Furcadia Needs You!, and your friends! Options

[Emerald Flame]

Hey all! I'll get right to the point. Furcadia sales are down 25% over last year and our expenses are higher. I know with the economy, times are tough for everyone so I'd not ask any of you to spend more money on Digos. However, I would like to ask you all to help by trying to find us new players and by making any new players you see feel welcome.

I know a lot of you will be tempted to give us ideas for making more money, but honestly all of our staff and a good many volunteers are working at full tilt on projects meant to do just that. We have a lot of web 2.0 stuff going in. We have the iPhone client pretty close to ready to ship. We are working on a lot of new features to make Furcadia look better and be more fun to play. We have more festivals, events and contests coming this summer. We have plenty of juicy sales going on. It might even be time to bring out human avatars if it means keeping things going. We already advertise on google and try to get flyers to many cons. We are doing all we can right now. We need you!

What you can do to help support Furcadia:
1. Say something possitive about Furcadia on your personal webpages and MySpace, Deviant Art, FaceBook, etc. pages.
2. Make some ad banners or interesting pics or videos that can be sent around to help advertise. http://furcadia.com/banners/flash.html http://furcadia.com/banners/
3. Talk about what you enjoy about Furcadia in other games and forums.
4. Go to every gaming and download site you can find with Furcadia posted and give it an honest and possitive review! (Don't give all top marks or its not believable.)
5. Bring in friends from other games you play. Bring in friends from real life!
6. Post up Furcadia flyers around your town! (make sure they are in legal places to post) http://www.furcadia.com/community/flyers.html
7. If you go to a Con or large event that allows flyers, let us know and we can send you flyers to hand out.
8. If you've never bought anything before, check out some of our many new payment options that make it so just about anyone can get Digos. There's in store game cards, micro subscriptions, Pay-by-Cash, pay by phone and so many new options. Every little bit helps.
9. Try to buy from Digo Market instead of other players. If you do buy from them, use DragonScales.
10. Use Trialpay! It's free money for us and free Digos for you.

Ways you can help within the game:
1. Join the Beekin Volunteers.
2. Be nice to other furres, especially on Naia and other main maps. You never know when they are a new players and would leave because of something you said.
3. Plan an event or fun activity and advertise it. We are about user created content...Create!
4. Make some interesting dreams that have games to play and things to do.
5. Start a Group or even more importantly, support Groups others have made.
6. Make a Dream Contest entry!
7. Learn to use the new Cookie DS and help get the Cookie Economy going!
8. Go dream hopping and complement furres on the dreams they worked so hard on!
9. Spread your knowedge of dreamweaving, art, patching, planning events, etc. with classes and tutorials.
10. Say "Thanks" to a volunteer or staff member. They work very hard so that you can enjoy Furcadia.

Post here what you are doing to help! Can you do a bit more? If we all work together as a community we can get through this rough patch and come out a stronger community in the end. :)

I will make this clear, we are not in danger of closing! We've never let ourselves get in debt like so many companies do so that Furcadia would be protected in adverse times. However, if things get bad enough, the staff would have to find other jobs and Furcadian's would lose all new development and most the support. It would take years to get development back on track and rebuild the team. We need more sales, preferably from more new players buying so the burdon isn't just on the existing players who already do so much.

[Kaelin'yFiae]

Emmie suggested I let you in on a secret that Rat the Unloved and I have been working on. We will be doing a community-wide project that you should start seeing advertised soon, that will be calling for participation from Furcadia's port artists, coders and patchers. We're calling it Dreamers Day and it will be celebrated on a predetermined day in late July.
We wanted to make it interesting, so I have agreed to release the entire Draygans Hollow patch, Rat will be releasing some of his well sought after items, and The Mint Mink has agreed to make a contribution. For free! It is intended to be a day set aside for patch releases from as many artists as we can get involved.
Keep an eye on the Patch and Event forums over the next few days! Our website isn't quite ready yet.

Otherwise here's a banner that you can use to advertise with, (artists, if you have one, post yours too!)
http://kiraxlee.deviantart.com/art/Furcadi...anner-110740027

I've also made a stamp that can be used for the same purposes (there are lots of Furcadia stamps on deviantart, use them if you can!)
http://kiraxlee.deviantart.com/art/Furcadia-Stamp-124095608

Anyone who wants to can use that banner to advertise wherever. You can print it, edit it, do whatever. You have my permission! (As long as you're not selling it!).

You can also add a rainbow paw http://www.other-worldly.com/random/rainbowpaw.gif To the corner of any of your icons (DA, livejournal, FA, etc) to show support!
I did it to mine!

[Xxysthstris]

Despite my genre of clientelle, some of them are Furries who can't find a virtual home and so are plugged Furcadia. Although I think it merely adds to the populous of FurN. =P

If there were somehow I could use my talents in an event that would raise funding for y'all (and legally so), you know I'd be happy to do it.

[Emerald Flame]

Although I think it merely adds to the populous of FurN. =P

If there were somehow I could use my talents in an event that would raise funding for y'all (and legally so), you know I'd be happy to do it.

Some of our best customers play mostly in FurN! :) You have an awesome voice, Xxy. You should see if someone wants to do a little flash animated advertisement and you could narate!

[Shinichi Kudo]

Now I'm worried... how large are you financial problems, if I may ask?

[Serena Connley]

Some of our best customers play mostly in FurN! You have an awesome voice, Xxy. You should see if someone wants to do a little flash animated advertisement and you could narate!

Has anyone thought of making a promotional video advertising furcadia? Something that shows people what its all about the fun games or the quality roleplay the many various species you can play and tossing it up on youtube? Youtube has how many million people on there we havent tapped into? And then to further extend that group you might link that youtube vid on a site such as surfthechannel.com which links to every single video host out there like hulu and myspace yadda yadda. Just a thought for someone who has the talent to do so. Ive noticed many games have "trailers" of theyre gameplay. So why not furc?

[Kashi Commodore]

I'm a dreamweaver and dragonspeaker, so I use my abilities to help as many people as I can with the more technical aspects of Furcadia, or help in running and organising dreams. I take part in several of the events going (The living Library was a good one IMO). I think a lot of it is about participation, the community spirit. People don't join an MMO to play alone after all.

Admittedly I ain't a beekin. But I think if it will help, you'll recieve my application soon.

And true, the economy is poor. But every little helps guys! Buy a digo if you can. A years digo is very little, especially in comparision to how much items are on other games. And now, with the Trialpay offers, theres even more reason to go out and get one. Value for money, I'd say so!

If you can keep this game free and online for us all, just by putting that little piece of effort in, then please do so. Support those who sadly could not.

Oh yeah - and I seem to be the only person advertising Furc in Britain. Can I be an ambassador? *joke*

XD

[Elso Valager]

Hey, i'm a furry representative from Britain as well, same with my brother xD

...So can we be in ranks too? :3

But regardless, yeah, i've got a group running that seems to be on it's last legs down in Imag, i've been trying to keep it up but it doesn't seem to be going so well. I'll gladly take on members, and all my current members are friendly and helpful (With the exception of one, but i think he's leaving anyway), which makes it plenty useful for new people, especially with my tolerance for people who dun understand the game yet >.>

-Elso

[Gwen Royal]

Hi I am the owner of Enchanted Palace in FurN. I am currently making dreams for my staff and helping to better one of my sister dreams Mystic Vampire Inn. I will put out my services as a dreamweaver and patch maker inorder to get the dream package. Also I am hiring staff more and more each day and would encourage more furs to come inside to the bar to see us. I don't know why I am getting furs coming in then just going out of my dream. But we will also be planning a rave for our grand opening once I get the glitchs and staff together. But yeah if anyone needs DS help or needs a serten item I can possibly make then bring it.

[Kora Spirova]

Hey, new to Furcadia, and that's why I don't want it to leave, so I'm busy cranking out ideas...I already posted like, a bazillion flyers that I made. If I can find one, I'll scan it, and put it on my DeviantART. But, yeah, if anyone needs me to help, I'd be glad to!

[svartur steinn]

Usually I help out furcadia by telling others about it, how it's great to meet friends, and lie about how I found it.

[Treeki]

I'm one of the owners of Cypress Homes. We're a somewhat popular dream from AI - I'm not sure how much we help, but we sell enough perm houses that we make DEP about $40 a month. (Although that might not be exact since some people could possibly pay with GD from contests and such)

[Narnia]

I run two large community websites which encourage people to pay for things using digos and in game currency.

Oh wait, you knew that.


@Shinichi
She told you how bad they are. 25% less sales that last year. That means 25% less money for salary. 25% less money for production. 25% less money for health insurance. 25% less money for art. 25% less money server expenses. It doesn't matter what the real dollar figure is because 25% of a company's only income is a large amount of money to them.

[Xxysthstris]

You should see if someone wants to do a little flash animated advertisement and you could narate!

I'd considered it in the past, but haven't met anyone in Furcadia who understands flash on a enterprising level (and by that I mean that I've not been introduced or bumped into someone who can code flash). If you know of someone willing, are willing to put some time in, and have a workable script: hook us up.

A few months back we had a small radio stint looking for local business advertising, royalty free. Approaching the concept of advertising small businesses abroad was shot down. It's a pity too, 'cause there are tonnes of awesome small businesses outside of Furcadia that don't outsource their clientelle, but who do need the added advertising stimulus (such as local community worm farms that sell both worms for recycling green waste, and high nutrient content garden compost).

Presently I'm trying to get in contact with our local council about getting audio clips done for our local vision impaired and blind people for distribution with our local newspaper, but have yet to receive word from them (although it has only been two days). I'll see if they're willing to plug Furcadia in the paper in exchange for the audio clips, though I wouldn't hold your breath about it.

[Shinichi Kudo]

I run two large community websites which encourage people to pay for things using digos and in game currency.

Oh wait, you knew that.


@Shinichi
She told you how bad they are. 25% less sales that last year. That means 25% less money for salary. 25% less money for production. 25% less money for health insurance. 25% less money for art. 25% less money server expenses. It doesn't matter what the real dollar figure is because 25% of a company's only income is a large amount of money to them.

It does matter.

Imagine a group of 5 people who are all bad at maths, writing a maths-exam. Person A is really happy, because he's got the best result in the bad-at-maths group... but does it mean he is good at maths? It doesn't.

If Microsoft earned 25% less this year, then they'd have problems... but this doesn't mean the end of the company. However, depending on how much DEP annually earns, this can either mean that the end is near, or that they can still survive somehow. Yes, the actual number does matter. 

[Narnia]

@Shinichi

I wouldn't ever expect to get that number. Besides, this isn't Microsoft, this is DEP. If you're worried, buy some digos and support them.



@Meredith

Yeah, that's a great idea. Then you go from 6 people trying to run a game with 60,000 users to 4 or 5.

As if a 1:10,000 employee to player ratio wasn't bad enough already.

[Celes Chere#SM]

Please Do Shut It Meredith,they barely run this game with the few dozen staff they barely have now.

Anyways,I have over the years my Guild has been running,have constantly brought new blood to Furc. I also work for my group and such. I also Buy Digos when I can afford them,right now I am waiting for the Packages that allow me to rent my spot and such. Been saving up for it. I am always speaking of Furc to my friends and family. Not much else I can do but run my Guild as I usually do,though it would help if people would stop making it harder for me to do so,and keep doing what I have always done.

Too bad Furc is too niche to attract celebrities.

[Kaelin'yFiae]

Please guys, keep it constructive here! Don't make Furcadia thin it's already tired resources by having to watch this thread like a hawk. There are more important things that need to be worried about.

If you see something another player is saying that seems unfair or insensitive.. just turn the other cheek. Let the staff members take care of it!

[Wyndlily Sharphowl]

Just posted about this on Facebook. Any reason why the first link suggestion that pops up says Furcadia is 3D? :/

I think DEP is doing a great job with the Weekly Sales on Digo Market, btw. Even though most of my purchases are made with DragonScales that I've won in contests, I'd say I strongly consider buying/actually buy about, say, half of the weekly sales, either for myself or for friends. The 100 GD for $85 deal is pretty solid and I remember there was a similar one-day sale for GD on Black Friday that I took part in.

Just out of curiosity, are other game companies struggling, or are they unaffected by the recession? Furc is really the only game I play, at all, so I don't know how other businesses are doing by comparison.

[Seley]

I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that's not quite so heavily effected by the economic situation. As one blessed with disposable income in a city and environment of people who are likely in the same boat, I'll see about putting out some fliers around town and such to help advertise! I also happen to work on a college campus - while college students are notoriously poor, they're also notorious for spending money on games instead of textbooks. :3 I'll ask some of the organizations on campus if I can post fliers and advertise through them.

Let's see... I'll try to get to my friends with a simple Facebook notice, and a post or two on some other online communities where I'm a member.

I've also thought of doing some simple art commissions to help out, where part or all of the earnings goes straight into the digo market. Either buy up some avatars that I like, or buy stuff to give on the Giving Tree thread. :3