Feted Inner Core Issue: Your opinion?

Cocoanut this is great news!! Please share with us what is in your portfolio. I love seeing builds in Second Life I have not stumbled across!

Well, Newfie, that wasn't my intention.

And my experience is the "strong negative reaction" is only on the part of a few anyway. Not everybody.

And if I say "Prok was right," it is because I think Prok was right. I'm sure not gonna NOT say it just because it may "generate a furor or drama" among a small group of posters.

There just is

NOT ...

going to be a rule ...

that anyone who dares utter the word "Prok" ... or the acronym "FIC" ... or even the phrase, "Prok was more right than he knew" ...

is

automatically ...

a troll.

It just doesn't work that way.

coco

Just don't be surprised when people call you names back. Because that is what you are doing to others when you call them FIC.

It is great news, Beau.

I didn't call anyBODY fic, Pendari.

This thing has been fixed, guys. Only the details remain to be seen.

Or - to put it another way - another way the concept of FIC can endure and prosper has now been eliminated.

coco

Cocoanut, please share with me your builds. I am very curious as to the type of builds such an interesting personality has created. I bet you are very excited about the new web area they will be making for developers.

Cocoanut, can yoyu also give me your definition of FIC, the definition is becoming so broad even I am refered to as FIC by some. I am just curious what you opinion is that makes someone "FIC"

Beau, I would love to!

I need to put back one of my things tonight, though, so I can show it to you. I'll send you a message after then.

coco

P.S. Responded before I saw the rest of your post. About the developer thingie, I am excited that they are doing it, but I'm not interested myself in working for corporations, and I also don't work with a group, and a group is ideal for that sort of thing. I'm also not experienced enough to do it right now even if I wanted to.

About the FIC - we all have our own definitions, I suppose, with Prok, as the originator of the term, being the best one to define it. But for me, it's shorthand for any time the Lindens do things the easy (lazy) way - by dipping into their pool of known-quantity players - for any purpose.

That sort of thing may work fine when a game is very small and in beta. It's a turn-off, though, when the game gets larger and is no longer in beta. Then people expect the appearance of fairness, in all ways, and as much as possible. People expect equal opportunity - especially in a "game," or anything game-like. That's why all vestiges of FIC-ness have to go. SL can't get anywhere if people come in and feel there isn't equal opportunity for all. That the dice are already loaded. That they don't stand a chance.

Unfortunately, this $17,000 incident - understandable though it may have been in how it came to pass - was just another example of that, and a particularly gigantic one, to boot. If the game is to attract more players, they must not be turned off by shows (or apparent shows) of favoritism. If the game is or becomes nothing but a platform for content developers to create content for clients, then that, too, needs to be on an equal-opportunity-for-all basis, and the e-mail address Robin gave, and the steps to be taken in future, should take care of this nicely.

coco

Nope. I am a card-carrying 2nd tier FIC member and I was not approached about this project, so your claim of FIC is incorrect.

I call mega-troll.

You called Bedazzle FIC, Cocoanut. This poll was specifically about the group doing this project, even though you did not know their name when you started.

please redefine FIC for the forum. it seems now that anyone that finds any success instantly goes on the FIC list and fighting the FIC is less about favouritism then it is about preventing the success from steamrolling.

Whoa! WELL SAID!

Coco, it would appear you are now the new spearhead for this whole the anti-FIC thing. Could give us a specific definition of what you mean when you say FIC? Maybe give examples of who is FIC and why?

Please read my edited post above, Juro and Cristiano. And Jauni.

coco

and Aimee, lol. Didn't catch all the names above.

Not to mention, it projects an "I told you so" (Prokofy was right) mentality.

We'll never have any semblance of peace on these boards while people continue to try and divide us.

It certainly doesn't help that certain web publications are furthering this line of thought, and making accusations before having all the facts. Typical media?

I find it interesting, that those who are over on SLH or CC making these types of accusations, have said nary a word in this or the other thread about this issue...

Numerous people also believe that Elvis is still alive, that they've been given anal probes by aliens, and/or that the government is sending secret signals to them and tracking their movements via the fillings in their teeth.

A handful of shit-stirrers and/or crackpots harping on an issue over and over again does not mean there's an element of truth to it. What it means is that they're shit-stirrers or crackpots, and they've found something that works to annoy people.

Edited to add: More on topic; Perhaps this crew got this commission after the Lindens checked out dozens of large builds and decided which team they thought would be best, rather than just tapping their buddies on the shoulder and handing them blank checks. Trying to slap the old FIC label on it, without having any facts at all, is just obviously shit-stirring. It's not even subtle or clever. It's leaping to the assumption that the commission wasn't deserved, and that talent, skill, and a proven ability to work together didn't have anything to do with the decision.

Then you can happily respect *MY* thoughts when I say Prok was full of shit, because I think Prok is full of shit.

The fact that this also seems to be popular opinion is just an added bonus.

And if we are defining FIC for ourselves, I think my definition is:

A bugbear in the closet people can blame for their own shortcomings and unhappiness...

Honestly -- good for them, that crew utterly rocks, and if they get a bone for working hard at what they do... good for them. If the Lindens wanted a group with a proven track record for making large scale builds happen on schedule --- it's them. Good call, good decision, and good luck to the crew.


Siggy.

coca,

please repost it or a link to it. it's p.6 here. i don't want to look for it

Read it.

I still call mega-troll.

I expect this kind of thing out of the SLH, no shock there, as you always need to put quotes around "journalism" when referring to the site. I was surprised by Tony's blog though - he is normally not innuendo chasing and lurid.

Jauni - it's just somewhat above this. I will repost:

About the FIC - we all have our own definitions, I suppose, with Prok, as the originator of the term, being the best one to define it. But for me, it's shorthand for any time the Lindens do things the easy (lazy) way - by dipping into their pool of known-quantity players - for any purpose.

That sort of thing may work fine when a game is very small and in beta. It's a turn-off, though, when the game gets larger and is no longer in beta. Then people expect the appearance of fairness, in all ways, and as much as possible. People expect equal opportunity - especially in a "game," or anything game-like. That's why all vestiges of FIC-ness have to go. SL can't get anywhere if people come in and feel there isn't equal opportunity for all. That the dice are already loaded. That they don't stand a chance.

Unfortunately, this $17,000 incident - understandable though it may have been in how it came to pass - was just another example of that, and a particularly gigantic one, to boot. If the game is to attract more players, they must not be turned off by shows (or apparent shows) of favoritism. If the game is or becomes nothing but a platform for content developers to create content for clients, then that, too, needs to be on an equal-opportunity-for-all basis, and the e-mail address Robin gave, and the steps to be taken in future, should take care of this nicely.

coco

Your envy defines you.

~Ulrika~

You know what, Ulrika? As often as you have said that, I'm starting to think you are envious of me.

coco

Now, THAT was funny! Ulrika... envious... of anyone... that's a classic, I tell you!

I need to drop you $20L for that one - I'm still smiling!

A couple of things:

The $17,000 incident, as you refer to it, was a private company contacting another private company for assistance with a time criticial, sensitive project that they needed an established, proven team for. Please point me to the other established, proven teams that do large scale productions. Spellbound is the only other viable group, and they have a different focus than what this project's purpose is. There are individuals who are extremely talented - however, not everyone works well in a team or can be managed easily. There are a lot of primadonnas, flaky people, and unproven records of work. Someone may build uber cool houses in SL - it doesn't mean they have the maturity, availability, or dedication to take on a serious project. The outcome of this project reflects on both the group doing it, and Linden Lab, as an important first step in exploring these opportunities. They handled it exactly as they should have. Recommending someone that they have a proven experience with is not favoritism - it is extremely smart business sense.

The beta mentality that LL needs to get out of is that we all should have a voice in their business. It is their decision to make, and they are going to make the decision that is most viable for their business, and for their partners. We are customers, not business consultants or shareholders. Nowhere in the TOS that you agreed to does it say you will have equal access to all opportunities, and that all business decisions need to be done by committee. That is just plain stupid, and these types of projects will never get done. If you truly want access to them, then get off your proverbial ass and prove yourself. If your work is not being noticed, it is 100% your fault.

What you need to get out of is the mentality that this is a game. Do you think companies would be paying out tens of thousands of dollars to a group to develop for them in a game? They are paying for development on a technology platform that opens up new opportunities. TSO is a game, World of Warcraft is a game. You pay a flat rate fee and get access ot the same loot, the same items, the same opportunities. Second Life is a development platform on which a virtual world has been created by its users. It could just as easily be sims filled with physics simulations, or DNA models. It is not a game, it is a platform and a tool ,and treating it as a game diminishes its importance and its scope. It is not a level playing field any more than RL is, in that we do not all have equal abilities. Talent alone does not equate with success - nor does sheer force of personality or verbosity.

thanks coca


"known quantity players"
now i wonder, how did bedazzle end up in this pool. were they on it in december? before chinatown and abaraxus? or was it by illustrating creativity and skill and the ability to manage a group project of complexity as a team? now if anyone else excelled in this manner, could they end up in this pool? or is the pool size limited? (can someone be thrown out of the pool?)

now the"non-lazy" way of doing things - is that spending the time to advertise a project to a community of players who has yet to demonstrate anything of that level? do you understand what is meant by portfolio? there are probably under a dozen groups in SL with a portfolio on hand for this work, and LL most likely has all of their calling cards.


what you fail to understand is this project was not part of SL the game but SL the platform. as pointed out by LL, the affected area is a seperate grid. it is a commercial enterprise. it's a RL business contract.

if somebody submits a portfolio of walnut houses or rotated plants to LL, i don't think LL will democratically display them to prospective commercial enterprises hoping to set up with SL.

So, telling people that you think they are holding back SL is not insultive?

Your attempts to justify your behavior are sad. You bought into, and carried over Tony's dubious claims.

I remember a certain player - oh - about a week or so ago, proclaiming that no one should ever have to endure being called names. It's amazing that after a very peaceful 3 or 4 days on the forums, the person who was calling for people to be treated with dignity has stirred up yet another flamefest - by calling names no less.

Looks like someone was being disingenuous after all...

Cocoanut, I ask you this. What have you done for Linden Labs? Now this is not an insult, let me expalin more.

Bedazzle has built beatiful attractions out of pocket. They created a game that helped recruit new players. All they got in return, is maybe some Developer Incetives which is not much money at all when you look at the cost of owning sims. Bedazzle has proven to be tallented, professional designers. To them this type of work is more than just hobby, it is thier livelyhood.

Now put yourself in LL shoes. Here they have a bank willing to spend significant cash on what I would call a "ground breaking" project with in Second Life. Why would they want to jeapordize the future by not refering the best builders they know to this person.

Everything is not about you, or me, or the FIC. It is about a smart business decision for LL. You pay to be part of this world, nothing more. Linden Labs owes none of us anything except for a gird to build on.