VIP Membership (New Extra's)

[Clowgon]

Please answer the poll!

Would you be willing to pay a "little" bit more for extra privileges such as...

- If possible, a An @habbox.com Email Address of your choice

- Ability to close/lock and re open YOUR thread(s) as long as you and the people in the thread are following the rules and NOT do the following such as arguing, pointless, ect.

- Reputation points for everytime you purchase VIP.

- VIP leaderboard - Win something at the end month

- Massive Competition end of every Month just for VIP members (Habbo stuff) Win stuff like Supers..

- Have the chance to write a report on stuff that's happening on Habbo on the habbox.com page and have your name appear on advertisements/events that you helped put together.

- Help out in departments, such as Rare Values, Graphics team, HxF help desk, Work with the competitions staff, ect..

[dirrty]

so essentially you want to bring back the old vip system...

[luce]

Please answer the poll!

Would you be willing to pay a "little" bit more for extra privileges such as...

- If possible, a An @habbox.com Email Address of your choice Used to be able to get @habboxforum.com dno if you still can

- Ability to close/lock and re open YOUR thread(s) as long as you and the people in the thread are following the rules and NOT do the following such as arguing, pointless, ect. Erm can you not already do that..?

- Reputation points for everytime you purchase VIP. You already get that.. and you don't buy VIP anymore

- VIP leaderboard - Win something at the end month Ties in with below?

- Massive Competition end of every Month just for VIP members (Habbo stuff) Win stuff like Supers.. Ok idea - the fact that you have VIP now shows you have won something or you're a manager so..

- Have the chance to write a report on stuff that's happening on Habbo on the habbox.com page and have your name appear on advertisements/events that you helped put together. Staff tbh

- Help out in departments, such as Rare Values, Graphics team, HxF help desk, Work with the competitions staff, ect.. That's what staff are for

Unless you mean Donator instead of VIP. And then i would say the people who win VIP really don't win anything cool if you can already buy it..

[Clowgon]

No, not really just a way of moving forward tbh..

[Clowgon]

Unless you mean Donator instead of VIP. And then i would say the people who win VIP really don't win anything cool if you can already buy it..

Hmm fair points.. I didn't really look at the privileges of the VIP system before so i don't know what's new or old.

Yeah i mean Donator instead of VIP... :eusa_wall

These are some suggestions that could make VIP more interesting and more worthy..

Any suggestions on how Donator can be improved just pop them here.

Edited by Robbie! (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not double post within the 15 minute edit time

[GommeInc]

Just bring back the old VIP system and see what Habbos reasoning is for being anti-fansites :P They've never said why fansites are not allowed to sell premium services, and they never will. Such a shoddy company :P

[JACKTARD]

VIP members would not be able to help out with rare values.
You would first need to proove yourself, and that you know all there is to know about trading and values.
Then, you might aswell join the team.

Part time jobs wouldnt be available. There would be too many people in each department.



Also, habbox wouldnt be able to give out supers unless they were donated by someone which is incredibly unlikely, the site relies on donations and can't just give out rares that are the equivalent to £200.

[Mentor]

Habbo have forced fansites to stop selling premium features like VIP. Best that is allowed now is the donator. Most the features are avaible to vip still, but now the only way to get VIP is to win it :)

Can anyone link me to the habbo article on the subject though, i just had a thought, but would need to check the wording used "/

[Catzsy]

Habbo have forced fansites to stop selling premium features like VIP. Best that is allowed now is the donator. Most the features are avaible to vip still, but now the only way to get VIP is to win it :)

Can anyone link me to the habbo article on the subject though, i just had a thought, but would need to check the wording used "/

If you mean the 'fansite way'

Link:
http://www.habbo.co.uk/articles/224-the-fansite-way

On a personal note I wonder what benefits a site has being official these days.

[Chippiewill]

Nothing... why doesn't habbox claim that HxF is seperate from Hx and add VIP to forums again and say that Hx.com is doing nothing wrong?

[Alkaz]

Habboxforum is still a Habbo fansite so it must abide by the official rules set out by Habbo.
But ye, what your saying would be offering a premium service again which has been said already and isnt aloud no more. Encouraging people to buy Donator or w.e because of the benefits over not having it.

[jackass]

I actually laughed at this thread. :P

So basically, the forum removed buying VIP due to Habbo not allowing it, and replaced it with Donator, which comes with minimal features, as they are allowed. But what you're saying is, you want to add all the VIP features (and more?!) to the current donator, even though Habbo doesn't allow it in the first place?

I can see your logic here buddy!

[Mentor]

No merchandiceing rule killed my original thought.

Is there an expanded version of exactly whats meant be premium features at all within the discussion forums on there? i dont appear to have access to view em.

[GommeInc]

If you mean the 'fansite way'

Link:
http://www.habbo.co.uk/articles/224-the-fansite-way

On a personal note I wonder what benefits a site has being official these days.
Zilch. None. Zero. Nill. Geen. (and just translate 'none' into however many languages there are and you have my point).

Being official is nothing, just a word - a label. Habbo was better when they allowed fansites to be regular fansites AND got them involved in events. I don't see why Habbox even bothered fighting to be official, tis aload of bull frog if you ask me.


No merchandiceing rule killed my original thought.

Is there an expanded version of exactly whats meant be premium features at all within the discussion forums on there? i dont appear to have access to view em.
Pointing out exploits and loop-holes in Habbos rules doesn't do anything, they'll get a fansite closed down for any old reason. They're anti-competitive and don't play by the book :P If there was a way to sell VIP and not advertise it per say, they'll still get in contact getting all huffy and stupid, as with the current Sulake/Habbo management :P

[nvrspk4]

No merchandiceing rule killed my original thought.

Is there an expanded version of exactly whats meant be premium features at all within the discussion forums on there? i dont appear to have access to view em.

Erm basically in their email to us it said people should donate just to donate and not get anything back. They expressly permitted colored usernames usertitles and avatars as these were "display items" that "recognized the donator".

I know, the logic is shaky and based on that logic we could allow so much more. But pointing that out to Sulake would result in:

1) Us being ignored or
2) Them not allowing the currently allowed items

[Black_Apalachi]

I actually laughed at this thread. :P

So basically, the forum removed buying VIP due to Habbo not allowing it, and replaced it with Donator, which comes with minimal features, as they are allowed. But what you're saying is, you want to add all the VIP features (and more?!) to the current donator, even though Habbo doesn't allow it in the first place?

I can see your logic here buddy!

Exactly! And there's no chance of VIPs just dropping their 2 cents into random departments whenever they feel like it. And you can keep them away from our nice clean Habbox.com front news page thanks :P.


Erm basically in their email to us it said people should donate just to donate and not get anything back. They expressly permitted colored usernames usertitles and avatars as these were "display items" that "recognized the donator".

I know, the logic is shaky and based on that logic we could allow so much more. But pointing that out to Sulake would result in:

1) Us being ignored or
2) Them not allowing the currently allowed items

They claim that all the furni we "buy" still belongs to them, as do all alterations we make etc. So you could say the same; anything they say you are "giving" to a VIP member actually belongs to Habbox so they are in fact gaining nothing :).

But I agree with your quit while you're behind approach with them :P.

[GommeInc]

They claim that all the furni we "buy" still belongs to them, as do all alterations we make etc. So you could say the same; anything they say you are "giving" to a VIP member actually belongs to Habbox so they are in fact gaining nothing :).

But I agree with your quit while you're behind approach with them :P.
Logic is lost on Habbo. Seriously, you say that to them and they will reply "We're the ones holding the leesh, what we say, whether it is written down, common sense and any bit rashional, we'll ban you and get you closed down.!

Seriously, why does no-one attack the Sulake HQ building in Finland, kill the buggars :/

*Kill as in, slap ;)

[Mr.OSH]

Yeah as aggravating as it is the worry is if we push the boundaries (although hazy) things could just get worse for us if it was decided to get even more strict on this system. :( It's really unfair personally from my perspective that they should be able to force rules like that on fansites when really VIP was one way of getting in enough resources to support the site. However I guess nothing can really be dont about it sadly.


Erm basically in their email to us it said people should donate just to donate and not get anything back. They expressly permitted colored usernames usertitles and avatars as these were "display items" that "recognized the donator".

I know, the logic is shaky and based on that logic we could allow so much more. But pointing that out to Sulake would result in:

1) Us being ignored or
2) Them not allowing the currently allowed items

[Dinosaurawrr]

theres no point
we get most of the vip things you suggested anyway
and plus we WIN vip as a prize therefore arnt you already getting enough? O.o?

[Chippiewill]

It's all because habbo wants more money because they thought they were losing it to fansite VIP purchases....Even though most of the VIP purchases at habbox were made by the older members who don't play habbo...

[Black_Apalachi]

It's all because habbo wants more money because they thought they were losing it to fansite VIP purchases....Even though most of the VIP purchases at habbox were made by the older members who don't play habbo...

I doubt that's the reason really. I mean back in the day, if I was spending money and I had to choose between Credits or VIP, I know which I'd have taken :P. I also don't think the amount spent on VIP rather than Credits would be very considerable.

I just think they see it is an intrusion on what they are as fansites are only here because of Habbo and if people are spending money on them then that is also only because of Habbo. As well as that, they probably believe there is a lot of scamming potential in site owners selling so called VIP (idk they think everything's a scam lol) but if the only way to prevent the scammers doing it is prevent everyone doing it.

[GommeInc]

It's all because habbo wants more money because they thought they were losing it to fansite VIP purchases....Even though most of the VIP purchases at habbox were made by the older members who don't play habbo...
I sure hope that's not the reason, because if it is, Habbo and indeed Sulake, are possibly the worst company on the face of the earth for lack of judgement and reasoning.If they think people will start paying for Habbo products because they've been told (or as they have done, forced) to not buy premium services on another site, then they are as stupid as most of their rules and staff :P

Especially when loads of members of fansites are accustomed to the fansite, and not the site/person/product in which the fansite is based on. If I paid for VIP and that service got removed, I wouldnn't spend it on something less exciting and more of a waste of money like Habbo Credits :/

One theory I have come across, is that Habbo want people to use their forums, but that in itself is a rediculous idea.

[Sammeth.]

To sum up, Habbo is mean, we are poor, they are laughing, we are not.

[Pyroka]

I think in the end Sulake are a dictatorship company. I would go as far as suggesting Habbox quit the official fansite system! Why you ask? Because Habbox has not benefitted by it in any way. Sulake does not care for official fansites, it only wants to make an example out of them to the rest of the fansite community. Habbox is the biggest Habbo fansite in the world, it doesn't need to publicity which Official status gives you... Mind you, does official status give any publicity apart from a little section on the fansite group page? Please do tell me if it does.

This is just one big **** up by Habbox, I'm surprised by you nvrspk because I thought you wouldve seen sense. You are the general manager of Habbox, the biggest fansite in the world. You could easily rally most of the big fansites against Sulake or just quit official status. There aren't any benefits, just disappointments and rules you must abide, which most fansites obey anyway (apart from the silly VIP one).

For the sake of common sense and freedom from the Goliath known as Sulake, quit the title of Official for all that it was, is now nothing but a worthless title.

I'd love it if some AGMS discussed this too, I doubt many people on the forum would be in objection to something as strict and unbenefitting as the European Union.

K iPhones running out of charge, bai.

[Japan]

Why not sell a coloured username, and give one month of free VIP with every purchase?
So people aren't paying for a premium service, just a coloured username. They can't control what we give out for free.

[GommeInc]

Why not sell a coloured username, and give one month of free VIP with every purchase?
So people aren't paying for a premium service, just a coloured username. They can't control what we give out for free.
Although it's not selling of a premium service, Habbo will nit pick so much suggesting that it is, because with each coloured name comes the option of VIP membership, and you can only really get it by paying for it (using that suggestion - it can be gained by becoming a good member for a month too, but they won't care about that :P)


I think in the end Sulake are a dictatorship company. I would go as far as suggesting Habbox quit the official fansite system! Why you ask? Because Habbox has not benefitted by it in any way. Sulake does not care for official fansites, it only wants to make an example out of them to the rest of the fansite community. Habbox is the biggest Habbo fansite in the world, it doesn't need to publicity which Official status gives you... Mind you, does official status give any publicity apart from a little section on the fansite group page? Please do tell me if it does.

This is just one big **** up by Habbox, I'm surprised by you nvrspk because I thought you wouldve seen sense. You are the general manager of Habbox, the biggest fansite in the world. You could easily rally most of the big fansites against Sulake or just quit official status. There aren't any benefits, just disappointments and rules you must abide, which most fansites obey anyway (apart from the silly VIP one).

For the sake of common sense and freedom from the Goliath known as Sulake, quit the title of Official for all that it was, is now nothing but a worthless title.

I'd love it if some AGMS discussed this too, I doubt many people on the forum would be in objection to something as strict and unbenefitting as the European Union.

K iPhones running out of charge, bai.
Does the iPhone come with a Rally App? :P

Are you suggesting to just get rid of the Official status in general, or to allow the use of premium services,? Because both official and unofficial sites have to abide by the Fansite Rules anyway :)

I'm all for getting rid of Official Status in general - it's useless, pointless and stupid. I'm just hoping sierk doesn't think Official Status is a godsend (which he did in the past, and got annoyed when it was removed by force). It just has no purpose anymore, Habbo and Sulake have destroyed the whole point of the Official Fansite Status. I haven't seen Habbo host any events involving Fansites in years :S

[nvrspk4]

We've been informed that we'd be watched just as much as an unofficial. Though some sites might go under the radar, Habbox obviously never will.

As far as quitting official, I'm not opposed, but I see no point.

To me there are no benefits except spite, and marginal marginal downsides such as the loss of a little bit of advertizing.

In the end, if there was a reason to, I think we would.

[GommeInc]

We've been informed that we'd be watched just as much as an unofficial. Though some sites might go under the radar, Habbox obviously never will.

As far as quitting official, I'm not opposed, but I see no point.

To me there are no benefits except spite, and marginal marginal downsides such as the loss of a little bit of advertizing.

In the end, if there was a reason to, I think we would.
Perhaps it's Habbo who should get rid of the Official fansite statuses. Looking at how they treat fansites in general, it's safe to say that all Habbo fansites have to follow the same rules and standards as each other :/ An official fansite which then goes without the official status is just the same as another fansite, except it looks advertising (either alot or a tiny bit, depending on popularity, even though official fansites should have some sort of popularity to begin with).

[Immenseman]

by being official you get a tiny bit of advertising and hold bragging rights over any fan site. for example...
A - "habbox is the best site"
B - "no it's not"
A - "oh yes it is http://www.habbo.co.uk/groups/official_fansites"

[The Professor]

Just out of interest, what have Sulake threatened to do if we aren't official and start selling VIP again? Obviously they won't have the threat of removing us from the official list and I can't think of anything they can legally do...

[Pyroka]

Just out of interest, what have Sulake threatened to do if we aren't official and start selling VIP again? Obviously they won't have the threat of removing us from the official list and I can't think of anything they can legally do...

Bingo, they can't sue for damages because you never damaged then directly and purposely, nor can they shut you down through your host simply because you ain't broken the law. I'd be tempted to test them if I were you, just to wonder what they'd do. I mean the only thing they could do is look to the disclaimer for sulake? But even then that doesn't give them any grounds for... Anything.

Didn't know it was for unofficial too, that blows.

[Chippiewill]

Bingo, they can't sue for damages because you never damaged then directly and purposely, nor can they shut you down through your host simply because you ain't broken the law. I'd be tempted to test them if I were you, just to wonder what they'd do. I mean the only thing they could do is look to the disclaimer for sulake? But even then that doesn't give them any grounds for... Anything.

Didn't know it was for unofficial too, that blows.

I'm planning on doing that in a few months time....

[Catzsy]

Bingo, they can't sue for damages because you never damaged then directly and purposely, nor can they shut you down through your host simply because you ain't broken the law. I'd be tempted to test them if I were you, just to wonder what they'd do. I mean the only thing they could do is look to the disclaimer for sulake? But even then that doesn't give them any grounds for... Anything.

Didn't know it was for unofficial too, that blows.

Well it is only in the 'Fansite Way' and on a personal note because of this I wonder even if it's worth being official.

[Chippiewill]

Well it is only in the 'Fansite Way' and on a personal note because of this I wonder even if it's worth being official.

Well I joined habbox from googling rare values and from word of mouth... I doubt many peoplejoin from habbox being on the 'official' page.

[Mentor]

Habbo still own copyright to the images and habbo name. If habbo pull that copyright habbox would risk looseing its domains along with the rights to use any of the habbo images it has.

So habbo do have a pretty powerful tool to keep the fansites in line "/ That said, if habbo is going to force habbox out of business with these stupid rules my suggestion would be buy a new domain and switch the forum at least to another topic. Its easily big and active enough to sustain itselfs on its own merits, as very few of the habbo based users who join ever stay for more than a few weeks in the habbo sections "/

[Chippiewill]

Habbo doesn't have copyright to the word hab and the word box.

Also all of habbox's images (I think) are alterations. And although habbo claims they own them, they don't.

[GommeInc]

Habbo can close down any Habbo fansite, how? Because a fansite probably has Habbo images on it, which are copyrighted to and by Habbo - including most if not all clearly recognisable Habbo alterations, using a Habbo avatar or Habbo furniture, feature or symbols. They could probably close down any fansite for having the words Habbo or Sulake, maybe even Hab if it is based around Habbo Hotel and the Habbo trademark, simply because a host will take a company's word over the fansite owner (they can't fight back :P)

[Pyroka]

Habbo can close down any Habbo fansite, how? Because a fansite probably has Habbo images on it, which are copyrighted to and by Habbo - including most if not all clearly recognisable Habbo alterations, using a Habbo avatar or Habbo furniture, feature or symbols. They could probably close down any fansite for having the words Habbo or Sulake, maybe even Hab if it is based around Habbo Hotel and the Habbo trademark, simply because a host will take a company's word over the fansite owner (they can't fight back :P)

I did think of this initially but wasn't too sure. That'd be dirty tactics by Sulake, really dirty. Oh well, shutting down fansites for a product just because they want to profit of £1 per user, god help us all. Thats proper tight by them really. >.>

[syko2006]

Couldn't you just say, ''everybody donate to us, but the minimum you can donate is £... (However much it is to buy VIP.) And if you donate, you get some special features! (E.G VIP features.)''?

Cos' if I'm mistaken, it says the minimum you have to donate at the moment is £1.

So couldn't you change the price, and add features? :D

[Japan]

I really don't understand why Habbo did this, they had absolutely nothing to gain.

[The Professor]

I did think of this initially but wasn't too sure. That'd be dirty tactics by Sulake, really dirty. Oh well, shutting down fansites for a product just because they want to profit of £1 per user, god help us all. Thats proper tight by them really. >.>

So did I but it really isn't worth their time. There are hundreds of sites out there that use habbo's name, images, trademarks etc and sulake simple isn't bothered about them. And IF the worst came to the worst and sulake actually did put some resources towards taking habbox offline for using their images, we simply remove them and make some of our own. They really only have the argument that it's their images for the people and the specific furniture/pictures they created. We could make our own images in the style of habbo (alts) which they have no claim to.

A lot of habbox is just the joomla site anyway, we could easily replace all the habbo specific images with generic things (the little heads on the nav with bullet points for example) or other images we make ourselves. It isn't illegal in any way shape or form to say "habbo, sulake" or anything like that on the site, if it was the BBC and channel 4 news and everyone else who's reported on habbo would be in trouble.

We don't need sulake and sulake can do nothing but cry if we separate from them.

[Pyroka]

Yeah, being the biggest fansite in the world does have its pros I guess. :P

I was just thinking, if they wanted VIP back why not just NOT advertise the features or announce them? :S I mean thats not gaining anything which is advertised, and I'm sure it said you're not allowed to advertise the features. If you simply sneaked them in, didn't make anybody aware of them and let them discover for themselves, wouldn't that be more logical?

I mean what can Sulake do, say you put them there on purpose? Could easily cover it as an accident. *whistles* Hell I don't see why you CANT do that?! LOL

[The Professor]

I think Sulake have created a mess by allowing donator with features anyway. Having just the coloured name was pushing it, but a changeable usertitle and other bits and pieces just makes it too VIP-esque for Sulake to defend it with a straight face. Considering we advertise those features, I don't see the harm in adding a couple of others, advertised or otherwise :P

[Japan]

Yeah, being the biggest fansite in the world does have its pros I guess. :P

I was just thinking, if they wanted VIP back why not just NOT advertise the features or announce them? :S I mean thats not gaining anything which is advertised, and I'm sure it said you're not allowed to advertise the features. If you simply sneaked them in, didn't make anybody aware of them and let them discover for themselves, wouldn't that be more logical?

I mean what can Sulake do, say you put them there on purpose? Could easily cover it as an accident. *whistles* Hell I don't see why you CANT do that?! LOL

I think they said something about paying for premium features on a whole, not just about advertising.

[The Professor]

I think they said something about paying for premium features on a whole, not just about advertising.

In which case they've given us permission to break their rule, thus making their rule moot and allowing us to run amok :P

[GommeInc]

They really only have the argument that it's their images for the people and the specific furniture/pictures they created. We could make our own images in the style of habbo (alts) which they have no claim to.
How do you propose to make Habbo images without making them look like Habbo images? :P Reporting Habbo News on Habbox news would require Habbo News Team members to create, or request, non-Habbo news images that represent news from Habbo. It's too much hassle.


We don't need sulake and sulake can do nothing but cry if we separate from them.
It's not really that simple. Habbox get alot of its site views from Habbo, that's why we are all here afterall. If Habbox removed Habbo and Sulake material, then Habbox is no longer worth anything, members will die out and there would be little interest other than for the remaining members who may eventually die out too. Especially when the Radio, News, Trade and other main, Habbox factors would be cut out.

Their anti-fansite ways is the main reason I dislike Sulake and Habbo as a company. Their PR is terrible, their reasoning is terrible and they're incredibly anti-social for a site that revolves around being social and communities. Seriously, what went wrong with the company? Did someone raise up through the ranks, and was that someone a person hating sociopath who is missing half a brain, and that half of the brain being the half with all the common sense and rational thinking functionality? It makes no sense :S It gives them a bad name, and my God they've truely earnt that bad name :P

[Immenseman]

I don't think it's all that practical going down the route of "SCREW SULAKE" because Sulake can screw Habbox twice as hard in reality. You can site here and complain about Sulake all night (glares at Ryan) but it isn't going to change anything - they have implemented such regulations for whatever reason - why I'm not sure. You'd have to ask nvrspk4 if they ever released an official reason.

Habbox can't really try and avoid thing because it's the worlds biggest fansite - it's not some unknown site - it's a well known fact that staff use this site. Not only visit but from what I gather some actively browse the forum and people have been landed in trouble for what they've said on here and it had to be me to find out the hard way.

If Habbox wanted to try and avoid such things Sulake would come down hard and they have a team of people who know what they're doing, it's easiest keeping them happy and I think management know this hence why they're doing as Sulake desire at the present time. They could become very irate if Habbox was to start going against the fansite way and request all images to be removed, think of all the rare value images and remember that rare values are the fundamental reason why Habbox is so popular.

Hope that makes sense, just got in from a night out, I tried my best :8

[Black_Apalachi]

I didn't bother quoting everything, but Sulake can't disallow the use of the letters 'H', 'A', 'B', 'B', and 'O' in that order within a word :rolleyes:. Besides, as you know this site is called Habbox pronounced; 'Hab-box'. If they tried to say that was disallowed, then you would need to ask why they allow people to use the word 'lake'. (I know Sulake is pronounced 'Su-lah-kee' but it's a two-way street).

Also habbox.com and habboxforum.com are seperate domains so are they not therefore seperate websites? If so, it wouldn't be hard to remove all the millions of Habbo images off the forum. There's vertually none anyway; the skin banners is basically all of them? :S (idc what Sulake say, avatars, signatures and post content don't count as users on any forum on the internet could post those anywhere anyway).

Furthermore, if Habbox.com is separate to HabboxForum.com - it's not official anyway?! Isn't Habbox.com the official fansite? If they are connected, just do something to make then not connected! :P

As a side note, I'd love to know what constitutes as "an image owned by Sulake". I know they say anything alterated from a Habbo image, but how far does that go? I mean Habbo images aren't very complex, any isometric doodle on Paint could resemble a part of something on Habbo. If you wanted to, it wouldn't be hard to make images like Sulake's but different. Like Habbos with different proportions to their bodily features etc. As far as I'm concerned, if they haven't got a patent on "isometric images" they can do one.

At the end of the day though, Sulake are bang out of order. I'd love to know how many Habbos were registered because some Runescape fan or anyone just browsing discussion forums came across HabboxForum and thought Habbo sounded cool. Yeah I bet there's a hell of a lot tbh. Put it like this, I reckon more people found out about Habbo through HabboxForum than those who found HabboxForum through Habbo directly - basically the Official Fansites page (which doesn't have the forum on anyway).

Then I'd like to see how much Habbox's combined members and staff have all spent on Habbo. I bet that is a hell of a lot as well.

It's not like Habbox is a big corporate company storming in to take Sulake's profitz and Fronz :rolleyes:. It's a FANSITE basically held together by kids who are making virtually nothing out of it but are dedicated to SULAKE'S users. They should feel privileged that HabboxForum chooses to keep Habbo as its main focus. I doubt any website has become so big with such a young team of people behind it. It could easily become a mainly Runescape forum or just a generic teen forum tbh. All Habbox does is help Sulake get more kids hooked on Habbo fgs. Habbo would have been so much ****ter if there had been no fansites and I'd have left PROPERLY ages ago.

[Pyroka]

I think they said something about paying for premium features on a whole, not just about advertising.

How can you pay for the premium features when they're not advertised? It's like buying a box of cereal, then finding a toy inside. You only bought it for the cereal, it's all the same price and the customer was not aware of what they were buying.

Surely thats a loophole that needs to be tested. I mean you're not paying for the premium features, you're paying to be a donator just to find out you have premium features also. Oh snap.

Right Im off, see ya. Oh and btw... *glares at jake* ;)

[Black_Apalachi]

That's a fair idea for most of us, but it won't draw in any new users to buy rep.

[GommeInc]

How can you pay for the premium features when they're not advertised? It's like buying a box of cereal, then finding a toy inside. You only bought it for the cereal, it's all the same price and the customer was not aware of what they were buying.

Surely thats a loophole that needs to be tested. I mean you're not paying for the premium features, you're paying to be a donator just to find out you have premium features also. Oh snap.

Right Im off, see ya. Oh and btw... *glares at jake* ;)
Won't work. Habbo has in the past had many hundreds of loopholes, and when they're tried and tested they simply don't care to explain, but just ban or remove on the spot. They're dirty playaz :8 At the end of the day, a company will listen to another company, especially one as big and corporate as Sulake/Habbo. A website host would rather take out action on their own customers than attempt to tackle something bigger, especially when money may get involved :P

[The Professor]

How do you propose to make Habbo images without making them look like Habbo images? :P Reporting Habbo News on Habbox news would require Habbo News Team members to create, or request, non-Habbo news images that represent news from Habbo. It's too much hassle.


As a side note, I'd love to know what constitutes as "an image owned by Sulake". I know they say anything alterated from a Habbo image, but how far does that go? I mean Habbo images aren't very complex, any isometric doodle on Paint could resemble a part of something on Habbo. If you wanted to, it wouldn't be hard to make images like Sulake's but different. Like Habbos with different proportions to their bodily features etc. As far as I'm concerned, if they haven't got a patent on "isometric images" they can do one.

That's what I was trying to get at, sorry I can't get points accross at 1am :P The rare values would be a bit more of an issue, maybe just text will do? What I'm saying is we don't have to let them pin us down over the images, we just remove them and improvise a bit and still make it look cartoony like habbo but without using their images.

Tbh I'd love to see what they actually have a claim to in writing, then we can go about deciding whether we can do without it.

[GommeInc]

It's too much hassle really, why destroy Habbox to better itself. What needs to change is Habbo, not Habbox :) Anyone wanna go on a mission with me to wipe out whoever is in charge at Sulake? We'll be doing the world some good :D

[The Professor]

It's too much hassle really, why destroy Habbox to better itself. What needs to change is Habbo, not Habbox :) Anyone wanna go on a mission with me to wipe out whoever is in charge at Sulake? We'll be doing the world some good :D

Yeah go for it :D

Thing is we can control what habbox does, not what sulake does :)

[Black_Apalachi]

That's what I was trying to get at, sorry I can't get points accross at 1am :P The rare values would be a bit more of an issue, maybe just text will do? What I'm saying is we don't have to let them pin us down over the images, we just remove them and improvise a bit and still make it look cartoony like habbo but without using their images.

Tbh I'd love to see what they actually have a claim to in writing, then we can go about deciding whether we can do without it.

But I still ask, can Habbox and HabboxForum become separated to avoid this issue?

[The Professor]

But I still ask, can Habbox and HabboxForum become separated to avoid this issue?

I think we've asked Sulake that before and they say they consider hx and hxf the same entity.

[Pyroka]

Rename HabboxForum to something else, just add it to a sponsored link site along with other things. Make a seperate Habbox actual forum. Ding dang doo.

[lick]

Rename HabboxForum to something else, just add it to a sponsored link site along with other things. Make a seperate Habbox actual forum. Ding dang doo.

All that just so they can spell VIP for a pound? :S

[nvrspk4]

But I still ask, can Habbox and HabboxForum become separated to avoid this issue?

I'll get in trouble if I reproduce the email but to summarize they said if we removed all the Habbo images from HxF skins then we still wouldn't be in the clear because of something about Official Fansites not being able to link to other fansites that broke the fansite way and so we'd have to remove all links to HabboxForum...

Don't look at me. Not my rules. And you all complain about how messed up *our* rules are.

[Chippiewill]

I'll get in trouble if I reproduce the email but to summarize they said if we removed all the Habbo images from HxF skins then we still wouldn't be in the clear because of something about Official Fansites not being able to link to other fansites that broke the fansite way and so we'd have to remove all links to HabboxForum...

Then it shall be done!

[BoomItsClowgon]

As much as i like Habbox.. wouldn't Clubhabbo be right up the top with HxF?

They have more users then Hxf and seeing as "most" of them having different coloured user names they probably generate a much bigger percent of earnings then Habbox every p/m..

[Black_Apalachi]

I think we've asked Sulake that before and they say they consider hx and hxf the same entity.

I was going to say Sulake can't decide which websites are linked to who...


I'll get in trouble if I reproduce the email but to summarize they said if we removed all the Habbo images from HxF skins then we still wouldn't be in the clear because of something about Official Fansites not being able to link to other fansites that broke the fansite way and so we'd have to remove all links to HabboxForum...

Don't look at me. Not my rules. And you all complain about how messed up *our* rules are.

...but OK.

Hmm... surely a disclaimer would cover that? Then again, I suppose any disclaimer you write is worthless even though they're precious Habbo disclaimer is super important :rolleyes:.

Seriously though, that just means official fansites should NEVER link to any outside website at all (e.g. Top Sites or Fansite Links) for they have no control as to what the outside sites will do. And that's just stupid.

Also, what if a website that broke The Fansite Way appeared on Habbox's Google Ads? That's out of Habbox's control but it would still be linked from Habbox.

Sulake need to stop thiking they can reate their own laws and at least think them though if they're gonna try :@.

[Catzsy]

Out of interest do they do this for unofficial websites as well because if they don't it doesn't seem very fair.

[Black_Apalachi]

Out of interest do they do this for unofficial websites as well because if they don't it doesn't seem very fair.

They've got nothing to threaten unofficial fansites with have they. The only thing they have to invent their own laws is, 'follow our rules or we'll take away your official status'. Slightly ironic that the most dedicated ones are being punished because of it.

[lick]

As much as i like Habbox.. wouldn't Clubhabbo be right up the top with HxF?

They have more users then Hxf and seeing as "most" of them having different coloured user names they probably generate a much bigger percent of earnings then Habbox every p/m..

Habbox has more users than clubhabbo. And there donate comes with that rep feature so you can see who gave you it + they look nice on there light skins so most people choose to have a color user name because of that

[Catzsy]

They've got nothing to threaten unofficial fansites with have they. The only thing they have to invent their own laws is, 'follow our rules or we'll take away your official status'. Slightly ironic that the most dedicated ones are being punished because of it.

So they don't actually take any action in respect of any copyright images put on the unofficial sites?

[The Professor]

So they don't actually take any action in respect of any copyright images put on the unofficial sites?

It isn't worth it for them. There are hundreds of sites around the world with habbo images on that I'm sure break the fansite way one way or another (probably by selling premium features) and we haven't heard of them being picked up on it. Its too much time and effort and, potentially, too much money lost being paid to lawyers should it get that far.

[StefanWolves]

Simple, **** Sulake, **** the 'official' status, bring back good ol' VIP.

[lick]

Sulake try to Take down Teen fansite

Hmm who would get the bad press there?

[Black_Apalachi]

So they don't actually take any action in respect of any copyright images put on the unofficial sites?


It isn't worth it for them. There are hundreds of sites around the world with habbo images on that I'm sure break the fansite way one way or another (probably by selling premium features) and we haven't heard of them being picked up on it. Its too much time and effort and, potentially, too much money lost being paid to lawyers should it get that far.

As Alex says, as far as I know they don't bother. The disclaimer that fansites display states that all images belong to Sulake so what can they accuse them of anyway?

[Stupidcakeman]

To be honest. Some of those Ideas sound a bit ridiculous. =/

[GommeInc]

Out of interest do they do this for unofficial websites as well because if they don't it doesn't seem very fair.
Apparently they do. The fansite way is to be followed by both Official and Unofficial fansites. Basically any website dedicated to Habbo - using Habbo images and has its primary function to discuss and inform about Habbo products.

This discussion seems to be becoming long winded now :P Although the disclaimer is there, Habbo can still close down any fansite for any/no reason at all. It depends if you've got a host that would be happy tackling a corporation (I think Sulake is a Corp.?) to defend their customers, especially if a disclaimer is produced somewhere on the website stating Habbo images are there. Premium Services don't affect Habbo and it's rude of Habbo to of even thought about removing them from sites they don't control, let alone actually going ahead with the plans.

What might be a good idea for some, is to email Habbo as an individual (not for any fansite, just for fansites and premium services in general) asking what the reason(s) are for this, and expect a rational, thought out reason. If not, keep pressuring them and suggesting that Premium Services are what keep Habbo Fansites efficient at advertising Habbo and keeping Habbo users up to date with information, especially when Premium Services are bought as a choice by whoever is buying them - it's not forced on people (and if it was, it's the idiots buying it that need a slap as well :P).

[Black_Apalachi]

Apparently they do. The fansite way is to be followed by both Official and Unofficial fansites. Basically any website dedicated to Habbo - using Habbo images and has its primary function to discuss and inform about Habbo products.

This discussion seems to be becoming long winded now :P Although the disclaimer is there, Habbo can still close down any fansite for any/no reason at all. It depends if you've got a host that would be happy tackling a corporation (I think Sulake is a Corp.?) to defend their customers, especially if a disclaimer is produced somewhere on the website stating Habbo images are there. [...]

What about the dozens of "fansites" kids create on Freewebs/Tripod/Piczo and other free web builders and hosts? Surely they're the easiest to shut down yet they all remain open. I'm talking about the ones you come across which are made up of a couple of crappy pages and were clearly created years ago and forgotten about. As these extremely unprofessional sites bare Sulake or Habbo's image (brand image, not a pixel image :P), I would have thought they would be more concerned about these as they may provide an unjust representation of themselves (people mistaking said websites as actual Habbo or Sulake websites) and thus having a negative impact on their company's image.

I realise I've gone a bit off topic now, but my point is, I can't understand why they would be more concerned with shutting down a well-constructed website which only contributes to Sulake's public perspective rather than getting rid of all the little bits of rubbish some kid spent 10 minutes throwing together about 5 years ago.

Gomme, your idea of emailing Sulake on an individual basis is a good one, but I wouldn't be surprised at the lack of (informative) response.

[nvrspk4]

As much as i like Habbox.. wouldn't Clubhabbo be right up the top with HxF?

They have more users then Hxf and seeing as "most" of them having different coloured user names they probably generate a much bigger percent of earnings then Habbox every p/m..

Not really :P Habbox has many more users and had a lot more VIPs. ClubHabbo would (probably) come in second for earnings but I think there would be a notable gap.


Out of interest do they do this for unofficial websites as well because if they don't it doesn't seem very fair.

Theoretically, yes.

Practically, don't think they know every unofficial site out there :P


They've got nothing to threaten unofficial fansites with have they. The only thing they have to invent their own laws is, 'follow our rules or we'll take away your official status'. Slightly ironic that the most dedicated ones are being punished because of it.

Hell, do you think I would let them threaten me with official status or VIP? It'd be bye-bye gold tier :P They threatened closure.

Whether they'd do it...I dunno.

[StefanWolves]

You should try it and find it. ;)

[GommeInc]

What about the dozens of "fansites" kids create on Freewebs/Tripod/Piczo and other free web builders and hosts? Surely they're the easiest to shut down yet they all remain open. I'm talking about the ones you come across which are made up of a couple of crappy pages and were clearly created years ago and forgotten about. As these extremely unprofessional sites bare Sulake or Habbo's image (brand image, not a pixel image :P), I would have thought they would be more concerned about these as they may provide an unjust representation of themselves (people mistaking said websites as actual Habbo or Sulake websites) and thus having a negative impact on their company's image.
There's no point. Loads of companies and products have cheap, tacky fanbased websites. There's no point geting them closed down when they pose no threat, and if they advertised Habbo as some crap hole (which it is, but they don't see it like that), people will be interested to see why to build their own conclusions. Advertising whether good or bad, is still advertising for the website :P


I realise I've gone a bit off topic now, but my point is, I can't understand why they would be more concerned with shutting down a well-constructed website which only contributes to Sulake's public perspective rather than getting rid of all the little bits of rubbish some kid spent 10 minutes throwing together about 5 years ago.
No-one knows dear, Habbo has someone in their ranks who is stupid :P And I MEAN stupid. Seriously, whoever decided this is the definition of stupid. In the Oxford Dictionary, they have a picture of their stupid head next to he definition of stupid, with "This is Stupid (previously Mr(s) X. X.), who fell out of a great Stupid Finnish Elm Tree and hit all the stupid branches on the way down till they landed on the stupid pit and then slowly rolled down the stupid hill into the stupid sea hitting every stupid rock with stupid waves hitting their stupid faces." But I don't wish to go on ;) :P


Gomme, your idea of emailing Sulake on an individual basis is a good one, but I wouldn't be surprised at the lack of (informative) response.
It would of been me, but for some reason Habbo's Contact Us page does not realise my email is correct AND my name. I even tested it! More stupid things :P

[Black_Apalachi]

Lol Gomme. If it's a Hotmail then that's why - Habbo just refuses to work with Hotmail sometimes.


[...] Hell, do you think I would let them threaten me with official status or VIP? It'd be bye-bye gold tier :P They threatened closure.

Whether they'd do it...I dunno.

I didn't know they threatened?! :O Is the only way to get you closed down; to tell your host to close you down?

If so, then can't you ask your host now whether they'd stick with you (their customer) or just comply with some third party corporation, (assuming they won't lie to you)?

[GommeInc]

Lol Gomme. If it's a Hotmail then that's why - Habbo just refuses to work with Hotmail sometimes.
Nope, gmail :P Maybe they didn't like my email from last time about the fansite rules. It's not my fault I was being honest about how stupid they are :'(

[Devestation]

I would saym that you shouldnt get fancy things for donating. The @habbox.com would be the only 1 id agree with... ( sorry for typos, on iphone ).

[The Professor]

Bump :( Interesting bump though, this thread was going places then just kinda died :(

[xxMATTGxx]

Bump :( Interesting bump though, this thread was going places then just kinda died :(

But any changes, we would have to contact Sulake surely? Them guys are pain in the bums at times!

[Circadia]

would that be included if you win the vip ??

[GommeInc]

But any changes, we would have to contact Sulake surely? Them guys are pain in the bums at times!
At times? All of the time :P I think they've blocked me from emailing them :( Granted the last email sent to them was basically about how anti-social Habbo was towards its fansites, and giving a well thought argument (something they fail at comprehending anyway).

[The Professor]

But any changes, we would have to contact Sulake surely? Them guys are pain in the bums at times!

Did you read the thread love? We were giving nice arguments as to why we shouldn't be official and why we should stick 2 fingers up at sulake and all kind agreed then nothing happened :(

[GommeInc]

Did you read the thread love? We were giving nice arguments as to why we shouldn't be official and why we should stick 2 fingers up at sulake and all kind agreed then nothing happened :(
As far as I am aware, sierk would not allow anyone at Habbox other than himself to lose official status, when he kinda fought for Habbox to have it in the first place. It's sad when he really doesn't appear to have anything to do with Habbox these days. It's amazing no-one has offered to take ownership of it, he doesn't need it at least :/

[StefanWolves]

If I had 10pence I'd buy HxF out and rule you all! :)

[Laggings]

I assume this is now 'Donater Extra's', since VIP is kaput, except for winning comps.

[Invent]

Can someone please explain to me why you're able to sell a donator subscription with one extra but you can't sell a donator subscription with more than one extra? :S

[nvrspk4]

Did you read the thread love? We were giving nice arguments as to why we shouldn't be official and why we should stick 2 fingers up at sulake and all kind agreed then nothing happened :(

Sorry thought I had responded to that. Sulake says that anyone using Habbo content including images etc. is subject to the rules and we suggested we remove Habbo images from HabboxForum and they said that we would then have to remove the link from Habbox.com as fansites are not allowed to link to sites that break the Habbo Way (I won't even talk about what I think of that). Long story short, being official doesn't matter either way, we get a shiny little seal and that's it.


As far as I am aware, sierk would not allow anyone at Habbox other than himself to lose official status, when he kinda fought for Habbox to have it in the first place. It's sad when he really doesn't appear to have anything to do with Habbox these days. It's amazing no-one has offered to take ownership of it, he doesn't need it at least :/

Not the reason we haven't given up official :P If giving it up would allow us to sell VIP again, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that sierk wouldn't think twice.


Can someone please explain to me why you're able to sell a donator subscription with one extra but you can't sell a donator subscription with more than one extra? :S

Because Sulake specifically approved the username color and title thing. Username color and usertitle are "aesthetic changes" and therefore permissible. Don't ask, I don't understand their reasoning either.

[StefanWolves]

well they aren't going to take your to court for using a few habbo furniture images/gfx mods , they'd get laughed at.

[Invent]

well they aren't going to take your to court for using a few habbo furniture images/gfx mods , they'd get laughed at.

No they wouldn't, it's called copyright and intellectual property.