Czari Zenovka

Steam or no Steam, this is what new users experience upon arriving in SL: http://community.secondlife.com/t5/General-Discussion-Forum/New-to-SL/td-p/1642535 How many times over the years have we seen a similar posts from new residents? Some even saying, "How do you play this game?" By comparison, EQ now has a tutorial when one first plays that shows how to use the UI *while* completing a small quest. After that is completed, the player is then taken to a small area in which they may stay until level 15. *Hints* as to which NPC to approach for more directions pop up on the screen. By the time a new player is actually in the full content of EQ they have a pretty good idea of how the game operates, what quests are, how to buy items, how to bank, etc. In WoW a new player is plopped pretty much in front of the NPC that starts the player on the first series of small quests where they learn the UI, etc. We see what happens when one arrives in SL, especially if they do not know anyone already here to help them out a bit. We all went through that - some of us on the old Orientation Island, some coming through one of the portals, ie. Caledon for example, but we still had to figure out what to do or where to go next. The younger male segment of gamers will look around, wonder where the quest NPC is, maybe ask someone and risk being laughed at, depending on where they are, say heck with this and leave. Now the 43-year-old woman demographic that has been discussed would likely be more apt to look around, perhaps see something that intrigues her (shopping, an interesting build, etc.) so the older gamers might become more long-term in SL. I'm only familiar with MMORPGs so not sure how SL relates to games like FarmTown or some of the other games shown on the excellent slide show linked further back in this thread. It will be interesting to see what happens for sure.

I began a thread asking if people read merchant blogs. The responses were mixed but pretty much confirmed that it is but one of many ways to advertise one's business and probably not the most effective.

Melita Magic wrote: I do not read any merchant blogs. I do not see a real purpose in them to be blunt. Thanks, Melita. I've pretty much come to the conclusion, for me, if I want to start a SL and/or merchant-related blog at some time it will be based on enjoyment of the medium, not to use as a business promotion. As a sidenote: I was in my shop a few days ago when a customer popped in. We engaged in some conversation during which time I ascertained that two of her main activities in SL is shopping and merchant hunts. She indicated that she regularly tosses out old outfits and replaces them with new ones. I was interested in the opinion of a shopaholic on the topic of merchant/fashion blogs, so I asked if she read or followed any. Immediate answer was a resounding no.

Toysoldier Thor wrote: PS VonG... if she really does abandon the sim... there sure is no waiting list for sims considering LL last year saw 1800 abandoned sims. If someone actually wants a sim.... LOL... they have tons for the pickings at a good price. (Emphasis mine) The estate sim where my shop was formerly located was recently sold. From what I understand the offers were way less than she hoped to get and finally accepted an offer for less than the asking price, but by that time just wanted to get out of it. From that one example (and of course it is just one example) it would appear that there are buyers for sims but, like land flippers, wanting to pay as little as possible. Not that I have any interest, not to mention funds, in purchasing an estate, regardless of the purchase price the same monthly tier exists as in all land on SL. How many times do we residents have to say if only LL would reduce tier more land would be sold. *sighs*

Monty Python gets my vote for great all-round satire. Two of my favorites: I've actually had a few job interviews that weren't far off from this. And of course the "Burglar": Other Monty Python favorites are Confuse-A-Cat, Dead Parrot, Twit of the Year Awards...basically all of them. And since the thread I saw this on was removed...this is one of my new favorites - West Side Story satire:

Babaloooooooooo!

Andromeda Chrome wrote: Yes but that's the fun in it isn't it? I mean In rl we talk to people behave properly atleast most of us and well live our lives normally. Here we can come on and see an pale white dude that's seven feet tall with a twenty i inch orange pee pee attached to him yelling into an open room "you wanna make boom boom with me" since he's foreign and how in the heck can that not be like awesome!! lol I'm just saying. I enjoy me some looneys. :-p *Wipes Pepsi of monitor* Thanks...I needed that chuckle today.

Nuhai Ling wrote: Anyone else old enough to remember the montra, "Second Life is not a game.... Second Life is not a game...." *Raises hand* I do, I do. In fact, I vividly recall if someone referred to SL as a "game" on the old forums (usually a new resident) all manner of hades would break out. In the last year or so I see the usage of the word "game" referring to SL on the forums regularly. *Sits back in my rocking chair.* Ah, the "good ole days." *Grins*

Medhue Simoni wrote: So, what I"m basically saying is that LL should do all the backend work and make all the gaming systems for SL, and then just hand it all off to us to customize those systems into an array of playable games. I agree...but based on what we've been witnessing re: show stopper MP issues still in existence from April, my faith in LL coders, or at least the ones working on the MP, has dipped a tad.

Totally agree with your observations, Madeliefste, re:LL rewarding in some small way, or even recognizing their long-term, loyal user base. Your ideas on how that could be done are excellent. Back to the gaming example; with both of the MMORPGs I've played, even though I have not played either for close to a year now, I regularly get "We miss you" emails, offering some bonus for returning plus updates on what my current "Station Cash" balance is for one (and, knowing how much I had last time I played, it looks like some was added), and regular updates from the other. Thank you for including the link to the 43-year-old woman demographic. I'd read some articles over the years that indicated pretty much the same thing. What was always fun in the gaming forums was someone inevitably starting a thread asking, "What do you think is the average age group of <xyz> game?" with the OP "positive" it was a spread from 18-25. Then the responses flooded in with the majority always being at least 35+ and a good many 45+. The OP would be stunned. Something similar happened years ago in SL. A gentleman friend and I were dancing at a jazz venue. To begin with, jazz dance venues are generally not attractive to the hip-hop/trance/or whatever the current music trend is amoung the younger set. A new male resident arrived wearing jeans and a T-shirt where the dress code was at least semi-formal. He proceeded to start talking in local to the group-at-large. Newbie: Hi. No answer from the couples mainly engaged in IMs. Newbie: HI!! This elicited a few Helloes. Newbie: How old is everyone? (A sure tip off the asker is young.) This started a flurry of responses from "That's impolite to ask" to "None of your business" until one person said, "42, why?" Newbie: WOW!!! So like is everyone in this game OLD? He poofed pretty soon thereafter, unknown if he left on his own, was "ushered out," or had been advised by the host/hostess he would need to change clothes.

Gadget Portal wrote: Oh, if only the coders at LL were even remotely close to being as competent as those as Blizzard, we wouldn't be having this discussion- We could have mesh, all the shinies, and SL would STILL work great on both of our machines. Yaaayyyy!! Something we agree on. While we're at it, LL could take some lessons on customer service from Blizzard as well. I submitted a ticket about an issue in WoW that, as it turned out wasn't anything WoW needed to correct; I misunderstood something. However, the customer service reps. responded to me politely and within like 5 minutes of my tickets each time. They were never snippy or closed the ticket until they were sure I understood the issue and was completely satisfied. I was extremely impressed and wrote a commendation letter to Blizzard naming each of the reps. who handled my tickets so well.

Here's where your analogy doesn't work, Gadget. People in SL with higher end machines are not necessarily the ones who stick around and/or spend money and vice versa. I used the example in another thread of someone I know who has been in SL for two years but has not put one penny into the SL economy, either RL money or lindens. He is here only to dance and meet women and everything he has from his avatar, clothes, the "gifts" he gives, a vehicle he drives, etc. are all freebies which he boasts openly about and in essence says he is not going to put RL money into SL. However, he works in the software industry and has a killer computer he built himself. Then there are people with less powerful computers who have been in SL 4, 5, 6+ years, have put RL funds into SL during that time, bought land, purchased goods in SL; in other words contributed to the economy. LL catering to just people with higher end PCs doesn't necessarily equate to keeping the people who are helping the SL economy. One may put money into their computers but not so much into SL. We all tend to look through the prism of our own reality and because you upgrade your PC *and* are a contributor to the SL economy you may assume that holds true across the board. I have met enough people in SL to know it isn't necessarily true. The "dedicated group" you speak of and that I agree LL should be trying to keep are the people who have stayed through the growing pains of SL, endured less than stellar customer no-service, are content creators and/or content purchasers. As long as one has a PC that will allow them to be in SL, having a higher end PC is a moot point. As frustrating as it can be at times to have to wait 5 minutes for an area to rez in when I land, keeping my draw distance at 64m max to move, barely being able to move in places like texture stores...the fact that I'm still here and doing my part to support the grid, unlike many of my friends who have gone elsewhere (most with their powerful PCs), would indicate that I *am* a part of the "dedicated group." On the subject of gaming, since you keep bringing it up - my PC can run both EQ and WoW beautifully with little to no lag. I was mentioning that once to a friend who has played WoW since beta and he said that WoW intentionally streamlined their engine so that "most" PCs *can* run it, thus ensuring more users. Using that gaming analogy, LL shouldn't be making viewers that alienate a portion of their dedicated core.

Gadget Portal wrote: [general reply, not to anyone in particular] By the way, I don't mind when people dislike my posts- everyone's entitled to an opinion, good or bad, but sending your friends to harrass me in-world because of a forum post is petty. Since you and I had one of the most heated errrr "discussion" in this thread, I want to state that it was not me - I also agree that's petty. ETA: I also apologize for my last post to you, Gadget. It's a very touchy subject with me and I let my emotion over-rule my better judgement.

Bittersweet Lime wrote: True as well. My experience in the gamer community is, that SL is well known, but most think, it is dead since long. Most of the people I've spoken with in the gamer community have either never heard of SL or say, "Oh yeah, I tried that game once; didn't like it." For awhile I was trying to encourage a few of my friends to come give it a try and meet them in world. They did and still left.

Amethyst Jetaime wrote: I hope you're right. The SL economy could sure use a shot in the arm if the players coming in are willing to spend money. Certainly this hasn't been the case lately as most newer people I run into now days seem to think everything shoud be free or so cheap it is hardly worth the creators time to make things. I've run into this as well, Amethyst. I was seeing someone for awhile who has been in SL for two years and, based on his avatar and conversation, has never put a dime into SL. His gifts to me were even from the Freebie Dungeon.

I've never heard of Steam (when I first saw the title I thought it was referring to the Steampunk community in SL...lol). As I stated on another thread elsewhere, it irks me that LL keeps introducing new "shinies" instead of working on existing issues. I'm pretty much "meh" about it. (And this coming from a gamer...but old school as in EQ/WoW.)

Sassy Romano wrote: My first advice is don't be a merchant, your SL is over! Heh...you're not far off on that one. *Grins* I have one friend who keeps telling me I need to get out and have fun. I'm at the point now that I turn down some "dates" if I'm in creative mode and knee-deep in a new build. And my business is small...lol. We have free choice, of course, and can decide how much time we want to devote to our businesses and how much time to do other things in SL, but when the "Business Bug" bites it can sometimes take over.

My advice to you as a smaller merchant who creates for pretty much the same reasons as you indicate is to create what inspires you, then use the various marketing tools in SL (designer groups, hunts, etc.) to let potential customers know your creations exist. When I first began SL I said I would NEVER do three things: 1) Have a premium account 2) Buy land 3) Own a business Over time I've done all three...lol. The first year I was in SL I explored the grid, doing all kinds of fun things. I spent the second year of my SL taking classes, mainly building classes, often 3 a day. I learned the basics of building with prims and made a variety of products ranging from furniture to fashion. I found my "niche" in small home furnishings. When I look through the MP or visit stores I would never have heard of otherwise by going on hunts, it never ceases to amaze me what sells. Just because I, in a million years, would never buy xyz product, doesn't mean there aren't many who will, which goes back to - I don't think you can go wrong by creating whatever inspires you, makes you smile, gives you enjoyment. That attitude will come through in your creations vs. just creating what one thinks is the new hot item. I wish you a lot of fun and success in your new venture!! If you ever want to chat, please feel free to IM me in world or send a PM here on the forums.

Gadget Portal wrote: Czari Zenovka wrote: You know, Gadget, comments like yours when you have NO IDEA of what someone may be dealing with in RL is less than helpful to say the least. When you come down with a debilitating illness some day and have to make an extremely limited income cover the necessities of life, then get back to me on how I'm sticking my fingers in my ears. Like it or not, 3D gaming is like any other hobby, it has equipment costs. In this case, it's computer hardware. If you can't afford it, this may not be the hobby for you. That statement comes across as really mean, but I can't think of a polite way to put it. Rock climbers have to buy rope and other equipment regularly. Even stamp collectors need to invest in storage for their stamps. Those of us into online gaming need to invest in keeping our computer hardware up to date. Sounds like you were doing that for a while, why'd you stop? As long as you keep up with it, you should never have to buy an entire computer. Granted, a mobo purchase can add up, but if you do it right and in a timely fashion, even the cost of that can be reasonable. If the day ever comes where I get a debilitating illness and can't afford to fund my gaming, I'll have to find a hobby I can afford. I don't need to justify my life to you. Yes you have made an extremely mean comment. And perhaps you'll rethink this when your charmed life changes. Thanks to you, I think I'll refrain from posting here for awhile...I have enough to deal with in RL to debate with someone who obviously has their head up their rear.

Gadget Portal wrote: Medhue Simoni wrote: Mesh is not more work for an older PC. The PC would have to be ancient to have a problem with mesh, even in the slightest. Mesh actually is extremely better for older PCs, as meshes are far less geometry to render, versus sculpties. Not only have I said this, but similar statements have come from the phoenix people, the Exodus people, and from LL. I run 3 different computer so that I can evaluate problems with different types and aged computers. My oldest computer is more than 5 years old, with an old video card that I can't even remove, and barely meet SL's minimum requirements. It runs all mesh viewers perfectly fine. I'd also like to point out that you can get a brand new PC for $250 and it will run SL just fine, with mesh too. The problem we're looking at, Medhue, is many people in SL don't consider SL to be a game, so they don't pay attention to computer hardware specs, or follow technology. They use ancient typewriters and word processing machines for SL, then stick their fingers in their ears when they're told to upgrade because "This computer was expensive when I bought it, it should run SL fine!" No matter how many times we repeat that mesh is less laggy than sculpts, people will still refuse to update. You know, Gadget, comments like yours when you have NO IDEA of what someone may be dealing with in RL is less than helpful to say the least. When you come down with a debilitating illness some day and have to make an extremely limited income cover the necessities of life, then get back to me on how I'm sticking my fingers in my ears.

Medhue Simoni wrote: Mesh is not more work for an older PC. The PC would have to be ancient to have a problem with mesh, even in the slightest. Mesh actually is extremely better for older PCs, as meshes are far less geometry to render, versus sculpties. Not only have I said this, but similar statements have come from the phoenix people, the Exodus people, and from LL. I run 3 different computer so that I can evaluate problems with different types and aged computers. My oldest computer is more than 5 years old, with an old video card that I can't even remove, and barely meet SL's minimum requirements. It runs all mesh viewers perfectly fine. I'd also like to point out that you can get a brand new PC for $250 and it will run SL just fine, with mesh too. *Sighs* I suppose I'll have to go into this again. I'm surprised supposedly techie types are not aware of this. I cannot run mesh because my PC does not support SEE2 technology which is necessary to run the viewers that support mesh including SL v.3, Firestorm, the newest Phoenix, and Coo Viewer. Yes my PC is ancient by today's standards; however I purchased it years ago as a gaming computer and upgraded it over the years with a new MB, vid card and RAM. I can no longer simply upgrade certain components because a new vid card will not work with my current MB. If I upgrade the MB, my current RAM is not compliant with it; thus the necessity to purchase a new PC entirely. The interesting thing is, except for not being able to see mesh or participate in Direct Delivery, my PC still runs every other program, including two very graphics-intensive MMORPGs beautifully, and with no lag. Yes, I could likely have a better "SL experience" overall by upgrading, but when one has to live on VERY limited means, something I daresay you do not, based on your comments of the money you are making, choices have to be made. I cannot even afford $250. To someone who doesn't live my life it may seem unbelievable, but it's true for me nonetheless. A family member who knows how much enjoyment I get from SL has very graciously offered to purchase a new PC for me as a gift. After much conversation we decided that to spend a bit more than the lower end PC will be more cost effective for the long term. Since this is a gift, I have no control over when I will acquire this PC. /adds another mark on the wall as to how many people I have had to "educate" on this issue...and it's starting to get reaaaaaaalllly old.

Medhue Simoni wrote: I'm not going to go on arguing what I consider ridiculousness and ignorance. If people want to trust in what you say Toy, they have all the right to believe whatever they want to believe. My motive should be plainly clear, and that is to help as many of my fellow creators as I can, inform the public as to why their world sucks and is laggy, and to try and help make this SL world a smooth and enjoyable place to be in. Sculpties do not fit into those goals, and actually goes against them. I think there's two sides of the coin to this "ridiculousness and ignorance." For the record, my world doesn't suck.

Toysoldier Thor wrote: Actually Deja... To expand on your argument back to Medhue on his thoughts of leveraging technology that can be used outside SL (like 3D modeling).... using MESH as opposed to Sculpties is actually a huge hinderance to that strategy. Unlike Mesh... all my Sculpty packs were available to be transferred to other competing open sim grids (you all know which ones are SL's competitors). With sculpties I have been making a PROFIT on these grids outside SL. Exactly why would I create Mesh landscape packs that are currently not popular even in SL and 100% not possible to be exported into any other competing grid??? So contrary to Medhue's argument about mesh opens my world to bigger markets.... it is actually the other way around. SCULPTIES have and continue to be the only technology for me to take my creations I built for SL and sell them elsewhere - other open sim. Mesh would completely lock me into SL only. If the OP would take Medhue's advice, she would be limiting her ability to sell her creation in any of these other grids. I can attest to this. (The bolded part.) The talented creator friend I mentioned in a previous post in this thread...she left SL with the mass merchant exodus of 2010 and has made another virtual world her home since then. She has recently returned to SL on a limited basis do to personal reasons; nothing involving her creations or business - that is still on the other grid. She said to me the other day, "Thank goodness <other grid> hasn't adopted mesh yet." Many merchants who set up shop there two years ago, largely based on LL's decision to not allow uploading of any design that was not 100% created by a merchant (ie. no full perm textures, animations, etc. that, until the new LL edict, could be saved to HD as we all know there are NEVER any inventory losess in SL *coughs*) are very well-known, successful merchants, some of whom post on these forums. Some designers completely left SL for that grid, others set up their businesses there as well as kept them in SL and are deriving sales from both, but are hedging their bets in case SL goes under.

Medhue Simoni wrote: What some people fail to realize, is that 3d is not all SL. The importance of learning mesh goes way beyond Secondlife. See, myself, as a creator doesn't feel that making items for ONLY 1 platform is a very intelligent way to work, or spend my time. Everything that I make today, can be used anywhere I choose to bring it. In my personal opinion, you'll be writing your own 3d death note by continuing to create only for SL. If people want to occupy their time arguing the mesh or no mesh idiocy, please do it without referencing me. This thread is about Ami and her problems. I seriously doubt that advising her to continuously create items that can only work in SL, is good advice at all. Unlike some people, I looked at Ami's whole collection and I see many items that would be half the prim cost in mesh, not to mention all the other bonuses of mesh. I don't think anyone (that I've read thus far...just replying to posts as I read them) has suggested that Ami *not* use mesh, far from it. Toy encouraged learning to use it. Several of us are saying that we do not believe the non-use of mesh in our creations is THE reason for declining sales. As Deja pointed out, the use of mesh as a VIP gift even impacted her negatively. Deja also made a good point in saying that creators are more excited about mesh than customers. Also, content creators on the grid vary from those to whom their business is the sole reason they are in SL on down the continuum to people who just love to create and have a small business that gives them pleasure. For me, there are soooo many things to do and see in SL that if I decided to close my business today I would still be just as busy and having just as much fun in other venues. And I'm kind of stubborn like this (blame it on the red hair *grins*) - when I'm told I *have* to do something, I tend to do the opposite. When I *can* see mesh, I have made a decision not to purchase anything containing it.

Toysoldier Thor wrote: Medhue is well known for being one of LL's biggest champions of Mesh - even his pom poms are mesh He has been promoting that mesh is the savoir of the grid and that all non-mesh conformants will surely die a quick death since LL made mesh production last summer. Ok, Toy, this is scary - we're talking alike...lol. I used the word "savior" in reference to mesh as well (not that it is, just that I used the same word) before I read this post. *Cue Twilight Zone music* And I do want to say I'm not jumping on you, Medhue; we just see the whole mesh thing differently. Well, in my case I don't see mesh at all. Actually I *do* see errrr, something, such as: A customer in my store obviously wearing mesh. A resident I encountered wearing mesh while out shopping. The amazing "see through" woman. You get the idea. And you know how I see your mesh sculptures. Honestly, I'm having so much fun "not" seeing mesh that I may continue to use the same non-mesh viewer even when I don't have to.