SuperhumanAbilityModule:Alchemy

Alchemy is a Virtue that allows the creation of "reagents", substances transmuted from ordinary ingredients into custom substances like Rubercatapotium, Ambrose or Lokium-Phosphate.

Revenue Model
Most SAM developers sell a copy of the SAM to each user, under the condition that it not be modified or copied by the end user. While the source code for making SAMs is open source, SAMs themselves are heavily protected. Each copy of a SAM uses an ID which will only let the Virtue function if a whitelist detects only one copy of the SAM in use, and the whitelist is considered a trade secret, thus ensuring that SAMs cannot be pirated without rendering the original and copies useless until all but one copy with that SAM ID are destroyed.

SoftServer takes a much different approach. Alchemy can be copied at will for no charge, due to a lack of a whitelist, and each copy auto-generates a new SAM ID for itself. Using the Virtue requires that a monthly subscription be paid towards the SAM ID. Not paying the subscription excludes a copy of Alchemy from functioning until the subscription is resumed.

The result is that Alchemy is one of the most profitable Virtues ever developed, although other companies have not had any success trying to duplicate their funding model.

Known Users

 * J-Man