17 replies to this topic

[TheMaxPower]

I have just been viewing the downloaded bandwidth stats (802GB). I have also noticed that the number of online members has grown quickly since I joined (about 4/5 months ago I think). This indicates fast bandwidth growth and increased costs.

My question is: How do you finance this project?

I am guessing that you are having to put your hands in your own pockets to top up the donations. It would be interseting for those of us who use the site a lot and are considering making a donation....

Finally, how long has this site been live? I am guessing that it is (or going to be) the biggest emu site after Atmospherical Heights (or MAME.DK).

Anyway - Nice work guys!!!

[RB]

I think they go stripping lead of church roofs....
Or nicking hubcaps and flogging them on Wozzas car boot stall...


In all honesty Mr duplo funds it outta his pocket and a little *advertising revenue and a few small donations.

*(which between you and me wouldnt fund my beer tab for one night)

RB

[duplu]

The site has been live for 9 months in it's current format. I originally made a test site which was up for about 2 months before this with limited downloads.

The site currently transfers between 200 and 300Gb per month in total data. Due to the large amount of bandwidth required and also the large amount of power required for the PHP and MySQL I moved the site to a dedicated server in September and then a higher spec server in December. The site now runs on a Dual Pentium Xeon Server and also host a few other sites.

As for costs, these are coming out of my pocket at the moment. I don't have any exact figures but I'm probably down about £100 a month at the moment. Dedicated servers are not cheap, but it's the only way to get the power and bandwidth needed for the site - we currently take about 300,000 hits per day which translates to about 20,000 page views. The figures displayed on the site are always about 30% less for some reason.

Donations are few and far between, about 10 people in all believe with one of these donating twice. The advertising to be honest brings in a little bit, but nearly enough. The google ads are based on clicks and the popin ads on impressions.

[RB]

re google ads...more clicks more revenue???

RB

[duplu]

re google ads...more clicks more revenue???

RB

Shhhhush, not too loud!

They have flashy software which checks stuff.

You never saw me and I never said anything, alwight :wink:

[TheMaxPower]

£100 a month?? How long can that go on for???? I would hate to see the downloads or even the site withdrawn because of bandwidth costs!!!

Just think how much easier it would be if every user that uses the site was to contrib a couple of quid a month towards your costs!!! You should break even!!!

However, I was shocked by the adverse response to the bomb and other 'pop-in' ads.... and I guess you can't be seen to be selling anything related to the roms.......

Are many of your members outside of the UK?

[duplu]

Well if I'm as rich as pash believes I am then it will go on for some time yet :roll:

The vast majority of the members are within the UK

[hurtand165]

However, I was shocked by the adverse response to the bomb and other 'pop-in' ads....

having ads is fine if they pay for the site, but pop ups or pop ins are just annoying.

i for one would not mind seeing more fixed ads if you think they would help out revenue wise.

[RB]

yeah...click.....couldnt agree...click...more....click

hang on...click....just swapping...click....ip's.......click



RB :aua:

[DaveCham]

Yeah!!! I agree with HURTLAND165, fixed ad's are fine but please never ever use pop up ad's as they would mess up this brilliant site.

Thats my personal view anyway.

[teebone]

TheMaxPower.......I quote...............
"Just think how much easier it would be if every user that uses the site was to contribute a couple of quid a month towards your costs!!! You should break even!!!" .......................
I don't see a contribution medal beside your name :roll: If everybody contributed, and not just talked about it then this must take the burden off duplu.
It's a great site, lets try and keep it that way. :wink:

[pash]

So you would rather this site close down than put up with a couple of pop ups? are you mad!? Whatever it takes to keep this site going i hope shall be done. I dont think ive seen a supporters badge on anybody moaning about the pop ups so if you dont want to see pop ups, bloody contuibute
something!

[buzzin_nutta]

Pop ups are fine, but those bombs used to crash my PC thats all...

:-)

and beleive me if I had money right now I would donate.

[ady]

Hope it never happens....but........if it goes it goes.........Can easily be prevented though......just a thought!!


This site is not here for profit and the webmaster has made that quiet clear in previous post's.....but let's be fair 'Members' why should they be out of pocket?

I donated not for an icon next to my name but for the enjoyment I got from the site, in fact not sure if they were even here?....No icon for £2?..thats not the question--if I could only spare £2 -- even once off -- just think of the burden taken from the host's.

[Shadi]

I wanted to donate before replying so that I could show the way.

Unfortunately Paypal isn't the quickest thing to set up. Sooooo - as soon as my next statement arrives with my activation thingy on it, a donation will be winging its way to the site.

To be honest I wouldn't mind membership attracting a fee, even if its only nominal like a quid. How can hundreds of great Emus not be worth that ?

And I'm all in favour of encouraging our fence sitting guests to enter the debates or at least contribute *something*

Shadi.

[ady]

http://www.fruit-emu...c0035b30e9c711c

[martinmeu]

i reckon more should donate to this fab site. people get hours and hours of fun for what nothing if they wish. you don't after donate a fortune how many members are there out there that will still put money into a machine on a regular basis i bet 80% off users will. at the end of the day this site must be saving people a small fortune with the emulation of fruit machine. good work to the fruity emu team i will certainly keep donating (im not bragging i don't earn a fortune but for the hours off fun on this site with the forums/chat/emulation. and hole bunch off great guys and gals to share our interests it great )

[TheMaxPower]

I don't see a contribution medal beside your name If everybody contributed, and not just talked about it then this must take the burden off duplu.

teebone..

Good point well put... I have since donated a fiver and although my bronze medal may not be a gold as your gold one, I will contrib another fiver in a couple of months and will continue to do so until I stop using the site.

I wasn't just 'talking about it' I was ready to make a contrib and I just wanted to know how things worked in the background...

I do think that all members that download on a regular basis (every other day), as I do, and have the means should attempt to donate a coulpe of quid whenever possible..... To cover bandwidth costs if nothing more......