Audiobooks: purchase using ARX, add to Codex as playable files

[dogsolitude_uk]

You know, I quite like the Elite: Dangerous audiobooks on Audible. I also like exploring and mining, so generally have Galnet burbling away in the background

How about this?

Allow players to purchase them using ARX. Once purchased they can be added to the Codex (perhaps under a "Historical Dramas" section ?) and listened to while exploring/trading/mining.

Yeah, I know, I could just play them on another device or in another app or something. And I wouldn't want to be the guy sorting out the contractual stuff with Amazon/Audible tbh, but it was a random idea I had while pootling about the other day so I thought I'd chuck it out there.

 

[Chrystoph]

Horrible idea...

A narrator, perhaps more than one, gets paid for voicing the book. If they were smart, they get paid each time the book is sold.

You are asking to use a fiat currency that only has value to Frontier to pay those people for their work, and that ignores the author's right to be paid for writing the work.

As a comparative, this would be like asking Frontier to sell Odyssey for ARX.

 

[SCiARA]

Horrible idea...

A narrator, perhaps more than one, gets paid for voicing the book. If they were smart, they get paid each time the book is sold.

You are asking to use a fiat currency that only has value to Frontier to pay those people for their work, and that ignores the author's right to be paid for writing the work.

As a comparative, this would be like asking Frontier to sell Odyssey for ARX.

that's a bit harsh
in this scenario Frontier would come to an agreement with said narrator and could go into an agreement with them to pay every time someone purchases in game

 

[Chrystoph]

that's a bit harsh
in this scenario Frontier would come to an agreement with said narrator and could go into an agreement with them to pay every time someone purchases in game

In other words, you are expecting Frontier to take a loss on the book so you can get it for free.

 

[Phoenix_Dfire]

I do wish that you could have a directory that codex player could access. That way you could copy your own music files, audio books or even listen to the most excellent Lave Radio* podcast to that directory and then listen to them all while flying.

* Other podcasts are available but they're not as good (yes I said it, bring it on!! )

 

[Quizengine]

Better yet - let us create playlists of locally held files and have them play through the Galnet UI. Then we could have books, music, podcasts etc etc while we fly.

Edit - just seen @Phoenix_Dfire suggestion, and it's better than mine - please Fdev, create a folder that the Galnet player scans for our files.

 

[SCiARA]

I do wish that you could have a directory that codex player could access. That way you could copy your own music files, audio books or even listen to the most excellent Lave Radio* podcast to that directory and then listen to them all while flying.

* Other podcasts are available but they're not as good (yes I said it, bring it on!! )

not a shabby idea that

In other words, you are expecting Frontier to take a loss on the book so you can get it for free.

depends on the cost of these books doesn't it?
if you are talking about a minimal amount that can be accumulated over a few weeks of play then that's up to FDev and the narrator to work out
if its in the thousands of arx then if you want it you but the arx, FDev can work out what arx was spent on these and a % of those profits go to the narrator

ultimately it's a suggestion (and a good one at that)
if by some miracle it gains traction let FDev worry about the monetary side

 

[Quizengine]

@SCiARA - the text to speech synthesis in game that reads out Galnet articles always seemed pretty good to me - how about have that set up to read your own kindle / ebooks (again, from a local folder)

 

[SCiARA]

I think the problem with that is those speech synthesis are purely there for factual info, which works fine for things like news articles
when you are talking about stories you want to hear the emotion and maybe a bit of a background score

 

[Vetinari]

I really like the idea but as pointed out how would the Author and Voice Actors get paid? Cant really be done with the free ARX as it just means Frontier paying for our books.

Also like @Phoenix_Dfire suggestion for listening to audio files etc I can use that free one I cant remember the name of in a separate browser alongside but it doesnt pause or go quiet when in-game audio is present (like the Codex audio stops when other in-game audio). I usually have the laptop playing something while playing so can mute it or stop it when needed but in-game would be better.

But I also assume that would be a ton of work to incorporate. Still would be an excellent addition though.

 

[Chrystoph]

depends on the cost of these books doesn't it?
if you are talking about a minimal amount that can be accumulated over a few weeks of play then that's up to FDev and the narrator to work out
if its in the thousands of arx then if you want it you but the arx, FDev can work out what arx was spent on these and a % of those profits go to the narrator

Rephrasing your statement doesn't change the fact that you want Frontier to foot the bill for you to have the book for free. Both of your statements involve ARX which, while you Can purchase, could be acquired for free through game play.

All of your statements amount to, Someone else should be paying for me to have the book.

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Regarding a player in the game, why not just use the media player(s) already installed in the computer, your TV or stereo?

 

[SCiARA]

Rephrasing your statement doesn't change the fact that you want Frontier to foot the bill for you to have the book for free. Both of your statements involve ARX which, while you Can purchase, could be acquired for free through game play.

All of your statements amount to, Someone else should be paying for me to have the book.

---

Regarding a player in the game, why not just use the media player(s) already installed in the computer, your TV or stereo?

and like I say, let fdev worry about the monetary side of things, its irrelevant to me or you how that side of things would work
this is a suggestions section, the suggestion is sound, what's the negative in gameplay in having this as an option?

 

[Chrystoph]

and like I say, let fdev worry about the monetary side of things, its irrelevant to me or you how that side of things would work
this is a suggestions section, the suggestion is sound, what's the negative in gameplay in having this as an option?

To quote Robert Heinlein - TANSTAAFL

Let me turn your statement around - Why should Frontier Give you the books? What makes you significant to them that they, a business, should spend money on you, not for advertising, not for an expected Return on Investment, but because you say, Gimme?

Take that another step back; Why should the author or narrator modify the contract they have with Frontier?

It is not a sound suggestion as the value added is only a value to someone that wants something for free. As to the gameplay negatives, you are asking for more overhead in the game, you are asking for development time be devoted to making this work, you are asking for Frontier to have to devote time to each Copyrighted work that you want added to the library so that they don't violate the law.

Bluntly, this entire thread is about as well thought out, and as valid, as the average Cobra IV Release request.

 

[aRJay]

Rephrasing your statement doesn't change the fact that you want Frontier to foot the bill for you to have the book for free. Both of your statements involve ARX which, while you Can purchase, could be acquired for free through game play.

All of your statements amount to, Someone else should be paying for me to have the book.

---

Regarding a player in the game, why not just use the media player(s) already installed in the computer, your TV or stereo?

The free Arx could always be removed from the game which would get around that very good point.

But yes an external media player would be a simpler option just not as controllable from in the game.

 

[Chrystoph]

But yes an external media player would be a simpler option just not as controllable from in the game.

Alt-Tab

 

[JTFireblaze]

We already have functional media players outside the game. No need to waste development resources building a rudimentary media player and legal teams negotiating contracts with authors. Plus people would want to listen to these audiobooks outside the game... Would be a pain to have to purchase twice

 

[SCiARA]

To quote Robert Heinlein - TANSTAAFL

Let me turn your statement around - Why should Frontier Give you the books? What makes you significant to them that they, a business, should spend money on you, not for advertising, not for an expected Return on Investment, but because you say, Gimme?

Take that another step back; Why should the author or narrator modify the contract they have with Frontier?

It is not a sound suggestion as the value added is only a value to someone that wants something for free. As to the gameplay negatives, you are asking for more overhead in the game, you are asking for development time be devoted to making this work, you are asking for Frontier to have to devote time to each Copyrighted work that you want added to the library so that they don't violate the law.

Bluntly, this entire thread is about as well thought out, and as valid, as the average Cobra IV Release request.

lets not turn this around, lets not turn this into wanting something for free as it doesn't have to be (yet this is what you are focusing on)
I still don't see an answer to my question
what's the negative in gameplay in having this as an option?

 

[SCiARA]

Plus people would want to listen to these audiobooks outside the game... Would be a pain to have to purchase twice

a very well made point

 

[CMDR Deano The Imperial]

You know, I quite like the Elite: Dangerous audiobooks on Audible. I also like exploring and mining, so generally have Galnet burbling away in the background

How about this?

Allow players to purchase them using ARX. Once purchased they can be added to the Codex (perhaps under a "Historical Dramas" section ?) and listened to while exploring/trading/mining.

Yeah, I know, I could just play them on another device or in another app or something. And I wouldn't want to be the guy sorting out the contractual stuff with Amazon/Audible tbh, but it was a random idea I had while pootling about the other day so I thought I'd chuck it out there.

I just listen to YouTube. Doesn't cost any Arx, just an advert every now and then.

 

[Vetinari]

It is not a sound suggestion as the value added is only a value to someone that wants something for free

So make it an optional purchase, for money. All it would need is a licencing agreement from the Publishers or the Authors etc direct if self-published and as its revenue for them and their clients they would probably be happy. Make it so it pays for itself and any dev time. Thats not the issue at all.

The free Arx could always be removed from the game which would get around that very good point.

Now steady on lets not get too radical here I like my free lunch of ARX just for playing with no cost to myself or society. This isnt Social Media harvesting my data to sell, this is a proper free lunch.

Alt-Tab

Console

Plus people would want to listen to these audiobooks outside the game... Would be a pain to have to purchase twice

Hmmm good point. But theres 2 ways round it, some kind of internal & external launcher linked to provide access from all platforms or licence from an exteranl source to play it in game once bought or yes just pay extra for it twice if thats what you want. It would be a purely optional purchase after all.