Advertisements are new to jScompass, and I wanted to explain fully my reasons for adding them and how they work.  I thought very carefully about this new system, as I know it’s a big change for jScompass.  If you are interested in the why and how, please read this post fully.  If you’d just like to skip to the directions about upgrading jScompass, please click here.

I very much enjoy creating and expanding jScompass.  It has given me a chance to learn much about not only the There client, but also Flash/ActionScript and many other technologies as a result of its server functions, such as PHP, Python, and mySQL.  These are scripting/programming languages and database technologies that are needed to make jScompass be as useful as it is.  It also gives me a way to give back to the There community.  However, servers are not free.  Well … there are some free hosting companies out there, but none of them are able to handle the kind of load that is required for the server-based functions of the compass to operate, or have reliability problems.  So as it stands right now, jScompass costs me about $25 (US dollars) a month to operate.  In addition, my clubhouse (office) in-world is 18,000 TB a month.

If I was a designer, creating props, clothes, buggies, etc., then I could simply create items that you would buy to cover the costs involved in creating them.  However, my talent lies elsewhere.  I am not a designer at this time.  I spend all my time improving jScompass and the thought of learning modeling does not appeal to me right now.  However, I know I provide a product, jScompass, that is considerably more useful than many of the throw away developer items in-world.  This is not to say that all items in-world are bad, as that is certainly not true at all.  Many designers spend a lot of time working on their stuff and come up with some amazing designs and models.  But I am saying that jScompass is more useful and valuable then the average T-shirt that has some witty saying on it.  However, they make Threbucks when you use (buy) these items, but I, jerseySteve87, make nothing when you use (download) jScompass.

I do not want to charge people to use my compass.  I know my compass is the most useful one in There, and I will continue to expand it as much as I can.  At the same time, I need to be able to recover my costs involved in operating the compass.

One way I could try to do that would be to create a nude patch and submit the tops and bottoms for that type of thing, and have a patch that replaced those textures, like another compass out there does.  However, I really don’t feel that’s the best way, as there is already a working nude patch and I have no way to actually create the nude textures anyway.  I am not much of an artist.  I thought about hiring someone for the job, but the thought of me profiting off nude textures is just not something I’m completely comfortable with.

So then I came upon the idea of advertising.  I thought the process through and decided it would be a great idea if done right.  Some people may be unhappy to see ads pop up in their compass.  I feel I have addressed their concerns in how my system operates.  I may have to make changes to this model over time, but that’s based on the success of the plan.

Ads in jScompass will be focused on There.  This could be There designers, neighborhood owners, resellers, club owners, Therebucks resellers, or anything else related to There.  I hope the ads are informative and entertaining, but I insist they be There-focused.  All ads displayed in jScompass will be approved before they’re shown.  In addition, several Public Service Announcements will also be shown by jScompass.

Ads can either be a pop-up text message box, an MP3 file (with or without a pop-up text box), and video style ads.  All ads in jScompass include response buttons configured by the advertiser, where you can click to instantly perform actions, such as viewing the auctions page of a designer, teleporting to their showroom, or sending a jSmail message to them.  During the time an ad is playing, some compass functions are disabled so the ad is able to be fully viewed.

I certainly do not want to “get rich” with jScompass.  I really just want to cover my costs.

How advertising works

jScompass now has three “support levels”.  There is jScompass Free, jScompass Paid, and jScompass VIP.

In any level of the compass, you can request an ad be displayed for you at any time by typing /ad or /showad.  This is useful if you’re in the buying mood, and want to see what developers, neighborhood owners, resellers, and others selling goods in There have to offer.

In the Free level of jScompass, advertisements will be automatically displayed in certain circumstances.  At this time, a single ad is shown approximately ten minutes after logging in, and then one additional ad every two hours.  I may have to adjust this and make ads more frequent if I am unable to cover my costs, but for now I expect the ads to remain at this level for some time.  I think this is a very reasonable level of ad display.

The Paid and VIP levels of jScompass, no ads are shown automatically.  Paid is a level you can upgrade to if you’d like to remove ads from displaying automatically.  The VIP level is only for staff members of There and close personal friends of mine.  Do not ask me to upgrade you or someone else to VIP.  That is a choice I make myself, and you asking even once makes it less likely I will upgrade you.  However, if you are a staff member of There who uses jScompass, and you are seeing ads, please contact me from your Makena logo avatar and you will be upgraded to VIP immediately.  I have tried to identify all those who use jScompass, but I do not know all of your alternates, etc., but will gladly upgrade any you tell me.  I will also never disclose any of these to anyone whatsoever.

Upgrading to jScompass Paid

If you’d like to remove ads from jScompass, it’s very easy to do so.  Upgrading jScompass removes ads from your compass forever, including all future upgrades of jScompass.  It’s a one time purchase valid on every future version I produce.  In addition, if I later increase the upgrade price, you do not have to pay anything more.

At this time, the fee to upgrade to jScompass Paid is only 1000 Therebucks. At the rate of 1800/$1, jScompass costs only $0.56, a VERY reasonable fee for removing automatic ads from jScompass forever.  This is much less then most designers make when you buy a single shirt.  If you wish to donate more then the upgrade fee, that’s great and very appreciated, but the minimum is 1000 TB per avatar that you’d like upgraded.

To upgrade your compass, type /ad upgrade, or select the upgrade function in the About jScompass panel.  This will display a pop-up box with a button to join the jScompass_Upgrades Group on There.  This is a special group just for handling the payment involved in upgrading the compass.  Once you’ve upgraded, you can leave the group and your compass will remain upgraded.  Then the compass will display a second pop-up box to enter the Group Payment page, where you enter at least the upgrade fee of 1000TB, and click to send the payment.  Then you’re done.  My server will process the mail shortly after it’s delivered from Theremail, and then you’ll get a jSmail message letting you know the upgrade is complete.  Once you get the jSmail message, just exit the compass and restart it again for the upgrade to be complete.

The following TERMS AND CONDITIONS apply to jScompass Paid:

1. jScompass is upgraded on a per-avatar basis.  If you have more then five alternates, I can offer you a discount.  However, I feel the upgrade fee is very reasonable.
2. Upgrade charges are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances.  This includes if I get shut down by my server hosting companies and cannot continue, or if There decides to ban compasses, etc. (both very unlikely in my opinion).  There will also be no refunds if you get banned, suspended, or decide to leave There.
3. In return for this fee, you get ads removed from your compass.  You also get the satisfaction in knowing that you’re helping to support its operation.  I will not give you any other special treatment, as I believe that is unfair.  People who choose to continue to watch the ads are also supporting jScompass, just in a different way.

Thanks for your interest in the advertisement function in jScompass.  I hope you continue to use what is, by far, the most feature filled compass replacement in There.  Whether or not you decide to upgrade your compass to jScompass Paid, I am always available to assist with any questions you have about jScompass.  In addition, if you’re interested in advertising in jScompass, please click here for additional information.  I think the package we offer to advertisers is reasonably priced, and feature filled.