way to skip some dinner and stuff to get what the torrent didn't get me. Worth it!

#3 - Not so much nostalgic gamers in my direct environment. Still got some wow!'s with hyperspin, got some thinking about it. Just wait to they see it with a cab.

#4 - Unless u are planning to release a torrent now and then.... I've got mine just a week or 2 ago so me is definitely happy. 2 ftp's, 1 with flv, 1 with avi would be madness.... but great! I'd say keep it going! More systems that were dominant in the youths of newer potential emu-junkies are getting more & more playable with newer pc power. So who knows what the install base will be in another couple of years.

[Nucklez]

#1 - Yes, I love Emumovies, and without it we would we using screen shots instead. The movies have inspired me to play many games that I would've never tried in the first place.

#2 - Yes, $20 to $25 fee per year is very reasonable fee. Getting all of the updates, and the extras you had are great as well.

#3 - Yes, I have referred a few friends already.

#4 - If the FTP is the part that is taking all of your money, could you limit download speeds and possibly work with keeping the torrents. I know you have worked with another site that I frequent, but they may have shunned you for having a certain brand name on your site. They are a ratio site and host torrents for many roms that are no longer in production. Maybe work with them, or create your own ratio type site for the emumovies like they do the roms. I'm sure many of us will help you seed in that case.

[Lashek]

#1 - This is a project that everyone needs for their frontends, of course, it's a very tough project to stay on top of.

#2 - $20-$25 is pocket change each year for a subscription, I personally, would have even gone up to $40 for a year subscription to something that is worth it such as this.

#3 - Already have recommended to friends. :)

#4 - Closing the FTP might resolve the problem temporarily, but eventually the use of the FTP may dwindle as others get all of the contents that are inside of it, with the occasional update. This, of course, could give lots of potential "stale" accounts, I believe. If anything, I would get more up-to-date torrents to run alongside the FTP and help with the distribution (also helps ensure sets are proper). Even though the torrent would counter-act the subscription fees, the dedicated people would still subscribe for "quicker downloading". :)

[StarControl]

I would think that a torrent based distribution system would help with your bandwidth issues.

I would really like to see some sort of easy to use method of keeping the sets up-to-date. Think CLRMAMEPRO but easy to use. All I want to do is tell it the directory I have the videos in, which set it is (MAME, Sega, etc.), my preferred format (AVI/FLV,HQ/SQ) and then click UPDATE. This should also cut down on your server bandwidth some, since it will reduce the temptation to redownload the entire set in order to keep things up to date.

If I had friends that were into retrogaming I would recommend the site, but I don't. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a specialty market so I don't think word-of-mouth is going to get you very far. I think most of us connect online, and you've already got a decent presence in the forums.

Pricing -- I would recommend something like $25 for first year access and $10 for renewals. All of your heavy traffic is going to come from first year access since the renewals will just be getting updates and the occasional new system.

[pucpuc]

#1 - I think emumovies takes a frontend into a new dimension :)

#2 - already donated :)

#3 - no friends that are into retrogaming

#4 - would be great to see all consoles/computers/handhelds covered one day - don't stop!

It seems that the emumovies domain has a DNS problem. I could not reach the ftp nor send a e-mail to emumovies.com.

hope there will be many many fresh emumovies the next months/years and you will not stop this great work.

[Charles4400]

#1 Absolutley, videos make the frontend and allow for better viewing of games than asimple screenshot. Emumovies and Hyperspin truly do make a perfect union for a frontend! Don;t stop improving and adding the videos!

#2 Yes it can certain justify $20-$25. Once someone wants their front end to look good and have seen the examples of what videos can do and realize you have all of them for mame and so many other emus, they will want the videos at that price. Fair price that most can stomach .

#3 I would recommend to a friend but as many others stated, I don't have many friends who are as obessesed with the cab and project as I am. Once they see the cab they want one but will probably not build or buy one.

#4 Absolutely NOT! Don't close off your memberships. True it will use more bandwidth but you want more people subscribing and it becoming more popular, to get more revenue. The same person does not continue to download the same files consistently. You don't want your subscriber base to diminish after time and then encourage others to just copy the movies to give to friends or forum friends that can't sign up because it closed.

Closing sign-ups is dangerous. It caps your revenue and people will still find a way to get the movies and justify it due to they wouldn't be able to subscribe even if they wanted to....


Finally I think what you do is GREAT! And I don't want to see something that is so well done get smaller, but rather grow and get better and be used by more people!

[bodydump]

The fact that you're having bandwidth issues answers most of your questions. You do a tremendous service to the community with your videos, your input and your passion for the hobby. Frontends become exciting and more informative because of your videos. I definitely feel that $25 is extremely fair considering the work you put in and the cost of hosting, etc.. If you need to charge more for it to be worthwhile, do it. Thanks again for everything you do.

[redtapemedia]

Maybe look at charging more or adding speed limits for downloads? You could offer a premium service with extra bandwidth, or even set limits to how much each user can download per month. I think the service is well worth the money, I'm glad I signed up for it.

[d3vkit]

I just found hyperspin a few weeks ago. I've always loved retro gaming but never really looked enough into videos/boxart/etc, so while I have heard of your site I've never really used it. Having said that:


Questions:

#1 - Do you feel that EmuMovies.com is a worthwhile service to the community?

Absolutely. I love these kinds of projects, and the community that falls into place around them. Now that I'm using HS, emumovies would be an invaluable resource.


#2 - Do you feel that this site/project can justify a $20-$25 per year subscription
fee for secure/fast direct downloads?
From what you've described, yes. I would probably pay it, and I know many others would as well. But if it's bandwidth isues - and I know I'm not the first to mention this - torrents. Easy to update and distribute. Cost might still be an issue (if you run your own tracker, most likely), but you can probably then reduce the membership to $5 or $10/year.


#3 - Would you recommend EmuMovies.com to a friend?As others have said, I would if I knew any that liked retro gaming.


#4 - Should we close up FTP sign-ups and just stay where we are?
Nope, not at all.

[fourforksache]

Circo, It seems I had only found out about what you do only too late. Having just found out about building cabinates by stumbling upon some videos on you tube recently i set myself the goal of having, and building one of those. The obvious choice is to have a frontend which can show video clips your game in a list, 1000% better than a static screenshot and 1000000% better that there is one decent "reliable" source which supprts various front ends. It seems to me that your site is invaluable to this comunity.
I only invert the commas around the word reliable becuase i have not got into your site yet, i did try to buy a disc from your site and i wanted to donate too but i believe there was trouble with paypal at the time? Which i why i believe i found out about you too late. ((i have emailed your site about already but still have not recieved a reply. Howeever given the issues you've had recently and the decisions your making i can understand why. But don't give me the cold shoulder please man. (Anyway i digress).
After searching the net for sites with decent collections of artwork and videos ect. emumovies seemed to come up trumps everytime. And given your plans for this year i can only see it going from strength to strength. I do see you have some torrents on Pleasuredome and i would be happy to join one of them, help them seed to relieve pressure on your site once, if i was sure of which sets are there and what they contain.
In answer to your questions
1. YES MOST DEFINATLY
2. $25 Is very reasonable for a whole year. I would pay that for just 6 months access (providing i could get access)
3. I don't have friends that would be prepared to put the same sort of time and effort into putting all this together, however i'm sure that once i have mine all set up a couple of them would want to know how to do it for themselves, to those guys i ould recommend your site, naturally.
4. as for ftp signups. don't close it up, i want in!

Circo all the best of luck with your project for the future.

[SophT]

I do really feel that this is a great project for the community. I haven't had the chance to order yet (waiting to get a bigger HDD for all the vids..) so please don't close signups! even if you change to a monthly/annual subscription.

I would say that $20 to $25 a year is very reasonable, BUT it depends on the amount of work that you get done over the next year. IF (and I know it won't happen) you don't update any sets or start only releasing .avi, I would say it wouldn't be worth it (again, I know it's not gonna happen).

One last Idea, to try to cap your bandwidth, why don't you start releasing via torrents similar to the way they do over at pleasuredome.

I.e.:
If you pay $25/year you get a login and FTP access
If you pay $10/year you can get a login and use the current torrents.
If you're just a leecher you get a login and can leech the older sets or lo-q sets and must maintain 1:1 ratio.

seems like that would sure cut your b/w down...

[Circo]

Well I took the plunge and got the server :)

Don't worry this is an ongoing project and it's mostly me but I do have some help. In fact there is a 90% complete Saturn set, and A 75 % HiQ/SQ BRAND NEW TG16/PCENGINE Complete set. Since I do all my work is done initally in avi, and then instantly converted to FLV you don't have to worry about that. And this year you should see most if not all existing sets officially converted to flv with the proper naming for hyperspin dats.

I can tell you that while I have been pretty motivated over the years this investment has me pretty fired up. Also those pleasure dome torrents are mine and while they are kinda out of date, it just takes a bit of work to make them work, I am holding off on updating until i have at fairly complete set to upload, I used to run a torrent for each set there but it was too difficult to seed so the best way to do it is to have a complete collection, which I am a ways off from having. But it will definitely be SQ only going forward. I look forward to being able to give all of our existing uses a much faster, more reliable, and secure ftp here in the very near future. Sign ups will be closed for the next week probably and then we will start transitioning users to the new server. If you have an existing account pm me for updated login info to our temporary ftp since my emumovies.com email is still not functioning. Who would of thought that my 99.5% eptime bastard host would really be 30% uptime??? Can't wait to move :)

[Goalies Rule]

Great decision Circo. I really think that HS alone could possibly keep the cab business expanding and growing. HS without the videos is kinda pointless and $20-$25 is very reasonable for your service.

Keep up the good work and you have a pm.

[Circo]

Ok everyone, I'm a little backed up here but the site is back up and running, ooh do I like having this server :) The geek in me is tripping out! Anyway I will be answering emails and setting up accounts for the rest of the day. The accounts are sttill for the temp ftp, and I will start resending out new ones once I get 100Gb of content uploaded to my new server lol, probably early march since I have put the beat down on my Home bandwidth :)