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Fyrebird Courier

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Posts posted by Fyrebird Courier

  1. The miepon is no different than say, a casper vendor, that you load with varying items.  I could put in 3 items that rotate.  You purchase the item that shows on the screen.  when purchased, it pops up another item.  In this case, you get to see what the next item is that you have a chance of purchasing.  the Only thing that makes it a "gacha" is the key, the grouping of items.  If I loaded a casper vendor with a car, a shirt, and a cat..., they are unrelated.  But if i put all 3 on the same picture, and numbered them, then they become "gacha-like".  

     

    Think of it only as "i am purchasing that ONE item".  don't like it, walk away.  If you want that 3d item...you have to decide is it worth 3xpull price to get it.  If that ONE item isn't showing on the list of available items...you leave, and come back.  15 minutes, or 1 hour, or 1 week.  Unless the creator has put a limited time on it, there's nothing that says you HAVE to pull them all right at that moment

     

  2. 2 hours ago, Kyrah Abattoir said:

    I have several problems with gachas:

    • They further the no-mod culture, because you can't sell colors as well if people can mod what they bought.
    • They encourage quantity over quality, because you have to create a dozen of items, meshs for a gacha are primarily there to provide an enticing picture.
    • Due to the low per-spin price, there is no incentive for the creator to go the extra mile per-item, so scripting will be minimal, or more often than not, inexistent, while options will be provided through separate prizes only.

    Now onto the gacha machine itself:

    • There is no guarantee on odds, in fact most creators don't publish the odds. Labeling an item as "Rare" is not publishing odds.
    • Is the machine actually random?
    • Is it more likely to give rares if there are more people in the store? ( like some slot machine jackpots )
    • Is it less likely to give a rare if someone is playing in rapid succession? ( "sucker detection" )
    • Does it tries to detect the item you are trying to get (if you keep playing it means you haven't received it yet and it could then just feed you duplicates)
    • Does it try to give you as many duplicates as possible?
    • If the odds are published (like that ever happens) do they reflect the actual odds the machine is using?

    Those are just over the top of my head, actual gambling in SL is under a lot of scrutiny and there are laws to comply with, gachas? not so much.

    No mod items...I don't see where they do it any more than in the store.  Most items have a baked AO...if you change it, by using your own textures, you lose a LOT of the details, such as shadows and folds.  I do purchase a lot of items, such as hair, that *is* modifiable.  However, what i do find is ruining the "mod" culture, is when people are copy-botting them, and selling them, making the creators change to a no-mod status.

     

    Quantity over quality...maybe it's the events that i go to, but most are of very high quality.  These creators take a LOT of time and effort.  there MIGHT be a couple of throw'ins, such as a rug or a pillow...but most of the time, i see as much quality in those, as would be in the store, also.

     

    "Extra mile per-item".  I do see a lot of creators adding in good value.  A lot of animations and choice of textures/etc.  The only ones I would say wouldn't, are if the product would normally be a $1000L or more item, such as adult items.  I don't deal with those items, however, i would imagine that yes, if an item would be a higher cost item than say $500L in their regular store, they probably do not put it in a gacha.  And...i honestly think there are people who create MORE items, and quality items, to "keep up" with events that they place their machines in, and do a nice variety of items...probably more than if they did not have gacha machines.

     

    Guarantee on odds:  Like anything else, you should do the research before purchasing...and in gachas, in a lot of places, it IS possible to find the odds.  Not all machines, however, a lot of the designer's machines have the percentage on the description line.  Some events have a requirement on the percentage that the people are allowed to place their machines at.  And if worded properly, I am sure a lot of creators will be happy to answer what their machine is set at.

     

    Second Life can check scripts, i believe.  Or can require to check them.  I don't think any of the gacha machines that are used by reputable creators would do such things as setting a machine to check if you are there, you get lower rates, etc.  It may seem like it, but there's as much chance to spin 30 times to get one common, as it is to get 4 rares in 10 pulls, sometimes.  There are some machines, such as Caspervend, does allow you to have a setting that it will check to see if you won an item, if you did, it will give you another item on that same level.  However, i don't think those are used in events, and probably are only used in no-trans gacha machines...i personally have not ran into them being used.  But the settings, and machines, are available.

     

    I truly think that if a machine WAS found to be doing such things as you fear (giving you only things you already had, etc), if enough complaints hit the lindens, they would check into it.  This isn't "gambling" but if it was found to defraud by use, they may step in at that point.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  3. I have read a lot of the arguments on this, and I am one of those "evil gacha resellers" that purchase from gacha machines and resell at higher (or buy from yardsales, and again, resell higher).  There is a high market of resellers, and those who want to purchase them.

     

    Like anything else, you should do the research before purchasing...and in gachas, in a lot of places, it IS possible to find the odds.  Not all machines, however, a lot of the designer's machines have the percentage on the description line.  Some events have a requirement on the percentage that the people are allowed to place their machines at.  And if worded properly, I am sure a lot of creators will be happy to answer what their machine is set at.

     

    Also, i do know a LOT of creators do offer the ability to exchange your gacha for a copy/no trans option.  Some have this as an automatic option, some have it as other requirements, such as you must have purchased the full set from their machine, or you have to collect the whole set (sometimes unopened boxes), before they will do so.

     

    In searching for pieces that you are looking for, using the MP shouldn't be the whole process.  There are many groups out there for gachas.  You can usually join the creator's store group, and ask for trades (most won't allow you to say "I want to buy x" or "I want to sell x", but will allow you to say "I want to trade x for x").  There are also many gacha traders and resell groups, that you can ask in.  And yes...what you think is the color that "no one wants"...well, i see it all the time, that people look for it.

     

    I believe a lot of creators have headed to Gachas, as the cost of items have gone down.  Yes, this has created an artificial inflation, but when an item has gone down from say 850, to 250 or less, and now people "require" huds with 10 or more colors, instead of just 1...and even sometimes have to rely on 50L sales on items, well, i do think they have had to look elsewhere to create an income flow.  I know there are some "bad" gachas out there, where someone includes 1 or 2 items that are "good", then the rest are soemthing most dont' want, but I know that there are many creators who take a LOT of time, and energy to create an awesome product...and do this month after month, if not week after week.

     

    I do look at it from a customer's POV.  although I do purchase for resell, there are times I look at "why".  Such as...if a person has adult clothes, but stuffed animals...I have no use for lingerie/etc as a kid avatar, but i certainly do want that stuffed animal.  I may moan a bit, at the unfairness of it...however, I either choose to buy the items i don't want, til i do get the one i do want, and resell/trade the others....or i find someone who has it (mp or trade groups_, and purchase or trade.

     

    I don't think any creator is doing this to "cheat the player playing the machine"...they work hard to create a quality product.  However, all in all, it is their choice.  If Tiffany's made a ring, worth $5000...however, ONLY sold it in London England...I can complain, but it IS their choice to do so.  And, as the consumer, I can choose to either pay the plane ticket (and all other ensuing costs, including passport requirements), or purchase it from a secondary source...whether they charge more or less.

     

    • Like 2
  4. I posted this in the long post "A Brief Note on pricing changes, which ran long".  I spent a lot of time, and thought on it...but i feel it got lost in the long thread.  I had hoped that there were suggestions in this post that might have had some good possibilities, so I am posting here, on it's own thread.  Perhaps others can toss in their own suggestions, and maybe the Lindens can see, and maybe even comment.  ((some edits from the original post will be added/changed, to make information correct)).

     

    okay.  I spent 1/2 hour writing this up...but instead of it posting, i got the LL "login screen", so I want to try again, and hopefully I get as nicely written as i feel i did before.

     

    #1 - Groups --

    I personally like the addition of groups to premium.  Some people say that you don't need that many...Sadly, they can truly add up.  As a creator of children's clothing, i have texture groups and mesh creator groups.  Yes, to get the discount and/or gifts, but some require you to be part of it to get their items.  Then of course, you have advertising (I push some of it off to alts, but i need to do some of it on my creator alt).  And my store group.  I sell gachas, so...again, stores, advertising.  Some groups have the main group, and management groups, and then land/shop rental groups.  I have heard of situations like say you rent a parcel in a community sim, you need that group.  Want to RP on that sim? you need the RP group.  Do you moderate that RP?  Another group.  Do you do a "job" on that? (i.e. fireman, policeman, etc)....another group.  Or stores that use bloggers, a lot require another group.  So, for some, having a need for groups is beyond "hey, i want 10 groups just for the free hair, and another 10 for the free clothes".  

     

    Anyway, I realize that there are reasons for the backend "cost" of groups, as far as setup and ...for lack of a better word... memory that it takes to maintain.  I would like to suggest some possibilities of different types of groups, that could help reduce some of the backend, but still allowing for the needs of people.

    ----Notice Only.  This would be a good type of group for stores and clubs.  Allows for the store to set MM boards/group gifts to group only, as well as send out the information that is needed about their store.  Could have a small set amount of allowed managers.  Perhaps a second level Notice Only, also, for event-type groups, where the store owners (DJ's, whatever) can send out their store notices.  <<edit:  i realize groups have a setting that allow this, however, i mean removing the possibility of chat/etc, so making a smaller needed "memory" space on this type group.>> <<second edit:  Possible second type of notice only...one that the notice only stays for 24-48 hours.  Events, or group gifts, may only need 1 or 2 days, so take up that space, hanging on for 2 weeks.  Also possibility of when creating the notice, a checkbox that allows for amount of days to keep it on the server, as some may only need to be on for 1-3 days/etc>>

    ----Limited People.  I feel that there are a LOT of groups out there, that are limited in people, as they are not needed.  So perhaps a Limited People group, of 10-20.  should be good for management type groups, and families (I know there are families out there that have more, of course).

    ----Event/Rental Time-Limited.  This could be a group, that is owned by the event/market/mall owner, and management (to me, 3-4 would seem appropriate, for invite and other management, but, i dont run events).  A non-notice, non-chat group (these all can be taken care of by regular groups, discord, or forum threads), that a person joins and doesn't actually count against their groups, and is only active in it for 24 hours, or 2 hours after the active group is changed.  Most events, you only need one setup.  And mall/market owners, you don't need it EVERY day, if it's a secondary store, so the management staff can re-invite as needed).

    ----Large Population Groups.  Perhaps in the circles I am in, but I do not know of many groups, who are more than, say, 1000 people, or 5000 people.  Active people.  I would think that a large group, of say 10,000 or more, could incur a monthly fee (even a dollar).  It could encourage people to go through their groups, and remove those who have not logged on for x time.  Of course, there could be some exceptions, for example (I am guessing!!!), firestorm support, caspervend support, education groups, new avatar education groups.

    <<adding at this time>>

    ----Basic Group/Additional Members.  This type of group would be similar to the above group, but the difference is perhaps groups start with 500 member.  Then for each additional 500 members, a purchase of $250L fee, one time only.  <<>>

     

    I also feel that there should/could be an alternative to taking away from the non-premium, and offering everyone a chance to get what they need.  I think perhaps an "a la carte" add-on of groups could be an option.  To me, I feel that it should be perhaps $1/month for 10 groups, for premium, and perhaps $3/month for 10 groups, for non-premium.  If this fee is not paid/deactivated, then the last 10 groups joined (no matter how many they have open) should be removed, unless they had brought their groups under the amount needed before deactivating that payment need.

     

    #2 - Estate Land

    I truly feel that giving discounts to the estate owners are good...however, a lot of us do feel blocked out.  I would love to own an estate land, but the setup fee and all the other fees make it very prohibitive.  I think that there are incentives that could be given to premium members, again, to help us acquire land.  One, to me, would be once per annual premium payment, the chance to purchase the land, without the setup fee, should be an allowed item.  I would think ONLY one estate land, per premium membership, per annual payment.  Or, slightly alternative, is to charge the setup fee, but absorb a one-month payment into it.  This second alternative, I feel may bring in more income, if it was a 2 times a year 1 day/1 weekend event, maybe.  You may not get that initial month, but more people would be able to get estate land.  <<edit:  i have now found that the first month is absorbed into the activation fee.  I was not aware of that, as that chart is slightly confusing to me.  However, the rest of this note stands>>

     

    #3 - Mainland

    Not QUITE related to the issues at hand, but may be a "perk" to offer to premium account holders, are possible "changes" to Mainland.  There is a lot of abandoned land, and it's just very...broken.  Some is very ugly, because it is so broken.  I would propose that for those premium members that own land on a sim, that has abandoned land, that people can request it (under the same regulations as the past), for free, up to the next tier level.  I.e. you own 2048, you could get 2048 for free, to bring you up to 4096.  Obviously you have to pay the tier, and you have to have pre-existing land (perhaps you have to own it for 6 months or so, not just move in, and try to get the other free land).

    Alternatively, another idea.  I own parcels on a sim, that has ended up looking like a pixel snake, some wider, some smaller.  weaving in and out of current participants.  I would love the ability, to consolidate it, and either move to a square/rectangular parcel on that sim, or another sim.  (equivalent type, no matter that i would love to move to a beachfront parcel.  *giggles*).  I think this could open up some larger parcels, that people could purchase, or could work to help make some parcels look "neater", if there aren't small parcels all over one, instead of buying a lot of small parcels on a sim "just for prims", you can decorate larger areas.  

    The other option I would love, kindof combined with the above, is combining land from different sims into one.  for example, there is a full sim near me for sale. I would love to be able to take my land from the 2 sims that i own, have it on there, then pay the difference for that land.  Not quite the right example, as this mainland sim is owned by another person, but if he abandoned it, i would love that possibility.  Again, in my mind, possible prettier sim, more land opened in others, and possibly more people purchasing mainland, if they could have a possibility of making it a little more of what they want, instead of small/tiny parcels.

     

    KK, after typing this all out for the 2d time, i am hoping this posts...a little long winded, but i hope these are ideas that might be viable.  Or...at least let me vent in a semi-productive way.  *smiles*

    • Like 1
    • Confused 1
  5. 6 minutes ago, polysail said:

    Because some people don't want to have people who were a part of their SL~ but aren't anymore.... removed from their groups, even if it is for expediency ~ that sentimental value is sometimes more important.

    for some it could be more than "sentimental" but emotional.  an SL (or RL) mother/father/spouse/child/master/slave/whatever dead...one morning, log on to find they are "gone"...that could sometimes be a second 'death' also.

    • Like 1
  6. 8 minutes ago, Fox Wijaya said:

    one of the plans could be a better use of abilities in the groups by the owners.
    I said it a bit earlier at the Answers section... all those clubs with manager groups, dj groups, and whatever groups, could easely put all in ONE, and use the group abilities to seperate those roles in receiving the notices meant for that role only. ... it would reduce really a zillion useless groups.

    tbh, a lot of those roles could be better handled outside of SL, in things such as Discord.  I don't like having another window open, but for a lot of things, Discord is better.  I.e. someone asking a question...and someone logs on an hour later, they can't see it, but could in a discord chat group.  And no, i don't like having the discord open for most thing, however, the usability of it is MUCH better.  for instance, say a mesh body.  One general room, one for OT talk.  then private rooms for management, creators, advertisers, bug reports, ...it opens a lot more options.

    • Like 1
  7. average small business makes 1-3%.  I understand that.  However, they (theoretically) are getting at least a minimum wage.  Even though once created, the objects made for sale in SL are "free", I do not know a lot of creators that are really getting a "minimum" wage from it.  Cost of objects have gone down seriously in 10 years, forcing creators to have to rely on tactics such as 50L sales, to keep $$ coming in.  And i constantly hear about how even at THAT rate, creators are ripping people off.

  8.  

    1 minute ago, LeeeBlack said:

    No one is in the game for days. 1-2 hours on average. And not every day.
    To maintain the figure of 50,000 online during the 24 hours, you need about 24 / 1.5 and multiplied by 50,000 - 800,000 people.
    If 1/2 of the players comes 1 time in two days, then there are at least 1,200,000 active accounts in the SL.

    Maybe for you it is 1-2 hours a day.  Most of my friends list, it is minimum 3-4 hours, if not 8+ hours in that day.  And i am not talking alts, or "sleeping".  Active, working on creating, or dance clubs, or roleplaying, or just...whatever.

    • Like 1
  9. Sadly, though, the new buildings are always the same generic areas.  Country houses, and houseboats.  I used to be gorean...would have been nice to have medieval themed areas back then, in both M and A rated area.  Now that I am a child avatar on this account, what about G rated housing areas?  Child AVATARS in the starter avatars.

     

    Heck.  i own a children's clothing store on an M parcel.  One day, I found that someone on the next sim over had a plywood prim wall all around their 1024.  BEGS for peeking in...all sexual intercourse videos.  Note....this parcel was less than 5m away from a sign stating children's clothing store.  A/R'd. and friends a/r'd.  Nothing was done.  for over a month, it was still there.  It has changed now, to a satisfactory change...but, it leaves me very leery of the A/R process.

    • Haha 1
  10. 5 hours ago, ElSolLaLuna said:

     I get that groups have issues but -1 +1 does not have any more or less effect on the issue?  Give basic back their groups!  Premium do not need more groups!!!  and it if it just to try to justify the extra 33% increase that is bullsh..t!  You want to charge more and maybe it is time to but doing the switch does not justify taking groups from basic members!

    I agree that groups should not be taken away from non-premium members.  However, there are a lot of people who DO need more groups.  I don't want it at the expense of non-premium members...i want a WAY to add more group slots.  But please don't just say "premium do not need more groups!!!"...as a lot of us are creators, or just store owners of various products, who have trouble juggling slots, just to bring product to the masses.

    • Like 1
  11. I do agree with EyesForMe.  Luckily, i do have a paypal debit card, but i know many people who cannot afford (or are afraid of having an acct hacked, so do not use their "real" acct) to have a credit or debit card.  yet, they are unable to load money onto a prepaid card, and use it.

     

    I would like to see Lindens find a way to accept $$ ...can someone western union, send in a check, go to a 7eleven and buy a card (like other games)...SOME way.  Honestly, if you come up with a way like that, you will see more.  If it were the prepaid game card, even if the rate were semi-horrendous (for example.  right now, it is about $4/1000L.  if it were the equivalent of $6/1000L, there would still be people buying it, or asking for it for christmas/etc).

    • Like 2
  12. okay.  I spent 1/2 hour writing this up...but instead of it posting, i got the LL "login screen", so I want to try again, and hopefully I get as nicely written as i feel i did before.

     

    #1 - Groups --

    I personally like the addition of groups to premium.  Some people say that you don't need that many...Sadly, they can truly add up.  As a creator of children's clothing, i have texture groups and mesh creator groups.  Yes, to get the discount and/or gifts, but some require you to be part of it to get their items.  Then of course, you have advertising (I push some of it off to alts, but i need to do some of it on my creator alt).  And my store group.  I sell gachas, so...again, stores, advertising.  Some groups have the main group, and management groups, and then land/shop rental groups.  I have heard of situations like say you rent a parcel in a community sim, you need that group.  Want to RP on that sim? you need the RP group.  Do you moderate that RP?  Another group.  Do you do a "job" on that? (i.e. fireman, policeman, etc)....another group.  Or stores that use bloggers, a lot require another group.  So, for some, having a need for groups is beyond "hey, i want 10 groups just for the free hair, and another 10 for the free clothes".  

     

    Anyway, I realize that there are reasons for the backend "cost" of groups, as far as setup and ...for lack of a better word... memory that it takes to maintain.  I would like to suggest some possibilities of different types of groups, that could help reduce some of the backend, but still allowing for the needs of people.

    ----Notice Only.  This would be a good type of group for stores and clubs.  Allows for the store to set MM boards/group gifts to group only, as well as send out the information that is needed about their store.  Could have a small set amount of allowed managers.  Perhaps a second level Notice Only, also, for event-type groups, where the store owners (DJ's, whatever) can send out their store notices.

    ----Limited People.  I feel that there are a LOT of groups out there, that are limited in people, as they are not needed.  So perhaps a Limited People group, of 10-20.  should be good for management type groups, and families (I know there are families out there that have more, of course).

    ----Event/Rental Time-Limited.  This could be a group, that is owned by the event/market/mall owner, and management (to me, 3-4 would seem appropriate, for invite and other management, but, i dont run events).  A non-notice, non-chat group (these all can be taken care of by regular groups, discord, or forum threads), that a person joins and doesn't actually count against their groups, and is only active in it for 24 hours, or 2 hours after the active group is changed.  Most events, you only need one setup.  And mall/market owners, you don't need it EVERY day, if it's a secondary store, so the management staff can re-invite as needed).

    ----Large Population Groups.  Perhaps in the circles I am in, but I do not know of many groups, who are more than, say, 1000 people, or 5000 people.  Active people.  I would think that a large group, of say 10,000 or more, could incur a monthly fee (even a dollar).  It could encourage people to go through their groups, and remove those who have not logged on for x time.  Of course, there could be some exceptions, for example (I am guessing!!!), firestorm support, caspervend support, education groups, new avatar education groups.

     

    I also feel that there should/could be an alternative to taking away from the non-premium, and offering everyone a chance to get what they need.  I think perhaps an "a la carte" add-on of groups could be an option.  To me, I feel that it should be perhaps $1/month for 10 groups, for premium, and perhaps $3/month for 10 groups, for non-premium.  If this fee is not paid/deactivated, then the last 10 groups joined (no matter how many they have open) should be removed, unless they had brought their groups under the amount needed before deactivating that payment need.

     

    #2 - Estate Land

    I truly feel that giving discounts to the estate owners are good...however, a lot of us do feel blocked out.  I would love to own an estate land, but the setup fee and all the other fees make it very prohibitive.  I think that there are incentives that could be given to premium members, again, to help us acquire land.  One, to me, would be once per annual premium payment, the chance to purchase the land, without the setup fee, should be an allowed item.  I would think ONLY one estate land, per premium membership, per annual payment.  Or, slightly alternative, is to charge the setup fee, but absorb a one-month payment into it.  This second alternative, I feel may bring in more income, if it was a 2 times a year 1 day/1 weekend event, maybe.  You may not get that initial month, but more people would be able to get estate land.  

     

    #3 - Mainland

    Not QUITE related to the issues at hand, but may be a "perk" to offer to premium account holders, are possible "changes" to Mainland.  There is a lot of abandoned land, and it's just very...broken.  Some is very ugly, because it is so broken.  I would propose that for those premium members that own land on a sim, that has abandoned land, that people can request it (under the same regulations as the past), for free, up to the next tier level.  I.e. you own 2048, you could get 2048 for free, to bring you up to 4096.  Obviously you have to pay the tier, and you have to have pre-existing land (perhaps you have to own it for 6 months or so, not just move in, and try to get the other free land).

    Alternatively, another idea.  I own parcels on a sim, that has ended up looking like a pixel snake, some wider, some smaller.  weaving in and out of current participants.  I would love the ability, to consolidate it, and either move to a square/rectangular parcel on that sim, or another sim.  (equivalent type, no matter that i would love to move to a beachfront parcel.  *giggles*).  I think this could open up some larger parcels, that people could purchase, or could work to help make some parcels look "neater", if there aren't small parcels all over one, instead of buying a lot of small parcels on a sim "just for prims", you can decorate larger areas.  

    The other option I would love, kindof combined with the above, is combining land from different sims into one.  for example, there is a full sim near me for sale. I would love to be able to take my land from the 2 sims that i own, have it on there, then pay the difference for that land.  Not quite the right example, as this mainland sim is owned by another person, but if he abandoned it, i would love that possibility.  Again, in my mind, possible prettier sim, more land opened in others, and possibly more people purchasing mainland, if they could have a possibility of making it a little more of what they want, instead of small/tiny parcels.

     

    KK, after typing this all out for the 2d time, i am hoping this posts...a little long winded, but i hope these are ideas that might be viable.  Or...at least let me vent in a semi-productive way.  *smiles*

    • Like 1
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