Option to donate to Tech Team

[Ayto]

So before I state my idea shoutout to Jacko for giving me this idea...

We seriously need to get this implemented even though it might only work as a band-aid in the mean time. The constant crashes are decimating our server population limiting its full growth potential.

I've said this already but I will say it again, I am willing to pay any active tech to help with our Jailbreak server. From plug-in additions like this one, or tweaks to current plug-ins like warden menu to map edits and map implementation. Please contact me if you are interested.

So it's really simple, on the donation page I think there should be an option to donate to Tech Team. I feel many players would donate for the betterment of the server. It could be set up how the current donations are set up and could also include a forums award or speical in-game tag (CS:GO)

Whatever is done with this money is up to the tech team or community leadership wether its buying plugins, supporting developers or paying active and beneficial members of tech team. How it would be distributed or used would be up to Leadership but I feel this would be an easy way for the community who don't know about coding to help in the techincal department.

It doesn't have to be that different than donating for dedicated supporter, I give you my money and you do whatever you see fit to benefit the server with it. It would only help the servers and increase the population and quality of our servers while boosting the tech teams productivity.

Thanks for reading

 

[Shark]

You gotta realize that this would take a lot of work on the backend part of the site just to even get started on this. The best way to help out the server is to just donate to eGO. The Directors and CM's know where the problems are and are properly dispersing donations where it needs to go. If you really want to help out, then you're doing more than enough by donating.

I do like your concern though, Spirit of eGO right there.

 

[WaSe]

So, I believe you can donate for DS with any amount you'd like. I'm 98.625% sure the money is first going to benefiting the server and making game play better.

It may need some tweaking, but some LIKE this is already in place.

 

[Ayto]

You gotta realize that this would take a lot of work on the backend part of the site just to even get started on this. The best way to help out the server is to just donate to eGO. The Directors and CM's know where the problems are and are properly dispersing donations where it needs to go. If you really want to help out, then you're doing more than enough by donating.

I do like your concern though, Spirit of eGO right there.

Of course, it would take a lot of work but some of the things I said in my original post is completely optional and doesn't need to be included, ex. forum award or in-game tag. I think just a name, small description and a button, similiar to the paypal option, would be sufficient enough for a direct way to support tech team. Click here for an example

But of course, it would give more financial responsibilities to leadership which would be unavoidable.

I didn't add this in the main post but there could also be options for media team, admin training, member services, etc.

 

[Drewerth]

So in regards to paying "tech":

• Plugin purchases, although rare, are handled through the regular donation pool.
• Supporting developers involves actively paying the Tech Team for their services, which happens to be against our active code of operations being that we are volunteers, not contracted professionals. Some are more skilled and active than others, but that doesn't mean they need money to continue working on what they love. If I didn't enjoy Tech, I wouldn't stay in Tech.

 

[GardenGroveVW]

This is exactly my thought as well, while it’s a great suggestion.. you could say the same about the sr.managers and managers. We all collectively make EdgeGamers work, while Tech is extremely important, so is customer service...

So in regards to paying "tech":

• Plugin purchases, although rare, are handled through the regular donation pool.
• Supporting developers involves actively paying the Tech Team for their services, which happens to be against our active code of operations being that we are volunteers, not contracted professionals. Some are more skilled and active than others, but that doesn't mean they need money to continue working on what they love. If I didn't enjoy Tech, I wouldn't stay in Tech.

 

[Jacko]

So in regards to paying "tech":

• Plugin purchases, although rare, are handled through the regular donation pool.
• Supporting developers involves actively paying the Tech Team for their services, which happens to be against our active code of operations being that we are volunteers, not contracted professionals. Some are more skilled and active than others, but that doesn't mean they need money to continue working on what they love. If I didn't enjoy Tech, I wouldn't stay in Tech.

This is exactly my thought as well, while it’s a great suggestion.. you could say the same about the sr.managers and managers. We all collectively make EdgeGamers work, while Tech is extremely important, so is customer service...

At its core Tech Team is one of the most important divisions to any gaming community revolving around Source games. The duties and responsibilities of a Tech can be much more complicated, demanding and burdensome than lets say an Admin Trainer; not to downplay any other CA's.

Receiving money to continue working on what you love should not take away that passion, but rather it should give you an incentive to continue that path. Some if not most of the techs in our community are either currently studying or working in a similar field. I think being paid doing what you love is rare and great opportunity.


I understand that completing certain tasks can be MUCH easier said than done and can take a reasonable amount of time to finish however having the option to receive commission would certainty boost productivity and motivation to take on certain projects. You would have more of a reason to test/implement suggested maps or tackle on irritating server issues/bugs.

The servers have been suffering lately and many suggestions/bugs have been piling up in recent months and putting the blame on tech is not right at all. As admins and members we are volunteers and should not feel forced to service the community.

Having a donating option on the forums doesn't sound necessary. These payments should be given and received as a personal donation and under no circumstances be a required contracted job. Priority issues should continue receiving main attention. It would be a bit like lobbying without the political aspect.

I just want to improve the gaming experience of this community and hope you understand where im coming from. Sorry for going on a bit of a tangent.

 

[Matz]

I think DLs and our leadership team work just as hard as Tech team. There is no doubt about that, and often the work is just as hard and skilful.

I think we just require more low-end Tech team, such as mappers and low-end server managers for maps/plugin fixes. There are plenty of people willing to help. The Tech team pool is small - and I know we have paid some Tech in the past.

Paying people I think is the wrong approach, but to be clear here, eGO is a private for-profit listed company. Some people are getting paid - but sooooo much time and effort goes in completely for free from an amazing team of volunteers, it would be unfair to just pay part of that team.

Bottom line - back to open finances, more tech team members.

 

[TheUnderDog]

Well personally in my opinion you have to take the whole situation into perspective, money is just a variable in this situation when the thought of "donating" or "contributing" anything to the tech team to have your problems with servers (or in a general sense) being fixed.

With tech what I have just been hearing with a tech person comes into a ts room and starts talking about what they're working on, they prioritize on different projects that have to get done, such as a server crashing, your DL and ComMgr can look into that first if it's requires just a simple reset or such, but if it goes further then that then tech has to get involved. With tech our Event Programs wouldn't exist, meaning you would have to be ready to help almost every division (Shoutout to Drewerth ). Then their real lives kick in with time and other things. Though it is an idea to pay our tech team, with how big our community is, in the long run it is just a number with what they have to go through for us.

Long story short, as M Matz has said, all of us, eG, eGO, EC, RC, MS, Leadership are just all volunteers and we are a non profit organization (to an extent, such as paying for our servers and such). Though maybe if Tech can open up to anyone who has the skills and would like to help, I am sure it would probably benefit all our divisions, and it may even lift some of the load off all our already tech members.

 

[Drewerth]

I see a lot of debate here over ethics of operation, primarily in regards to A) Tech's workload and B) Tech's member counts.

Niether are primarily the issue at hand.

Things pile up on the front because we have bigger projects sitting in the background that we're all not yet ready to bring to light. I can assure you that, without a doubt, we're working on things; in time you'll hopefully see them when such and such leaves development and enters a more public testing phase.

As for our member counts; yeah. We're still open, you can find an application link in the Tech Talk forum. However, it's not always a matter of skill, no. What's also important to us is the ability to work with someone, and that sometimes has to be the ultimatum we go over to decide on approving or denying an application. If you've noticed, Tech actually is growing in numbers; we just prefer to not make a post letting everyone know who and when.

 

[Sammie]

I fully agree with Drewerth and Don on this one.

I also personally don't think we require more mappers, as most issues are already fixed, just not uploaded on the servers. Tech is actively working on this behind the scenes, however, other projects (as Drewerth is saying), take priority over others.

 

[Matz]

Couple of things here:
TheUnderDog eGO is for-profit. Some people get paid, owners make profit (hopefully). Finances used to be public and discussed in clan-wide meetings and now they aren't. I don't think this is shady or anything, just a common misconception.

Some people volunteer for this company, some don't.

Drewerth I personally have found the Tech team to be solid and with the recent growth, not terribly slow. I know there are others who have had different experiences though.

 

[crc1225]

Things pile up on the front because we have bigger projects sitting in the background that we're all not yet ready to bring to light. I can assure you that, without a doubt, we're working on things; in time you'll hopefully see them when such and such leaves development and enters a more public testing phase.

I have no problem with tech doing stuff in the backend because I know down the line it will be known and most of the time the backend stuff is the most important. But the problem I have is right now there is next to none work being done on the frontend (maps) and it has been like that for well over 5 months and you could even debate a year(depends who you ask).

Think of it like this:
I have a test in 2 days for an AP class which is important so I need to study/work on it. But I also need to do my homework in my other classes too because those are also important. What I DON'T do is completely ignore all other classes and homework and just work on the AP class because then I would fail all my other classes and that is dumb.

Right now tech is putting everything and everyone in the backend which is leaving the frontend(server stuff like maps) completely abandoned. Now this may not be the case but THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE from someone who is not in tech (you can ask basically any e,eg,ego,manager,sr manager and they will most likely agree).

 

[GardenGroveVW]

You are wrong. No one in eGO gets paid. - We are a 'for-profit' because it was recommended by our tax guy to do so.

There are other options to show up for a non-profit, but since we've already gone the above route, we haven't talked about changing to a non-profit.

Couple of things here:
TheUnderDog eGO is for-profit. Some people get paid, owners make profit (hopefully). Finances used to be public and discussed in clan-wide meetings and now they aren't. I don't think this is shady or anything, just a common misconception.

Some people volunteer for this company, some don't.

Drewerth I personally have found the Tech team to be solid and with the recent growth, not terribly slow. I know there are others who have had different experiences though.

 

[teimyw8]

I also personally don't think we require more mappers, as most issues are already fixed, just not uploaded on the servers.

In this situation, is the issue actually fixed? Because in my opinion(and hopefully others) fixing an issue means there is no longer an issue. But in this situation, there is now more of an issue, because not only is the issue on the server not fixed. You also make the players on the server mad because they believe that Tech has simply ignored the problem. So in this situation, you have simply completed phase 1 of solving a problem.

 

[Matz]

You are wrong. No one in eGO gets paid. - We are a 'for-profit' because it was recommended by our tax guy to do so.

There are other options to show up for a non-profit, but since we've already gone the above route, we haven't talked about changing to a non-profit.

I know for certain we'd paid some eGO members before for stuff in MC, such as managing servers (stuff tech now does). Shareholders obviously own capital - and deserve to. I'm not calling for us to go non-profit at all. I've always just wanted us to go back to open finances.

Would make discussions like this easier for one, and nearly every non-profit does this for transparency and trust with donators (like myself), and it would help people like Jacko know where his money will be going!

 

[Drewerth]

I have no problem with tech doing stuff in the backend because I know down the line it will be known and most of the time the backend stuff is the most important. But the problem I have is right now there is next to none work being done on the frontend (maps) and it has been like that for well over 5 months and you could even debate a year(depends who you ask).

Think of it like this:
I have a test in 2 days for an AP class which is important so I need to study/work on it. But I also need to do my homework in my other classes too because those are also important. What I DON'T do is completely ignore all other classes and homework and just work on the AP class because then I would fail all my other classes and that is dumb.

Right now tech is putting everything and everyone in the backend which is leaving the frontend(server stuff like maps) completely abandoned. Now this may not be the case but THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE from someone who is not in tech (you can ask basically any e,eg,ego,manager,sr manager and they will most likely agree).

This is fundamentally incorrect. Like I said, we don't post every front-sided server update but I can assure you, things are being done.

 

[GardenGroveVW]

I know for certain we'd paid some eGO members before for stuff in MC, such as managing servers (stuff tech now does). Shareholders obviously own capital - and deserve to. I'm not calling for us to go non-profit at all. I've always just wanted us to go back to open finances.

Would make discussions like this easier for one, and nearly every non-profit does this for transparency and trust with donators (like myself), and it would help people like Jacko know where his money will be going!

You are absolutely incorrect. We've NEVER paid anyone to do any 'work' for edgegamers.... I don't know how else to spell it out for you.

If anything, we may have 'purchased' plugins that EdgeGamers needed.


Have you donated to any other company before? For example, Choc (https://www.choc.org/giving/) I don't see anywhere on their website stating your money goes here and here...

You donate trusting those in charge are using the money to support a problem or a purpose. I guarantee you 100% that all donations are paying to keep EdgeGamers alive. Our add revenue has been taking a HUGE hit over the years and with the recent CSGO update removing MOTD's, the only game left supporting us is TF2 and the Website.

What is open 'finances' even mean? Do you want the login to our paypal account? Do you want all the logins to everything we pay for?

 

[Matz]

You are absolutely incorrect. We've NEVER paid anyone to do any 'work' for edgegamers.... I don't know how else to spell it out for you.

If anything, we may have 'purchased' plugins that EdgeGamers needed.


Have you donated to any other company before? For example, Choc (https://www.choc.org/giving/) I don't see anywhere on their website stating your money goes here and here...

You donate trusting those in charge are using the money to support a problem or a purpose. I guarantee you 100% that all donations are paying to keep EdgeGamers alive. Our add revenue has been taking a HUGE hit over the years and with the recent CSGO update removing MOTD's, the only game left supporting us is TF2 and the Website.

What is open 'finances' even mean? Do you want the login to our paypal account? Do you want all the logins to everything we pay for?

Cyprias (who then became DL) used to claim he was paid when managing our server in MC. May have coincided with your 2012-2015 hiatus. Either way, this isn't really my point. I don't believe it would be a bad thing so if people are receiving money from eGO isn't really important to me. I accept your word that it isn't happening.

Of course you donate trusting those in charge, but it is common practice and mandatory in order to be highly rated as a trustworthy charity. For example, the charity you mention, CHOC is rated 90.39/100. This is because they publish their incomes and expenses. For example in June 2016 they received $20mil in contributions, grants and gifts, and $3.5mil from fundraising. They spent $24mil on program expenses, $1.7mil on admin, and $4.5mil on fundraising. How much remaining capital/assets they have is also listed.

Obviously releasing everything they do would be unnecessary, but eGO could simply release:

Income:
Donations:
Dedicated Supporter:
Sponsors:
Amazon:
Other:

Expenses:
Servers:
Dev:
Misc:
Tax:

Excess:

Net Assets:

We did this for years as a way to help drive donations, through transparency. At the time I was 12/13 and still managed to save up $40 to get myself a hoodie. I was proud to support eGO and know where it was going.

 

[Legend]

Cyprias (who then became DL) used to claim he was paid when managing our server in MC. May have coincided with your 2012-2015 hiatus. Either way, this isn't really my point. I don't believe it would be a bad thing so if it's happening now isn't really important to me.

Of course you donate trusting those in change, but it is common practice and mandatory in order to be highly rated as a trustworthy charity. For example, the charity you mention, CHOC is rated 90.39/100. This is because they publish their incomes and expenses. For example in June 2016 they received $20mil in contributions, grants and gifts, and $3.5mil from fundraising. They spend $24mil on program expenses, $1.7mil on admin, and $4.5mil on fundraising. How much remaining capital/assets they have is also listed.

Obviously this would be unnecessary, but eGO could simply release:

Income
Donations:
Dedicated Supporter:
Sponsors:
Amazon:
Other:

Expenses:
Servers:
Dev:
Misc:
Tax:

Excess:

Net Assets:

We did this for years as a way to help drive donations, through transparency. At the time I was 12/13 and still managed to save up $40 to get myself a hoodie. I was proud to support eGO and know where it was going.

EdgeGamers has no payroll and we have never paid someone in a leadership position. Everyone here is volunteer (including Cyprias).

EdgeGamers is not a charity or a nonprofit. We are a for profit business to ensure that legally we are operating in a fashion that secures and protects the people who run the community as well as all of our members and services.

EdgeGamers never posted “transparency reports” regarding financies because we don’t want the community to be money driven or worried about how much everything costs. This was no different when JohnT or Artimus we’re heading the community. We’re a gaming community where we want our gamers to focus on games. Our upper leadership (Community Managers) will worry about the business portion and ensuring we still have the ability to keep the lights on. We aren’t going to burden members with business.

EdgeGamers doesn’t allow per game donations because we are a global community. We make sure every facet of ExgeGamers is covered. By donating, you are ensuring the success of the bigger picture - EdgeGamers as a community. We monitor our monthly intake from Dedicated Supporters to see where we may want to focus more efforts as more support is coming from one side of the community than another however we will never make a final call on that alone. We’re one community. One EdgeGamers.

I’m not expecting everyone to understand what I’ve mentioned above, or to agree with it. If you have questions or concerns you’re welcome to discuss with me in TeamSpeak. I’d be happy to answer anything further for you there.

Thank you team.