Well, the past can come back to haunt ya....
20 years ago I was involved with an arts movement in Camden, London, called Pullit
Now, one of our number is determined to celebrate our 20 year rezzday with a show.
There is a call for submissions... here.
....hmmm.
:)))
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Monday, 10 January 2011
Facebook approaches
Well, we all have new profiles on the web now.
The nice new format for my picture does nothing to compliment my looks of course, but that's no big deal...I can change that. Nothing else to do after all....
Just glad I'm not a member of some bondage group that work collegues or employers can find out about. (Prok explains...here.)
There is some annoyance that our rezz year is no longer shown, and a PJIRA ...here.. ...well, just another stupid bit of meddling. How much does it save not writing the year? stupid.
The number of years someone has been in SL does make a difference to me, it's one of the primary pieces of information I look at...."am I dealing with someone who needs help in buying my trees and rezzing them...or not?" ...if someone has been here 4 years you don't ask them if they need help with that, after all.
...and it is a status thing too, anyone who has withstood 4 years of LL meddling deserves a medal or, at least, my respect.
Well....check it out....
find me here... http://my.secondlife.com/soror.nishi and use a someone.someone for your name if you want to check yours out.
...oh....and change your photo while you are at it...
:))
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Second Life and Tools.
The start of the New Year, along with a new CEO, Mr. Humble, has seen an increase in the blog discussion about the future of SL.
Phaylen instigated a very interesting discussion along with Chantal and Toxic on exactly these lines. If you have the time it is an interesting and amusing discussion and the sort of thing many of us would like to hear more of. Full podcast ...here.
I have to say that I am 100% behind the idea that Machinima is one of the (many) missed opportunities which the Boys could have used to promote and instruct non-users on the joys of SL. It is both the easiest way to see what is going on in SL and, due to the difficulties in learning to find your noob way around, probably superior to the real thing, at least in the initial stages.
I am not unaware of the fact that it is like a video of a stage play or football game in that it lacks atmosphere, but, in spite of this, it is a formidable art form, and one that is gaining world-wide credibility (ArtPulse By Cristina García-Lasuén). No mean feat.
However, I have to agree entirely with Dusan Writer’s analysis concerning the manic attempts to cram more users onto this platform we call Second Life.....
“....the wishful thinking goes like this:
- Second Life would succeed if it had more users. More users are good because they can benefit the virtual economy, they can increase the use of ‘land’, and lead to all kinds of other activity.
- The problem with increasing the number of users isn’t finding new users, it’s in keeping them once they arrive. The data shows it – run a banner ad, and you’ll have people show up on the home page. It’s not an issue of attracting people, it’s an issue of retaining them through the funnel of sign-up, first hour, first week, first purchase.
- Therefore, the primary issue is retention.
- If this is the primary issue, then we need to look at the reasons for a lack of retention. These issues are multi-factorial, but they typically come down to a few things: it’s too hard to sign-up, it’s too hard to learn and use the interface, and it’s too hard to find people/things to do.
- The solution, therefore, is to overhaul sign-up, change the interface, and come up with new ways to search and find content.
There is absolutely NO evidence that a new take on this old strategy will work now when it has never worked in the past.”
His whole article is, as usual, well thought out and insightful.
It is said, wisely, that we can learn from history. This is seemingly a banal statement, but unfortunately one which is given a nominal nod before being totally ignored (e.g. Afghanistan).
SL got built on content.
While I agree with Dusan ..
“From Mitch Kapor through Philip Rosedale and on to Mark Kingdon, everyone who has ever had a word to say about Second Life has looked at the issue of how to grow the world in the same way and failed.
And the reason they’ve failed is that, first, it’s the wrong problem. And second, you can’t design the future solely by extrapolating from past data…and yet time and again, we’ve seen from Linden Lab a reliance on past data as the main metric for planning the future.”
...it is important to realise the unique selling point of your product and understanding why your customers have got you to where you are today. What have they been buying? Why have they been buying?
When I joined SL it was not for the stability, not for the ease of use, not even for permanence (my friends thought it wouldn’t survive 12 months) it was for the possibilities. I stayed because of the tools.
This is why I wrote recently...
“There is another business model which they could have used. If you come to a prominent position in the market but decide that you are a little ahead of the mainstream, you do not have to dumb down to attract more people. LL could have used their lead to consolidate their position and driven full steam ahead to create an untouchable platform where tools, facilities, customer care, etc etc were just so far ahead of the competition that they were ready for when the mainstream caught up (for I fully believe they will one day). Educating the mainstream is a constructive use of an advertising budget.”
Now, the current thinking at the Lab is along the lines that.. because only 5 -10% of users are Builders, the Lab needs to cater more for the Consumers.
User-built content is considered less than it used to be, new tools are almost non-existent. [Mesh could help if it doesn’t get the same treatment as Windlight, i.e. introduced to the grid but never finished off to a top-class tool]
Now, as the content is the primary advertising tool, neglect in this area has a terrible effect on the future of SL.... and we have had 3 years of neglect.
Nearly all the new grids I have visited have realised the vital importance of content creators, they are valued residents. Some of these grids already have superior building tools to SL (e.g. InWorldz), making themselves, thereby, more attractive, and with a brighter future than SL in my opinion.
While I share with Phaylen her love of SL and her desire to see the platform bloom and flourish, I believe this wonderful culture and community is transworld, mobile and will refuse to be held back by inadequate tools; tools which should be available to us all.
So, Rod, let’s have an upgrade..
...and a price reduction..
.. and better servers.
That would be a good start.
Phaylen instigated a very interesting discussion along with Chantal and Toxic on exactly these lines. If you have the time it is an interesting and amusing discussion and the sort of thing many of us would like to hear more of. Full podcast ...here.
I have to say that I am 100% behind the idea that Machinima is one of the (many) missed opportunities which the Boys could have used to promote and instruct non-users on the joys of SL. It is both the easiest way to see what is going on in SL and, due to the difficulties in learning to find your noob way around, probably superior to the real thing, at least in the initial stages.
I am not unaware of the fact that it is like a video of a stage play or football game in that it lacks atmosphere, but, in spite of this, it is a formidable art form, and one that is gaining world-wide credibility (ArtPulse By Cristina García-Lasuén). No mean feat.
However, I have to agree entirely with Dusan Writer’s analysis concerning the manic attempts to cram more users onto this platform we call Second Life.....
“....the wishful thinking goes like this:
- Second Life would succeed if it had more users. More users are good because they can benefit the virtual economy, they can increase the use of ‘land’, and lead to all kinds of other activity.
- The problem with increasing the number of users isn’t finding new users, it’s in keeping them once they arrive. The data shows it – run a banner ad, and you’ll have people show up on the home page. It’s not an issue of attracting people, it’s an issue of retaining them through the funnel of sign-up, first hour, first week, first purchase.
- Therefore, the primary issue is retention.
- If this is the primary issue, then we need to look at the reasons for a lack of retention. These issues are multi-factorial, but they typically come down to a few things: it’s too hard to sign-up, it’s too hard to learn and use the interface, and it’s too hard to find people/things to do.
- The solution, therefore, is to overhaul sign-up, change the interface, and come up with new ways to search and find content.
There is absolutely NO evidence that a new take on this old strategy will work now when it has never worked in the past.”
His whole article is, as usual, well thought out and insightful.
It is said, wisely, that we can learn from history. This is seemingly a banal statement, but unfortunately one which is given a nominal nod before being totally ignored (e.g. Afghanistan).
SL got built on content.
While I agree with Dusan ..
“From Mitch Kapor through Philip Rosedale and on to Mark Kingdon, everyone who has ever had a word to say about Second Life has looked at the issue of how to grow the world in the same way and failed.
And the reason they’ve failed is that, first, it’s the wrong problem. And second, you can’t design the future solely by extrapolating from past data…and yet time and again, we’ve seen from Linden Lab a reliance on past data as the main metric for planning the future.”
...it is important to realise the unique selling point of your product and understanding why your customers have got you to where you are today. What have they been buying? Why have they been buying?
When I joined SL it was not for the stability, not for the ease of use, not even for permanence (my friends thought it wouldn’t survive 12 months) it was for the possibilities. I stayed because of the tools.
This is why I wrote recently...
“There is another business model which they could have used. If you come to a prominent position in the market but decide that you are a little ahead of the mainstream, you do not have to dumb down to attract more people. LL could have used their lead to consolidate their position and driven full steam ahead to create an untouchable platform where tools, facilities, customer care, etc etc were just so far ahead of the competition that they were ready for when the mainstream caught up (for I fully believe they will one day). Educating the mainstream is a constructive use of an advertising budget.”
Now, the current thinking at the Lab is along the lines that.. because only 5 -10% of users are Builders, the Lab needs to cater more for the Consumers.
User-built content is considered less than it used to be, new tools are almost non-existent. [Mesh could help if it doesn’t get the same treatment as Windlight, i.e. introduced to the grid but never finished off to a top-class tool]
Now, as the content is the primary advertising tool, neglect in this area has a terrible effect on the future of SL.... and we have had 3 years of neglect.
Nearly all the new grids I have visited have realised the vital importance of content creators, they are valued residents. Some of these grids already have superior building tools to SL (e.g. InWorldz), making themselves, thereby, more attractive, and with a brighter future than SL in my opinion.
While I share with Phaylen her love of SL and her desire to see the platform bloom and flourish, I believe this wonderful culture and community is transworld, mobile and will refuse to be held back by inadequate tools; tools which should be available to us all.
So, Rod, let’s have an upgrade..
...and a price reduction..
.. and better servers.
That would be a good start.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Betty Tureaud at UWA
UWA has a sim it is going to use for the next 6 months to show the work of various artists in a sim-wide show.
Betty Tureaud is the first artist to show here throughout January. Called The Art Planet... Betty says...
"My art instalation is made like a oil painting that evolves during the work.
I use trasparent color surfaces as flip themselves whichever direction you look.
It allows you even to create your own paintings just turn and you see a new one.
It is you who decides what colors and patterns, your picture will serve.."
...as you can see, flying or camming around through this huge build will help you/make you create scenes which are a colour feast.
She has some suggested SLurls, a copy of which will be given to you when you arrive...
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/104/72/276 Platform
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/90/164/27 Destruction
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/135/98/61 Colour of lights
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/22/55/91 Artificial life
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/204/219/27 The Wall
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/120/126/541 The box
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/8/203/28 Dancing sticks
That is.... well worth a visit.
:))
Betty Tureaud is the first artist to show here throughout January. Called The Art Planet... Betty says...
"My art instalation is made like a oil painting that evolves during the work.
I use trasparent color surfaces as flip themselves whichever direction you look.
It allows you even to create your own paintings just turn and you see a new one.
It is you who decides what colors and patterns, your picture will serve.."
...as you can see, flying or camming around through this huge build will help you/make you create scenes which are a colour feast.
She has some suggested SLurls, a copy of which will be given to you when you arrive...
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/104/72/276 Platform
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/90/164/27 Destruction
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/135/98/61 Colour of lights
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/22/55/91 Artificial life
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/204/219/27 The Wall
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/120/126/541 The box
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWA%20VIRTLANTIS/8/203/28 Dancing sticks
That is.... well worth a visit.
:))
Thursday, 6 January 2011
3rdRock Grid
Intrepid explorer Wizzy and I popped over to 3rdRock for our first visit.
No particular reason for choosing this grid, but it has a couple of interesting points..
Now, because I have a sort of Travel File, and with thanks to Imprudence it only took me about 15 mins to de-Ruth enough to get on with a bit of sight-seeing.
...always useful to have a minimap rezzed for new-comers I think...
Alia Soulstar was kind enough to give me a couple of LM's... this one to Dawn Harbour's shop, London Core...where, obviously you can buy stuff...with the local currency, Geodes. Geodes can be bought from Paypal, full instructions on the website where you register for an account.
3rdRock is an Open Sim version 0.7.0.2 coded grid, but, as it has an economy, it is not connected to the Hypergrid for security reasons.
This pleasant garden is by Alia Soulstar...
...and the bridge is by Sunrise Tomorrow.
They had 699 residents who have logged in over the last 60 days, so it's still pretty small, but it was stable during my visit, and with such light loading that is probably normal, I would think.
Now, it has a community meeting, which Craft does as well, and for those that like to be involved with things, that is quite an asset. Certainly there are times when I would have liked to 'have my say' at an SL meeting, tho SL is probably too big for that to be feasible. Community involvement is something you either like or hate, I find.
So, the economy and the community are two plus points for this grid I think.
...and the costs are $60 a month, with a $25 setup fee for a 15,000 prim region, as far as I can make out.... so not too pricy.
A full report from Dec. 16th....here.
Hypergrid.... a full list of Hypergrid enabled regions is listed here at the invaluable Hyperica... and all the news at Hypergates..... and Pathfinders weekly explorations are not to be missed for those true grid hoppers....here.
OK... that'll keep you busy for a while..:)) 307 destinations for your hypergate, if I read that right (I'm bad with figures)....
...now...back to Blender...
:)))
No particular reason for choosing this grid, but it has a couple of interesting points..
Now, because I have a sort of Travel File, and with thanks to Imprudence it only took me about 15 mins to de-Ruth enough to get on with a bit of sight-seeing.
...always useful to have a minimap rezzed for new-comers I think...
Alia Soulstar was kind enough to give me a couple of LM's... this one to Dawn Harbour's shop, London Core...where, obviously you can buy stuff...with the local currency, Geodes. Geodes can be bought from Paypal, full instructions on the website where you register for an account.
3rdRock is an Open Sim version 0.7.0.2 coded grid, but, as it has an economy, it is not connected to the Hypergrid for security reasons.
This pleasant garden is by Alia Soulstar...
...and the bridge is by Sunrise Tomorrow.
They had 699 residents who have logged in over the last 60 days, so it's still pretty small, but it was stable during my visit, and with such light loading that is probably normal, I would think.
Now, it has a community meeting, which Craft does as well, and for those that like to be involved with things, that is quite an asset. Certainly there are times when I would have liked to 'have my say' at an SL meeting, tho SL is probably too big for that to be feasible. Community involvement is something you either like or hate, I find.
So, the economy and the community are two plus points for this grid I think.
...and the costs are $60 a month, with a $25 setup fee for a 15,000 prim region, as far as I can make out.... so not too pricy.
A full report from Dec. 16th....here.
Hypergrid.... a full list of Hypergrid enabled regions is listed here at the invaluable Hyperica... and all the news at Hypergates..... and Pathfinders weekly explorations are not to be missed for those true grid hoppers....here.
OK... that'll keep you busy for a while..:)) 307 destinations for your hypergate, if I read that right (I'm bad with figures)....
...now...back to Blender...
:)))
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
New Trees at Rainbow Country
Rainbow Country is the name of my shop sim at Inworldz, and the latest tree set for sale there is the totally new Twisted Tree..
Its 27 prims and really only good at night, it bleaches out too much in daylight, tho it is copy/mod so you can play with the glow or the particles....
As it can be a bit difficult to find new stuff.....( forest and trees sayings come to mind...) ... I have built a little showcase pavilion at sea level under the big slanting rock, and I'll showcase the latest stuff there so it's easy to find.
Currently showing the Fuschia Orchid, the Xmas Daisy Tree and the Twisted Tree...
The LM is in my InWorldz Picks, and classified...or
IM me...
:)))
Its 27 prims and really only good at night, it bleaches out too much in daylight, tho it is copy/mod so you can play with the glow or the particles....
As it can be a bit difficult to find new stuff.....( forest and trees sayings come to mind...) ... I have built a little showcase pavilion at sea level under the big slanting rock, and I'll showcase the latest stuff there so it's easy to find.
Currently showing the Fuschia Orchid, the Xmas Daisy Tree and the Twisted Tree...
The LM is in my InWorldz Picks, and classified...or
IM me...
:)))
Monday, 3 January 2011
UWA.... a new year.. a new voting system
This new voting system makes it far easier to vote. Firstly you can stand infront of the piece, rather than try and find it again on the board, secondly you can grade your vote...3 is v good, 2 is medium good and 1 is good....and that makes it easier to express your 'degree' of appreciation...and, of course, not being restricted to just three pieces is a boon.
Well done for improving this, I like it a lot.
Strictly speaking it's the old year as this is the December Round... and, it's time to vote. Ginger Alsop has put together some images of some of the pieces on show... credits are at the end of the machinima.
Zola Zsun has made pieces previously which I have enjoyed a lot, and this one is v elegant too.
...and Nish Mip is a past winner, of course..
I have previously blogged a piece by Faery Sola, Sleeping Beauty... here.
As usual, a great selection of pieces showcasing what is possible in SL Art, and very worth a visit or two.
Pop along and vote, take a friend.
:))
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
