I have been here since August of 2003 and I still enjoy playing here. Thanks Fencer for a great site!

Aganju: Hear hear well put. As I have been posting for weeks I think Brainking is a wonderful site.

Fencer: yes from my side also, i enjoy playing here and don't miss anything on it, thank you for your work

Thank you.

I too have been here since Jan of 2003 and have no regrets. Fencer has done a wonderful job on this site and I thank him for all the work he has done to keep this site in good playing shape! Hope it will be around for many years to come.

I have been a paid member of this site since January 26,2003 and during that time I have played with no problems and I feel sure in that time things have happened to Fencer that would have kept me from playing but that has not happened, I will continue to pay and play as long as the site is up and running,thank you Fencer !

Justaminute: I don't follow your all argumentation. There are so many companies that sell life-time this-n-that, and they never specify the obvious - when they go out of business, of courseyou have nobody to go to.

I am still considering buying a life time membership, and the only thing that keeps me from it is that I currently have no need to act as I have still some years of rook. Nothing has changed comparing to five years ago, I still get exactly what I expect to get.

Some people have gotten the idea in their heads that they have the right to expect continuously more for less, and every offer in the world has to follow this. That is an unrealistic expectation, and shows complete ignorance of reality. Just because facebook and google and such give you new features all the time (and seem to be free), does not imply that that is a standard all have to follow.

I think generally, when you buy something, it should be clear what you get, and you should not make implicit assumptions about it becoming more in the background. The only reason to complain is if you not get what was explicitly promised when you bought - and this is not the case here. Nobody bought a membership with the claim that 'number of players and move will increase' or 'new features will come all the time'. That is your _imagination_, guys. So grow up and become realistic!
What have _you_ recently done for free for the world outside of your normal work?

The number of players goes down because old people die and the next generation can't be bothered so much to play games where you need to think, and that don't have realistic-looking moving 3D graphics; that is hardly BKs fault.

I only hope when Fencer decides to put BK in the trash, he is willing to give it away to someone else to run instead of really deleting it.

to all but mostly lifetime members :)

about lifetime memberships. I think a similar warning should be provided for all membership options. Have a great day.

ThunderGr: I will be staying as a paid member as I really like this site.

Fencer: I hope it continues to be profitable.

ThunderGr: "Hey, I was just thinking about posting some kind of announcement." - where can you see something about "big"? If you don't get what you expect, it's not my fault.
Anyway, problem solved.

Fencer: So, the awaited "big announcement" is, actually, nothing we did not know about.

Since it is obvious the site is a burden to you, I will certainly do my best to relieve you of this burden and I hope the other people here will decide to help you as well.
Thus, as it is obvious, I am removing myself from this site as soon as my last game finishes.

Cheers!

ellieoop: it seems to me that pre 1 month ago a black rook would have a case for compensation. Ketchuplover suggestion is not unreasonable for the basis of the compensation.

I expect lifetime has been defined in the courts, plenty of companies offer lifetime guarantees. That definition will apply unless caveats exist which they did not before a month ago apparantly.

Fencer if you were in hosital for 6 months and the site was down for that time I would wish you a speedy and full recovery but would still expect to be compensated on your return by my membership being extended 6 months.

Fencer clearly you think buying Black rooks is illogical given your current plans. Would it not be better to remove this opyion all together? Language barriers might prevent some people understanding the warning.

ketchuplover: Ha, you have noticed. Actually, I added a special warning to the membership order page a month ago, and the warning shows up above the "Order" button if someone has a lifetime membership in the shopping cart. It clearly states that there is no guarantee that BrainKing will be there forever, so the order is at your own risk and there will be no refunds.

So, I was quite surprised that someone still paid for a black rook and I messaged this person with a question if he really meaned it. I even offered an instant refund, just in case that he didn't understand the warning. Still, he wanted to keep it. Such things happen.

"On the other hand no definition of lifetime and or guarantee of time has ever been given" - of course it has never been given. If I get run down by a bus tomorrow and spend 6 months in a hospital, there would be nobody else to keep an eye on the site. I am not sure if I ever mentioned it but I am the only one who maintains BrainKing since 2008. The other guy (Liquid) had decided to pursue his own projects and does not work with me anymore.

Nothing is for sure except death and taxes.

ellieoop: As long as the site is profitable, I will do my best to keep it going, of course. But since the situation can change every year, it would not be fair to claim that BrainKing would be here forever under all circumstances.

ketchuplover: I don't understand your post unless you're fencers partner or you're going to buy the site. you're telling fencer how he should go about paying back someone that bought a black rook. I'm sure fencer will know what to do. you are a guest, a lot of us have been playing and paying here since day 1, I would miss this site. I hope fencer can keep it going.. nobody is being forced to play here.

Two peoples' posts are hidden for now, until I have a while to go through and get rid of the ones that need to be gotten rid of. Then both parties will be unhidden.

After that, if the arguing continues, either or both parties will be banned from posting to this board.

This does mean that some of the "side posts" will be deleted as well. This is not any judgement on your reaction to the inappropriate bickering.

Gabriel Almeida: *2* *22* ...oh crap, I am not a paying member any more. Never mind,I will leave that up anyway. https://xkcd.com/386/

Aganju: 

Justaminute: Anyone would think that this site was about to collapse with all this doom and gloom talk.
IYT has not made any improvements since I last played there years ago and still runs okay. To me is looks dated compared to this site.

I wish it was time for the kids to go to bed and stop bickering.

ketchuplover: I take it to mean that lifetime is for the lifetime of this site.

Justaminute:
At least one person has bought a black rook membership this month. I think all black rook and black knight memberships(active and inactive if possible) should be converted to white rook and knight memberships and they be given a pro-rated refund based on the start date of their black memberships(if active)(and on length of their membership if inactive and they can be contacted of course. At least they should all be contacted (including inactives if possible) and given the refund option. On the other hand no definition of lifetime and or guarantee of time has ever been given (as far as I know)

Gabriel Almeida: While you are right there is no obligation to develop, I wonder what lifetime members feel about the site going on low maintenance. Mind you I doubt too many people have bought black rooks in the last few years if they have been reading the boards.

Fencer: I can very understand that

And that's why I am always reluctant to post something what could start an endless argument.

Brian1971: Speaking freely is fine and dandy. It's just that when it devolves into a personal conversation it should be taken private so no one else has to be subjected to it

Brian1971: You 2 should exchangs email address and continue your conversations there so no one else has to see

I totally disagree with this "moralist" opinions.

Brian1971: I have noticed that the "daily moves" has dropped dramatically

the site Gods will fully explain lower maintenance mode to everyone before it begins. Then everyone can decide if it's worth it to be a paying member.

Fencer: "as is" is fine with me. I will still renew. Although maybe not longer than 2 years

Brain: "I was not happy with this site several years ago and I was unpopular with Fencer and what I called his followers at that time"

Ok Im offended. Now we take on personal attacks??

Where is Rod?

This guy hasn't a clue what he is talking about. I think we know his message now so can something be done about his demeanor?

crosseyed: Please keep religion off of this board.

universe: Fencer is not forcing me to be a paid member. I prefer to be a paying member because I do not like restrictions. I do not expect too much from this site and I think this is the best games site to play games in. I do hope that Fencer will continue to run this site in any way possible. I think he should stop non paying member using the discussion boards and then there might be less moaning going on. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with this site now.

Fencer:thanks fencer

beach: Yes, for at least 2 years. After that, it might go to a lower maintenance mode. Which means that I will probably be here every day as usual, but with no guarantees of anything.

Fencer:  do you still plan  on maintaining it as it is

Patience.
Sometimes, more important things show up and must be addressed with higher priority.

Brian1971: Not a big issue but I just don't understand how is a paid membership related to a "respect" to customers. You know exactly what you pay (or paid) for, it's clearly specified at the respective page. If you don't like it, well, there are many other game sites to choose from.

OK guys, a very short version - I don't intent to develop this site any further, unless the ownership is passed to another person with all rights and responsibilities. If someone is seriously interested in that, I'll be glad to discuss details in private.

I havn't paid a dime and I love the site. For the paying members at a dime a day.....??? .....as for fencer I would just delete the board altogether as pat chu did a decade ago. No game site has a format to complain like we do here. Fencer needs to stop forcing everyone to pay

Bernice: No problem. The most important is a nice cruise for you.

Mélusine: too much problem putting up pics...have a restriction on putting up pics - been there for about 4 years....I cant be bothered with this site and its hassles ....sorry....Will be on facebook tho :)

Brian1971:  I agree he said he was posting an announcement he should have done it

Brian1971: I agree with you. We must do what we say. You're right to mention it.

Bernice: Have a nice trip ! I hope a few landscape photos on your profile, just to make us dream a little.

Brian1971:

ketchuplover: thanks - I will have double the fun hahahaha ...and thanks Doris :)

Doris:

I second that emotion

Doris:

I second that emotion