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Oct 30, 2000, 7:32am

This was posted by Wayne in Andras's new AccuTrans newsgroup, thought I'd
cross post it over here for those that don't know the new ng exists for
discussion of AccuTrans, it's uses, ideas, help for it and so on.

Some history on the license fee (price) of AccuTrans 3D. The Amiga
version was released in July, 1993, for a retail price of US $ 59.95.
This version was packaged with a printed manual and was to be sold
through the regular retail software channels. This meant distributors
and retail stores. Distributors were not interested in the product
because the profit potential was deemed too small for the limited amount
of potential sales. Also Commodore filed for bankruptcy.

After the release of Windows 95, the program was ported to this
operating system. It was decided to make the program affordable it
would be released in electronic format only (no packaging, printed
manuals, disks, etc.) and only sold direct from MicroMouse Productions
(no distributors and retailers). The Windows version was released in
May, 1997 for an introductory price of US $ 60.00. At the end of the
introductory period the introductory price became the regular price.

Even though there has been inflation and new features added to the
Windows version, the price has not been increased. No one has been
charged for software upgrades.

The price for the Windows version was decreased to US $ 20.00 in
October, 2000. The price had remained constant for over three years.

Casay contacted me in late January, 1999, about adding support for RWX
to AccuTrans. Since then she has put in considerable unpaid time
helping beta test the program, commenting on features added or not
added, promoting and advertising the program in the Active Worlds
community, etc. Casay never asked to have copy protection removed or to
lower the price. She remains the spokesperson for AccuTrans 3D in the
Active Worlds communities. In July, 2000, Heartfall Productions
contacted me for information on a resellers program. Neither Casay nor
Heartfall Productions were involved when the US $ 60.00 price was
established. Also nothing that was done or not done by Casay or
Heartfall Productions was used in the decision to reduce the price to US
$ 20.00.

Copy protection (security module) has been used and not used on the
program. Copy protection is really only used to try and get people to
pay the license fee. Copy protection only hinders the people who have
paid the license fee. They have to worry that the company stays in
business so they can continue to use the software if they have trouble
with security and need a new password. Any security on a software
executable program can be defeated because the program has to be able to
run on the computer. The more complicated security just makes the
hacker take more time to remove it.

On a low cost program, I became tired talking about security and the
price so I removed security and lowered the price. If a large enough
market share can be obtained from the users of 3D conversion software,
then the decision to lower the price was okay. If it doesn't work then
the only person to blame is myself.

Many more things could be said on this subject but they will not be.
The security module will remain disabled and the price will remain at US
$ 20.00.

Please cease this flame war, apologize where necessary and forget the
incident.

Wayne Hogue
MicroMouse Productions

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