Not many people subscribe. We still don't have enough subscribers to cover the cost of running the site. When I say running, I in no way mean paying people but do mean the costs of two servers, hosting, domains, and so on.

Just this year, when we launched the subscriptions services, we decided that some of the additional money received from subscriptions would go back into the site as prizes for any contests that we run. In the meantime, foxhound has been working hard at finding sponsors who are willing to donate these prizes in exchange for press, advertising, or whatever.

foxhound has been successfull at getting some companies to agree to prizes but I am not at liberty to divulge the details. Let me just say that one company in particular is being quite generous.

We hope to bring you our first big contest within the coming months once we have figured out what we can offer the winners and the details of the contest itself.

I'm not a financial advisor or anything, but I think many people will subscribe once you give a big prize, like a Xbox, an extra month preferred member plus :P or whatever! :)

foyleman, where can I donate?

We pulled the donation link after creating the subscriptions pages. IF you would like to donate, please subscribe.

By helping contribute there are also many other benefits as well in the future. Presuming the site costs can be paid for, continued payments not only lead the path for prizes, competitions and gaming servers to play all your maps on, but it also opens the doors for even more media coverage on events. Everything from E3, SIGGRAPH and the Microsoft Meltdown, as well as helping the site grow and evolve even more can be covered eventually. The problem is we can't bring you but so much content without having to put forth some extra, unforeseen expenses. I for one would love to see a lot more media coverage, but just like E3 sometimes you just can't make it. Hopefully there will be more coverage in the future and you guys can enjoy and all you guys will be able to reap the benefits.

I think I speak for foyleman when I say that the directions the site started in, has moved to, and are facing are just filled with opportunities. Consistant evolution will make the site an all-around great thing in the end and I think any direction we take will be for the better of the site. Evolution is a constant process and we'll build up areas that are good and make them even better.

yeah. lots of opportunities out there.

... and the site has always been evolving. It started as just a small hobby and has taken quite a larger roll in my life now.

One thing has remained constant for all of time.... I strive to be helpful and encourage those that I have helped to help others.

Yeah, I remember when it started it was like a little pet project for you when were basically coming off the whole...mgon thing.

Now it is completely it's own rendition of the little mapping site you had back then, turned into a massive vault of just pure knowledge and constant help. A great hub for everyone to get together and help each other. I think the small communities that we worked with back then were the base for such a strong community we have now. It's awesome and I for one love to help out here.

I hope in the future to do a little more than what I am now. I know for a fact in the future we'll have more products as I line my shelves with all sorts of things (once I line my wallet, lol). Right now, I've been working on setting up contacts and relations within different levels of the industry and trying to help establish more of a press-related outlook for 2005. Depending what paths my own life takes can also mean a lot for what I can do for the site. Right now it's mostly unwritten (like so many other things), but I've always been fond of journalism, so expect some type or form of that to continue around the site. I intend to help things flow continuously as long as the real-world doesn't conflict with it. (hey, maybe it's the other way around, but I'll just as soon have it my way, hehe.)

With that said, back to typing up this info on the Source engine...my own little project to watch