SL is too unstable to invest in

You couldn't be more wrong, this enables companies like Rivers Run Red the provision to purchase 'L$ blocks' inorder to use them as 'counter and tokens' for Branded Content experiences. This is a very positive move.

I'm really on your side in most of what you believe in Lewis, but don't YOU think it would be better, more diverse, richer, stand a better chance of surviving if could embrace ALL aspects ?



I really don't think so. If someone is greedy and tries to charge more than something is worth people won't give them their L$ in the first place - there's even plenty of free stuff as alternatives. The fact that people do buy it but the content creators who make it can't redeem their L$ for US$ at a good rate is nothing to do with greed, it's simply to do with the availability and exchange of L$ on the Lindex.




I agree wholeheartedly with the first part and am prepared to spend more than that even on my "hobby", but what harm is another persons view of it to your enjoyment of the game ?

As far as I can see, you can if you wish enjoy a totally free SL experience in terms of access to the service and free content. You need neither US$ nor L$ for this. In what way does it affect you if others wish to enjoy other aspects of SL ?

As regards the free access... I am paying for that by having a premium account and land tier. Those who pay on a free basic are being paid for by me and the many others who are happy to pay for our entertainment, whether it is our creations or other people's creations. Bandwidth isn't free, neither is server maintenance, salaries, etc etc etc.

I don't know how many "free basic" accounts there are, but if each one of those active free players upgraded to a premium and contributed $10 a month... just think how much more income SL would have.

Lewis

I don't envy Anshe her income or her job. She works a lot harder than I do. There are dozens of reasonably risky things I can pour my money and time into hoping to reap an income out of it.

Second Life isn't on that list. It's not even remotely diversified. They'd have to contract specially, outside the TOS, for me to be willing to invest the time and money to build something like ACS. Of course the studios may have such a contract that guarantees backup, outlines a disaster recovery plan, elimintates the stated right of LL to terminate their accounts for "no reason," that sort of thing.

Given a reasonable arrangement with LL, I might consider it. Given the TOS, ain't gonna happen.

If LL was a public company, I might buy a few thousand USDs worth of the company in hopes of Google snatching up LL. Seems like a good fit to me, which made it esp. ironic when the April Fools prank was pulled suggesting a buyout.

Nonetheless to say that SL is one of the best places to invest is simply not true. maybe in the long run it will pay off, And for those few people making real money in SL, congrats, but dont quit your day job.

Yeah me too, stock holders at least have some rights and assurances. Residents have none.

yup yup yup

How many times do we have to go over this Martin?

It's Yip Yip Yip, Book Book Book, Yip Yip Yip

Now, try again

If you don't see that the future of computing and information technology will be in 3 dimensions, then you need to take your blinders off. Millions of kids are being "trained" in how to handle 3D spatial information by playing video games. When they hit the work force in 5-10 years they'll be using a three dimensional computer operating system. They'll be communicating with avatars that mimic their body and facial movements. Databases and spreadsheets will look like cubes, pyramids, and spheres, and interacting with them will be as easy as playing with alphabet blocks in pre-school.

Until someone creates a holodeck or other form of actual 3D screen (that doesn't include wearing strange two coloured glasses), it's 2D.

Give me humans over avatars any day.

Lewis

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117303,00.asp

It may not be a holodeck, but it exists and it is shipping. Won't be long before the tech is refined and becomes a lot cheaper.

It's a 2D monitor that gives the impression of 3D - but is not true 3D like reality.

Lewis

Your retinas are 2D receptors that give the "impression" of reality too.

Greener Goff I agree completely!




It isn't just a game, I invested in the past when Linden was worth something and have made substantial amounts of money. That is all changing now with the worth of the linden. Please don't make n00b comments

I've been here longer than you have *shrug*

The average player would make more money per hour flipping burgers at McDonalds than you would in Second Life, unless you happen to be a big land baron.

That's why it's just a game, and not an income.

Lewis

alright well i'll keep using SL to support myself as a college student instead of working at mcdonalds. My average income is substantially larger then working part time at mcdonalds (or any burger flipping job), possibly even full time. And btw, I don't sell or buy land. I don't even own any land and so I am a prime example that a basic account can create hundreds / thousands of $USD in SL.


btw SL isn't a game, look it up in the wiki

Catherine Omega owns LSL wiki.

"Catherine also gets annoyed by people who call SL a game. It is, but only if the web is a game. There are games on the web, as there are within Second Life, but is it a game in its own right? Catherine calls it a "Massively Multiuser Online Environment". Please pay $30 per usage."

.... and exactly the kind of person that should be a Premium account. Making 'free' accounts lifetime is one of LL's biggest mistakes.



Who cares what someone else thinks? I call it a game, you don't. What makes my opinion worthless and yours not?

Lewis

it was not my opinion, it was an sl defenition of what sl is. Second Life is just like the internet, it makes total sense. You don't call the internet a game but you can play games on the internet, same with second life. You don't play second life, you play games in second life.

You don't say "SL has game elements" or "SL can be a game" you use the IS word which doesn't leave a lot of room for grey areas.

If it's just a game to you then why bother engaging with counter arguements in the forums? Especially in the ECONOMY FORUM?

Do you just like debating topics and picking the underdogs side? Perhaps more people would take SL seriously if they didn't have "old-farts" like yourself clinging to the ideology that SL is realy just The Sims Online.

I'm sorry Jasmin but I have to agree with Lewis on this. I don't care how SL defines itself, to me it is just a game and I'm playing SL like a game. That being said SL is much more than a game to many people and because of that I treat people in SL as real people with real problems and feelings so will not do anything to hurt their perseption of SL. I like SL and am having a great time, I will do my part to see that SL is successful and still here 10 years from now, but it still is a game for me.

"thats's why it's just a game..."

"what makes my opinion worthless and yours not?"

What makes others ,who think it is not a game , opinion worthless and yours not? It is ok if SL is just a game for you, but not for me, not for LL and not for many others. You cant change the answer of "what is SL?" in my mind while saying "it is a game, it is a game, it is a game." You cant force people to not make real business in SL. If it is just a game for you, why not just play it? just play your game and dont waste your time in forums

Besides being bored at work, why do people who think SL is just a game find it important to share that opinion with the vast majority of people in this forum who are using SL as a platform for business?

Perhaps the biggest problem with doing business in SL is simply the PERCEPTION that it is a game and not "the 3D internet"

But I think to many many many people on the internet - Forums are the best game around!

Believe me you need people like me in SL. I'm retired and not making money in SL just spending it. If more people were here to play, then more people would be buying Lindens to spend, then those good people who provide all the fun content could make even more money. There is a disproportionate number of business people in SL to pure players and that probably hurts the economy.

Get rid of that small percentage and give everyone an equal chance and you might be incredibly surprised at how fast the situation would corect itself.