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PikoInteractive

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Posts posted by PikoInteractive

  3. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    I checked out GameGavel a few years ago or so, to see if I should start selling/auctioning there. There were virtually no auctions going on.

     

    Therefore, I think the first thing you need is customers (buyers and sellers). I wouldn't worry too much about the lifetime memberships - If it was me, I'd probably give them 2-3 year free memberships, and maybe after that start charging them (probably still at a lower rate? - I don't know the full rate structure, but I'd make sure they're happy).

     

    Without customers, the site is useless, so might as well get the ball started with some good deals. Don't try to make money during the first 2-3 years, just build up the base.

     

    /just my opinion.

     

    It is definitely not intended to make money. My approach is traffic wise.

     

     

    I have tried to sell on GameGavel a few times w/no success, mainly because I only do bins and such. I even listed my items at 10% discount of ebay as I have (had) a lifetime no fee account and still no sales. It has been a few years since I made a listing because there is just no traffic at that site.

     

    I purchased my account for $20 back in May 2010, I still have my confirmation upgrade email from Mike on May 17th. I purchased back then in hopes the site would turn into a good competitor to Ebay, sadly it did not.

     

    When I used the site I though the listings tools were very poorly designed and not easy to navigate. I would suggest a more straight forward listing tool, that any monkey can use so as to make selling easier. It's design last I used it was very generic on confirming auctions and such.

     

    However none of this matters if you do not get traffic. Like already mentioned Mike has a bad rep, and as such you have a lot of work to try and make this site operable again. If you want this site to succeed you really need to advertise it a lot. Gaming forums such as these is not going to cut-it.

     

    Also are you making this a pure game auction site as was intended or are you going to open it up across the board? If you want to compete with Ebay you can't do just games and expect competitive traffic, you really need to make it a full service site that sells everything. Games in general is just a small category and you will never get ebay status if you limit the site like that.

     

    I think past management failed to advertise in outlets that would really bring people. I do have several places I want to explore to bring sellers. The site is nothing without sellers and the site is nothing without buyers. So that is definitely my main concern.

     

     

    4557437.jpg

     

    I'm sorry, but this is literally impossible for me to take seriously. I admire your moxie but I'm going to go negative.

     

    If you don't want it to be associated with Piko Interactive, I suggest you stop talking about it from your account called PikoInteractive.

     

    If you want to try and start a reputable buying and selling site, don't call it GameGavel. If it ever had any good karma, that boiled away years ago, both because of the Scameleon saga, and because it wasn't that great an idea to begin with. A website like this grows because of network effects, getting better the more people use it. We've all seen "alternatives" to Twitter, Feedly, Facebook, Reddit, and Ebay come and go. They've all died because they can't get enough mass to sustain themselves. The site, the name, the technology itself is worthless, it's the community that matters. GameGavel hasn't had significant traffic in years. As others have said, you're starting out underwater if you don't plan to do something nice for the "lifetime" members, and there are a lot of them.

     

    You bought the contact lists from GG and RR. We know you've already sent out at least one unsolicited commercial email to that list, promising great things. I'm no marketing genius, but if it were me behind the wheel, I wouldn't send links to a "coming soon" page, I'd wait until I had something interesting to offer, then bring people in to see that. Overpromising and underdelivering is the way of the Chameleon, and we've all had just about enough of that (look at RetroBlox and Lythium for some other vaporware peddlers).

     

    Retro Magazine can only go up from where it sits now, and the name is generic enough that you might get some forgiveness if you do something truly special with it. Do you have writers, editors, something unique to offer that isn't covered better or more thoroughly by UK's Retro Gamer? Are you going to follow Mike's "print-or-bust" philosophy? Personally, I think that medium makes exactly as much sense as $50+ ROM cartridges in 2017.

     

    I'm sorry you've put some time and treasure into this, and hope it was money you can afford to lose. It makes me "mildly nauseous" (that's a little James Comey understatement for you) to think that Mike Kennedy is doing anything but suffering from the crap he tried to pull, and I certainly hope he didn't make significant money from you. If it's not too late, I would kill the deal and get as much money back as possible. If not, I suppose one good outcome is that MK is out of the business of "cornering the retro market" and going back to his day job.

     

    I have mixed feelings about whaling on someone like this, but I really feel this is a uniquely terrible idea. I'd wish you luck, but it would come off as hollow and insincere because I'm not sending you a nickel. Sorry.

     

    Sorry to me your post and thoughts are a waste of (my) time, specially if they are going off topic. I just see a worthless wall of text. Sorry to be harsh but is the truth.

  4. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    Pipercup, posting stuff like that or derailing the subject is the best way to lose my respect; I don't have much left for you to be honest. If I buy something It ends up being a trashcan in flames, I'll just sell heat.

     

    You can question my gut all you want, at the end of the day I'm the one losing money aren't I? Like I "lost" with Noah's Ark, Duke Nukem Genesis, Wisdom Tree, etc etc etc etc.

     

     

     

    None of that will matter until I can reach the site and login, is that INVALID SECURITY CERTIFICATE issue going to be cleared up anytime soon or will it be fixed automatically after the move? I am not a techy guy all I know is none of my browsers currently allow me to the site let alone log in. THANKS.

     

    Admittedly, I am simple minded when it comes to business and I know nothing so just my very uneducated observation when I say this but isn't it funny when a business or service is under new management if customers are in debt or owe something not much changes for the customer BUT when the business / service had a prior agreement with the customer it's all "Well we are not obligated and it has nothing to do with us" lol. Throw the customers a bone and we should be thankful, ah well.

     

    I just got login details like 2-3 days ago, sounds like the secure browsing certificate has expired. All that will be fixed once we start working on the site. You should be able to log in with no problem then.

     

    Also, on your comment about credit etc. I didn't buy a business entity, so any debt anybody may have towards Game Gavel LLC I have no stake on it.

  6. Posted

     

    You know that's not how people will see it. Myself I think your Piko,ect. stuff is great. Buying GG though? Dumbass move dude. Stop before you start. Do whatever plan you had just ditch that name and stain before you can't wash it off.

    Hopefully you are mistaken; However It would take me about 1-1.5 years to get a website rank organically how GG is ranked on google now. Or several thousand $ in advertising to get it where the domain is now ranked to get it in some reasonable time frame (more than 6 months).

     

    I do think customers are smart enough to figure out that a website is under new management and other entities are not scamming them.

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

     

    Yep, I have a free for life account as well. Not that I'm using it. It looks like Eli is going to take whatever might be left that could be a positive asset (like the member base) but ditch anything that could be considered a negative liability to him (like the previous obligations associated with lifetime free memeberships to the sellers that built that memeber base) cause that won't fit in with his plans.

     

    Both GG and RM are toxic properties. I have no clue why he would even consider buying them as it will no doubt spill onto the Piko Brand which is not a good thing.

     

    Piko Has nothing to do with this though.

  8. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

     

    I had one of the very first accounts, lifetime for free as well. Not honoring that, is like Tivo all of a sudden getting bought by another company and your lifetime subscription to it going away. Behind the starting line for sure.

     

    I am grandfathered into a unlimited data plan on AT&T, because they bought Cingular, they can't touch that. In fact, I have 2 cellphones with unlimited data.

     

    If they had kicked me, I would have gone to another provider out of protest.

     

    1870_two_cents_rev.jpg

     

     

     

    I suppose I do get what you guys mean and feel as you paid Mike a lifetime membership. If I were in your shoes I would also feel like I should keep my grandfathered account. If you were in my shoes I bet you wouldn't be so thrilled to give away free accounts.

     

    But I thought of a compromise that should work pretty well. What I am going to do is to grandfather any free account that has listed/sold items up to 4 months prior the cutoff date. Cutoff date is when we move to a new platform so it should be a while from now. So there is plenty of time for everyone that wants to keep their unlimited account to list stuff for sale and be active.

     

    Win Win!

    • Like 1

  10. Posted

    I'll address the suggestions later on today.

     

    But quickly @icemanxp300

     

    Unfortunately we just bought the domain, logo, name, and Ip. We didnt buy game gavel llc. That business probably is or is going bankrupt and are liquidating assets to pay creditors etc.

     

    So we are not responsible for lifetime memberships. The site will be built again from the ground up, the only thing that will stay the same is the domain, name and logo, social media accounts.

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

     

    While that is true sometimes it can also cause you to miss out on deals because too much time browsing thru stuff you weren't even looking for then clicking on an item you finally get to and like and once you click on it see "This item has ended" or whatever it says.

     

    EDIT:

    But I guess to if it was easier for me to browse it would have been too for the person that started just a few seconds earlier and I still would have missed it now that I think about it. I just hate though clicking on "game consoles" and scrolling through 2 pages of thumbstick covers or video game artwork while looking for game consoles, for an example, and I don't want to narrow my searches because I want to see all consoles priced low to high.

     

     

    Ahh I see what you say. Yeah, on ebay normally you have to go through a couple of sub categories to land there.

  12. Posted

    One of the biggest complaints I have about ebay is you can't complain to them about any specific problem you have. They have every pre-thought up idea for you which doesn't include every scenario, which ticks me off because the users should be able to write a company and tell them how they feel.

     

    Another big issue I have with ebay(one of the ones I tried to write them about) is that I believe you should be able to report an item for being listed in the wrong category, and an automated system to automatically remove(or send message to seller warning if they don't move it that it will automatically get removed, or even automatically moving it to correct category) those items when enough people report it. For example if I go on ebay searching for a console and choose "Video games and consoles", then select just "Video game consoles", I shouldn't have to look at anything that is not a video game console in that category.

     

     

    Yes one of the biggest issue on Ebay is that is a broad marketplace. So they clearly dont have specialized staff that know about video games. So yeah we will have a support email where you could write about an issue.

     

    On the category, that is a double edge sword. You just described how I find deals on ebay. Most of the time items in wrong categories have no bids or go way less for what they sell for. Same with misspelling on title.

    • Like 4

  13. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    I would be very interested in what you will be doing to recruit sellers. That is the number one problem of the site.

     

    I have a plan, starting locally in stores, flea market vendors, people in local meets etc. Then visiting expos in the Texas region and maybe Oklahoma to recruit sellers. I also plan to recruit other vendors that work in the monthly membership industry that liquidate their slow moving or left over inventory on the site, so members can get cool deals. Same bringing over "artists" vendors like the ones that do custom shirts, etc etc etc.

     

    I'd like to bring over Half Price Books and 2nd and charles as I know a couple of people in corporate. These should bring a ton of listings. (and educated them on how to reasonably price their games!) (may be bring goodwill too).

     

    Incentives like giveaways/prizes for vendors that bring more sales or more listings.

     

    Also, one thing I do plan is to really keep an eye for reproduction/bootleg games. which is something ebay,alibaba, and amazon are really not paying attention. Their marketplaces are full of them now. This turns off vendors as it is very hard to compete with piracy prices.

    • Like 1

  14. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    Hey guys, as many of you may not now. I (Eli, not Piko Interactive) bought out GameGavel.com and Retro Magazine.

     

    GameGavel.com is currently running a very outdated system. Want to keep it a marketplace and slowly incorporate other cool features.

     

    But when it comes to the marketplaces, what would you like to see implemented? What would make you sell on the site?

     

    I plan to make it free for listings that are sold in a local meet (like letgo/craigslit). Free listings and only 3% commission on a sold shipping item on the site.

     

    I don't even know if we should keep the auction side of things as it seem everyone currently listing are listing mostly "buy it now".

     

    I plan to dynamically bring more people to sell to the marketplace etc.

     

    But features you'd like to see, comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

     

    Thanks!

    • Like 7

  16. Posted

    Using competitors trademarks in the same industry which the company has no history generally is against Fair Usage

     

    Coleco Holding trademarks are under Toys and Gaming industry

    What?

     

    So if I make a convention/expo about retro gaming, I cannot add a picture of Mario 3? Because I am a competitor of Nintendo? So JJgames, nintendosforsale.com, estarland, all those online sites are infringing trademark/copyright for using Nintendo characters to advertise their stores?

     

    That is fair use to me, but oh well.

  17. Posted

    Why would Nintendo think that?

     

    colecoxpsplash-orig_orig.png

     

     

    I know is been mentioned like 30 times here the whole advertising on their site. But this would fall in fair use, because they are advertising an event that will/may have Nintendo products. It is like used game shops put up posters of Mario Kart or whatever to advertise they have the game. It bugs me that this point keeps being brought out because is Moot.

     

    That comment on Kotaku is what I suspected, them not wanting their logo to be placed on games that are infringing on Nintendo properties, because Nintendo very likely would come after them and not the homebrewer.

     

    The way they handled the situation with the Facebook page/fan sites. That's another story and I still stand with my point of view.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

     

    But you are also selling your OWN code that was written for the conversion to work, and that code that was written is owned by the creator, in this scenario CollectorVision, and they have rights to that.

     

     

    Software piracy would be taking the original code, unmodified, and re-selling it.

     

    As I said, I'm not going to pass judgement on what is "right or wrong" in this scenario, I'm just posting factually about who has rights to what.

     

    The original IP owner ultimately has the rights to their IP and their original code. If they wanted to come along and stop CollectorVision from publishing their version, yes, they absolutely could.

     

    But an additional third party, in this case Juice2839, does not have any rights to come along and sell either of these unmodified works as he does not own any rights to them at all.

     

    Im pretty sure, original IP owner can come and claim rights to the ports done by someone else. But Colecovision is a dead platform they are not interested in. But I am sure it could be done.

     

    Unfortunately project like that (Space invaders port, Kung Fu port, etc) are piracy and are stealing; and even though they might be cool, I always suggest homebrew developers against it. Stick to new content! We've past the ports, hacks, repros; the homebrew scene has to evolve and moving away from those kind of projects will be the first step.

    • Like 3

  19. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

     

    Unfortunately typed words do not carry tone of voice, I meant what I said exactly as I typed it, I am genuinely perplexed that you would want the thing. UK mentioned he talked to you but we did not discuss specifics as it was assumed to be a private conversation. The idea that ANYBODY would want that poison pill is so strange to me that I can't imagine a reason why. Saying that isn't intended as a stab, anything that ecosystem had or has could be created fresh without the toxic reputation in the community and potential legal pitfalls. So yes, with no rational reason I wondered if you were jerking Socal's chain for the mess he caused you in the CC debacle, which would be pretty funny. Whatever your plans are, I am at a loss to think of one that would benefit from paying money to acquire that train wreck.

     

    Ahh ok ok, That is why I asked if it was stab, because tone doesn't translate in forum post.

     

    Piko will have nothing to do with that, and I paid whatever I am willing to lose.

     

    When I started Piko, I was being bullied by Chinese factories; I didn't even know if the contacts I was speaking with were real companies. I invested in Piko whatever I was willing to lose and sent out a wire transfer to a Chinese account. Everything worked out for the best!

     

    So I hope this works out, if not, no harm. In regards of stocks etc, The Majority stock owner is responsible to distribute the money acquired on sale of assets; kind of like a trustee during Ch7. Not too worried about it. So parties will have to come to him for that.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    Attached is a quick logo I made, if you have photoshop you can change the font and the color style will stay. You can change the color style in the Blending Options of the layer. Colors can be changed on Gradient Overlay I just picked whatever colors.. (Right click the text layer, click Blending Options, then click Gradient Layer. The black stroke you can change in stroke option under Blending Options as well).

     

    We use "Play On" Super Nintendo or Nintendo for example in our packaging. Super Nintendo has the font Agency FB which is the same as the Super Nintendo logo. but we use it without being italicized.

     

    I changed to "Play On" from the "For Play On" that the previous owner of Wisdom Tree suggested. I just didn't like the way it sounded.

     

    Then just add your notice "This game is not produced, endorsed, or published (or whatever) by Coleco. Coleco and Colecovision are trademarks of Coleco Holdings LLC"


    That should cover everyone's a$$ In my opinion.

    logo.rar

    • Like 3

  22. Posted

    Sorry the doctor, thought you were replying directly to me! Apologies.

     

    One note though; people can still legally claim rights by filing for trademark and getting it awarded.

     

    However it has to be special case, like actual asset abandonment on a closed chaoter 7 case or something.

     

    Now they do hold the trademark, only company that can come out of the woodwork and do some damage is Hasbro, but they can argue that they have had the trademark longer than 3 years, which would give them a strong case with a judge. And having an actual product released and sold under them, gives them a stronger case. Even if they didnt buy it from Hasbro, pretty much it belongs to them now to do as they please.

    • Like 2

  23. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    The head scratcher in this never ending saga is Pico's obsession with buying the remains of the GG empire. At first I thought that Eli might be super trolling by promising a buy only to pull some last second swerve, but I think he really wants the thing! I am sure he has seen "a" version of the paperwork but from the investigation we did in preparing to litigate if the CC had funded no two copies are alike. And I am willing to bet that Eli/Pico/attorney have never seen the complete picture including stuff like stock buyback agreements that have not been honored. What if Eli turns one of these ventures around? Maybe the sale of the company insulates him from the ghosts of the past, but maybe not.

     

    Is this a stab or an attempt to a stab at me? I am genuinely asking; I would double think before taking a stand like that on me Scott; Why not ask Mike UK to put you up to speed on some of my plans? Cause I very well start double thinking on my end as well.

     

     

  25. Posted · Edited by PikoInteractive

    Steps in Acquiring Federal Trademark

    Before you can register your mark, you must spend some time establishing ownership of it. These steps will be accomplished naturally as you go about your business.

    • Start using the slogan, name or logo for business purposes. For instance, if you want to name a juice drink as “Thirst" then use the name in conducting business. Then file for trademark.
    • File an intent to use to lock in the filing date of your application. An intent to use application reserves the name for a certain period.
    • The name or mark can be reserved for six months and is renewable every six months thereafter up to a maximum period of 24 months.
    • Pay the intent to use application costs. The fee is often equivalent to a regular trademark application.
    Trademark application forms can be accessed online through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

    https://www.uspto.gov/trademark/trademark-assignments-change-search-ownership

     

    I don't understand your point or why you copy and pasting stuff. I know the process and fees..

     

     

     

    Nintendo for example had a strong trademark, which had a secondary meaning which New Coleco doesn't have, also possible the popular Colecovision logo is still Copyrighted by Hasbro or its Spin off Atari, also possible the New Coleco bought it

    I already covered this.

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