Steam Game Idler PRO - What is it, and what does it mean for the future of SGI?

[zevnda]

TL;DR: Pro Mode is optional. It allows users to support SGI and comes with in-app benefits like removing advertisements, chat role and username color. It does not, and will never restrict or remove access to any core features, now, or in the future.

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Hi everyone!

You've probably noticed that SGI now has a new PRO mode. I wanted to take a moment to explain why I've introduced this and what it means for SGI's future.

First and most importantly, SGI is and always will be free to use, and I will never paywall core features. That includes existing features like card farming, achievement unlocker, playtime booster, etc.

Second, the main reason for adding PRO mode was the feedback I received about in-app advertisements.

I'll preface this by saying that in-app ads are staying for non-PRO users for the foreseeable future. While I know this might disappoint some of you, others have been more receptive to ads and understand that they help fund SGI's ongoing development.

Advertisements support the upkeep and development of SGI, allowing me to add new features and improvements, maintain the documentation, and translate SGI into the 30 currently supported languages (every new word added to SGI costs money to translate).

For those of you who can't stand advertisements but still want to use SGI, subscribing to PRO gives you a way to support the project while removing ads and gaining additional in-app benefits.

Currently, PRO has a fairly short benefits list:

• Ad-free experience
• A unique "donator" chat role and animated username color

I plan to add more PRO benefits over time and am open to suggestions. One idea I'm exploring is an "SGI Mobile Companion" app that would let you control SGI from your smartphone. I think this would make an excellent PRO feature.

Whether you choose to subscribe to PRO or continue using the free version, I'm grateful to have you as part of the community. Your feedback, bug reports, and feature suggestions have been invaluable in shaping what SGI has become.

If you have any questions about PRO or ideas for future features, feel free to share them. I'm always listening.

Thank you for your continued support!

[azgoodaz]

Any thoughts about adding in a one time, life time payment sub?

[zevnda]

Hey, thanks for the suggestion! It’s definitely something I’ve thought about before.

At the moment though, I think the monthly model works better for SGI overall. One of the nice things about it is the flexibility. People can subscribe when they need PRO features and cancel when they don’t. For example, some users might only run SGI for a few months of the year, so this way they’re not paying for something they aren’t using.

It also makes things a bit simpler if someone decides PRO isn’t for them after purchasing it. With a monthly subscription it’s much easier to handle situations like partial refunds or cancellations. Whereas with a one-time lifetime payment, expectations can get a bit trickier if someone later feels like they didn’t get their money's worth, which can lead to awkward situations around refunds or value.

Another part of it is that PRO isn't meant to be like a Netflix subscription where a user pays $X.XX and knows exactly what they're getting. SGI is still heavily in development and is changing frequently, and PRO benefits may also change and grow frequently. PRO is meant more as a way for users to support SGI’s ongoing development, with some extra features included as a way for me to say thank you. It’s not really intended to be a traditional subscription where you’re paying strictly for access to content, it’s more about helping support the project while getting some nice perks in return. The monthly model fits that idea pretty naturally.

There are also ongoing infrastructure and development costs involved in developing SGI, so having a recurring model helps to cover some of them so that the project can keep improving over time.

That said, I really do appreciate the suggestion and the feedback, and I'm not saying a one-off lifetime payment is completely out of the question. Just for right now I think sticking with the current subscription model makes the most sense.

Thanks again!