I've just put in a tweak so that when the potential customer clicks on Maybe Later... on the nag screen at game exit, it opens a feedback form in their browser (or mysteriously does nothing on some computers but generally it works fine :D). (I'll also be using this form to help with automatic crash diagnosis too).

Handily I collect their OS and version number in the URL.

On the form I'll be asking 'em why they decided not to buy Alien Flux, and give them an opportunity to subscribe to the newsletter etc. etc.

Someone on my forum pointed out that this would annoy the hell out of them.

What's the concensus of opinion here?

Should I only open the browser on the first exit? Every 5th exit? Every time? Never? It seems to me I really need more feedback about the game from people who play it.

Cas :)

I say it would be a good idea (and fair game) to open up a web page on uninstall or after a crash. Other than that, I think you might be pushing it. You've already given them one nag screen that they declined...no need to present a second one. Presumably this nag screen already gives them vital info on the game. If there is more you want to say than you can fit on the one screen, then perhaps a "Give me more info" button is called for. That button could then take them to the web page. Another option....as I recall, doesn't dweep have 3 options. Buy Now, Maybe Later, and I'm Not Interested, where the I'm Not Interested button takes you to a web page? I think something like that is fair game too.

Actually we're int he process of adding a little feedback thing ourselves. I think it's probably a good idea as long as it's not too intrusive.

Good timing, I've started researching this topic myself. One interesting method I've seen is having three buttons on exit: Buy game, Maybe Later, Not Interested, where the latter will go to a web page addressing common concerns with some last minute salesmanship. One game that does this (naturally, the prime example) is Dweep. I've thought you could also use this as an opportunity to survey the user.

I've also been looking into uninstall surveys. As a test, I hooked one into my InnoSetup uninstaller, but I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it. It is a little annoying for the user. What I'd really like to see is a way to add a checkbox to the uninstall process that says, "Give feedback on why you are uninstalling," something akin to an opt-in. I can think of a way around this by writing a small windows app that just pops up a dialog box and gets run at the end of the uninstall process, but that seems kind of messy.

Some people on the ASP have spoken on this topic and one had an interesting perspective. If they're uninstalling your program, they're not going to buy it, so if you tick them off with a popup uninstall survey, it's no lost sale. I wonder if this might be a little short sighted, however.

If you were doing a time-limited program, I think it would be fair to, on the first load after expiration, offer the chance to buy the program and then ask why not if they don't buy it.

If I had to put up with the program asking me why I hadn't bought it every time I tried to exit it, it would be swiftly deleted (Possibly after sending the response of "Because you're ANNOYING!" to the question. ;) )

Ive seen programs that pop up a web page with a form after you uninstall the game or whatever asking why you uninstalled it. I filled in the form. I think that's a good related technique.

I only uninstall things that don't impress me and that I never want to see again. The last thing I would want to see is a whingy web page asking me why I uninstalled it. Uninstallation for me is usually part of a cleanup chore ("bloody hell better get some more space on this harddisk") and I do batches of them. I'd be really, really annoyed if Explorer suddenly appeared.

On the other hand I really feel warm to the Not Interested button instead. I'd have to position it cunningly so it drew the eye in preference to the Maybe Later button but not so prominent as the Order Now button.

Cas :)

what about putting the form in the game itself, with a submit button and a quit button. If you click Maybe later it displays the form. This way, it comes up instantly and catches the user at the spur of the moment.

I like the sound of that. Easily done with a quick call over RMI for me. It does rather limit the ease with which the form can be dynamically tweaked by me though... unless I download the form and build a GUI on the fly from data.

Getting complicated! But probably doable.

Cas :)

Well, once they submit the form you can open up a web page with more information on it.

Hmmm, I wonder about putting a form in a game for signing up for the newsletter would be cool.

~Hanford

Originally posted by hanford_lemoore
Hmmm, I wonder about putting a form in a game for signing up for the newsletter would be cool.


I just read all the ASPects for 2001 and Tom W. recomends just this technique (he seems to be a fan of email newsletters in general). This is on my own list as well.

RMI? Wouldn't HttpUrlConnection work better?

Great idea about the newsletter signup too.

I'd use HttpURLConnection but RMI is loads easier and ultimately far more powerful.

Cas :)

Just thought I'd throw in my vote on this. I think having a web form pop up when the user exits the program is absolutely fine (tie it to whichever button you see fit). This falls in the general category of nag screens, which I don't believe users will resent since they know they haven't paid for the software and therefore aren't entitled to uninhibited access to it.

On the other hand, having ANYTHING get in the way of the user uninstalling the software is the most irritating, unforgivable thing you could do. :mad: I've had a couple programs do this to me. It's as if the software has gotten desparately clingy, and refuses to leave until you give satisfactory justifaction why you don't like it.

--marty