Would an offline sandbox be enough to make you switch?

Supposing that a competitor to Second Life appeared with comparable features except for one area - the competitor had the ability to build offline. Not to use third party modelling software, but to use it's own unique proprietary building system in a local mode, totally lag free, free from distratctions, free from people trying to spy on your builds.

Would that be of sufficient value to make you move in the direction of switching?

Absolutely not. There's more to SL than the features it gives.

I don't really see any point in having an offline sandbox, so definitely no. If I were to do anything offline, it would have to be with some other 3D modeling software.

I wouldn't switch. At that point, it would become more like work. Sometimes I like random interruptions while building, or the unexpected occurances. Working in an offline sandbox would be just, boring... to me.

On a related note, do you think LL would show intrest in creating one if they started losing people?

And my answer is no

Ditto. Besides, if I was working offline I'd want something a hell of a lot better than prims for my time. I'd expect the gamut of 3d abilities possible in any Quake map and model editor. But even then, it'd be boring more than useful. Half the fun of making stuff in SL is making stuff IN SL.

Aye, I agree with the sentiment expressed so far in this thread; If LL wanted to add a tool to help us build more efficiently and detailed, I'd rather it be some sort of external and very feature-heavy toolset; Sort of like what 3D game engines come with, for content creation. (Adding in generic 3D meshes of course.)

Otherwise, don't see much point of using SL as it is, offline.

I... like being social in sandboxes.

I used to play with lots of "offline sandbox" programs. But they were lonely and I couldn't show anyone else what I was doing. So I stopped using them.

Agreed, the social aspect is the whole reason why I'm doing SL and not some standalone graphics and rendering app that has far superior tools. I like what SL has, for my own uses.

I am sorry ma'am but I can still taste the difference, the first one tastes like diet and the second one is noticibly better.

But were able to work in peace for a while, then near instantly bring your creation into the world and show it to everyone?

If not then your comparison is not relevant.

Folk have been asking for offline building abiltiy since the program commenced execution. Don't you suppose there might be some reason why?

That's a good point... I have several game engines and 3D tools sitting on my system right now. I could make any sort of item I wanted, and I could even share them on the net. No limit on prims, textures, or sim stability.

But SL itself is more than just a static website where folks can view your stuff. It has all of the extra benefits, such as social or monetary aspects, that draw people into it. It's the Metaverse.

Offline SL building is kind of like those MMORPGs that have one-person instanced dungeons. You get online to -- play in a single player game.

Offline building is an often requested feature. Why do people keep asking for it?

Such as?

Whatever intangibles SL can provide would also be providable by the competition.

I think people request it because they've just had a bad day dealing with griefers. The wish though is usually made without thought. No one can stand living in a vacuum, dispite how much they wish for solitude at times.

Just an observation, but if you're going to ask a question, acknowledge the trend in the answers? I hope the question wasn't asked with an agenda in mind other than a neutral fact-finding adventure.

Not meaning to flame here, but let the responses roll a bit before making assumptions on what the majority wants... even as the majority of those weighing in with opinion seem not to want what you're proposing.

I didn't say anything at all to suggest I was talking about a standalone modelling program with no ability to interact with other people.

I said a competitor with comparable features, which would include interactivity.

The offline building would a choice you would make to work locally. This would mean zero transmission lag, instant response when you use the mouse to change sizes, never any rubber banding or ghosting or other problems caused by having to send every keystroke and mouse movement to the server and back while building.

Finish your build, click Upload (if even that much effort is required) and your finished product is available for viewing by the thousands of folk in the competitor's VE.

I have exactly none of those problems, unless I'm working within visual range of a night club (and then I probably wouldn't even be able to enter build mode for the system lag, forget making something complex). There would have to be some sort of reason for me to work offline, like more complicated geometry calculations that shouldn't be done on the sim's server while I build that I could host on my computer (imagine thirty people or so doing vertex manipulation all at once in a sim).

Ahh, good clarification, thanks, SuezanneC.

I probably still wouldn't go for it, myself, as I don't have any problems with how things are now. I don't have lag or any problems, but it may be my system is rather beefy (dual core Pentium, 2GB RAM, etc). I also happen to have about $700 and a lot of time on my pet build invested in SL right now, so there would have to be a whole lot more than what you describe to switch.

I have been reading the forums here for over two years, and I've read a good deal of the archives.

Actually I was just trying to start a pleasant thread, about something other than the resmods or anything that would get people fighting about favoritism or insulting each other.

From: Torley Linden

I... like being social in sandboxes.

I used to play with lots of "offline sandbox" programs. But they were lonely and I couldn't show anyone else what I was doing. So I stopped using them.

I'm the opposite. I'd like to be off-line designing in peace. I don't like disturbances when I work, and when I do visit sandboxes, 9 times out of 10, I get shot or griefed and even criticized that I'm doing something so hideous and then threatened to better not put it up in my land. I do get nice people once in a while, but overall it's distracting.

It does't help when people keep IMing you in the middle of work and then argue what a horrible person you are when you put yourself in Busy status.

What "offline sandbox' programs do you use? I'm fairly curious. I'll be shopping this weekend to get some good programs for 3D modeling and stuff and I'd like to have an idea of what to get.

Would I love an offline sandbox to work in? Yes. Would it be enough to make me switch platforms? Probably not.

offline sandbox. mmm 3d max, bryce... looking at 3D world Studio right now as a matter of fact

No, why have an offline sandbox? it makes not sense! intergrating it into a mmorpg type game does, but if you are goning to model offline model in a modeling program.

We need to encourage Cory and Philip to eat healthy. We're all at the mercy of their decisions.

Rubbish in = Rubbish out!!


All send vegetables to Linden Lab! QUICK!!!!