Drayke Newall

That's irrelevant and would simply come down to thinking outside the box of which LL have proven time and again to not be able to keep up with the current environment. Fact is that LL could have easily done it but instead poured their profit into the flop Sansar. For example, just off the top of my head they create a city space like the new residential area (cant remember the name) whereby it is a city scape with residences around and lock the mobile client to just that area only but allow all SL residents to teleport there. This means that the actual cache is limited to just that zone on mobile meaning the 3D and texture assets could be installed with the client, with the only things requiring a cache system being avatar textures, unless they are stored in the cloud to render. Any user created clubs, shops etc. can submit their textures etc. to Lab and in a weekly or monthly update include those textures as part of the mobile package like a DLC prior to the venue opening. This provides the best of both worlds it would also mean potential new users from the mobile client looking into the "full" second life experience and also allow SL users to mingle on the go without the large cache and load issues that would be present. Clubs, hangouts etc. are in the city and homes could be in a residential zoned instanced area. Avakin is a mobile app yet has all of what SL offers albeit smaller scale but is far more successful with over 100 million accounts and 6 million users active per month and 1 million per day. Not only that, but since the very beginning of SL's boom in 2006 LL had tried to get more RL commercial companies to participate, and yet here we have a smaller company with 22,000 affiliate companies providing products for in world residents from the likes of Nike, Oakly, Bloomingdale etc. All purchasable etc. Yes, I have played it and know how it works however it most certainly isn't comparing sneakers to pineapples. It just requires thought, effort and a bit of work. That said, if LL actually moved SL's assets to AWS and the cloud well before now they could have easily set it up to run on the same on/off principle that avakinlife uses. Additionally if LL set it up like I explained above whereby they have a specific zoned area locked to mobile it can behave the same way. Just because SL runs better on a PC doesn't mean that a smaller platform can't be designed to be used in tandem with mobile all in the same virtual space. There is no reason why a mobile experience needs to offer everything the PC version offers and vice versa. Such thinking leads the same situation LL are in now whereby they are becoming irrelevant to the newer generations which is all mobile with fewer and fewer buying desktops or laptops.

And yet... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lockwoodpublishing.avakinlife Just one of many. Also take note of the install and review demographic size of that one app (50,000,000+ install) that has no less capitalised on a market LL could have done with ease.

Tell that to Pokémon Go or any other augmented reality app.

And yet you can play music whilst playing sports, just the same as you can play a game in SL.

But you seem to be missing the point. I don't think there would be any person that has an issue with a tiered premium model if done right. The re-introduction of Last names is just another bonus, the necessity of tiered Premium is another thing entirely. You say that LL don't need to introduce additional tiers to premium, whereas LL themselves have stated they need to as with their profits tied to Land rental in SL and the dwindling uptake on Land it is negatively impacting on not only their profits but also the user, user retention, user spending and everything else. That is the sole reason they are introducing a Premium tiered subscription model, to ensure you can still have a Second Life to go to irrespective on whether others find an alternative. Yes correct. You pay for the subscription at full price and then pay an additional once off payment on top of your subscription to change your name. Last names are preselected by Linden Lab and you choose one of those last names from a drop down list as it was pre 2009 (albeit back then last names were free).

If only there was a way for someone to make a quick tutorial video, show it inworld on a prim looping all the time to which you can force the viewer to play that video on screen when someone comes to a store. Then all you would need to do is tell people to go to your store and watch the tutorial. Oh wait there is...

As Selene Gregoire said, not really as it would be built into the premium price which this tier would be the most expensive. You do not attract people to a subscription model of offering equal worth to the cost of the tier. You have to offer something extra as a bonus that would offer something to draw them to it. As it stands now you need to spend monthly $338 to obtain a homestead (cost of a full region and the homestead not including the $498 set-up fee). Place the premium price for the highest tier at $140 per month the price of the homestead and $31 (or higher) for the additional premium bonus' and you are not having any impact on profit but increasing them as more people have access to a Homestead (and spend more $L in the marketplace to furnish the sim). More people will also look into or sign up to a premium subscription and it would retain them in the subscription model as you would loose the access to the homestead (as you do with mainland parcels now). Simply put, homesteads locked behind the need to buy a full sim is disadvantageous for Lab profit wise as if they were available without a full sim they would sell far more sims than they do now as generally most people don't want a full sim and certainly don't want to have to pay for a full region just to get one. If LL think they will attract people to stay on premium solely because of people wanting a last name they must be living in some far off fairy land, especially if you have to pay for that name change on top of premium. All that will happen is a sharp increase in premium at the start and once people have their precious last name will cancel premium. Premium has offered very little to the average user from the get go with only the Linden Home being the real selling point. This has however, never been enough to draw the majority of people to premium as evident from them never being able to remove their reliance on Land for profit. I think it is certainly something LL should look into. Especially now that we are seeing fold phones come out where they become a tablet from a phone.

Whilst I am all for tiered premium accounts, it is only if each time a new tier is introduced it reduces land price accordingly. Will be interesting to see what happens when the new premium is released. I've always said though that the way LL have set up their subscription model is wrong. At the moment, all it offers are options for general users and now looks to be just a better shinier option for those same users. Would it not be far better if LL target specific residents or genres within a premium tier system? For example: Level 1 Resident Package - offers current level of premium and linden home Level 2 Content creator Package - Offers Resident package along with bonus' such as reduction in upload fees, more land or better sandbox privilege and creator specific bonus' Level 3 Merchant Package - Offers merchant bonus' such as reduced marketplace listing price etc., as well as if you link/show your inworld store with your marketplace store you get a reduction in tier price or larger land bonus if you have your shop at that location and free demo listings if inworld store linked (cant remember if they charge for them now or not). Level 4 Pro package - Combined Level 2 and 3 at a higher but discounted package price Level 5 Premium package - Offers all previous as well as possibly a free homestead or larger chunk of mainland. That system of premium seems far more beneficial as it targets specific resident needs and allows those people to pay for exactly what they need (in relation to what they do in SL) and get the bonus that would help them directly (greater flexibility) whilst providing greater subscription retention and more income to LL. Not just things they never use like a free object gift. As far as last names go, (even though I don't see the necessity of them) having them tied to a premium package is silly in a business sense as, just like the Lindens have posted, if you want it you pay for one premium duration, cancel and then have it forever. This would then require a high price for many people especially if they want to change it more often than the average person and also wont be enough for retention of long term paying premium users. All that will happen would be people paying at the initial release for the name change then cancel the subscription after. Consequently LL will see a sharp increase initially in premium uptake and profit only for it to fall back to current levels or only slightly higher than current depending on what other bonus' are offered. They would be far better off having a store like feature whereby you can buy a name change separate from premium and offered at a lower price which, could potentially offer greater profit due to more people having access to it instead of forcing people to go premium at a higher price with the hope people will stay premium after they have received what they wanted. The store could then also offer other individual items that can be purchased separate from any premium subscription package such as 3 months access to Linden sandboxes for 'x' price etc. for those that don't want say, a linden home but do want access to the Linden sandbox's. As for the Marketplace announcement, the thing is such a mess it needs a complete redesign not a patch here or there. I'm still waiting for the simple option of having the website remember how many items I want to show on a page without having to reselect it in the drop down on each login. That was one of my feature requests and feedback sent in a survey for MP feedback LL sent out 50 years ago.

Not sure if it is around anymore, but I recall that there was a script once that could be placed in an object that would give you the UUID of the texture in the object when clicked. If this script is still available wouldn't this generally give the same false notion to users?

I never said they didn't offer the system body either. They have always offered them even when they announced the new mesh bodies they were there. I simply, in reference to BoM in that thread, said "The fact LL offer mesh overlay bodies as default now at account creation while hiding the older system body should say it all". Once again it seems you looked at a post and saw something that was never posted. If I had said "The fact LL offer mesh overlay bodies as default now at account creation "to all bodies" while hiding the older system body..." then I would agree with you, but this wasn't the case when I looked into your response further and I would think most people would still consider vampires as human bodies. The way you replied then and have posted subsequently, has implied that they don't offer any mesh overlay bodies at all now. For example in red below you clearly state that NO mesh bodies are given to newbies. This is why, I was confused in the other thread and also why Erwin posted what he did in response to your comment of which, if he would allow me to presume his mood, was equally confused about your post. Seems you finally conceded that they do, only to then narrow it down to "human" bodies as if they are all people talk about, imply or consider human. Perhaps, its just hard for you to admit a mistake and you dig yourself into a deeper hole. I don't know. I did admit my mistake however regarding the Redux Body to which, you still arrogantly flashed about in your above post as if I had never apologised for the error, maybe in a vain attempt to justify or give credence to your erred statement. Manners go a long way even in forums as they stop these exact situations of producing near flame wars. It seems though perhaps manners have been lost in this day and age. You don't say... 🙄 I'm pretty sure I said that exact thing in the post right above yours. I never said you did say they weren't in the library folder. My response to Erwin was simply highlighting that the mesh bodies are available in the current outfit folder in the library. The library separates them into folders with all current available avatars (I.e. at account creation) in their own folder (including all the mesh overlay ones available you have previously said don't exist) and all old previously used ones in a folder appropriately called "older outfits". I think Paul Keating's (PM of Australia) famous response is appropriate in highlighting your debating skills "... it was like being flogged with warm lettuce. It was like being mauled by a dead sheep." Also don't expect a reply if you post as, not only is it now way off topic but I just don't have the desire to argue with you anymore.

No not in the inventory but in the library (Linden Lab Library folder) section of the inventory of which any current or older avatars are available no matter whether you have used them or not. It also includes the default male and ruth avatars to use.

I thought they were as well (alongside the default body options) as they are still accessible in the library (well at least they are in mine nicely labeled mesh, though maybe I'm a special case and have a bugged library), but got shot down in another thread from Theresa saying they weren't (which is why she arrogantly responded to my post like she did). I even made an alt last year with the lab created mesh body (the riding horse one). I just can't be bothered arguing with her though so just never responded to her.

I can just see the headlines and then the aftermath... "Linden Lab caught creating tool for copy botting or the potential of its use as such". You have to realise, in the world of SL, you don't own anything only the licence to use the skin or item for its intended purpose.

Seriously? So not even a multinational behemoth like Steam can convince you its done all the time... Hopefully OptimoMaximo wont mind me using his phrase where he put it so well...

That aside, I still believe a lot more can be done in highlighting to new users how to make money other than premium. The problem SL has always faced is new users are literally thrown into the deep end and have to work everything out themselves. Not a bad thing in some ways, however as I mentioned in a previous post, highlighting ways to make money on noob island wouldn't be a bad idea. Whilst Linden realms is a rather tedious way to earn lindens, for a new user it is one way that should be advertised. Even a pop-up notecard or whatever from noob island explaining "Sl has many great ways to make Lindens here are a few examples. Good at making things, try selling objects created inworld or through external programs like blender.. blah, blah, blah".

🙄 That's an entirely different scenario and opposite to what was being talked about. What was being talked about was the ability to wear texture switching objects to give a movement effect of a tail or the like of which was what I was replying to by saying break it. That is to say, remove the ability to wear such items all of which can still be worn, including the massively laggy texture switching wearable pets. Do I really need to point out each time specifically what was the meaning behind my response because people can't track what is and isn't being responded to... Sheesh If people want to go use antiquated graphics to remove water from a boat, to each their own. Doesn't change the fact that the system was still broken for mostly everything else and for the 90% of users who do use full graphics. It also highlights a huge area that should also be fixed that Linden Lab still refuse to look into, the ability of allowing the removal of linden water form certain areas. Yes, they do all the time simply by allowing the account name to be shown during the process of the transaction so you can compare it. But hey apparently what isn't good enough for Steam, the largest gaming store in the world, isn't good enough for Linden Lab.

the Moderate rating has always been a grey area. However as far as it is understood it is the act of sexual conduct or promoting of it that is not allowed. Nudity in itself usually is fine. For example as silly as it sounds generally a nudist beach can be on a moderate sim so long as no sexual acts are undertaken. The following is from the maturity settings wiki:

There is, break them so they no longer work and/or remove them from marketplace listings. The problem here is that LL are adamant on never doing this. From memory the only time I have seen an instance of LL breaking a terribly implemented system is with invisiprims on bodies. The change to invisiprims on avatars completely ensured their removal on avatars overnight due to them being visible, so everyone removed them. Getting off topic with this though I suppose me posting the example did open it up for responses. Yes correct and that is how it should be in SL, more and more companies especially in online worlds are moving to a system where every account is treated as a unique 'handle' (account name in SL) and then allowing people to use whatever name they please that are non unique (Display name in SL) across the world. What is this obsession in SL that everyone wants a unique name? I think the more frustrating one would be that someone has taken my name and I cant use it because it is already taken which is the problem with unique names. The same problem existed when last names were still available in SL where people wouldn't sign up until they saw a last name they liked, because someone had already taken their desired first name leaving only horrible sounding last names to choose from or they counted the introduction of a display name as a blessing due to being able to change their name finally to one they liked. Also, the problem many companies found is that by having unique names meant that you get usernames that confuse the system and users such as using Alt Code replacements, or just random names such as in SL's case "123456789 Resident". By having the username hidden who cares about '123456789 Resident' as it wont be seen. On a system management side for all things security, payment, help etc all that matters is the username so having it random doesn't mean anything. Additionally in a virtual world environment why should there be a unique name, as the virtual world should reflect RL. Do you see John Smith in the real world unhappy that someone else has his name? No, it is accepted and why cant that be the case in a virtual world.

Dance floor idea is really good and would be possible to do I would have thought under the same animation flag idea and some extra lines added to the LSL scripting. The problem comes in what I quoted from your post and reflects the same statement in the posted article in the OP that the development team comes across as lazy. I'm sure this isn't the case as there would be numerous unseen fixes etc done, however the feature upgrades to user retention, optimisation and UI friendliness are few and far between. Certainly is interesting to see how other VW's do things differently and in some ways better.

Well then I feel sorry even more for the new user then and am speechless. Not only are they stuck with a badly made system body with numerous weighting issues, badly made male body etc, but limited in almost all clothing options etc.

Are you saying they use the default system avatar now or something? I don't quite understand what you mean... or maybe I didn't explain it correct.

Why should it be a laggy hud or take up precious screen real estate? Wouldn't it be better for the Second Life Viewer or TPV's to introduce a feature where you buy an animation, right click it in the inventory and select add to AO? Whereby, it automatically sorts it into the correct viewer AO area (i.e. a stand) because a new feature is implemented where animations are made to have a flag set to them that identifies them as to what animation they are? (Stand, Walk, Run, Sit, Swim, Gesture, etc.) That is the mentality the developers should have in looking forward. Improving the user experience, not keeping old systems where you have to buy a hud, drag it on the ground, take the animations out or put them in, edit a notecard and then take it to the inventory and wear it again then get pop-ups saying "x HUD is script heavy and may lag the viewer" every time you log in.

I think the article was an interesting read (seems like I was the only one who thought that) and whilst yes some of the points are just meh... it is still good feedback for LL to look at to see where they could improve. Lets face it at least they wrote something with points instead of the usual tripe we get of "This game sucks" or "5 mins of playing its all just sex". It also is interesting to see his first point stating "The developers, as it is said above, are incredibly lazy." If this is what is being picked up on from a new or returning user, it should be ringing alarm bells. When it is all said and done, in some ways this is true or to put it another way the developers ignore simple things that should be in SL already by default almost like tunnel vision. Many posts here talk about him being a noob by not realising that you need a hud to swim... I mean come on, give it some thought. Second Life is 18 years old and yet you still need a user created hud to swim in Linden Water? Not only could Linden Lab easily just implement it into the default AO but it would also remove a lag creating HUD from the viewer screen and create a new aspect to many RP areas and other features within the space. I get that LL have the mentality of Your World, Your Imagination, but there are some things that still boggle the mind as to why they haven't been implemented. Would also be nice to be able to create voids in Linden Water for underground buildings with internal spaces, but perhaps that is to much 😝. This, I think, is also an interesting point to highlight. One, it shows that Linden Lab need to do far more to ensure that new users know about places like Linden Realms, and also secondly shows that with the modern gaming environment and newer generations it has indeed become important to have a secondary avenue of earning the inworld currency in some other way at least in the early stages of SL. Sure you can earn money by creating things or d'ing etc, however more and more restrictions are being put on these and any new user would consider these 'end game'. Another infamous point raised all the time and hopefully somewhat will be fixed with BoM. That said I do think it may be time for Linden Lab to step in and perhaps remove the default system body if they are not going to update it and just provide a better bento enabled body and head mesh overlay. The fact LL offer mesh overlay bodies as default now at account creation while hiding the older system body should say it all. I Lol'ed

I am, as part of my RL career and as a business owner and I can tell you now that you usually do just that if it benefits the system not the user which in this case it does. You keep talking about only 4% of people want this or that, so what. I could argue that 4% of people is not a sufficient number of the community to warrant the complete rewrite of code for lastnames to be re-introduced that were removed and really now irrelevant. Yet as it stands, that is exactly what LL are doing. Why don't LL just treat the resident name as the username, permanently hide it from view in world and let display names be the manner in which you are shown in world. It's how every other gaming and software company do things where you have a hidden username and a display name shown in all other areas, yet LL are diverting much needed resources into bringing back something that is meaningless to all but a few and, completely against the current trend both in functionality as well as security of modern software. 🙄 On the other hand, here we have a system, BoM, that should have the potential to keep the status quo as well as increase optimisation, yet instead we get a half done fix removing already accepted, used (for 5 years) and implemented features (albeit workaround) to achieve something that benefits only those that don't care about changing tattoo colors, or having deformations in the skin for scars etc., raised areas of the skin for other features or even wearing under clothes that despite what people say look as realistic using materials as any mesh product. As to the jira post you showed, what's your point? I wasn't referencing that at all and even if it is relevant, LL Official feedback thread specifically states the benefits yet none of those are achieved. The jira of the original premise is meaningless (despite talking about materials and onion layers being an important consideration) as that was posted at the beginning of which an evolution of the idea to the finished product happened resulting in its final stage. LL specifically have stated the benefits that's all that matters. Again, as I said, I'm no code genius. But I do know that there is a solution based on all LL's responses stating that such things will be looked into and possibly implemented later. Even if that wasn't the case, I'm sure there would be a way for them to achieve it if they actually went into BoM with the mentality of optimisation e.g. make it so normal maps and specular maps have alpha channels or whatever. I stand corrected then and they have gone to far in reducing the body. That said It still doesn't support any argument for not having material implementation when other creators are considering onion layers due to all this as well as many users in the forums calling for a more minimal hybrid onion body. Easy. Body maker has a toggable by hud flatten button that smooths out areas like the butt etc. so you don't get those issues and, do what they should be doing already, using the "Magic of bones" and adjust the 'package' of the body or a togglable bulge in those areas. That said considering boxers are shorts and would be offset from the body loose, if that is all you are wearing you would use mesh boxers anyway. Material clothing should only be used if it is against the body tight or under other mesh clothing like a shirt under a jacket.

Whilst I would agree with you that it doesn't say obsolete, avoidance still does imply some form of acceptance that onion bodies or appliers aren't needed and at least some bodies would indeed adopt a no onion layer system. That being said currently all of the bodies that have the most market saturation are even now stating the need for onion bodies to continue and even Slink specifically adding another layer to a BoM body that initially didn't have one. The only way those stated objectives would be considered achieved is if it is proven that creators are actively avoiding onion layers. Instead we have one that tried (Slink) and is now adding them in and the other major body makers now looking to keep onion bodies albeit in a simplified form for now. Due to this I would consider it a failure as it hasn't "avoided the need" at all as they still exist and aren't being avoided at all but actively re-introduced. Sure you are going to have some that will just do full BoM avatars with no onion layers or the need for appliers, however when the competition is offering a better looking product which real life look is what people try to achieve, they will win all the time.