Are creators becoming "pure" creators against their wishes and why?

During my time in SL I've been privilged to make friends with quite a few people, many of whom are very talented content creators, whose names are at least reasonably well known in the world. However in conversations with them, a similar pattern has come up over and over again:

1) They join SL, hoping to create content and also do *something else* (or possible, create content in order to do *something else*)
2) Something (presumably) goes wrong
3) They give up on the *something else* and start just creating content and selling it.

The *something else* is usually an in-world activity or some kind of role they want to play. In fact, several who do large-scale builds admitted that they often built things for projects they thought to be doomed, because they were similar to what they had already tried and found impossible, but they did it anyway because they enjoyed building and, well, it might work this time and they didn't want to stop someone trying.

But can anyone suggest - is this really as common as it seems to be? And what on earth is it that's going wrong? (Nobody was very clear on that.)

* something else * was giving me blisters

*laughs*
I am exactly the other way around...

I don't create things... one reason for that may be I don't have the skills for that.

But... even more important, I have a RL job that takes a lot of my time and energy. So in the evenings I don't want to have "work" in SL again.
I am there to enjoy myself... visit nice places, meet people, chat, go dancing at a nice... and of course... shopping.

So maybe I am one of those "bad" people who rather uses her Credit Card to buy L$ then to set up a shop and sell stuff.

Morwen.

I'm new, but from my experience from other games and in real life, IMO, I think folks think too big. It is easy to fall into the trap of "it would be really great if I could x, y and z." Then they start and find out quickly that it is a lot of work and more that they can do by themselves or that can be done in a timely manner. So, they get burned out.

Start small. Instead of going all out for x, y and z. Just do x. Establish a good solid foundation that more can be built upon and before you know it over time, you'll reach your long term goal.

People need short term successess in order to reach a long term goal. ie. Going to college, each class you take and pass is a short term success that over the course of 4 years becomes a degree. A long term goal.

- Kat

Hey Morwen, without the like of us customers who would the creators provide for?

Nice post Katia, little steps

My point exactly! Content creators would get absolutely nowhere unless there were people to create content for. Pure consumers have nothing to be ashamed of. We play a very important part in the economy and the world as well.

As for the original question, I really wouldn't know. Maybe it's a function of frustration, or maybe just plain old lack of time?

I joined SL to gain more social activity time with the person who is now my SL Partner. I started creating content so I could afford to remain in SL with her, and so I could afford to get nice things and make nice things for us, and for our friends, to enjoy. I also hoped to eventually recover my start-up costs for getting involved in SL, and make a small profit. I was successful in that regard.

I found, however, that my social schedule and that of my friends, even that of my Partner, often didn't mesh up. Between RL commitments to work and family, the hours and times that I can be on-line in SL to socialize with those friends turns out to be a fairly limited period each month. Tremendously fun when everything clicks, but dead boring otherwise.

Meanwhile, I found I really DO love making things in SL. And I'm making a modest profit from my hard work and efforts. So, when I am in SL, and when my close friends are not available to me, I spend most of that time creating, for myself, and for others.

Sometimes I do take on projects that I feel will not fly in the long term, if the task itself is to make something challenging and beautiful. "Art for arts sake", if you will. In those cases, I do try to work with the client and to provide input on what they can do to improve their chances of success. But in the long run, if someone insists that they really want a whole sim that is mostly beautiful public parklands, and has only two small sellable parcels on it, and if they want to pay me and are willing to take the risk that they will continue having to pay out of pocket expenses to maintain that sim, why should I turn down the bid? If the work itself is satisfying, and if they get some enjoyment out of what they pay me to do, that may be sufficient. Few things last forever in SL, anyway.

That's very true, Katia - but the thing is, I get the feeling that was what happened here.

I can't say this applies to every person I talked to, because I didn't talk to them all in this much detail, but it appears that some of them started creating content as step x, to establish their solid foundation - and did indeed have some success at that. But then when they tried to take step y, for some reason, it didn't work, but they fell back and then decided to stick with creating content because after all, they did enjoy it and it was earning them money.

Now you might say that there's nothing wrong with that but I'm led to wonder how many others, who aren't content creators, are failing at step y and quitting because they don't have that to fall back on? And even more worryingly, how much of the content market is sales to people who are "setting up" as part of their step x, projects that will fail at step y?

I'm not saying that you should - I didn't mean to say or imply that there's anything wrong with creators helping people start on ventures they don't believe will succeed, because as I mentioned, maybe it will do this time. I know that if a newbie comes to me for help with such a thing, I'll warn them that there have been problem before but still encourage them to try if that is what they want to do, although the failures for some things are worse than others. If "failing" means "losing money" for example, some people will not mind losing money to do something they really like; but if "failing" means "not getting any interest from people" then a social based project that fails in this way has no redemption.

But at a level of the whole society, if too much of the content economy is taken up by people buying up content to undertake social projects that will fail in the future then that's a very big bubble that will burst with a very big mess.

Isn't it funny tho how when we are noobs we buy stuff like mad, "oh thats cool"... "oh I want that".... then we learn how to make things and look at stuff like... "200L$?!?! no way... I can make that!" lol

There are so many variables that at this point it would just be speculation. However, in general, if the person in question was doing this for business reasons, then perhaps the customers didn't want to see it go in that direction.

If it was for artistic reasons, then perhaps the tools at hand would not allow them to see their vision fully realized.

I hope more folks that have tried will read and respond to this thread. I'm curious to see if there is a general reason/theme that develops.

I've got ideas and plans myself and hope to avoid some of the pitfalls. I believe I'll hit toolset issues or something along those lines. Otherwise, I think it would be I just wouldn't have the time in game.

- Kat

I lilke making stuff - but then I do some 3D modeling and texture work outside of SL. But I'm lazy at finishing things off, so I tend not to get round to packaging up what I made for sale and instead just go off somewhere an explore or chat.

Well, I just like making stuff.

I make stuff *I* like

Fortunately for me, some other people like it too

I'm bad about not getting around to stuff other than creating content. I keep meaning to explore more, but a lot of nights I just while away all my time sitting in some corner of my land, working.

I am just doing all these projects for three things

1. Practice/Experience
   
2. Pad my resume
   
3. Be able to buy land IG
   

I am not looking to be uber rich I just want to have fun and play the game. I am not looking to rip people off, hurt other people, or paticipate in scams and pyrimad schemes. Tahats not what im about. Im all about good old fashioned web design and solving everyday problems.

I came in cause i heard it was fun. I played and stopped playing twice already because i got board and I couldn't find a job.

The organization I'm currently in, grid works, is all about bringing content creators together making stuff and having a good time doing it.

I have already been swamped with work and it has become self-evident that there is a high demand for web programmers. There is quite a lot of lsl scripters but I have only met a handful of good web programmers.

LOL Some of us get more than enough of that .. in their day job

I know, I'm so boring.

Very interesting, Yumi, because the exact same thing SORT OF happened to me.

I came into SL, thinking I would run the Game Show Channel, like I had in TSO. Soon I discovered that you couldn't support something like that (where prizes are given away), without having something else to fund it. (And that was back when there were at least things like traffic stipends to help fund such things.)

Well, I'm not the kind of person who would put my all into something, only for it to just be supporting the something ELSE I really want to put my all into. I want to put my all into the one thing, not something else just to support the one thing.

Looking around, I realized I could just as easily enjoy being a home builder. Plus, I could get paid for it. In TSO, I worked about three months to start the Game Show Channel, with the land, the furnishings, and a good start on prize money, and after that it supported itself through donations (which we didn't even ask for) for over a year of bi-weekly games.

But except for designing the studio, none of the preparations to launch Game Show Channel were creative. The running of it was what was creative.

Here, the business you would run to support the game show would not only be creative in and of itself, it would also be a full-time job.

So I ditched the game show idea almost immediately, partly because I'm not here to provide the entertainment SL refused to provide or to make financianally feasible in any way.

But more to the point, here was this whole OTHER thing I would enjoy doing at least as much as the Game Show Channel, and possibly more.

And I have enjoyed doing it for all this time, and just as much as I enjoyed doing the Game Show Channel. I can't say more, because the two things are entirely different.

But I think you are right; there is very little incentive to provide these sorts of events and environments, and those who are good at them and enjoy doing them may well find they can be just as good at creating things, instead, and enjoy doing that just as much.

coco

Well, we do have going for us that not all people make all stuff. I make houses, and so I wouldn't buy any, but I don't want to make clothes, so I love buying clothes!

Just like in the real world.

coco

Well, In my first days in SL I found really pointless to assume a human-form (In RL it has sense, in SL there is no need for that) so I played with the building tools for some time and created a few non-human avatars. Some people watched me building the Avis offered to buy copies of them and so, I finally became an Avatar designer and Im making a small profit with it.

So, I can say that I dont suffer the *something else* syndrom.
Im suffering a different thing: I enjoy so much building that I spend almost all my SL time in the sandboxes building and almost no time in exploring, shopping, social events and so so.

Interesting thread I enjoyed reading it.
I joined November 30th, I was in beta years ago but had other things that came up but followed the world off and on.
I rejoined to create content, build and be creative with hopes of being able to share creations with others and perhaps a bit more social interactions then I usually experience in my real life due to illness,etc.
What I have experienced is some small successes, expensive mistakes, some social interaction, learning curve and finding the information I need type of frusterations but I figured it was because I am new.
Another annoyance I have discovered about this game is it can be money pitt if you want land their is large to overly rediculous priced
lots, there are several hidden traps that can make you lose whatever investment I have put in the game my goal isn't to sell or get rich of content but just to find good quality content that is nice to use, inspiring, land, community, to be able to create and learn without major tons of hassles in process of doing so.
If I can figure out how to cover my upload textures, in game expenses that would be nice but I do need to figure out way to not be investing way more money in game than I can. Expecially if it continues give me little fun distractions that don't require I have to go through over 100 to 1000L each time doing it, or little to no social or learning help or support that just going to find new ways to suck my bank account dry or creates new ways to do so.
I am not sure if any one else understands what I am saying.
Anyway this month I only spent 35 usd in the game but last month I reach the newbie maxium in first week. I am not going to do it again.
I love shopping but I am finding dealing with specific products difficult.
I am not pure shopper either more of artist and apprenctice content creator who realizing he is way too poor and maybe way to dumb to figure out some of the art and 3d programs he needs.

Came into SL to be with a loved one since we were in a long distance relationship and with friends from another game. My loved one left me and my friends were busy with thier own building and works. I made more friends, tried my hands at building and I love it. So far I have made and sold little though. The few times I try some always causes drama. So pretty much I build for me now and maybe someday if I can do more then just build someone might think paying for it is worth it. I kinda feel doubly forced into creating things now as I tire of partying to earn money (specially with dwell gone) and stripend just doens't cut it (used to get 50L$ before going to premium a week).

Right now I co-run Sick and Twisted which is the first sales project I have done with a friend who is no longer in SL (not sure if they ever will return). Since then and making it I have hit so much drama my desire to build right now is kinda forced. I want to help my new SL partner (old friend but we finally partnered in june) pay the land bills and to buy the things I want without paying USD for L$. Honestly I find selling things is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. BUT I do enjoy building. Just look at Tenenbra (which is where my main shop is). The intial design and primming was done by me and touch up and textures by Viridia Manray (my partner). We had weeks of fun making it and would do it again in a heartbeat (well almost..she's a work-a-holic. Tips back the prim to many times know what I mean.)

Well, I'm not sure "going wrong" is the correct view at all.

I spend almost all my time scripting and building because I really enjoy doing it. Since it's a hobby, I can be as fussy as I want to be about how I build stuff, which is a welcome break from RL programming where there are a lot of compromises.

OTOH, I would like to spend more time at jazz clubs in SL, but I really have to clean up my scripts, and there's one last bug, and there's a new project I want to start, and......

Well, some particular people have grander projects that go wrong and they fall back to creating. Unfortunately, I can't really name them because doing so would name the creators in question. Of course I did not mean to imply that this applied to every content creator!

But the thing is, I'm wondering what's generally going wrong with these bigger projects, even though they have some of the most talented people in SL behind them.

you're all a load of workaholics!!

I party .. I dance ... I lay on the beach .. I run through the woods ... I oggle the beautiful girls everywhere .. I eat ...

... and I catch an hour's sleep before going to work!