Ataroth

  • Joined May 1, 2018
  • In The death of webnovel/qidian

    manapotion In response to:

    I have no issue with them charging for quality entertainment. I don't expect to read any book for free unless it is from the library. I do have an issue with the amount they are charging to stay current with the premium titles.

    The amount of content that any one person can consume in a day is finite. That is why business models like Netflix and Kindle Unlimited can charge a flat rate and still make money.

    Therefore, I think Qidian has a very unenlightened and greedy business model. I doubt that they will die from this, but they may just have to adapt at some point.

    Hmm. That is a solid and important point. Qidian aside, though, I know a tendency of content consumers to -devalue- the efforts of authors. Painters, for example, have to fight off low ball figures for their work because someone wants to pay say $200 for $1500 worth of effort.

    I am concerned that to pay their authors the amount of money they're being paid, that Qidian might need the, arguably draconic, pay scales they are enforcing.

    Thoughts?

      • In The death of webnovel/qidian

        I am not going to post links to outside webpages, thus I'll mention that there are extremely good webnovels/webserials, written in English, that are amazing.

        My first example: Worm. Google it. Millions of words. Best super-hero, super-heroine webnovel I have ever read.

        • In IRaS + Chinese Culture

          manapotion I have a different interpretation. It says the gamer is the player, not the world. Thus, this is a "super power" of the "super star." The "Game setting" refers to how the power views the alternate world, not that the world is a game at all. It's like the Mawah "The Gamer."

          Good research on this.

            • In The death of webnovel/qidian

              Authors work hard for their words and inspiration. The less they are paid, the less they work as authors. They have to lean on other jobs for support. Thus, the "pay wall" is a necessary evil. Most people who read webnovels don't want to spend a dime. They want the content, but no involvement with their pocketbook. Though I respect a minimalistic approach to spending, there are obvious RL reasons why supporting authors economically is not only important but necessary.

              Authors don't live off well wishes and "Your novel rocks" statements from anonymous individuals over the WEB. They live just like the rest of us. They need money. Donate. Patreon. Do something more meaningful than a pat on the back. And remember, 1 donation doesn't mean that you're entitled to everything else they provide. It's not a 1 time deposit for everything the author produces. Recurring donations = recurring content.

              • In IRaS + Chinese Culture

                manapotion Well, I don't believe its a "game world" for all the reasons I already posted, but I can see how that is a plausible conclusion.

                  • In IRaS + Chinese Culture

                    manapotion That's an insightful point of view, though perhaps the certainty that the world is a "game world" might be less solid. Personally, I've never felt the MC was in a "Game World." He merely has an ability, solely attached to himself, that allows the progression of personal abilities in the form of a roulette. The individuality of the ability challenges treating the entire "world" as monolithic to the MCs powers. Moreover, no one has lvls. No one has stats, except determinations of "human maximum" which are genetic related even if presented through the MCs gambling ability.

                    As a world traveler, sure, If I had the ability I would use the same methods, but I would never be proud of them, as the MC apparently is.

                      • In IRaS + Chinese Culture

                        LetThereBeMagic Hmm. In December 2017, I met a man who lived in Shanghai the previous year while he studied Mandarin. His take was a little different. He informed me that, though women were supposedly 2nd tier to men, the trend had changed in the big cities. Because of cultural proclivities and historical gender selection, there aren't enough women. So, a woman in Shanghai has her pick and the choice attached to said demographical imbalance.
                        Moreover, he mentioned a strong proclivity of women choosing to date and marry foreigners.

                          • In IRaS + Chinese Culture

                            I've always found "I'm Really A Superstar" a difficult pill to swallow. The story is about a man that steals other people's ideas and passes them as his own for a good percentage of the work. It's literally a story about a super nationalistic Chinese man who feels special for stealing intellectual property from his previous dimension and passing it as his own while slapping his chest and screaming how awesome China is... as long as the censor isn't censoring him.

                            It makes me feel uncomfortable because that's a general stereotype view of China from people outside of it: China steal everyone else's content and ideas.

                            • In Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World

                              What interests me about the novel is the world building and necromantic aspects of its MC. Perhaps that's the single draw I have for this particular light novel

                              • In Trying to remember a novel,help.

                                I second Darkdelusion. That's "Everyone Else is a Returnee." It starts quite interesting, then devolves into an overpowered, blend of harem nuttiness and multiple PoVs with no clear indication of who is saying what. At some point, it just seems pointless. The MC is too powerful. No real challenges.

                                • In Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World

                                  Considering the attention I saw here, I took a peek at the novel. It seems quite interesting.

                                  Web Novel Novel Ask