Will LindenLabs co-opt education projects in SL?

Actually, I see their role as more like webct.com

Oh, I don't disagree, and would actually welcome that. However, one must still type in a URL to get to webct.com.

SL aspires to be a sort of web itself, or so we are told, so I suppose what I am saying is I don't see it's role all that differently. Especially with one time 9.95 lifetime accounts. A massive 3d links page, not the least of which could be deep educational resources.

No moat required We're in the Serious Games space, and while that encompasses traditional notions of education, it also includes areas like healthcare, homeland security and advergaming.

Furthermore, while we love SL, and really believe it's the best platform to create cost-effective, multi-player, social serious games, as a company we're not locked into it.

After seeing GOM's fate, I've come to the conclusion that any type of service in SL that can possibly turned to make a profit is a potential target for 'reappropriation' by LL. The only thing really up for question is which ones they'll be targeting for stea..errrrr...appropriating first.

Education could possibly be a profitable venture, but I'd hazard to guess it's a safe spot for now. There's bigger fish out there that's ready to fry first.


- Newfie

I just wanted to point out, that this is actually not true.

LL has two people responsible for education, Robin and Pathfinder. Neither one of them are working anywhere close to full time on it. Robin runs the community team and Pathfinder is always talking with residents in world.

But if your reading this thread and wondering how you can get your class into SL, or even how you can brainstorm with others, contact Pathfinder and he'll put you in touch with the educational community here.

Well, I won't get into an argument as I don't sign their timesheets.

However, let me say that I've seen the visible stuff that Pathfinder has produced and the work he's done in education has impressed me the most.

Pathfinders work with the non-profit BrainTalk is absolutely fantastic. It's a project he started before working at LL, and a project he continues after he clocks out. Who'd a thought, he has hobbies outside of work, like the rest of us? He pays tier and everything... If you think Path is working on BrainTalk while he's on the clock, you need to spend more time inworld. Griefers, trolls and concerned residents keep him plenty busy.

Heh well there ya go. I think you're kinda making my point for me.

I assumed that Path was merely some guy they got to work on the education piece. Now he's got non profit creds as well?

This is clear strategy and tactics, obviously LL is making an overt play to get into education.

How is encouragement co-opting?

Your point was that LL may co-opt no?

I guess it depends on where you want to stand in the value chain.


If you want to be a teacher guiding a set of students, say 10-15 .. it's all coming up roses for you.

If you want to be a platform builder, like LL, you're in a pretty good spot.

If you want design and build SL content for teachers.. well, yeah, you're OK but not golden. You will have to compete and compete most likely on price / reputation rather than a competitive moat.

If you want sell teachers on the SL platform.. well, you're probably going to have to deal with LL as they'll likely have a service for that.

If you want to provide services for teachers when they're in SL, short term there may be opportunities, but longer term if it can be automated, it's likely LL will do it.

You'd be suprised at all the smart people they have at LL and all the outside of LL cred they have.

Game the forums all you want, but don't dog the cred of someone who's working on a project like BrainTalk in his spare time by implying he's using company time. He works incredibly hard and is totally genuine with his work for BrainTalk.



This is how most business works. If the people in your organization aren't your competitive advantage maybe you should be doing something else.

I think you're making the easy mistake so many others do on a constant basis and projecting motivations behind my posts and then attempting to reach conclusions based on the fact that you think you understand my motivation.


For example:

a) I wasn't dogging anyones credits
b) I was congratulating not disagreeing with the fact that someone might be a competitive advantage

Hopefully the fact that you so completely missed this will make you re-evaluate what you think you know.

Of course, I'm sure he *is* a competitive advantage.

That's exactly my point - he's being hired because they plan on making a major move into education.

And they are, trust me.

IM me and I can let you in on some extra facts about this that I can't publish in this thread.