Posts from Bug reports.

baratorch, perhaps it would make sense to make the online lobby a paid feature (maybe part of its functionality, such as online battles). It's clear that the number of users will only increase, and the problem will only get worse. Or, we could announce a fundraising campaign for a new server. I think many would be happy to contribute, and the necessary amount would be raised quite quickly.

Another person who doesn't understand what free-to-play is. The vast majority (which, in turn, attracts another majority) are casual players who will not pay under any circumstances. Making something from the existing functionality paid will ruin the project.

Another person who doesn't understand what free-to-play is. The vast majority (which, in turn, attracts another majority) are casual players who will not pay under any circumstances. Making something from the existing functionality paid will ruin the project.

Another person who doesn't understand that if the project owner doesn't get any profit from it, the project will eventually die. Probably sooner rather than later. Introducing a fee for the online lobby is probably not the best idea, but some way to monetize it needs to be found. Donations in their current form are unlikely to bring in much revenue.

There is a group of people who are improving the project in a comprehensive way, rather than just one person looking for ways to generate income and leading it down the worst path, which will lead to its destruction. You are only adding fuel to the fire, so it's better to remain silent than to offer your "help."

There is definitely a reason to make Hota a paid project. Will this ruin the project? Of course not. In fact, monetization of any project actually stimulates its development. Hell, it's obvious: let's say tomorrow your streams stop bringing in money, and then you will be forced to develop and change the format of your streams (or you will be forced to get a job). Hota already has a considerable audience that will pay (and those who are not willing to pay for development and support can always play "Solitaire" or "Spider Solitaire"). Another thing is that the developers have already stated a clear position: Hota is a hobby not only for the main programmer but for an entire "group of friends." It's their choice. But this choice, in essence, does not obligate them to anything. That is, the Hota team in this format has no obligations to anyone. Accordingly, and all the more so, the main programmer has no obligations to anyone. Because without monetizing the project, no one owes anything to anyone by definition.

baratorch is not the lead programmer of HotA. He made a significant contribution to the project, but not enough to be considered the lead programmer. Regarding the lobby and Online Battles – these are his own developments within the HD mod. However, Online Battles were largely developed with the help of my reverse-engineered data, and the fact that I didn't block the Online Battles initiative for Soda based on this (although I could have, according to the formal agreements), doesn't mean that it has no significance. Commercialization in the style of Soda's lobby is unacceptable for the main participants of HotA: the motivation is that we are working on a free project. So, attempts to introduce such monetization will cause a sharply negative reaction within the team (including my reaction). I think it is clear that the reaction from users will also be sharply negative. So, it is unlikely that such a thing could have any positive effect on the project.

I don't understand, if people are determined to do something for free, why force them to consider doing it for money? :confused: Like, to speed up the process? But I'm afraid that even if people were to abandon all their other tasks and dedicate their efforts to developing the game, it still wouldn't be enough. :rolleyes:

Thank you for clarifying the "programming" aspect – I genuinely didn't know that anyone besides Baratorch is directly involved with the software code. I only expressed my opinion in the sense that I don't see anything wrong with monetizing the project (i.e., paying the team) – the arguments that most of the audience won't pay are not supported by any objective data (to put it bluntly, a subscription of 30 rubles/50 cents a month won't cause a critical drop in the audience – the project is already popular and continues to gain momentum). Doing something for free is a personal choice for everyone, which doesn't obligate anyone to anything. That's all I meant. For example, if tomorrow the Heroes of Might and Magic team comes to the conclusion that further development of the project is impossible (regardless of the reasons) – Guys, you don't owe anything to anyone! Respect to the entire team!

shift key broke so I'll write everything without commas and capital letters. however, I'm amazed by Merlin's shortsightedness. you shouldn't judge everyone based on yourself and your view of the world. I'm not saying they can't do anything. everyone can demand anything from 50 cents to 1,000,000 dollars for their work, whether it's a group of people who did the work or just one person. but that doesn't mean it won't kill the project they were working on. to understand this, you just need to look beyond your own nose... at least for a modern person, who can see what other companies can offer in terms of games and services. your greed will eventually destroy you.

Your mercenary nature will be your downfall someday.

Wow. My "mercenary nature" has recently allowed me to work with people with various disabilities for about two years: among them were the deaf-blind, the deaf, the blind, and children with multiple developmental disorders (cerebral palsy, autism, etc.), including orphans. And here's the thing. If I were paid at least a decent amount for this, I would continue to do exactly this... If "mercenary nature" means the continued inability to survive at the "poverty line" level, then yes, I am mercenary... Well, that's just a lyrical digression... In any case, you are not competent to draw such conclusions.
Monetizing a project (absolutely any project) does not guarantee success, nor does it guarantee failure. It simply expands the range of available opportunities. Of course, the monetization of any project should not be taken out of thin air, but should be an economically sound, calculated, and reasonable move.
And there are many more examples of projects that have failed due to lack of funding in a market economy (and it is in this paradigm that modern humanity exists in its overall mass) than there are examples of projects that have failed due to the introduction of monetization.
However, commercialization imposes certain obligations that do not exist without it. In this regard, the Hota team is in a better position at this stage - they owe nothing to anyone, they are working on Hota "for fun." The question is, how long will bare enthusiasm last (or maybe it's not bare - maybe the project has been monetized through donations for a long time and brings the team enough money, in which case, there is really no need to look for other options)? Only time will tell. I, for one, am watching the Hota project with great interest in this regard.

There's a lot of unnecessary talk and "lyrical" content, but in reality, you're suggesting that everyone should try to contribute a little bit to solve other people's problems. Isn't that the very incompetence you're talking about?

The question is – will sheer enthusiasm last for long?

I started the HotA project in April 2008. Now it's 2019, and February is coming soon. I won't judge whether this is a long or short time, but throughout the project's existence, there has never been a rational need for monetization. Well, if ideological and moral-ethical reasons are set aside at the discussion stage.

maybe the project has been monetized through donations for a long time

Well, of course, it's monetized. We're swimming in gold like Scrooge McDuck, and public statements about "strict non-commerciality" are all a facade, a smokescreen, and a conspiracy.

I started the HotA project in April 2008. Now it's 2019, and February is coming soon. I won't judge whether that's a long or short time, but throughout the project's existence, there has never been a rational need for monetization.

Well, that's great. Does anyone disagree? I was just being pushed to argue that monetizing the project (even independently of HotA) is inherently bad, without providing any objective data to support this. As a manager who has worked on both commercial and non-commercial projects, I, based on my professional experience, did not agree with this postulate. I simply stated that there is nothing inherently wrong with monetizing a project.
Moreover, there have been and are no attacks on the HotA team from my side.

I would like to cite an example from the world of music (and art in general), which shows that both Merlin and Hellight are, to some extent, both right and wrong. My words will be confirmed by a post from the Associate Professor.

A reasonable musician (artist, etc.) has two goals: 1. To make a living doing what they love. 2. To have their work be in demand, and for as many people as possible to listen to their songs (watch their performances, videos on YouTube, etc.). And these goals are not always proportionally related, especially in the former USSR. There are many semi-impoverished underground musicians whose songs are listened to in all corners of the country, but they don't get much in return financially. And they are quite happy with this, because the name itself lives on. Something similar may be possible in the case of the "HotA" project. 1. A huge number of people play this particular version of the game. 2. The developers themselves enjoy what they are doing. = monetization is not really necessary. And it is not a fact that it (monetization) would significantly improve or speed up development. Unless the budget is like that of Blizzard, but that is a utopia (maximum with 4 bags of gold).

Template editor.
When fire magic is disabled in the template settings, it still appears in the Academy (Conflux).

Fix: add the ability to prohibit buildings in cities, or when one of the schools of magic is prohibited, it should be replaced with some other magical skill (Wisdom, Sorcery, etc.).