what do you think? would you live here?

Hi all, I know many of you have probably seen me mention the Movix City I have been building.

Well I decided to grab some pics of it and put them out here for you guys to see, because frankly it is not renting out like I hoped.

many people tell me it is great they love it etc, but not many seem to want to rent.

It has highrises, flats, store fronts, office space, trailers, even a motel and train.

Yet no one wants to live here.

So my question is, would you live here? If not why? What have I done wrong?
I have thought about redoing some of the textures on the buildings to break up the bricks a little, but... I love bricks LOL

anywho, any imput is appreciated as I am at my wits end.
(putting first pic in the thread, rest will be links you can click on to see)

Thanks

http://www.lindensforsale.com/images/movix2.jpg
http://www.lindensforsale.com/images/movix3.jpg
http://www.lindensforsale.com/images/movix4.jpg
http://www.lindensforsale.com/images/movix5.jpg
http://www.lindensforsale.com/images/movix6.jpg

Pretty cool city. I like it. I guess my question in reply to your question would be, "How's rent?"

Gorgeous build. Very unique.

Two things: First, The market is still soft.

Second, and this is a personal thing: I'm not big on walls. You need them in RL but not so much in SL. I personally prefer open spaces and window.

can't speak for anyone else, of course, but everything on that list are things that I come to SL to avoid....

Rhaoth, I've been seeing your posts about your city for a while, and I had no idea you were building anything so cool (just looking at the pics; have to go inworld and visit tonite!). I love the litter on the streets!

But it's very unusual, and I think you really need to market it as a fashionable living space for those who are already into a grungier identity. When I looked at the pics, I lol'd, picturing a small signboard in <insert name of gorgeous sim> that says: "Tired of sweetness and light? Come to Rhaothville!".

Have you considered advertising in a couple of the more widely read fashion blogs that feature grunge?

And I'm sure you don't want this to be a combat sim, but I could SOOO see a couple of "warring gang" RP groups becoming very at-home in this build!

Very nice build. One thing, are your rental units on separate parcels? If not that may be holding you back some. People like to be able to set the music for their store or home to fit their own tastes.

What do you have against trains?

I think firstly 10 out of 10 for design.

You are asking some tough questions and it requires people to be honest, I will be honest but please do not be offended.

Secondly, and this is only in my opinion, no, I would not live there!

Again this is only my opinion and how I see Secondlife and a question I asked myself when I joined.
What and how do people use and percieve Second Life? it is an imaginary world designed and created by its members.

Because it is Second Life it allows people to use and exploit their own imagination to a level perhaps never openly seen anywhere else.

People in all parts of the globe that join SL may not be so fortunate in RL, therefore this is an imaginary dreamworld, its like living the riches but without the wealth because there is so much avaialble and for so little in reality.

People that want to live out and fulfil this dream would not necessarily want to live in an area with high rise blocks, brick buildings, and graffiti everywhere.

I really like your work and cannot deny you that you have acheived some great results, but think of the appeal for potential tennants, compare your development to other developments that are doing well.

I wish you luck..

Reminds me of Roosevelt Ave in Queens where I grew up.

I think it looks great. I'm a big fan of run down dystopian environments in SL. If I were a renter I'd certainly consider renting there. Very nice job.

thank you all for your input did not expect quick responses.

as for the separate plots for the rentals, no I did not do that as it would be many many places with the plots blocked out.

also being some of the living quarters are highrises or lowrises, would not be able to do that for those.

the honest comments mean a lot to me and yes I too have thought, what would make someone want to live here when they can have riches and beauty and all that jazz.

the only thing I could come up with is, 1 not overly costly, 2 it is more city themed than any of the places I have seen that have plots for rent, no real true sense of community.

I can imagine living here, and I do, I actually use one of the trailers.

I keep wondering if I need to change up some of the textures though, would love to keep it all bricks though, maybe just different colors or styles of bricks.

michael not sure what you mean by the "hows rent" question.

if you ,mean the price, I will be making some changes to that, right now I have it at 6L per prim but thinking of dropping it to 4L per prim for the city and keeping the office space at 6L per prim as it is a nicer building hehe

oh forgot to mention it also has a bar in here

and above the city for the time being is a comic gallery, that features a RL comic book (not comics like superman and such, but comics like single panel and comic strips kinda thing)
this was built as a launch for the RL book, to showcase some things that can be done in SL.
the comic book building is still there for now.

oh, yes I have thought about putting ads in some magazines. also maybe on slexchange banner ad and such

just kinda in a tight spot, no renters means no lindens, no lindens means no advertising dollars

*sigh*

again thank you all for the comments, I appreciate it.

If anyone knows any good places that I can put out ads in world that are not too costly please let me know

oh and as for RPing, I have no problem with ppl using this city to RP in, I just ask that they respect others. I have no push turned on for the sim, so I guess gang wars would be ok. hehe

easy way for combat folks to know if others are not combat folks is look for the health meter, no health meter no shooty hehe

As much I I love the creativity and beauty of this build, the fact that is is so real is pretty much why I would not actually live there.

I have been there a few times, to admire the work you have done. You have made it very realistic - maybe a bit too much so for my 'living preference'. SL is my escape and so I want to live somewhere that doesn't remind me of RL.

I have met enough different types in SL though that I'm sure there are people that would enjoy making it their home -- just a matter of finding those folks. Maybe what someone else had mentioned -- getting the advertising in just the right spots. Also, I haven't checked into the specifics of your rental rates, but if you are charging a bit less that the norm (cuz parts of it is the ghetto after all), maybe you could empahsize that in your ads.

sorry for the multi posts

here is the slurl for anyone wanting to visit

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Movix%20Media/13/17/25

Very nice!

coco

$L6 per prim...That's a monthly rental? Sounds right reasonable to me. I'm paying about $L7.50 per prim per month

Here was some input from folks here as to how to get more traffic to rental projects.

/327/8e/204965/1.html

Rhaorth

Sticking with the theme I think is a good choice, now I have thought and digested the overall look and feel of the City since my last post and I don't want to contradict myself although I most probably will.

Consider adding to the theme, I know some have mixed feelings, but camping is used to attract and bring in customers, exactly how it works I am not sure, but just a thought, what about adding a couple of Oil drums on street corners, with fire blazing, and adding a camping script where people get paid to sing, rap and dance, that will add a bit of atmosphere to the city.

Also, what about texturing the ceilings in the apartments to give them that loft effect rather than the plain white as is present.

Can you add a sound animation as well when the train comes round.

Perhaps someone on a street corner selling something (Not DRUGS lol).

A greasy cafe with smoke or steam coming from the top windows.

A hotdog stall on another corner.

Just give it some atmosphere, going by your already design capabilities I am sure you could add to the theme.

As I already said, the design is great, as someone already mentioned perhaps a little to lifelike, but build on it, perhaps you could have a street carnival to bring the people in to promote it, many options available.

With regards to griefers and stuff, take a look at the film Warriors, a classic gangland film from the bronx, use some ideas from that if you can.

The more I think, the more I like it, (there you go, I just totally contradicted myself but still would not live there)

I'm going to check it out....I love the realsitic city sims and this looks great. As for living....I like my privacy and space....but that's personal preference. A few months back, before i got brave and bought land...I would have loved to set up camp in such a cool location. I had looked for something with a more realistic feel and never found it.

Marketing is key.....and right now things are definitely going at a snails pace....sales in my shop are way down compared to 2 months ago.....so I think it has a lot ot do with the over-all spending habits of folks right now. I'd market in (as mentioned) grunge areas... Pretty-N-Punk is a great spot for it....and also in noobie hang outs. Lots of folks, like me, begin by renting apartments so I think you've got a great premise....it just takes time.

weekly

not monthly
and I have reduced it to 4L per prim, in the process of updating rental boxes

All the renters I have gotten at Liome have been through word of mouth. None of my advertising efforts have paid off. FYI.

Also, don't discount too much. Rent cost is rarely the deciding factor for people. Unless it is out of this world.

No Drugs - Do we want realism or not?


That was a neat movie and definitely has some scenes/pics that would work well in this build.

camping costs money, money which I do not have sadly, besides I detest camping. Bots use them or afkers and drain your money to falsely inflate the traffic on a sim. so no campers for me, well only one, and you will find him if you explore the city hehe

some of the city was done using the urban blight stuff (freebie builds that are awesome) and from those and talking to the creator I am learning to do that myself, hence my comments about retexturing

as for carnivals and adding more buildings, I am running out of spare prims, as it stands prim wise I can not realistically rent every building in the sim, but I leave them cuz they add to the overall design. I still have a few 1000 prims to work with so not panicking heh

I do have the hobo area, which has freebie vendors, and a nice hangout feel, and have also told the hobo group about it, but places seem to take awhile to catch on.

I have thought about doing rent for 4 weeks get 2 extra free special for the storefront rentals... still debating that one

also have a hotdog vendor bike thing that is rideable, thought about rezzing it on a street corner hehe

This city has been a build of love, it has taught me so much about building, and textures, and people.

It is fun to take people on a tour, and I still have things I want to add

right now I have the mass transit, train that goes around the sim and cuts through the city, with train stations, that the train stops at automatically.

my plan is to add a walking tour, which when you sit on the ball, will automatically walk you through the sim on a predefined path, and a taxi system that will take you to preset destinations, also plans for a bus system that will go through the city.

I'm there now LOL And yes...it does remind me of Queens (as someone said earlier), my bf is from Queens orginally.....It definitely has RP potential too.... and also you may want to put vender space/apartments available in your description. Most of what I find I do just by browsing in search-places......so what ever you've got to offer should be stated.

You've done a great job.....I'll definitely be back for some photo opps. *grin*

I'll dare an opinion, if I may...



First, get rid of the rento boxes.

While it's important to show what's available, it's more important to show that you won't look like a ghost town. Lots of empty rento's = sad experience.

Got a customer? Show them around personally. Add a rento when they are ready, in a subtle place.

Did you know that Caledon uses rento's too? They are in the streetlamps, as addresses - the "RENT ME!!!" instead portrayed as "No. 5" or "No. 13" with a subtle 'Available' written on it if empty (which is rare). Totally changes the mood of a place, if it doesn't look SL-abandoned.


Second, start a group for your sim and let the people talk in groupchat. It's a great way to let a community establish itself.


Third, if you have empty spots, put some stuff there. Make it fun!

Last, show your enthusiasm to all involved. It's infectious, and people will want to be a part of it. It's the dawn of your area, and the best days of your region are soon to come.