Lunacy iPhone App

[robowarriors41]

My team is developing an iPhone/iPod touch app for keeping track of every rule to Lunacy as well as the important images included in these manuals. This app will be distributed on iTunes. We were just wondering how much people would be willing to pay to support this program? $0.99? $3?

Thanks
Team 41: RoboWarriors

[ggoldman]

I'd pay a buck for it, if the visuals are nice and well organized...

..but that means I'd have to buy an iphone

How about a web page online that is compatible with i-phones?

Depends how well laid out it is. If it's clean, then I would.

But beware: you don't own those rules, so selling any form of them may be of questionable legality. Check around first to make sure you're not breaking a law... (why FIRST doesn't license their manuals under the CC is unknown...)

[tim_reiher]

I'd prefer the app over the web page, myself...If it's got an intuitive interface and decent graphics I'd pay three bucks for it.

[pearldrumzach]

I would love an app for my Touch; I have it with me at all times in our shop. However, a web page wouldn't be accessable while there (no wireless net), so the app would be preferable. I'd be willing to pay for it.

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

(why FIRST doesn't license their manuals under the CC is unknown...)

That's a very good question which I'd like to see answered officially. But regardless, you should take caution as it currently is not licensed under CC.

Another thing to consider is updating the app, because if they do approve it, you would need to take great care to have the rules pushed to the clients ASAP after an update in the rules. Especially if people are paying for this app, that should be a given.

[McGurky]

if i had an iphone i would buy it for about a buck probably no more.

[Alan Anderson]

I just emailed the manual (each section attached to a separate message) to myself. Now I have all the PDFs on my iPod Touch, which displays them quite well.

I created a special "Documentation" category in my Google-hosted email account for such things. In addition to the game manual, it includes a team directory and some control system reference documents.

[nHouse]

depending on the preview screen I'd pay 1-3 bucks for it.

[waialua359]

Now finally, I found something educationally useful for my ITouch rather than just music and videos!

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by robowarriors41

My team is developing an iPhone/iPod touch app for keeping track of every rule to Lunacy as well as the important images included in these manuals. This app will be distributed on iTunes. We were just wondering how much people would be willing to pay to support this program? $0.99? $3?

Thanks
Team 41: RoboWarriors

It is a very cool idea HOWEVER, as pointed out above, the Lunacy game rules are copyrighted products that belong to FIRST. You will need their permission to redistribute them in any way, even for this purpose. In particular, if you are selling the rules (embedded in the app), you will likely run into problems with obtaining permission. With FIRST chartered as a not-for-profit organization, there are legal implications if they allow any of their products to be sold or resold. So don't be too surprised if they have to decline your request for permission for redistribution.

-dave



.

[chris31]

Im not sure how many people want to pay for it. You might be better off releasing free (if FIRST allows it) and then having a paypal link if people want to donate. That way they can pay for what they think it is worth.

[Kyle Love]

The gracious thing to do, would be to make it free

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

The gracious thing to do, would be to make it free

...And the professional thing to do (were it legal) would be charging at minimum a monetary amount that would compensate for the effort put in.

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

...And the professional thing to do (were it legal) would be charging at minimum a monetary amount that would compensate for the effort put in.

I agree. Somewhat unrelated, but that's one of the things that a lot of people don't grasp about some open-source licenses. Asking for money is not all that evil, because people put a lot of time and effort into a program or code. Sure, it would be nice if it were free, but the author is not obligated to hand it out for nothing.

As stated by Dave, though, it won't happen here for legal reasons.