Second Life Forums Archive - Anyone want to give a 'best guess' as to the # of SL-ers?

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

10-15-2003 17:33

One of my co-workers (who is also on SL) and I were discussing how many people we thought might be members of SL.

Anyone care to guess?

Daemioth Sklar

Lifetime Member

Join date: 30 Jul 2003

Posts: 944

10-15-2003 19:48

My guestimate is something around 2-3k. The reason for the estimate being with such large range is that there's really no way to tell how many people there are unless you are a Linden and there's no way for us wee peops to get a count, even if we tried manually. But, I know for example, that the highest owner of Calling Cards is at 1400. So, that's the lowest number of residents there is.

James Miller

Village Idiot

Join date: 9 Jan 2003

Posts: 1,500

10-15-2003 20:00

No, a lot of those calling cards might be trials that didn't stay. We've probably had tens of thousands of trials, but, how many STAYED?

_____________________

George W. Bush hates America.

David Cartier

Registered User

Join date: 8 Jun 2003

Posts: 1,018

10-15-2003 22:24

There is a good way to get an idea, but it can take a while. We pooled about $65,000 and gradually gave it in smallish increments to one resident who was looking at the net worth section of the leader boards. While there are a lot of ties in the ratings, very few of us have the same amount of cash. It was an interesting experiment with some surprising revelations.

From: someone

Originally posted by Daemioth Sklar
My guestimate is something around 2-3k. The reason for the estimate being with such large range is that there's really no way to tell how many people there are unless you are a Linden and there's no way for us wee peops to get a count, even if we tried manually. But, I know for example, that the highest owner of Calling Cards is at 1400. So, that's the lowest number of residents there is.

Dionysus Starseeker

Mostly Harmless

Join date: 31 Dec 1969

Posts: 764

10-15-2003 22:59

7... the answer is 7

_____________________

Life beyond Second Life? Nah...

"...you will get as many answers as people you ask." -- Kenichi Chen *hehe... yep*

Loki Pico

Registered User

Join date: 20 Jun 2003

Posts: 1,938

10-16-2003 01:35

This would be an excellent thread to hear from a Linden. It seems the SL population is a guarded secret for some reason.

I agree with Dae, no more than around 3000 active players, tops.

I still would love to see player stats along these lines. I want to see spending habits, dwell figures, average cash on hand, average land holdings, etc. Per SIM stats and world numbers. Come on, the truth wont hurt us.

Cadroe Murphy

Assistant to Mr. Shatner

Join date: 31 Jul 2003

Posts: 689

10-16-2003 07:12

Change in the number of subscriptions is an important factor in the SL business model, and gives a rough approximation of the revenue stream. I could imagine why the Lindens would want to control dissemination of that figure.

I'm totally curious about it myself.

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

10-16-2003 10:29

along the lines of Daemioth's post:

I was wondering about using Calling Cards as a way to guage the population. I would like to know if calling cards remain active, even after someone has terminated their account. (any Linden want to answer that one?).

If the calling cards are removed when someone leaves SL, then it's safe to say there are *at least* 1400 current members.

Lindens.. why so secretive about the #'s?

Jake Cellardoor

CHM builder

Join date: 27 Mar 2003

Posts: 528

10-16-2003 10:31

I agree with Cadroe. Most individuals are reluctant to answer when you ask, "How much money do you make?" A business is usually far more so, if it's privately owned. That's essentially what we're asking Linden Labs, so I don't expect them to comment.

Cyanide Leviathan

Xtreme Loser Squad

Join date: 12 Jun 2003

Posts: 408

10-16-2003 10:32

42!

Relee Baysklef

Irresistable Squirrel

Join date: 18 Sep 2003

Posts: 360

10-16-2003 10:33

One good way to find out is to open up your find menu, and only click the online option.

Then you get a list of all the players online at that time. In my experience it's usually somewhere from 30-100

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

10-16-2003 10:38

I did that just last night.. and there were 96 people on at around 11pm Pacific Time. But, I also looked at who was online that I had Calling Cards for, and it was about 25. Then I looked at my total # of Calling Cards.. which is 125+....

I need to socialize more.

Catherine Omega

Geometry Ninja

Join date: 10 Jan 2003

Posts: 2,053

10-16-2003 11:24

Well, there's just under 20,000 registered users. However, the vast, vast majority of those are inactive or expired accounts.

If you truly wanted to count all the active users, you could do it by using Find Users to list all the "A" Apples, all the "B" Apples, and so on through "Z" Zebrastripe or Zzzorlon or whatever all these new-fangled surnames are. Damn kids! Get off my lawn!

ANYWAY, I should point out that the maximum number of users listed in the "Find Users" menu is 100. If there's 120 users online or in a certain category, it'll still only report 100 of them. Presumably this is so that people don't search for users with the letter "e" in their name and use up bandwidth in the process.

As for my current guess? Probably around 2500-3000 active users.

Jade Lily

Cat Herder

Join date: 9 Oct 2003

Posts: 219

10-16-2003 11:33

From: someone

Originally posted by Juro Kothari

I was wondering about using Calling Cards as a way to guage the population. I would like to know if calling cards remain active, even after someone has terminated their account. (any Linden want to answer that one?).

Cancel your account, Juro, and I'll see if your calling card disappears!

Devlin Gallant

Thought Police

Join date: 18 Jun 2003

Posts: 5,948

10-16-2003 14:36

His calling card WON'T disapear. Not for at least 2 months.
They are in the process of cancelling expire cards now. Everyday a few are being removed. I can tell because I have added about 40 calling cards in the last 3 days, and my calling card count has gone up by no more than 2, oe even down a couple over that same period.

Juro Kothari

Like a dog on a bone

Join date: 4 Sep 2003

Posts: 4,418

10-16-2003 14:41

From: someone

Originally posted by Jade Lily
Cancel your account, Juro, and I'll see if your calling card disappears!

Never!! And you can't force me!

Anyone want to give a 'best guess' as to the # of SL-ers?
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	10-15-2003 17:33 One of my co-workers (who is also on SL) and I were discussing how many people we thought might be members of SL. Anyone care to guess?
Daemioth Sklar Lifetime Member Join date: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 944	10-15-2003 19:48 My guestimate is something around 2-3k. The reason for the estimate being with such large range is that there's really no way to tell how many people there are unless you are a Linden and there's no way for us wee peops to get a count, even if we tried manually. But, I know for example, that the highest owner of Calling Cards is at 1400. So, that's the lowest number of residents there is.
James Miller Village Idiot Join date: 9 Jan 2003 Posts: 1,500	10-15-2003 20:00 No, a lot of those calling cards might be trials that didn't stay. We've probably had tens of thousands of trials, but, how many STAYED? _____________________ George W. Bush hates America.
David Cartier Registered User Join date: 8 Jun 2003 Posts: 1,018	10-15-2003 22:24 There is a good way to get an idea, but it can take a while. We pooled about $65,000 and gradually gave it in smallish increments to one resident who was looking at the net worth section of the leader boards. While there are a lot of ties in the ratings, very few of us have the same amount of cash. It was an interesting experiment with some surprising revelations. From: someone Originally posted by Daemioth Sklar My guestimate is something around 2-3k. The reason for the estimate being with such large range is that there's really no way to tell how many people there are unless you are a Linden and there's no way for us wee peops to get a count, even if we tried manually. But, I know for example, that the highest owner of Calling Cards is at 1400. So, that's the lowest number of residents there is.
Dionysus Starseeker Mostly Harmless Join date: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 764	10-15-2003 22:59 7... the answer is 7 _____________________ Life beyond Second Life? Nah... "...you will get as many answers as people you ask." -- Kenichi Chen hehe... yep
Loki Pico Registered User Join date: 20 Jun 2003 Posts: 1,938	10-16-2003 01:35 This would be an excellent thread to hear from a Linden. It seems the SL population is a guarded secret for some reason. I agree with Dae, no more than around 3000 active players, tops. I still would love to see player stats along these lines. I want to see spending habits, dwell figures, average cash on hand, average land holdings, etc. Per SIM stats and world numbers. Come on, the truth wont hurt us.
Cadroe Murphy Assistant to Mr. Shatner Join date: 31 Jul 2003 Posts: 689	10-16-2003 07:12 Change in the number of subscriptions is an important factor in the SL business model, and gives a rough approximation of the revenue stream. I could imagine why the Lindens would want to control dissemination of that figure. I'm totally curious about it myself.
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	10-16-2003 10:29 along the lines of Daemioth's post: I was wondering about using Calling Cards as a way to guage the population. I would like to know if calling cards remain active, even after someone has terminated their account. (any Linden want to answer that one?). If the calling cards are removed when someone leaves SL, then it's safe to say there are at least 1400 current members. Lindens.. why so secretive about the #'s?
Jake Cellardoor CHM builder Join date: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 528	10-16-2003 10:31 I agree with Cadroe. Most individuals are reluctant to answer when you ask, "How much money do you make?" A business is usually far more so, if it's privately owned. That's essentially what we're asking Linden Labs, so I don't expect them to comment.
Cyanide Leviathan Xtreme Loser Squad Join date: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 408	10-16-2003 10:32 42!
Relee Baysklef Irresistable Squirrel Join date: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 360	10-16-2003 10:33 One good way to find out is to open up your find menu, and only click the online option. Then you get a list of all the players online at that time. In my experience it's usually somewhere from 30-100
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	10-16-2003 10:38 I did that just last night.. and there were 96 people on at around 11pm Pacific Time. But, I also looked at who was online that I had Calling Cards for, and it was about 25. Then I looked at my total # of Calling Cards.. which is 125+.... I need to socialize more.
Catherine Omega Geometry Ninja Join date: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,053	10-16-2003 11:24 Well, there's just under 20,000 registered users. However, the vast, vast majority of those are inactive or expired accounts. If you truly wanted to count all the active users, you could do it by using Find Users to list all the "A" Apples, all the "B" Apples, and so on through "Z" Zebrastripe or Zzzorlon or whatever all these new-fangled surnames are. Damn kids! Get off my lawn! ANYWAY, I should point out that the maximum number of users listed in the "Find Users" menu is 100. If there's 120 users online or in a certain category, it'll still only report 100 of them. Presumably this is so that people don't search for users with the letter "e" in their name and use up bandwidth in the process. As for my current guess? Probably around 2500-3000 active users.
Jade Lily Cat Herder Join date: 9 Oct 2003 Posts: 219	10-16-2003 11:33 From: someone Originally posted by Juro Kothari I was wondering about using Calling Cards as a way to guage the population. I would like to know if calling cards remain active, even after someone has terminated their account. (any Linden want to answer that one?). Cancel your account, Juro, and I'll see if your calling card disappears!
Devlin Gallant Thought Police Join date: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 5,948	10-16-2003 14:36 His calling card WON'T disapear. Not for at least 2 months. They are in the process of cancelling expire cards now. Everyday a few are being removed. I can tell because I have added about 40 calling cards in the last 3 days, and my calling card count has gone up by no more than 2, oe even down a couple over that same period.
Juro Kothari Like a dog on a bone Join date: 4 Sep 2003 Posts: 4,418	10-16-2003 14:41 From: someone Originally posted by Jade Lily Cancel your account, Juro, and I'll see if your calling card disappears! Never!! And you can't force me!

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Anyone want to give a 'best guess' as to the # of SL-ers?