United Nations Citizens virtual world - scam or real?

I suspect there will be numerous VMs that will offer entry level work like fast food jobs etc in RL; when people get their Virtual sea legs, I suspect they will migrate to SL for freedom, a place to spend their salaries and a place to build of their own. Basically this is a Virtual mall.

I think it will work in acclimatizing people to having a virtual identity and actually be good for SL. Also, their min. wage salaries can buy a lot in SL (though I do think prices will rise here over time...I suspect RL salaries to fall until there is less discrepancy between the two.)

All in all, it legitimizes the concept of expanding your identity by having an avatar and I think its a good sign.

This looks like a 3d website. I wish they wouldn't call things like this "virtual worlds".

I guess they figure "More Corporate Ad Dreck" wouldn't go over too big.

Unfortunately for you, Argent, there is about zero chance of that happening. These guys are in marketing, and will misuse whatever words they can get away with.

They have ripped off SL's home page title, for example. Ours reads:
"Virtual Worlds, Avatars, free 3D chat, online meetings - Second Life Official Site"
http://www.unitednationscitizen.com reads:
"United Nations Citizen Official Site - Virtual Worlds, Avatars, free 3D chat, online meetings"

Given that we have URLs coming in (SLurls), URL links going out from chat history, part of the search window returns web pages, and a built in web browser in the SL client, a case might be made for Second Life being a 3D website

I would guess that this is not even really off the ground yet since the whole site is geared at business to business marketing. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the companies highlighted in the videos are conditional sponsors who are really just riding the fence until they can determine who else will get on board. I don't think I would get my hopes up that they are actually hiring people for the immediate future, it's likely just part of a marketing strategy to give the appearance "that it's ready to role out tomorrow!" and "If you don't invest now you will miss this great marketing opportunity!"

Oh, and to illuminate Indeterminate Schism on what 'passion point programing' is. It's basically just a buzzword for a marketing strategy that in this case likely means finding out what gets your rocks off without 1) getting in the way of you and your rocks, b) exploiting that through appealing to your offed rocks, and c) You knowing that someone is watching you and your rocks with feverish interests. Basically it's the latest and greatest same old marketing strategy with a spiffy new name and shiny new self denial philosophies that appeals to greedy advertising execs who want to look into the mirror at night without feeling like dirty, dirty whores.

The more I investigate this outfit, the more suspicious I get.

Article here:

http://rock-vacirca.blogspot.com

Rock

Well it's like I said in the previous post. The site is for corporate pitch looking for investors and the companies working to create buzz to garner interests. After reading the story you linked I would guess that it's not only nowhere near deployment, but is just a pitch for sponsors and investors to realize a concept that hasn't been developed in any real workable form. I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing that has been done is the site, maybe a longer presentation video and a booklet outlining the project and providing a bunch of contrived numbers and the illusion that things are well into development. That is assuming that it isn't a prelude to an elaborate investment scam.

On edit: Another possibility is that it's an elaborate phishing scam since they are taking applications for to good to be true virtual jobs for a vw that doesn't exist yet and dropping a lot of corporate logos and links without claiming that they are sponsors but imply it. If that is the case I wouldn't be surprised if part of the second or third stage application process doesn't involve providing financial information. Either way, I would be cautious.

If you're concerned, contact Petsmart. Seriously. They're the one that's being most aggressively displayed.

Very Interesting! Love this kind of stuff. Thanks for the link. Wanted to explore this.....but did not want to pimp out personal info, to do so.

Definitely opportunity....and LL could have already taken it to the max, but would like to see a virtual shopping experience somewhat separate from a virtual fantasy experience...maybe a jump between two different grids, but the ability to take product back and forth. Perhaps that's the reason that the companies in the past failed by using SL....the mix of reality and fantasy, side-by-side, in one setting, did not work, maybe.

But to take the virtual settings, and use people who are experienced in how to greet and communicate and function in that type of setting....and employ them....rather than jumping in with employees who have no clue on how the whole virtual living/interaction thing works.....would be a start.

Take the Petsmart example, for instance....and employ an SL pet creator....employ some people who have worked in SL retailing....hire an excellent builder to create the store and atmosphere....shelves of real product to purchase, but also opportunities to sell virtual product (such as the pets and accessories).....knowledgeable people on hand to greet and assist shoppers....promotional events that would be advertised in SL....not to mention the non-virtual people who would be curious to delve into a virtual shopping experience, that are enticed from the main company web page.....collaboration between both worlds.....Win/Win.

As for it being minimum wage or less....so what....people work for far less in SL, and if you consider they don't have to dress or drive to get to work, and can do it at 2am in the morning in their pajamas, or while the kids are taking naps....lots of benefits/perks to that type of set-up for someone, that make up for a lower than average wage.

LL could employ the same type of people, for a number of things already (that have nothing to do with shopping)....very knowledgeable and "committed to the adventure" type of personalities....and can't understand why they don't already do so, and take advantage of all that talent and energy from "insiders"...for a number of activities that would have a huge pay-off.

That web site was kind of amateurish....which implies lack of credibility (to me)....I mean, if you are going to advertise yourself as the virtual shopping experience...better get a grip on presentation on the web. Wish LL would delve into this aspect more.....and do it soon. The crossover between virtual beings buying real product, and becoming loyal to a brand..... and traditional internet shoppers being exposed to the virtual fantasy world.....Awesome. Way past due on a grand scale.

This is why I applied for one of their jobs in the name of an SL alt I am not giving out any real life details until I am sure it is not just a scam ie links *from* places like Petsmart or COMPUSA saying they are involved, or confirmation that they licensed the graphics engine from CryTek (which is like a six figure real dollar amount to do).

CryTek does announce their customers in press releases (items 80 and 86 for Entropia and Blue Mars):
http://www.crytek.com/news/?tx_ttnews[pointer]=17&cHash=a4078aa551

but I dont see one for UNC.

The builds so far in their videos are either (a) items recycled from the CryEngine2 development kit like the tropical plants and (b) pretty simple box-like mall buildings. I could probably throw something like that together in a week or two using either the Crysis series Mod SDK or the Blue Mars developers kit. Both of those are based on the same graphics engine as they are using for UNC.

Well I'm still leaning towards investment pitch since it's all associated with headsandtails.tv which is an advertising firm that specializes in 'passion point' content delivery through telivision owned by Tony Loiacono. Petsmart is likely in there since Tony is an executive producer for Faithful Friends on Animal planet and the McDonald's channel. My guess is that Tony Loiacono or this Christy Wilson see the opportunity to make money by marketing brand loyalty for clients in the virtual world community. There likely isn't much that has been developed and after looking into it more, I wonder if headsandtails.tv really knows what they are getting into.

Someone explain to me why I need a 3D site to buy a box of dog biscuits. *Or just about any other product.

Actually the gimmick is that since you/we are virtual world users that if I ('I' as in a marketing firm) can create a venue where you associate Petsmart for instance as part of your VW experience you will be more inclined to purchase from Petsmart since they seem to share your interests in all things virtual worldly. So basically you sign up, go to work selling Petsmart's virtual and real products for mostly commission from the sounds of it and then with your pay, you likely to drop a $100 on there premium inworld homes, but also buy real or virtual products from Petsmart. Ideally Petsmart gets someone to sell for them on a commission bases and the poor shill is more inclined to give there paycheck right back to Petsmart for some virtual doodad. If it ever gets released I would suspect it will ultimately be like Melaleuca, Cutco, Herbalife and so on, with similar companies being involved.

On Edit: It's all because we care about you and understand your needs for S&M transgender furry foot sechs that we here at [Company name here] have worked to make your virtual dreams a reality.

But I don't WANT Petsmart or any RL company associated with my VW experience. I don't want their advertising garbage shoved in my face, and I won't buy anything from any one of them in a VW. I came to SL to get away from that. I sure won't be going to a VW based primarily on that.

Well in someways this will be less obviously aggressive then what you will find with a lot of virtual business. One of the points of the market strategy they are employing. That aside I have no interest in it either and I find coattail leeches like these rather lame. Who really wants to have a VW experience that's MORE like real life anyway, hell it would be like living in a Kit Kat commercial. ;p

It seems LL believes a lot of people will, hence the More Predictable Experience. (tm)

Maybe it makes the dog biscuits look more fun and appealing? Maybe it's convenient, if you already have your av logged in to do something else, and it's only a matter of a TP to another grid, to check it out? Maybe when you go to check on dog biscuits, you see a virtual dog, playing with a cool toy, and want to purchase it for your own Dog? And don't forget those cute Doggy Sweaters to die for!

I'm chomping at the bit to do this, and can give an example on a really small merchant scale. By no means close to the type of merchandising these other companies would do. But I sell stuff on Ebay...and I want to sell it in SL. Not in fantasy SL, but on a separate grid, where it is not a problem to expose your RL info to a purchaser....like it has not been a problem on Ebay. Some controls in place.

One product line is flower seeds and gardening accessories. Now, if I had a brick and mortar retail shop...I could set up the cutest little shop ever, right down the road from me.....but as far as I'm concerned...Brick and mortar Retail is Dead, with a capital D.
They sell fine on Ebay....but the presentation is lacking.

If I set up a shop in an SL type environment....I could design this shop to a T....with very little expense and overhead. The photos of the flowers that these seeds produce, would be made into plants in planters, and set out around the shop, in different groupings, so that people can see how different kinds look grouped together. There would be info cards on each type, on how to grow. You could even set up little garden patches, and each patch would be for a different growing zone....so people could see which flowers would work in their area. The presentation possibilities are endless. All the accessories could be reproduced as well, for this type venue.

There would be a customer service counter, where they can reach me online, and I can respond to them right this minute....just as I would respond to someone in SL right now, and have a friendly chat....and give them a ton of firsthand info about the stuff. I could even personally walk them around the store, and even talk to them in voice, and get them fixed up with exactly what they need....plus I could do some suggestive selling, and send them off with the right tools and planters, too. The virtual products would be just as lovely as the real products....so they would want to take these back to their virtual homes. While they are sitting in their virtual homes, their friends might get curious, and end up at the store too....to purchase real product.

For those who have never entered a virtual world, but want to shop online....there would be a link from my web site, or from my Ebay site, that would give them a glimpse of the virtual store and gardens, and it would be enticing and irresistable...so a few more clicks of the button, and they've got an avatar ready to shop, and standing in the middle of the gardens. Not only do you have a new customer that has "immersed" into a more detailed shopping experience...but you've also created a new virtual world citizen....someone who was intrigued enough to create a shopping avatar, and might be intrigued enough to create a fantasy avatar, and set up their own little garden with flowers in a virtual world.

It's an online shopping experience that is just one step closer to standing in the middle of the brick and mortar shop.....actually, quite a few steps closer.

Blech.

I think that is in part due to how people tend to get caught up when they realize they can make money. You get there to one extent or the other then one day step back and realize that "damn, this is a full time job with overtime. What the hell am I doing?" Then either leave flat out and maybe just go inworld just enough to make money, take a break for awhile, or seriously step back on the business side of things.

To really make it effective for things like plants you'll want to be able to import actual 3d images into 3d models.

Maybe using something like this:

http://grail.cs.washington.edu/rome/#

You don't like flowers?

Awesome. The potential!

Conceptually I don't have a problem with this, but I'm not big on the idea of how UNC intends to implement this. It's just so much fail. Namely that it doesn't seem to have any original ideas to bring to the virtual arena outside of target marketing, which I believe has been done before. Not to mention that when you read all of what's being proposed as what UNC will be and it's goals, I get the serious impression that it's more of a marketing sales get rich quick scheme with a twist.

The other thing is that it's being handled by a third tier marketing and tv production company that almost no one has ever heard of. Almost all of headandtail.tv's public presence is derived directly from itself from what I have seen and I suspect a lot of there promoted businesses are pretty closely tied to Anthony P. Loiacono himself. This includes the pioneer music group that has his name all over it. lol, he also appears to like own Dave Mustaine's family. Justice Mustaine and Electra Mustaine are both in H&T's productions.

Well, as a little bitty merchant that doesn't know jack....not impressed with the UNC presentation one bit. Just the concept, and it's potential, done a different direction.

Would put faith in a venue that LL produced (stop laughing)...75% of the tools are already in place...just add the ability to purchase real product, and the controls that Ebay has, and put it on a separate grid or separate continent.

Someone could do this right now, on the SL grid...and they are. One example is Artists using RL names...displaying RL artwork...and sending to a web site. Just missing the ability to click and purchase a print or painting while standing in front of it, in SL.

I totally understand what Brenda is saying...and I don't care to see it next door to my store that sells virtual product for a virtual fantasy experience.....but it would be fine on a separate continent....just as they did Zindra....if you want access....you register a shopping av, and make a shopping account. For someone coming in to shop only....they've got their shopping av developed....if they want a fantasy experience....then they create another av for that. They've been introduced to the concept...just a few more steps, and they are living in SL. But both experiences, separated, somewhat.

I'd be fine if they put all the RL corporates in a seperate area. Then it would be easy for me to avoid them. No problem there.