[StuffSneak]

It's getting very hard to scam on HF.

That is true indeed but should we lock the weekly upgrade behind some restrictions as there are for uber? Like duration / number of posts. Maybe you can have a thought on that when you decide on weekly upgrade.

That still won’t guarantee anything but still.

[Omniscient]

That is true indeed but should we lock the weekly upgrade behind some restrictions as there are for uber? Like duration / number of posts. Maybe you can have a thought on that when you decide on weekly upgrade.

That still won’t guarantee anything but still.

I gave the week upgrade option for 500 bytes as an example of what I could do. Not necessarily what I plan to do.

[interbellum]

The entire Social tab is open to them. Also so are HF Byte Games. And I'm going to create ways for them to earn bytes beyond just posting or the HF Games. There will be tasks and milestones for them.

That's awesome! Can't wait for that :-)

[I ɴ ᴄ ʀ ᴇ ᴅ ɪ ʙ ʟ E]

Really nice features for all non-upgraded members here!

there should be no more excuses for upgrading now, everyone who is active now can claim his l33t!

Except for scammers of course, since patience is something they can't get hold of, and earning 2500 bytes takes some time. but I believe there will be an increase in low-quality posts from those chasing the l33t.

overall an excellent initiative.

[Hi8snow]

Good iniciative, good luck with the sales :)

[MightyOne]

A great addition ! all the new changes are coming up real nice Omni, much appreciated!

[Omniscient]

Except for scammers of course, since patience is something they can't get hold of, and earning 2500 bytes takes some time. but I believe there will be an increase in low-quality posts from those chasing the l33t.

overall an excellent initiative.

Partially but it's mainly going to be Lounge posts. And I will be adding incentives outside of posting that I'll work on them earning.

[source]

This is a great use of the bytes system.

[Omniscient]

This seems to have very few takers. I wasn't sure that 30 days was sweet enough of an offer.

I am going to bump this to 60 days instead.

[Omniscient]

I don't think that many people care for upgrades as most who care about HF are already upgraded and new members still have to start caring about HF with all other options out there, this is something that you won't notice effect on right away i'm sure but is in the long term.

That assumption is wrong. HF gets a rather decent amount of upgrades. Upgrading is actually up since my new implementation requiring members be upgraded to post in Marketplace and Hack tabs.

I also think that it's hard for new people to earn 2500 Bytes wether it is for 30 days, 60 days or 90 days it doesn't really matter, just to get to the point of 2500 Bytes is hard especially for new people, and maybe those new individuals don't even know it's an option to go for either, they are new afterall, let alone them understanding the bytes system anyways.

Yes, that is likely the problem. I just haven't implemented my strategy for new members to earn the bytes needed just yet. I also think if choosing between a 6-month/perm l33t with crypto or 2500 bytes for 30/60 days, they are just choosing to do the longer term with crypto.

On other forums it's very straight forward, there is a Credits shop very properly advertised, you can either earn or buy these credits, and when you enter the credits shop you can instantly see what you can get for credits, in terms of upgrades, marketing, awards etc.. At HF it's all a lot more hidden and complicated and that should be taken into count as well when something like this is focused at new members.

Oh, "on other forums". Tip for you, I don't care what other forums do. I know all the options. HF older than all these "other forums" you speak about and I have more experience than any of these webmasters. I've been doing forums since the 90's. Probably before you were even born. It is a choice not to sell bytes in a credit store. You probably don't even know that I created not only the best points system for MyBB but I also did it years before that for phpBB. I literally wrote plugins and scripts for all that shit everyone does now.

I don't market my site the way other forums do. I don't have it plastered with donation links. Not even desperate to get money for upgrades, only restricted the forum to stop spammers and scammers. I want members to EARN FREE upgrades. Let them spend their money in the Market with Vendors. And if they enjoy HF they can do award donations eventually. If you want to support HF, it is not hard to do so. But I don't spend my day figuring out ways to push for new members to upgrade. I spend my days considering ways to be different than other forums and create innovative marketing strategies.

[StuffSneak]

Yes, that is likely the problem. I just haven't implemented my strategy for new members to earn the bytes needed just yet. I also think if choosing between a 6-month/perm l33t with crypto or 2500 bytes for 30/60 days, they are just choosing to do the longer term with crypto.

I think mention of this in the Welcome PM and a link to learn about HF Bytes system would help out a fair deal to new members. Or you might be able to push out a global PM for new members with this sweet deal. I just don't think new people are aware of this enough.

[Omniscient]

how HF is currently organised in terms of theme constructure, is not only unique, but also complicated.

Complex site means a complex interface. I find Github to be excrutiating.

Like i said, You gotta look at it from a perspective from someone who has visited all those modern theme forums before but never visited HF before.

I'm having a difficult time in understanding that comment. It's like you're saying HF's theme isn't "modern" or that these other forums do have modern themes but we don't. Should I just start removing all HF's features that make it unique so we can use a modern theme? What are you suggesting?

[Confound]

Will there be any plans to allow for folks to purchase bytes on site using crypto? Thanks

---

I know there has been some writing on this in the past but curious if any plans for future.

[Omniscient]

Will there be any plans to allow for folks to purchase bytes on site using crypto? Thanks

---

I know there has been some writing on this in the past but curious if any plans for future.

No. It is intentional I don't do that. If you want to buy Bytes, you have to do it from other members. This creates a fair market for them where the price is based on their value to the community more than what I say I'm selling them is worth.

I keep getting asked this question by members. Please realize I've done the whole selling bytes in the store thing. In the end members just bought from me, prices would go down, I'd have to lower my prices, members would buy from me, and so on.

Byte pricing is actually fairly stable and it's because I try to balance the Bytes economy. Part of that strategy is not to flood the market by selling them. Realize that when I see Bytes, they are created out of thin air. They are not earned in games or generated by quality content or any HF activity. I just click some buttons. And yes, that puts money in my pocket in the short-term. But it is not a winning strategy long-term.

I'd love to make Bytes blockchain based one day. But let's imagine that Satoshi (creator of Bitcoin) could sell you Bitcoin as much as he wanted. He had a store where a Bitcoin was $10 and Satoshi had the power to create unlimited Bitcoin. What do you think happens eventually? Bitcoin would become as worthless as the US Dollar.

Sorry but I'm smarter and more experienced about this. I will not be creating a store to sell Bytes. I only sell them in bulk at a controlled price.

That should answer that fully so that anyone asking me again can get this post linked.

[Omniscient]

btw, want to note that it appears 60 days for 2500 hit a sweet spot because now members are indeed using that as an entry point.