[Welcoming Teen Grid Organizations to the Main Grid]

While I am in favor if integrating all ages into the grid, this is NOT a complete solution.

 

How does Linden Lab intend to block teens from getting adult content from 3rd party, non-SL Marketplace sources? A simple web page could be set up that automatically triggers a script to transfer an item to another user.

No, the only way this would be secure would be if teen accounts are explicitly disconnected from receiving objects from other avatars, and could only get objects that are dispensed from estates.

[Introducing Kim Salzer, Our New VP Marketing]

@BW:

Linden Lab blindly programming and not focusing on the human elements has been the main problem thus far. You can't just throw programmers at a problem and expect it magically fixed.

[Introducing Kim Salzer, Our New VP Marketing]

Welcome, Kim.

I'm pleased Linden Lab selected someone with  strong marketing experience to move forward the platform. Realize that  the overwhelming majority of buzz about Second Life isn't about  immersion, or escapism, or game-playing, it's universities and  businesses and trade organizations talking about practical uses of  virtual worlds.

Treat Second Life as a game, and I think you'll  find you will find an immense amount of rejection from the professional  third party developer community, educators, and businesses. You've  worked on AAA games - you know that Second Life doesn't compete to  titles like Call of Duty or Guitar Hero when it comes to high quality  work. Second Life as a game platform is a lost cause.

Second Life  as a social platform with smaller, social games is a proven and doable  cause. But realize no one treats Facebook as a game - it's clearly  something bigger. I hope your "X-Factor" isn't "it's a game" - you'll  lead Second Life down a second hype cycle comparable with 2007 that will  burst.

Also, there is no central "Second Life community" - there  is a whole set of communities. What everyone has in common is the desire  to communicate and interact in an immersive, 3-D environment. Really  nothing more. I don't care if Linden Lab calls people "Residents" and if  Hamlet can't see beyond the game-playing. Linden Lab is BAD at knowing  the value of their own product - always have been - and their repeated  failure to avoid hype-and-bust cycles is proof.

I have hope you'll  do better. I think your plan on exploring Second Life is a good one.  Most Linden Labbers don't do that enough. Philip famously said at the  first SLCC "I don't have enough time to spend in-world". Please be sure to visit the  educational and business related places. Sure, a virtual world is a fun  place to hang out, but it can be a life-changing, powerful tool for  things greater than mere socialization.

Good luck!

-Ron Blechner

Virtual World developer since Jan 2006.

SL since Jan 2004 - Hiro Pendragon