First Sirius Interstellar Bank

[cold_reaper]

The Universe of Void has grown quite consistently the past few months. With the new progress comes new opportunity for us entrepreneurs to open new business. This leads me to the next proposal.

Tired of having to make new characters to store your excess equipment? Tired of having to do mission after mission after mission to earn a few extra credits? You look for the familiar sound of agitation and enthusiasm that people get when around a bank, but can't find it anywhere in this digital jungle? You need a few extra credits for that brand new Anubis Mk II or some ol' fashioned Annihilators , but you just don`t have the time to do a mission or two?  Well The "Sirius Interstellar Bank" is the place for YOU !

We at S.I.B. take our job very seriously to provide the average customer with the best experience he has ever had. We offer our services at reasonable rates and with more than advantageous interest*. If you need a loan or you want to make some extra credits by opening a bank account and deposit some cash with a advantageous monthly interest, then you came to the right place.

"Sirius Interstellar Bank" will open it's offices very soon on Planet Manhattan, and, if this idea is received with warmth from the community, will be opened for the general public in no time.

To make an idea of what S.I.B. has to offer here's a primary list of our services:

- you can make deposits in any of our banking characters, anywhere from 1 million credits to 100 million credits. (this limit might be changed in time, depending on the response of the public). The interest rate that you will receive on a monthly basis will depend on the amount deposited. (specifics will come later, depending on the community's response to this idea)

- you can take out loan from any of our banking characters, anywhere from 100.000 credits to 7 million big ones (again this will be changed if so required) . We will set up a range of categories for loans, each category with its own loan limit and monthly interest rate that you will have to pay to the bank.

- you will be able to deposit equipment of any kind to any of our banking characters. This feature will only become active after FLAC comes back on, so we can protect our customers merchandise. Each piece of equipment you store will cost an initial sum of money, and then a monthly fee that you will pay to the bank.

This is my idea. Why you might ask? Well the answer is simple:

a) I believe that this will do wonders for the community, and especially newbies that are in need of credits. With a bank opened, we will encourage the average newbie, and they won`t have to beg all the time for money. This is a great way to attract new-blood to Void. If the new gamer gets a positive "vibe" about this place, he is more likely to tell his friends to get their behinds down to Void.

b) Because it's something new. I never saw a bank like the one I`m proposing to be opened here anywhere on any server I`ve played before. Apart from the great mod and the wonderful community we have here this will be a way to differentiate us from the average servers around the world of Multiplayer Freelancer. Why different? Because I`m proposing to have the full help and approval of the A -Team on this one. Abusing the loan feature will become an issue at some point, because, unfortunately we can not trust the common sense of the average gamer to pay back the money that was generously given to him. The bank itself will have its own security measures (like a limit to how much you can borrow the first 3 loans - no more than 1 million credits or something like that). But with the help of the A - Team, and faced with horrific bans, the average player might be more understanding and follow the rules and pay his debts. You might say that the A - Team has enough to worry about as it is. Well I`m not proposing to put the whole A - Team behind this project, I`m proposing that the admins agree to empower the high-ranking bank officials with Void - like powers to ensure that the investment is kept safe. I`m proposing something like [EVENT] characters, with the power and the equipment necessary to ensure that the debts are payed. I`m proposing all of this be really official, with a board of its own on the forums, I`m proposing this becomes a part of the image of the server itself. In essence, the bank will be a self-sustaining organism, if helped by the admins and the community.

Some of you might find the idea stupid. But don`t dismiss it on the spot. Think about it, consider the implications of this, and then speak your mind. I would like to get some feedback from you, and would like to have an official response from the admins on the matter, their own personal view, of course if that is possible.

Sirius Interstellar Bank can be a really good opportunity to bring some color and life back to our community, and to differentiate us from the many other servers out there. Think about it ! This whole plan depends on the response of the community and the admin team. So come on chaps ! Let`s talk business !


Pyro.



*Please correct me if my spelling is wrong I`ll edit it later

NOTE: If anyone is interested in helping, and the idea is looked upon with agreement by the community, please contact me. This is NOT a clan, this is an institution, and I`ll need some help to get things started.

NOTE: Regrading the services, clans and other organizations will be able to make bigger deposits, and, maybe take out bigger loans than individuals. (with the interest rates changed accordingly of course) Clans and other organizations will also have the possibility of owning their own deposit-box characters (for equipment and such) at really low prices.  Still regarding services, if anyone has other ideas I`ll be happy to listen to them, if you just PM them to me.

[moltenlead]

wow i never read a topic this long and stayed interested rofl
i'd like to help ya out, it sounds great

[DodgerMP]

I think this would be a big help for the new people starting out on The Void!

[Maverick]

That's a very good idea you're proposing there m8! Very thought through. It would indeed be a great help to encourage new players to come to the void. If I had the time, I would most definitely volunteer to help you out in any way. But I'm sorry to say I don't have enough spare time to be of importance to you.

Nevertheless the best of luck in introducing the S.I.B. to the Void m8.

MAV

[cold_reaper]

a weee BUMP !

[Zebulon]

Ok Reaper - excellent idea (cant think where you got it from cos I believe AoF when it first started looked into this as an idea and found it unworkable) ...!  ;)

So  - I am going to play "Devils Advocate" here.  Just so you dont get the wrong idea - I think its a great idea. However, there are some serious issues and pitfalls.

1. Why place money in a bank that you have no guarantee of accessing whenever you want to play? Many players have either a Clan Bank to rely on or one of their own characters that the keep in New York with their stash of cash and their gun hoard.  Some players even feel that this in itself is a pointless excersise.

2. What do you get out of it apart from plain old fashoined Profit $$$?

3. How will you be able to keep track of who gave you what and which account numbers belong to which players - make no mistake this is a MASSIVE undertaking.

4. What is there to stop an "employee" of the bank taking the cash off the top and milking the system?

5. Can you offer 24/7 access to equipment and money?

That will do for starters.  Its a great idea but if its going to work it needs to be meticulously thought through - dont want it to end up like Heathrow Terminal 5 now, do we?

[Headhunter]

Its an excellent idea mate, as Zeb said - AoF had tried to do something like this when they had started out but could not find any way around to making it work.  If they can't do it.  How are you going to convence us that you can do it?

This idea may be good and you may want to start up a group with a fancy name to help players with money and equipment, but whats the point?  Can you offer the best quality of equipment when it is needed or is it just like a gunshop when they need to restock if they don't have the correct equipment?  
Can you always keep track of the amounts of money you loan to players?  How much credit investments are you willing to do?  Is there going to be a profit for yourself?  Are you going to charge players more money to pay back, the more longer they take to pay you?

Personally i think this would be extremely hard and would take a lot of thought to manage and do.  

What happened to the good old player loans.  Why can't a player if they are in a clan ask the clan to loan them some money or equipment?  If you did that, it would make it a lot easier to deal with and the person whom loaned the money or gave out equipment would have enough funds and stock coming in so they won't have to charge the loan extra.

Players can ask some other players whom are well off in the game and who had plenty of credits or who can give out any spair equipment.  You don't need to create an entire new group and make things more important and feel that there is a "service" required for a simple job.  Anyone could lend out money or equipment, there is no need for a new special staff group.
Players could ask anyone.  If the person who they ask at the start doesn't help them out, why not ask another?  There is more than 1 person who is capable to help players like this in the time of need.

I just can't see it happening. It may be an excellent idea and it may work good through time, but there is not really any point of it...

Thats my own personal opinion, you don't need to agree with it if you don't want to.

Some of Zebulons points which i agree with.  How are you suppose to do these?

1. Why place money in a bank that you have no guarantee of accessing whenever you want to play? Many players have either a Clan Bank to rely on or one of their own characters that the keep in New York with their stash of cash and their gun hoard.  Some players even feel that this in itself is a pointless excersise.

5. Can you offer 24/7 access to equipment and money?


That number 5. one.  The one "Can you offer 24/7 access to equipment and money?" - You probably can't.  You are NOT on 24/7 and you can't supply goods and money like magic.  You have to go out there and find and earn them.

Zebulon other point which i TOTALLY agree with.


4. What is there to stop an "employee" of the bank taking the cash off the top and milking the system?

How can you?  You simply can't!

The server staff and server admins already have a working group on the server whom have credits supplied by them from the server.  The EVENT Team.

They, the server admins, need to make sure nobody in that takes advantage of the in-flow of the money and use it for themselves.  We don't really need another staff group who will have the same advantage.

The people whom are in the group may be "trusted" as a player, but players CAN get gready when they are getting things given to them.  They might decide "What the heck, there is plenty of money flow going on here.  Let's take some for ourselves".

I am not saying that you would do this but i am just saying that it CAN happen and probably has happened in the past.

Let's see what other have to say about this idea first.

Regards,

HH.

[CryptLord]

well it is a good idea but i see your point headhunter

[rene]

it is indeed a very good idea to make an institution for credit and equipment services,specially for newbies
there are some doubts on its "workability" as HH and Zeb pointed out
i myself dont disagree with this great idea, well all i can say is.....give it a try and see how the community respond to it, if it turns good within the first 1-2 weeks, then we might say that it may be working
good luck and hope the A-team will support u in this one

cya in space m8

[cold_reaper]

Well I read all the responses and I can see Zeb`s and HH`s points. I`ll try to answer some of them. First of all, regarding the availability 24/7. Well of course we won`t be able to run 24/7. No one plays FL non-stop. But here`s the deal. I am proposing to make a team of people, from different time zones to seal the deal on transactions in game. Besides that, with a forum board for the bank, people will be able to request loans or request to deposit or withdraw their money. Why use a bank? Well mainly for the profit. I don`t think that people will deposit all their cash in the bank, I seriously doubt it. You realize of course that people like to put something away for those rainy days as they say. We give them the opportunity not only to put cash away, but to also make THEIR money to work for THEM. A profit. What can we offer besides ol` fashioned profit in cash? The answer is I don`t know for now. That`s why I want people to get involved in this. To brain-storm and to come up with plans and ideas. To make this happen, to make it worth our while. The point is why NOT use banks? Why NOT have a specialized organization in dealing with this stuff. Why should people ask around for money, maybe even bothering other people, when they can take out a loan at S.I.B. ? (@ HH: We don`t sell equipment mate, we just deposit it )

Regarding the keeping track thing. Well, it`s quite simple. It can be done in many ways, on pieces of paper, on the computer itself using different programs, or in many other ways. So that really isn`t an issue, especially when you have a whole team of people doing this. ( I personally prefer to use the pc to keep track of the future banking records) Also in my view, a list of active loans and deposits will be posted for the public view on the bank's forums here on the Void website. We might even make a website of our own in time, I don`t know. All agreements between players/clans/organizations with the bank itself will be finalized by a contract to which both sides will agree.

I kept the most pressing issue for the end. "Milking the system" as Zeb so well put it. Well I don`t really have an answer to that. First of all, I am NOT proposing that the A-Team finance our bank, the bank will get its finances from deposits of cash made by the people of Void. I will only ask for the A-Team`s help when in crisis of funds (God forbid that from ever happening) , when we`ll be on the break of bankruptcy. Read my post really carefully you`ll see I didn`t say anything about FUNDING from the A-Team. But still, the issue of bank employees stealing cash still remains. Seriously, I don`t have an answer at this time for this issue, but I do believe that the people working for the bank will have understanding and won`t get greedy. Mainly I believe this, because I won`t let anyone help me with this. Only people that I can feel I can trust. And I personally will not "Milk the system", I`m not in this for the money. Of course, the bank will have some profit of it's own. But I do believe that this is absolutely normal in the "capitalist" society that we live in.

These are my answers for now. Keep the criticism and responses coming, I wanna know how YOU guys feel about this. Remember! This is something new, something different, something to give some color and to help the average gamer. Make your money work for you at S.I.B. !

Pyro.

[Zebulon]

Well answered mate.  Ok - some suggestions for you.

A Bulletin Board will be a good way of keeping your "shareholders" informed.  As well as PMs (boy are you going to be busy...!)  

Using a good old fashoined Spread Sheet programme should cure any admin worries that you might have.  Keeping track of stuff can prove a little difficult if not kept up to date properly.  Get yourself a good accountant lol...!

The fact it is not available 24/7 should not present any great worries as such - but choose your representatives carefully and for their time in game as well as their zone and reliability. This is something people are going to have to WANT to do as it is pretty much a big commitment to the community - if it takes off it will do exponentialy and your workload will increase accordingly - remember the adage - Dont Work Hard, Work Smart!

PM's will have to work as reciepts for deposits of money and equipment stating clearly what is in the bank with regular updates after each transaction occurs - it is up to the players to keep these PM's as a matter of record - in any dispute it is the PM's that will carry the weight of proof.  For the banks protection you might want to consider taking SS of the transaction screens.  This means you will need to have a well organised and Large Photobucket or similar account purely for the banks records.

Its a big undertaking for sure and you may have to convince some that its a good idea.   If it works it will be revolutionary in the world of Freelancer Mods for sure.  

Those that abuse their position as bank employee's will be asset stripped and banned.

Those players that take advantage of the bank and dont repay loans or deliberately try to cheat the system will also be asset stripped and banned.  

Hope that helps for starters....  :D

[cold_reaper]

Ok how about this? After I finish my exams at the end of July I`ll start a small scale banking operation, only I involved for now, to see how it goes. Why after my exams? To ensure that I have enough free time to take this on. If it goes well I`ll extend the banking business further and further. Please keep your thought about this idea coming as I need loads of feedback. Thank you,


Pyro.

[-PHOENIX-]

its not a bad idea m8 the bank,
but there are some stuff im still not clear about..
a player can only have 5 characters max to support him...and a limited equipment and credit storage facility in each character
if this so called 'bank' were to be a player and were to hold loads of cash which would be enough for the whole server there is no possible way other than revoking powers into that player...then again, with great power comes great responsibility
how do we rest assured that the 'bank' wont stand us up?
adding to it is :activity
how active will this bank be...players may be in a desperate need for some money and thier bank is no where to be seen..
an ATM facility open 24/7 would do us good..  ;)  
banning players for not paying up thier depts will just rip apart the server..there must be another solution
one more thing is "Identity Crisis" it may be difficult to identify debtors and other players,it also playes a great threat of imposters cropping up just for revenge or extra cash in some other guys name..

all in all it may workout but needs extreame care,thought and precaoution

my thoughts
Nix

[Rogue2]

I agree that this is a good idea and has some potential.

I placed almost ALL my cash in the VOID bank which has now been offline for the last couple of weeks, had this bank been around I probably would have deposited at least some money in it just to earn the interest and I would at least have access to THAT amount at this time.

I would like to see this work and if it does ever get off the ground I'll be sure to make a deposit.