Quote:
Originally Posted by sourcejedi
In the large, the extra value that can't be pirated is tied up in how you get that digital file. Legitimacy is part of it, obviously. But there's also the convenience you get with buying from Amazon, for example, relative to searching pirate sites, and trying to judge the quality of the a file posted by someone you don't know. Or services like the Kindle has with synchronization of reading positions, annotations etc between phone/dedicated reader/laptop. Or just knowing that the book you bought is supposed to work on your specific reader, and in case it doesn't there's a responsive customer support line.
|
That's exactly the kind of stuff I was thinking of when I was talking about added value that pirates can't match.
Although if one were to nitpick, quality of files is not consistently better from Amazon than from pirate websites (but we can hope that'll change soon), and so far MR has been providing a much better customer service to me than Amazon
But yeah, that's the idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourcejedi
Currently that's all outside the direct control of the publisher (or "content producer").
|
My bad, I never know which terms to use (especially in English). Let's just say "anyone trying to make money out of ebooks that's not a pirate".
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourcejedi
For the majority of book sales, I don't think there's no room for "extra" value that couldn't be pirated. Either it works as a digital file, or (as in this case), it only really works in paper. Bundled extras wouldn't be anything more than a gimmick. I just want to read the story!
|
So one could say about just wanting to play the game and do away with Steam. Those gimmicks can be things that people do want but never think of the official source as a provider of it (c'mon Amazon, gimme a mobi-Sigil) or artificially create the need for silly gizmos (god knows our life is full enough of those already to prove that point).
Random examples off the top of my head:
- "Mod" tools: a simple, convenient way to change formatting on the fly (WYSIWYG CSS, like).
- A shitton of stuff can be made around the community: support for fanfic (have some character sheet provided by the author or editor), with possible bundle-publishing for the best ones. Hell, add illustrations to that as well. Make your own customers give you that extra value for free!
- Moar social networks function integration.
- Well I was thinking about a lot of goodies but they could get pirated as well unless one uses "streaming-only-from-a-verified-copy-of-the-book" unpleasantness.
- Great offers for loyal customers. Something concrete, objects - a beautiful printed versions, statues, whatever. Make 'em wanna spend that extra buck!
Or maybe it's just my "what would Valve do?" reflex.
EDIT: oh yeah and another current thread's talking about it: subscription model.