These forums are CLOSED. Please visit the new forums HERE
Q3 closed on a high note with an unusually strong September. Talk 11/12 w/Zee Linden |
|
|
Ciaran Laval
Mostly Harmless
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 7,951
|
11-12-2008 19:20
100 L$ says that either there is no response from the Lindens to your question or they tell you what I'd tell you which is to take it to the proper thread and let the rest of us deal with the topic of this thread in peace. Gordon with all due respect questions don't get answered in that thread. If they had been, then you'd have a very valid point. |
|
Aminom Marvin
Registered User
Join date: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 520
|
11-12-2008 19:23
One question:
Does Linden Lab every buy L$ as a sink, or is it policy to only sell using Supply Linden? |
|
Rylan Oldrich
Registered User
Join date: 15 Feb 2008
Posts: 8
|
Where are the answers?
11-12-2008 19:36
Ms Linden, I notice that yo have answered several frivolous questions on this thread, yet you continue to dodge the issues of substance. LL's introduction of Open Spaces caused demand for my sims to plummet to the point that they were unviable. I was forced to spend thousands of dollars as a direct result of LL's policies, now you are increasing my tier 66% making my land business unviable again leaving me with no option but to cut my losses, and leave SL thousands of dollars out of pocket, as a direct result of your policies. Please explain to me why Linden Labs finds this sort of contemptual behaviour towards the very people that pay your salaray acceptable? It appears that LL only answers easy questions and ignores any real questions from its paying customers. Zee appears to brush aside any impact from the openspace fiasco when the new improved openspace and homestead products have not even been defined from a scripting and server distribution point even if the price appears to be "final". How can anyone determine the value and viability of the new product without full disclosure of the potential usage limitations. This will have a potential impact on rental and property pricing and on business models across the grid. It would be interesting to ask how the pricing was determined and how the financial impact on SL and LL has been considered when the resources that will be required to support the new products have obviously not been determined. Seems like history destined to repeat itself at the customer's expense.....again. I hope you are proud to be part of such a company. |
|
Rodders Holgado
Registered User
Join date: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 14
|
Message to Katt Linden
11-12-2008 19:44
Last edited by Katt Linden : Today at 03:14 AM. Reason: Please keep this thread on topic. There is another forum thread for Open Spaces discussion. -- Katt Linden
Why was my post edited as being "Off topic", my post related directly to the lack of economic demand in the SL as a result of LL policies and the effects that they are having on residents, how dare you treat a customer that pays $US4,000 a month to Linden Labs with such contempt. I pay your salary so show some respect. Open Spaces have caused what could only be described as a "Depression" in the land market, this has cost residents millions of dollars, dollars that ended up in the coffers on Linden Lab. Linden Labs price hike is going to destroy what is left of the SL economy and destroy SL itself. Answer the question, I have already asked it in the previous thread to do with Open Spaces and you ignored me, so I will ask again here, and I am not going to sit quietly until I get an acceptable answer or solution, I pay you $US4,000 a month so I'm more than entitled to one. I have already paid a very heavy price for the introduction of Open Space, money that ended up in LL's pocket, why, after paying all that money, to cover myself from your error, are LL introducing policies that are going to decimate me? I was left with no choice but to convert to Open Spaces, because LL's policies made sims unviable, I think I've been through enough and paid you enough. Answer the question. |
|
Argos Hawks
Eclectically Esoteric
Join date: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 1,037
|
11-12-2008 19:59
Zee,
If everything's going so well, why did the PMLF numbers for October suck so bad? In every category over $10, the numbers took a drastic downturn compared to the previous month. As CFO, isn't it your responsibility to bring back a little common sense to LL and get the OS policy updated to something that isn't so financially suicidal? _____________________
Step 1: Create virtual world
Step 2: ??? Step 3: Profit |
|
Lias Leandros
mainlander
Join date: 20 Jul 2005
Posts: 3,458
|
11-12-2008 20:13
Not sure if I agree with the second part of your statement on page five since it seems like that's free market dynamics at work both in the auction and after the auctions but I'm interested also about an update on the former (mainland plans) if one is possible. It was suggested that when someone buys 512M on mainland they get a query box asking them would they like to join the Mainland sim landowner group - or a group land purchaser could appoint a representative to teh mainland landowner group. I do not feel that only the new customers should have a quality experience and I feel a littlle pissed off whenever a Linden posts about their wonderful zoned mainland after I have paid mainland tier since 2005. . _____________________
 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bear/214/199/107 Join in SL open enrollment CLUB JOBS to announce new DJ and Host Jobs for free. And on Avatar's United http://www.avatarsunited.com/groups/club-jobs |
|
Buckaroo Mu
Alpha Geek
Join date: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 106
|
11-12-2008 20:15
Not at all. I'm happy to talk with you all. If you have questions for Zee on the economy however, this is a good opportunity to ask them. Way back on post #52, I asked this: Zee, is there any way we could get a breakdown on user hours by login channel? This could give us some info on how many people are using official LL clients, what versions, and, more importantly, /might/ be a way to indicate which logins are bots. Obviously a bot can select whatever channel it likes, but if I'm correct, it has to adhere to the protocol particularities that channel indicates, yes? Either way, would help content creators know how many people are still using pre-1.21 (or even pre-windlight) viewers. Can I get an answer on this? I still think it would be an incredibly useful bit of information. Doesn't even really have to be user hours - logins could work too, but user hours would tell us which client types are getting the most use. Heck, best source of info might be hours per login PER channel. As a side effect, if you're seeing 24 or more hour sessions with odd channel names, well, there's your bots. |
|
Mephistopheles McMinnar
Be, or not to be...
Join date: 14 Sep 2008
Posts: 70
|
11-12-2008 20:17
Last edited by Katt Linden : Today at 03:14 AM. Reason: Please keep this thread on topic. There is another forum thread for Open Spaces discussion. -- Katt Linden Why was my post edited as being "Off topic", my post related directly to the lack of economic demand in the SL as a result of LL policies and the effects that they are having on residents, how dare you treat a customer that pays $US4,000 a month to Linden Labs with such contempt. I pay your salary so show some respect. I understand Katt. Why? Let me say the tone makes the music (ok, it's a translated german saying). If you really want a good answer, write a email, better a letter to Linden Lab. If this won't work, use a attourney. There is also the option to grab a phone and call them. I totally understand your anger but this thread is related to the whole SL economy, openspace SIMs are only a part of it. The land mass may be huge, but the incoming is less then a quarter. I think that SL has more then enough openspace SIMs. What you think how SL looks to new residents? Full with limited islands, most used as homes or laggy clubs. You think this is fun? My intention was and is to explore a digital world with user generated content. I love to explore things like SS Galaxy (a cruise ship over three sims), role play regions build over 8 full sims, new Berlin and many other things. That is what Second Life needs, not more and more openspace SIMs with less performance. If you have that much openspace SIMs convert them (for free!) back to full SIMs and build something usefull. I know SL since 2004 and when i compare SL from 2006 - where i left SL due RL reeasons - with today i must say, in 2006 SL was much more fun with much more well designed SIMs. Openspace SIMs killed alot of fun in my Second Life. _____________________
http://djmm.bbping.eu
The spirit I, which evermore denies! And justly; for whate'er to light is brought deserves again to be reduced to naught; Then better 'twere that naught should be. Thus all the elements which ye destruction, Sin, or briefly, Evil, name, As my peculiar element I claim. (Mephistopheles from "Faust" J.W.v. Goethe) |
|
Shibari Twine
Registered User
Join date: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 15
|
11-12-2008 20:36
There is also the option to grab a phone and call them. Expensive for people overseas plus you would just get a support person in billing who will, frankly, not be able to do or say anything. It is hard wnough talking to billing when your issue is billing to even consider talking to them about openspaces. I totally understand your anger but this thread is related to the whole SL economy, openspace SIMs are only a part of it. The land mass may be huge, but the incoming is less then a quarter. I think that SL has more then enough openspace SIMs. OpenSpace Regions are a part of the economy as you said, and they are mentioned in Zee's report therefore are on topic. Valid questions are asked, just as valid questions are asked about many things. Are you suggesting we don't ask questions related to what is in Zee's report? What you think how SL looks to new residents? Full with limited islands, most used as homes or laggy clubs. You think this is fun? For many people creating their own home is their fun. Are you suggesting that your own idea of fun is the one all SL users should subscribe too? My intention was and is to explore a digital world with user generated content. I love to explore things like SS Galaxy (a cruise ship over three sims), role play regions build over 8 full sims, new Berlin and many other things. That is what Second Life needs, not more and more openspace SIMs with less performance. You are welcome then to actually put your money where your mouth is like many of the people being burnt and create something? Or do you only take? Are you suggesting that the myriad of people who have created beautiful spaces for people to relax are invalidated because they could only afford to use an OpenSpace? If you have that much openspace SIMs convert them (for free!) back to full SIMs and build something usefull. I know SL since 2004 and when i compare SL from 2006 - where i left SL due RL reeasons - with today i must say, in 2006 SL was much more fun with much more well designed SIMs. Openspace SIMs killed alot of fun in my Second Life. The conversion may be free if you own 4 OpenSpace regions, if not then you need to pay up to US$750 in establishment and then $295 a month instead of $75 a month. I think that you may have seen one or two bad OpenSpace regions and drawn your assumptions from those, maybe you should explore more and look at some of the wonderful OpenSpace regions that individual people have created with their hard earned money for other people like you to enjoy. By all means though do it fast as so many can no longer afford to pay for other resident's fun. I ran a national park themed sim from February 2007 until November 2007 out of my own pocket for the benefit of other residents. I had many comments made about how it was one of the nicest places on the grid, a place to get away from mainland and malls. It was low traffic, never advertised and reclusive, that was it's alure. People found out by word of mouth or accident. Many romances were forged and there were three weddings in the region (which i didn't charge for) by people who loved it so much. I did have a donation box out, in all that time, with all my visitors I made a total of L$10,000 in donations. Too many people are like you, they expect the grid to cater for their needs and desires but refuse to actually donate to the people running the region they enjoy. How many times have you made a donation to the SS Galaxy? I would certainly hope that you have every time you have enjoyed yourself. Regions do not grow on trees. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 20:44
We all own nothing, it should be clear that every customer in SL rents server space ! Server space is cheap (2000 GB traffic on a quad core INTEL server = +/- 75 US$ per month), so this indicates high profit margins for LL. Misleading customers with key metrics is mostly a sign of internal weakness, customers are 'not' interested in these figures when the overall performance of the company is lacking. And the most important; CUSTOMERS DONT RENT HERE A PRODUCT, THEY WANT TO RENT A RESULT ! Thanks for your message Wildcat. Yes, we do charge a premium over the prices that basic dedicated server hosting companies charge for similar servers. Our gross margins are about the same as a hosting companies (I founded a hosting company in 1999 and we sold dedicated servers). We have a number of central services that dedicated server hosting companies do not have to pay for such as our central database services, the network between our data centers that let's the entire world connect & our asset servers. Beneath our gross margin line, we are at the core, a software company. We employ a large software development team that has developed the viewer, the simulator code and all the system code that ties it all together. That's the largest portion of our expenses. Hosting companies do not have large software development teams. I hope our figures aren't misleading. We publish these numbers when they were growing much more rapidly than we are now. And I've been trying to answer as many questions here as clearly and as honestly as I can. We've got a long way to go to make Second Life as wonderful as we all believe that it can be. Like many companies, we've made our share of mistakes and there are many things that we wish we could do better. From the data that we've shared in the past, I know we've made great strides in client crash rate and overall system stability & we've got more improvements that we're working on. We'll never stop. We're fortunate in these difficult times to have residents who care & who help us & we recognize that comes with other less productive emotions at times as well. We have those emotions inside our company as well. We're all passionate about this. I think we've made tremendous progress & I look forward to all the progress we're going to make in the next few years as well. Its going to be amazing. Sometimes slow and painful, but amazing. Thanks for your continued support and concern. Let me know what you think is misleading & I'll try to clarify. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 20:50
Zee, from your own article you mentioned that the 1024m2 properties in Nautilus are selling for L$60 per m2 and also mention that the exchange rate is pretty steady at L$267 per US$1. You do realize that this indicates that people are spending on averagte US$230.00 for each plot. That sort of land pricing is probably why there is such a reduction in premium memberships. I am certainly not the average land buyer in SL but I am probably reasonably representative of the average user of SL and US$230.00 for a setup fee is going to keep me out of land ownership in SL no matter how much land is included. When I say average, I mean an average person who considers SL to be something between an MMORPG and a social networking site. I'm in SL to have fun and hang out with my friends. I'm not in it as a business. If all I want is the Lindend Dollars, it is more cost effective for me to buy them on the Lindex. Based on your numbers, I can get about L$1602 for US$6; and US$6 per month is the most cost effective premium membership price point. That is around L$400 per week whereas the membership give L$300 per week. So, it is more cost effective for me to buy L$ on the Lindex then to pay for a premium membership. As more of my "average" users realize the above, more are going to either give up their premium membership or never get one in the first place. If you've gotten through all of the above and think I have a point in what I say, please read all the way through the next part before dismissing it. A year ago Linden Lab had what they called New Land. For those who don't know what that was, it was discounted pricing on a small plot of land from Linden Lab. There were horribly abuses of it and Linden Lab cancelled the program, and rightly so. I'm not going to go into the problems but I think I might have a solution. My proposal, is to have something similar to New Land but with some additional restrictions to (hopefully) prevent the abuses we saw in it a year ago. First, build new land regions the way you build the Bay City and Nautilus areas. Build a theme to inspire the new owners and provide tools to get started (like the houses and textures in Nautilus). This will help to keep the areas nice looking and not turn into useless ghettos like the older new land areas always wound up. Second, make it so that the new land cannot be sold. You can keep it or you can give it back to Linden Lab. That will prevent it from being abused by land bots and others playing the land market. This also means that you can keep re-using the new land as it is given back to you. So there is a source of land for the next generation of residents. Third, the new land should only be available to premium account holders who do not already have land. I don't mean to say you have to give back your first plot of land in order to buy some other land, I mean that if you already have land, you don't get new land. The intent of new land is for people who have never had land in SL to get started. Fourth, I would say the minimum size of new land should be 1024m2. The space available in the old 512m2 isn't enough to put out a decent house. And I would strongly encourage you to stick with the double prim allowance that you've started in Bay City and Nautilus. As you've seen from your nice starter houses in Nautilus, a nice building takes quiet a few prims and the default for a 1024m2 barely fits a decent house. Fifth, tier on the new land should remain as you have in Bay City and Nautilus. Note that an avatar that own only the 1024m2 is paying a minimum of US$11 per month ($72 per year for premium plus $5 per month tier). If you get rid of that extra tier, it may be cheaper to have multiple premium accounts each owning a 1024m2 then to combine your tier. Although, to be fair I haven't done the math to confirm this. And, with the number of entire mainland regions being abandoned (I found at least 2 without actually trying) you could repurpose those as new land without having to add server space. I have a whole other rant on what I consider to be a fair cost for land in Second Life (at least as far as convincing me to sign-up for a premium account) but I will save that for when a Linden asks (feel free to ask in-world). Curious - these are some good ideas. I've passed them on to Jack and to T Linden (Tom Hale) our Chief Product Officer. I remember New Land and it was abused - but having some restrictions as you describe would be great. We're getting some developer focus on land in the coming year and I'm optimistic we'll be able to make some improvements. Lots to do. Too many good ideas. We're getting there. Thanks for your support! |
|
Shibari Twine
Registered User
Join date: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 15
|
11-12-2008 20:51
Zee, glad to see you are still here. You are certainly more trustworthy than M who is a week late to his discussion with his customers, the contempt there is unbelievable.
There are many unanswered questions posed to you on a number of topics that you have not answered. Can you please not be like Katt and pick and choose, but answer them all? Be like Everett, he is doing well, Be like Sidewinder, one of the best Lindens there could be. Take your cue from the Linden stars not the popcorn eating Lindens, you know, the ones who despise the people who pay their wages. |
|
Ann Otoole
Registered User
Join date: 22 May 2007
Posts: 867
|
11-12-2008 21:15
Most of what Curious is recommending was hashed out by many residents in one of the largely ignored threads so it is not exactly an original idea set. Had LL bothered to read all that then they might have seen such good ideas sooner.
So make sure you just say "Some Residents Suggested" instead of a single name. Perhaps all recommendations just need to go into the public jira. These forums are full of angry people and the positive messages are drowned out making this a poor place to express suggestions. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:29
Ms Linden, I notice that yo have answered several frivolous questions on this thread, yet you continue to dodge the issues of substance. LL's introduction of Open Spaces caused demand for my sims to plummet to the point that they were unviable. I was forced to spend thousands of dollars as a direct result of LL's policies, now you are increasing my tier 66% making my land business unviable again leaving me with no option but to cut my losses, and leave SL thousands of dollars out of pocket, as a direct result of your policies. Please explain to me why Linden Labs finds this sort of contemptual behaviour towards the very people that pay your salaray acceptable? Rodders - I'm not sure I know how to answer this. We launched the product, it was used differently than we intended. We adjusted the price, we listened to feedback and now I think we have something workable for many. I'm sorry it took us a few tries to get to this point, but we learn as we go as we invent this world together. I'm sorry you have been hurt by this and it certainly wasn't our intention. Hopefully you can make your SL experience work with the revised open space product or the Homestead product. The land market is more turbulent than we'd both like now because of those changes. But as we've seen with other changes, it will settle out into a new equilibrium. Thanks for your feedback. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:33
Basically LL needs to silently disconnect traffic from being a factor in search relevance. Old, new, popular places, whatever. And disconnect the gamed profile picks from search relevance too. People pay for classified ads. Let the price paid be the deterministic factor for visibility. Just like real world advertising. End of bot problem. Less defects from lame attempts to code law. Alas I don't think Zee has thing one to do with search so discussing this here is as futile as anything else in this vicinity of the internet. While mostly true Ann, I did bring up bots in our team meeting today based on the posts and we are looking at what we can do to curb the worst abusers of them. There's not much I can do technically or produce-wise, but I can do that!  |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:37
Since all of these options cost LL money, it is doubtful they will even look at the post, but... I love the idea of more perks over time! Customer Loyalty is a good business model. Agreed on the last part too. Katt, whether you felt so or not, it came across to me as condescending as well. =( More perks over time is a great idea! I am reading these (as you can see) and I know M and T (our new Chief Product Officer) are as well. On premiums the biggest problem is that there are some major technical hurdles (that would surprise you) to implementing improvements. We're going to do something about it in 2009 though - of that I'm certain. And I apologize on Katt's behalf. I think she meant it in a light-hearted way, not in a condescending way. Either way, I'm sorry. We'll be more careful. |
|
Shibari Twine
Registered User
Join date: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 15
|
11-12-2008 21:38
Rodders - I'm not sure I know how to answer this. We launched the product, it was used differently than we intended. We adjusted the price, we listened to feedback and now I think we have something workable for many. Translated: We launched the product, we realised that we were not making as much money as we could, We adjusted the price, we laughed at your feedback and renamed the product to Homestead without pricing changes and now we hope that the unwashed masses who lag up our world will roll over and go back to sleep so we can keep milking them. I'm sorry it took us a few tries to get to this point, but we learn as we go as we invent this world together. I'm sorry you have been hurt by this and it certainly wasn't our intention. Hopefully you can make your SL experience work with the revised open space product or the Homestead product. (If you are willing to pay $125 a month or reduce your regions to 750 prims spread over 65535 M2 of land.) The land market is more turbulent than we'd both like now because of those changes. But as we've seen with other changes, it will settle out into a new equilibrium. Thanks for your feedback. Translated: We don't care if existing OpenSpace owners are screwed over and leave. We think that new fresh eyed users will step up to the plate and we can then milk them. (Note I say users and not customers as your company seems to discount us as customers) Which raises an issue, have you accounted for the drop in takeup in new users as shown by your reports since the boom of late 2006-mid 2007? How many new residents stay in world after the first week vs how many give up. Of those that stay how long does it take them to get to the stage where they can spend upwards of $125 a month on a game during a worldwide recession? |
|
Rigrunner Rang
...Newb
Join date: 23 May 2007
Posts: 162
|
11-12-2008 21:39
Zee whilst there's talk here on premium accounts it'd be cool if there was a better understanding on how to end a premium account.
I've had at least 5 friends who've thought they could end their premiums by simply stopping paying only to find their account locked and they've had to pay again, the year, the month etc... Whatever plan they were on because they couldn't simply go back to a basic account as their premium ran out. They were simply re-billed. It frustrated them immensely because as I'm sure you know premium members do tend to play pretty regularly! I know it's perhaps an obvious thing that billing would continue regardless buy make it crystal clear that you can't stop paying and go back to a free account you have to choose it in the website whilst your account is in good standing. I've actually paid for accounts for a couple of my friends because of this...It's not good. As for the stats nice to see things moving up again, though i do see a lot of transactions going on in-world as people are trying to sell their open sims  When are we losing traffic count and going to the full search? I know it happened once for about a week or so then nothing? Thanks for keeping the residents in the loop here. _____________________
Visit Knockout!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Junlong/164/135/51 |
|
Aminom Marvin
Registered User
Join date: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 520
|
11-12-2008 21:40
Still no reply, so I'll ask again:
Does LL purchase L$, in the same way that Supply Linden can sell L$? Also, are there any long-term metrics anywhere for Supply Linden sales? |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:42
People just get frustrated when you open a thread saying you will answer questions and respond to comments for a day and then halfway through you decide to NOT answer questions or respond to comments. I posted a comment on page 5 of this thread and you ignored it - some also commented their posts were ignored also. We all know someone in marketing made you start this dialog - but please do try to deal with the unwashed masses (your customers - that pay your salary) for the time that you said you would. Thanks. . Lias - its 9:44pm here in San Francisco and I am still answering posts. Sorry, I had to put the kids to bed so I was away from it for a while! I haven't responded to all the posts because some were answered by others & some didn't have specific questions. I'm trying to answer as many as I can. And I'm going to read all the posts through the end of the day tomorrow. So keep them coming. |
|
Aminom Marvin
Registered User
Join date: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 520
|
11-12-2008 21:44
Rodders - I'm not sure I know how to answer this. We launched the product, it was used differently than we intended. We adjusted the price, we listened to feedback and now I think we have something workable for many. I'm sorry it took us a few tries to get to this point, but we learn as we go as we invent this world together. I'm sorry you have been hurt by this and it certainly wasn't our intention. Hopefully you can make your SL experience work with the revised open space product or the Homestead product. The land market is more turbulent than we'd both like now because of those changes. But as we've seen with other changes, it will settle out into a new equilibrium. Thanks for your feedback. Differently than intended? The entire history of SL has been users getting every ounce of value, use, and creativity from SL's tools and features. Combining this trend with an economy _ensures_ it will happen, as in order to remain competitive, businesses must adapt (we saw this when land barons were forced to rent out openspaces to remain competitive.) It _was_ forseen by the community immediately after announced changes. You completely ignored a basic component of how SL works when you implemented the Q1 changes. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:45
Why do you continue to ignore a customer that pays almost $US4000 a month in tier?? I have taken my opportunity to ask my question, now please answer it. LL's decision to introduce Open Spaces caused demand for full primmed sims to fall to the point that they were unviable. I had no choice but to convert my full primmed sims to Open Spaces. I did this in order to survive and it was as a direct result of LL's policies that I was forced to do this. In the process I was forced to spend thousands of dollars. Having paid a heavy price for your policies, polcies which were a major blunder on LL's part you are now forcing my tiers up 67%, and at the same time issuing my Open Spaces with further restrictions, making them completely unviable, forcing me to shut up shop at a loss of thousands of dollars that I am yet to recoup I have paid for your policy errors once, why am I being forced to pay for them a second time? Answer the question the questions of substance please, not the Mickey Mouse ones. Rodders - I would be happy to talk to you, but I'm just not the right person. Jack and the Concierge team are going to be much better able to help you work this out. This forum is about our metrics and the economy. Feel free to ping me in world tomorrow. |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:50
Ah, I found some good metrics (including the ones I just posted about) linked to on the first page. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pxbDc4B2FH95uo0x67N5CIw There is still one key metric that would be valuable which I have not seen: historical data on Supply Linden sales from Jan 2005 to present. Could a Linden direct me to where these are posted? Some quick notes: The money supply and L$/USD ratio are the only important metrics for determining L$ economy growth and health- and thus are a strong indicator of SL's general economy. An increase in the money supply along with a stable L$/USD ratio would mean a growing economy (as new Lindens would be minted to supply the demand for more money in a larger economy.) When the economy grows, LL wins, BIG TIME, because they can print Lindens out of thin air, selling them via Supply Linden. That is all profit for them. Look at the trend in L$ supply. Ever single month there has been an increase except for October, which saw the first decrease ever (this month to date has seen a decrease as well.) The general trend for 2008 has been a continued slowing until October, where we are seeing negative growth. user-to-user transactions are not an indicator of economic growth or health, as they only represent _volume_ of trades. For the L$ economy, the fundamentals are not strong. Supply is contracting to maintain a fixed demand goal. Aminom - I don't think the historical numbers are available publicly just now. Your analysis in this comment are exactly correct. October we did see a contraction in the L$ supply. The contraction is caused by "Sinks" or payments to Linden Lab in L$ being smaller than "Sources" which are primarily stipends and sales by Supply Linden. We experienced one large real world business who ran a promotion that ended & then they sold all the L$ they collected on the exchange at once in late Sept and October. That caused the Supply of L$ to expand faster than normal prior to October and then slower than normal - even declining - in October. November has returned to normal and to ensure stability we let the L$ appreciate by one L$ and we plan to let it continue to appreciate modestly over time. The LindeX is the absolute most fun part of my job & I've got a great team working with me on it. Great post to the forum! Thanks! Zee |
|
Zee Linden
Senior Member
Join date: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 153
|
11-12-2008 21:52
Not sure if I agree with the second part of your statement on page five since it seems like that's free market dynamics at work both in the auction and after the auctions but I'm interested also about an update on the former (mainland plans) if one is possible. Jack historically posts on our mainland plans once per quarter. We're holding off on expanding the mainland (except in small, well planned chunks like Nautilus) while we absorb some excess mainland available from the change in advertising policy and while the price per L$ increases. All seems to be going well. Overall however, the mainland has been relatively flat for some time & Open spaces has been the majority of the land growth in the past several months. |
|
Aminom Marvin
Registered User
Join date: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 520
|
11-12-2008 21:52
Most of what Curious is recommending was hashed out by many residents in one of the largely ignored threads so it is not exactly an original idea set. Had LL bothered to read all that then they might have seen such good ideas sooner. So make sure you just say "Some Residents Suggested" instead of a single name. Perhaps all recommendations just need to go into the public jira. These forums are full of angry people and the positive messages are drowned out making this a poor place to express suggestions. Good luck. On the openspace JIRA, Linden employees stated that the best way to give feedback is the forums. However, the forums are completely ignored. Then there's in-world office hours with Jack where you can't even ask a question because it must be filtered through another Linden, and if they don't like it, they can ignore it, or change it so suit their frame. |