Bonus for bringing new players?

[pooper200000]

I know that graal is spread by word of mouth mostly. I was wondering do the players get some form of bonus if they bring x accounts to the game and they become p2p?

[Chompy]

never heard of it.

[Waltz5]

Nope. Unix was planning on implementing a referral system. Basically you would get "x" amount of points for a certain number of referals and then could "buy" things like extended gold/vip time, or items on GK (or Fairyland). He told me "we have already technically implemented
but we need to decide what object to sell and not unbalance the game." That was about 1 1/2 years ago so who the heck knows.

[WanDaMan]

People would easilly abuse this system.

[pooper200000]

Originally Posted by WanDaMan

People would easilly abuse this system.

if they were to bring players and the players upgraded only.

[Tom]

Alot of other games AND forums work like this, its a good system. Good job you brought it up also.

[pooper200000]

1. Can anyone naswer if they know of any bonuses in place?
2. Thank sam for changing the title I kind of made a boo-boo when I made the title.

[Spark910]

They could do rewards based on groups of referals.

So, 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 7-9, 10-15, 16-25 or whatever, then it's less abuseable as there is not a reward for each referal as such, and they can set a maximum, say 100 in a year, or space the last groups out far, like 100, 200, 300 etc...

[Chompy]

but what would the reward be? ...

[Tyhm]

Well, if it's the playerworlds bringing in new players, they could get a percentage...mind, I doubt it'd ever be enough to retire off of, but it's nice when your hobby buys you a cappucino now and then...
The players, well, gold time, VIP time...I have my own issues with VIP, but that's me...a dev server...
Oh, and if Global Gralats take off, you could get those...

[Rufus]

Like I said in http://forums.graalonline.com/forums...ad.php?t=69341, which seems to be slitting off into many different topics..

Referral systems are one of the most highly effective, yet inexpensive techniques used to generate a steady flow of customers. The referee, however, needs the proper incentive. What players need is encouragement to pay for Gold, as their money is the greatest factor to them. Helping them save some could be an effective form of incentive, wherein if a player 'recruits' new members to Graal, he/she can be rewarded with say, 3 days on his/her Gold account per Gold signup.

With a requirement of the referal system being to recruit someone who then buys a Gold account to gain an incentive for yourself, the system would both benifit Graal and stop players from abusing.

Essentially, a few days added for free to an existing customer will do no harm, and a few new paying customers would surely make up for it.

[Tyhm]

Hmm, I wonder...how easy is it to make one of those php sites, you know, with like 'u=Tyhm#upgrade'? It's a little thing, but it'd make things smoother if the upgrading player isn't asked to remember the proper accountname of the person who refered them - especially for people with hard to remember accountnames. It's petty, but everything that streamlines the process even a little is worth the effort.

[Draenin]

A text field could always be inserted where a user is asked after they pay for a subscription who referred them to the game. If they enter a user's name, the point would ge given to whoever that is. The reward shouldn't be server-specific, however, because certain people might not like certain servers and so on.

[Mykel]

1 month of VIP (or gold?) per upgraded referral?

Sounds fair.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Mykel

1 month of VIP (or gold?) per upgraded referral?

Sounds fair.

No it doesn't, lol.

[Mykel]

Originally Posted by Rufus

No it doesn't, lol.

Not fair in which way?

[Tyhm]

Originally Posted by Draenin

A text field could always be inserted where a user is asked after they pay for a subscription who referred them to the game. If they enter a user's name, the point would ge given to whoever that is. The reward shouldn't be server-specific, however, because certain people might not like certain servers and so on.

"Dreanin referred me!" "!ERROR - User not found" Thus, ClickThisLink

Originally Posted by Rufus

No it doesn't, lol.

Yeah - more, less?
Probably should be a sliding scale, but then again, if any one player's bringing in 12 paying customers a year, they deserve to play for free...0_o
I keep oscillating between "6 months! Everyone brings in 2 more paying customers, what's wrong with that?" and "Oooh, sounds rife for scamming, people will get hundreds of people to pay, who in turn will get others to upgrade for Them...wait, but that means hundreds of people are paying..." I dunno, it doesn't feel like the math weighs out even when it does.
Just have to make real sure that refunds work retroactively through the system - Rufus upgrades accounts Rufus_1-Rufus_12, then cancels the payment on those 12, he doesn't get to keep his Free Year signing bonus.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Tyhm

Yeah - more, less?

Less, which should equal to more referrals being made. Although, that could backfire due to the advantage of referring advantage not looking very appetising.

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by Tyhm

"Dreanin referred me!" "!ERROR - User not found" Thus, ClickThisLink

Kay, so how would you have it work instead?

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Draenin

Kay, so how would you have it work instead?

I'd say, each user has a referal link/e-mail that they could send to their friends, and the option of just entering the account name. It doesn't really take much to ask your friend(s) what their account name is, and how you spell it correctly.

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by Rufus

I'd say, each user has a referal link/e-mail that they could send to their friends, and the option of just entering the account name.

Tell me how this is differen from what I just said.

Originally Posted by Draenin

A text field could always be inserted where a user is asked after they pay for a subscription who referred them to the game.

Also, Mykel's idea is a pretty good one. Considering that each subscription can be anywhere around a max of almost $50, getting a full year by referring 12 people would be a good idea, considering that it's around $600 worth of subscriptions.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Draenin

Tell me how this is differen from what I just said.

A simple link you can paste to your friends via AIM/MSN/whatever, rather then them having to know your account name.

Originally Posted by Rufus

I'd say, each user has a referal link/e-mail that they could send to their friends, and the option of just entering the account name.

Sorry, was I supposed to say "and Draenin's idea"?

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by Rufus

A simple link you can paste to your friends via AIM/MSN/whatever, rather then them having to know your account name.

Regardless, the link you'd send them would have to have your name automatically entered somewhere to be submitted, though. It's not a bad idea, but we should still be thinking of the physical implementations of the system.

[Mykel]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Less, which should equal to more referrals being made. Although, that could backfire due to the advantage of referring advantage not looking very appetising.

Why less? You do realize that that means 12 referrals equals only one free year of playing time.

[Spark910]

Originally Posted by Mykel

Why less? You do realize that that means 12 referrals equals only one free year of playing time.

Considering the lifespan of Graal upgrading players and according to unixmad only upgrading once, I don't think we should give them so long free.

I'd say a maximum of a week free per referal. I know it's not THAT much. It could depend on what they do. If they upgrade to the top thing then maybe a month, but they shouldn't all be one month.

EDIT: I do understand the fact that if you bring 12 people to graal you have made Graal quite a bit of money, but I don't think unixmad would like the idea of people being able to get a year free on his game :P

[Mykel]

Originally Posted by Spark910

Considering the lifespan of Graal upgrading players and according to unixmad only upgrading once, I don't think we should give them so long free.

I'd say a maximum of a week free per referal. I know it's not THAT much. It could depend on what they do. If they upgrade to the top thing then maybe a month, but they shouldn't all be one month.

EDIT: I do understand the fact that if you bring 12 people to graal you have made Graal quite a bit of money, but I don't think unixmad would like the idea of people being able to get a year free on his game :P

Wait, I didn't understand why you said 1 month per was too long.

[Spark910]

Originally Posted by Mykel

Wait, I didn't understand why you said 1 month per was too long.

Because it is. Lets face it, Graal in its current state isn't much worthy of REupgrading. So assuming someone gets a year free, at the end of the year I'd imagine most would be unlikely to upgrade because they have already experienced a year of it and see no reason to. Problem with this? Less on subscription upgrade. I assume this is why most people upgrade only once, as they realise there is nothing to reupgrade for.

But as I said, I know it'd still be in Graal's interest to do it, I don't think unixmad would like the idea. Besides, a month is quite a long time. This shouldn't be seen as a way of getting free Graal and never upgrading unless you are really bringing bus loads of people to Graal.

[Mykel]

Originally Posted by Spark910

Because it is. Lets face it, Graal in its current state isn't much worthy of REupgrading. So assuming someone gets a year free, at the end of the year I'd imagine most would be unlikely to upgrade because they have already experienced a year of it and see no reason to. Problem with this? Less on subscription upgrade. I assume this is why most people upgrade only once, as they realise there is nothing to reupgrade for.

But as I said, I know it'd still be in Graal's interest to do it, I don't think unixmad would like the idea. Besides, a month is quite a long time. This shouldn't be seen as a way of getting free Graal and never upgrading unless you are really bringing bus loads of people to Graal.

Yeah, but graal is getting 12 subscriptions in exchange for this year free. You act like they are just giving it away.

[excaliber7388]

I like the idea of getting points and being able to redeem them for more time, or even in game items on gold servers.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by excaliber7388

I like the idea of getting points and being able to redeem them for more time, or even in game items on gold servers.

Damn you for suggesting that because that's the cheapest option, and the one I think would most likely be implimented - either that or adding gralat to the games area.

The people who don't play Kingdoms, Zone, or the games would have no real drive to invite a friend over, unless of course they were really impressed, therefore I'm not quite sure it'd work.

A "big" gift in return for.. well.. basically bringing in some money, would be more appreciated and Gold time is something we pay money for.

[excaliber7388]

Yeah, gold/vip time would be the best use, because it also gives them a sapmple of it

[Spark910]

Originally Posted by Mykel

Yeah, but graal is getting 12 subscriptions in exchange for this year free. You act like they are just giving it away.

I know it is getting 12 subscriptions, re-read my posts for the response to that.

[Infernix]

Ya know, what if we got a Bonus for not quitting?

[excaliber7388]

Yeah, like if you subscrive to vip/gold 2 years in a row, the third year is half off!

[Tyhm]

Originally Posted by Spark910

Because it is. Lets face it, Graal in its current state isn't much worthy of REupgrading. So assuming someone gets a year free, at the end of the year I'd imagine most would be unlikely to upgrade because they have already experienced a year of it and see no reason to.

But that's perfect! If at the end of the year you don't like it enough to keep paying, but they'll give you another month if you can get a referral - sure, it's not the most enthusiastic campaign ever, but it didn't cost our nearly-gone friend anything, and Graal's up 11 paid months (1 year-1 month).

Which is the problem I keep coming to: we're effectively asking Unixmad to lower the price of upgrading to Gold by 1/12th, and give that 1/12th to the referrer...so if you had two brothers who upgraded at the same time and constantly insist it's the other that encouraged them to reupgrade, they both get a discount every year. So do you make it so only new upgrades get to benefit a referrer? Only new accounts outright? Maybe the referrer is set when they sign up for Lifetime Classic (assuming that survives) and they reap the benefits every time that account upgrades, for bringing in such a generous player in the first place? You can only refer a specific account once? Then the brothers can upgrade for each other one year, upgrade for a couple neighbors the next year (who upgrade for them)...

[pooper200000]

Maybe something coudl be player suggested for every world like.... Im not sure..... Zone player gets 10k money. GK they get a significantly good weapon. Other worlds they get a .....?

[Tyhm]

Or whoever gets the most referrals gets invited to a special meeting with the superadmins, wherein he (or she) can suggest courses of action to those who run the game? No guarantee they'll follow it, but they gotta at least listen.

[HoudiniMan]

I support a delayed referral system, like the one ING Direct uses (a bank).

At ING if you refer somebody and they open an account with a $xx initial deposit and keep it for 60 days, you get $25 added into your savings.

So why not if you refer a friend, and they buy a year subscription, and don't cancel the order or back-charge through their credit card company for 60 days, you receive a month gold for free?

Worst case scenario, your referral figures out how to get a 10 month refund after the 60 days, but Graal is still having 2 paid months, and only giving 1 month access away. It's still a net profit. Also, assuming there is any profit in the subscription price, it is cheaper for them to give 1 month access than it is to pay 1 month worth of subscription back to the player as a referral bonus.

Best case scenario, the players are thinking 3 months down the road and bringing in new people all the time to keep their own subscription rolling.

I personally think this is a good idea, but I'm not in charge of the business model. However, what bad could possibly come from offering it?

[Joey_P2P]

It was suppost to be for playerworlds, so that every 5-10% off from the sale comes off your next PW pay or something.

Pff.. if that was true, I'd have enough graal accounts for 5-10 years =p!

[Spark910]

Originally Posted by HoudiniMan

So why not if you refer a friend, and they buy a year subscription, and don't cancel the order or back-charge through their credit card company for 60 days, you receive a month gold for free?

I don't think Graal really gets/does 'refunds' or reverse charges. But naturally, some delay would be needed incase charges are reversed.