Skinner reward proposal #2

from WinCustomize Forums

Okay, how about this concept for rewarding skinners:

WinCustomize starts running regular contests in which the top 10 skins in terms of downloads by users who are also subscribers get a percentage of the revenue we receive from new subscriptions.  It would be done for only certain sections so that we could highlight a given section for that period (and we could even have multiple sections featured in a given time).

So at the end of the 3 months, we would tally the # of downloads that were done by subsribers (best way to avoid download stuffing since it's hard to "stuff the ballot" that way).

So the top skin would get something like $200. Second place $150, third $100. Fourth $50. Fifth $25. Sixth through 10th $20. This would depend on the # of subscribers of course but it would be in this ballpark.

A given skin author could make the top 5 skins though and collect it all. So it would favor quality skins and quantity. 

So let's say we started the first one in January and focused it on WindowBlinds and Iconpackager. The following one might focus on DesktopX and CursorXP. And so forth.

What do you guys think?

18,838 views 64 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's a good idea to give something back to the skinners in that way. Problem is, people know the way to have the downloads rolling in, is to do ports of certain popular skins, or to do their take on the latest fad, wether it be OSX, Aero, etc etc.
While the authors may have spent a bit of time putting in work actually building the skin, I think being rewarded when the graphics work belong to someone else is wrong.
It could lead to a decline in original work, even more than than has happened in the last few years.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*Thumbs up*

after reading Hippy's post I have a question. Why does it matter if someone is following a trend or not? Quality is what counts. I myself have never done anything even closely related to a fad or used someone elses ideas so I would agree with Hippy. However I dont see why someones work should be thought less of because they followed a trend. Perhaps this is a thread hijack but when someone can give me a clue I appreciate it.
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Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
/me would like to point out that some people can crank out the skins and have a blind following.

I think each author should only beable to place once, say total downloads for all his/her skins. That way you will get 10 people placing and not say 5.

This way 1 person couldn't put up 10 and get all 10 positions.




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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds interesting. Worst case scenario, someone does go for quantity and ends up winning it all and preventative measures would need to be taken. Other than that, sounds really good.

Maybe take an authors most downloaded skin from that category, not all the different ones.
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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hippy - I'm okay with that trend because that leaves the door open to premium skin suites.

Besides, if people like Aero skins or Mac skins or whatever, what's wrong with that?

Those of us who get sick of that can opt for premium skins.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How about a judged (for quality) quarterly contest in which only subscribers can participate, and where all Journeymen and higher are invited to ballot their vote.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sometimes you are going to find many differed opinions, these are the times when you need to just flat out say this is what we're doing, deal wiith it. And if it doesn't pan out, scrap the idea.

This is how moderation is handled, so coincidedly, perhaps everything else should follow suit
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Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think being rewarded when the graphics work belong to someone else is wrong.


I agree with Hippy about this point.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I will incline for the 1st proposed idea since it focused more on the overall author’s work rather than miscellaneous skins.
I agree with Hippy on his comment as I have seen a lot of mediocre half-finished skins getting 2 and 3 times the download count of high quality and complete skins just because they bare a catchy title such as xxx-Aero, xxx-Longhorn, xxx-Halo, etc.
Just my 2 cents.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry, I misread something.
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Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do think the idea of a quarterly contest is great though. But, what happens if someone makes a really great windowblind skin during the other sections time? This might make the person not upload it. Then, the question of how do commercial skinners figure into the mix. For example, the Skins Factory makes a premium skin for a client...Or the Skins Factory starts making windowblind skins to take all the money. I mean they have many artists already making money. And basically the same can be said for Skinplant.

Isn't this suppose to be an opportunity for the skinners who have long given and expected nothing in return? Such as, Boxxi and Adni18?
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frogboy, why not go with your idea, but base the contest on original ideas & content. This will benefit the site in that there will be NEW items constantly added and possibly drawing others into the world of skinning. The skinners will create new skins therby adding to their portfolio(?) and it gives them a reason to put their creativity to the test. Or was that what the GUI Olympics was all about?



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Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"Besides, if people like Aero skins or Mac skins or whatever, what's wrong with that?"

Nothing wrong with liking that stuff. But them receiving money for using graphics originally created by whomever at Apple, for example, is wrong.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why not reward the skins based on downloads AND ratings?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad...quarterly contest...most subscriber downloads gets some ching...works for me...follows the KISS principle
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A good system as an example is the way Deviantart do it. If you submit a subscriber resource, be it skin, art, poem, etc, and it's good enough to make the cut, you're rewarded with a free year's subscription, plus 10% of the proceeds of all new subscriptions of the first month your subscriber piece goes up.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

#12 by juryguy - 10/12/2004 3:12:04 PM

it gives them a reason to put their creativity to the test.

This is about downloads, which is a result of popularity, not creativity.

As for ports, I hardly think it would be fair to reward someone with cash for uploading an icon package of someone else's icons, for example. That's not even a port really, it's just redistribution, but under this system, they could easily take the prize. If that's the case, folks might spend more time asking for permission than actually making new content.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is about downloads, which is a result of popularity, not creativity.


Quoted for truth.


# of d/loads is not a good way to judge a skin...as A_67 pointed out:

I have seen a lot of mediocre half-finished skins getting 2 and 3 times the download count of high quality and complete skins just because they bare a catchy title such as xxx-Aero, xxx-Longhorn, xxx-Halo, etc.


Returning something tangible to the skinners is a good idea, but one must be careful HOW this is done and who gets the 'prizes.'
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh one more thing to add....categorizing the contests to focus on what Stardock/Wincustomize wants to promote is good idea too Please do post the contest schedule at least 3-months in advance.

It's your idea Brad, you like it go for it
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*Bored thought*

Each month an award is given to the top download in each category chosen. Ports, remakes, and repeat skins (recolored, etc.) are not "worthy" of the contest.
Each skin of the month then qualifies for the skin of the year. Could be a communty vote or something.
Monthly awards can be small and make the annual awards a little sweeter.


Just adding my useless sense. Why make it complicated?



Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Overall I like your proposal, FrogBoy. With the caveat of accepting original work only. After all, if it's a contest for 'skinners', repackaging or redistributing shouldn't apply.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I hope you all are able to figure out what works. The fact is Brad, any plan you try will be met by people slamming it and saying that it isn't fair. (I'm not suggesting that anyone is doing that in this thread) Being that I don't make skins I don't feel it is appropriate to add any comments as to an appropriate way of offering any type of compensation. But, I will offer this...it is great to see WC willing to thank the authors of so many great skins some compensation for their great work. I am aware of the significant amount of hours it takes to create something "exceptional." Just remember...don't kick the gift horse in the mouth. Be flexible, compromise and most important...be kind. My experience is that Brad always makes every effort to be "fair" I, for one, am thrilled at the idea. (And i'll never get a dime.)

Frankly, if there was an option to make a "Donation" on a skinners WC address (WC2k5) I would probably be clicking that option quite a bit.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
TasT Agrees, the Idea is excellent, however it should be for original works only, no copies of other operating systems or repackaging of someone elses graphics, such as converting a winstyle.

Though this should not be carried to an extreme. If someone builds an awesome original WB skin but get's permission or uses a GPLed set of animations or tool bar Icons that should be accepted.

Unfortunatly to make things fair for everyone including you and stardock there will have to be a set of rules drawn up, I would hate to see another mess like the first GUI Olympics......

But if all this is too much, remember you are the Owner and you can set things up how you want but, you will have to take the grief if it goes wrong.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frankly, if there was an option to make a "Donation" on a skinners WC address (WC2k5) I would probably be clicking that option quite a bit.

Now there's an Idea!
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Although I've never posted any skins, I have tried out many from this site. I've found that many skins that look great in the preview don't work well for me, for one reason or another.
My point is that, I don't think DLs is the best criteria for giving awards/rewards, as something that looks great in preview may be a dud, and conversely a design that looks ho-hum may turn out to be a real winner.
I think rewarding talent and hard work is the right thing to do, but maybe some kind of vote (by WC subscribers) or rating on a selection of skins chosen by the Admins would better serve the purpose.