Comments on: XStreet and OnRez Buy-Out by Linden Lab, OpenSim and Trust, and Elevating Content http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/ Virtual worlds and creativity, business, collaboration, and identity. Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:25:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: xonox http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29518 xonox Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:50:38 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29518 does that mean xstreetsl will finally remove all stolen content sold there? nowadays a huge part of the xstreetsl “premade builders packs” and “buisness in a box” sold there is stolen items, its ridiculous that xstreetsl is so uncaring about it. does that mean xstreetsl will finally remove all stolen content sold there? nowadays a huge part of the xstreetsl “premade builders packs” and “buisness in a box” sold there is stolen items, its ridiculous that xstreetsl is so uncaring about it.

]]> By: Robbie Kiama http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29512 Robbie Kiama Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:11:55 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29512 This is a very swift move by the Lindens, but nonetheless this will not shut down in-world shopping, which was is and will continue to be one of the most interesting activities in SL. Surely companies like metaLIFE(http://meta-LIFE.net) and Hippo(http://www.hippo-technologies.co.uk/) will benefit - cause they offer advanced in-world networked vending systems, that allow management of items in one place. These systems will replace the gap created by the loss of OnRez vending system. For some time I thought SL will never go this way and leave e-commerce for the residents to handle, but well they are trying to create a unified system controlled by a single entity(LL) that handles all persons activities in the metaverse. Buying these sites - is a natural step in creation of such a system! we will just have to wait and see where that leads us to: - more freedom and empowerment - or more constraints and obstacles to go around( and formation of black markets as someone mentioned above) Time will tell This is a very swift move by the Lindens, but nonetheless this will not shut down in-world shopping, which was is and will continue to be one of the most interesting activities in SL. Surely companies like metaLIFE(http://meta-LIFE.net) and Hippo(http://www.hippo-technologies.co.uk/) will benefit - cause they offer advanced in-world networked vending systems, that allow management of items in one place. These systems will replace the gap created by the loss of OnRez vending system.
For some time I thought SL will never go this way and leave e-commerce for the residents to handle, but well they are trying to create a unified system controlled by a single entity(LL) that handles all persons activities in the metaverse. Buying these sites - is a natural step in creation of such a system! we will just have to wait and see where that leads us to:
- more freedom and empowerment
- or more constraints and obstacles to go around( and formation of black markets as someone mentioned above)

Time will tell

]]> By: David Crespo http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29456 David Crespo Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:31:18 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29456 Hi Kyle G, You mentioned about your companies excellent service and response. All good and very encouraging. Unless though, you can offer a true SLA, a real team who can bug fix this is not going to fly long term. You cannot as an Service Provider be expected to support the code, this has to come from a deeper source. Hi Kyle G,

You mentioned about your companies excellent service and response. All good and very encouraging. Unless though, you can offer a true SLA, a real team who can bug fix this is not going to fly long term. You cannot as an Service Provider be expected to support the code, this has to come from a deeper source.

]]> By: Sacha Magne http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29402 Sacha Magne Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:15:54 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29402 One word : Censorship Now LL is able to impose what is suitable or not in their grids and enduser wont't have any choice anymore. I guess we will see soon enough some kind of "black market" for the newly banned items. I guess it's just a matter of time before some items/skins will be deleted. 0.2e SM One word : Censorship

Now LL is able to impose what is suitable or not in their grids and enduser wont’t have any choice anymore.

I guess we will see soon enough some kind of “black market” for the newly banned items.

I guess it’s just a matter of time before some items/skins will be deleted.

0.2e

SM

]]> By: Eris http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29337 Eris Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:15:12 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29337 Second Life needs to be as complete a solution as possible. Web-based search and commerce should really have been a part of SL from the beginning, introduced with the inworld currency. Seems completely (and uncharacteristically) sensible to me that LL should have bought XStreet and onez to achieve this. Of course I'm concerned about what kind of mess they might make of it but generally this is good news. It certainly is not going to kill inworld shopping - it's likely to do the opposite. Linden will probably, long term, tether listing on the website to inworld presence - in other words to have an item listed on the website it will probably have to exist inworld (even if packaged up in a box). Linden's business is running an immersive virtual world not a commerce website full of questionable content from anonymous alt accounts - they'll likely use the commerce website to encourage greater land ownership and prim usage and not less. There are potential UI benefits too - we should be able to select a product on the site and click a link that directs us right to that object inworld - not just the default landing point of the parcel it's on, but exactly to the point inworld where we can, if practical, inspect it before buying. We need to remember that Second Life is not some new virtual democracy, even if Linden formerly liked to pretend it was. You enjoy the 'freedoms' and 'rights' in SL that Linden see fit to grant you - it's a commercial platform, increasingly separate to The Grid, that has to pay its way. Out of the SL project may come a wider and more open virtual world standard that will encompass more variety of use and expression - but right now SL itself is the dirty capitalist engine that's driving us all there. Second Life needs to be as complete a solution as possible. Web-based search and commerce should really have been a part of SL from the beginning, introduced with the inworld currency. Seems completely (and uncharacteristically) sensible to me that LL should have bought XStreet and onez to achieve this. Of course I’m concerned about what kind of mess they might make of it but generally this is good news.

It certainly is not going to kill inworld shopping - it’s likely to do the opposite. Linden will probably, long term, tether listing on the website to inworld presence - in other words to have an item listed on the website it will probably have to exist inworld (even if packaged up in a box). Linden’s business is running an immersive virtual world not a commerce website full of questionable content from anonymous alt accounts - they’ll likely use the commerce website to encourage greater land ownership and prim usage and not less.

There are potential UI benefits too - we should be able to select a product on the site and click a link that directs us right to that object inworld - not just the default landing point of the parcel it’s on, but exactly to the point inworld where we can, if practical, inspect it before buying.

We need to remember that Second Life is not some new virtual democracy, even if Linden formerly liked to pretend it was. You enjoy the ‘freedoms’ and ‘rights’ in SL that Linden see fit to grant you - it’s a commercial platform, increasingly separate to The Grid, that has to pay its way. Out of the SL project may come a wider and more open virtual world standard that will encompass more variety of use and expression - but right now SL itself is the dirty capitalist engine that’s driving us all there.

]]> By: Eshi Otawara http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29336 Eshi Otawara Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:36:00 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29336 Gwyneth, don't panic. I don't think anything will replace in-world shopping. Even if the big brands decide to not have their stuff in-world, they are about to get disappointed at the web sales. I have been using Onrez and Xstreet for a while and the sales on both combined cannot match a 10th of what my sales are in-world. I assume it is like that for others too, well, depending on how much advertising they do in-world. Personally I don't mind this move at all, the only thing that worries me is the Linden Exchange. XStreet always gave about 30 dollars US MORE per 50k Lindens (I think that's what it was last time I looked) then Linden Lab. SO that would be like...I am losing a good chunk of money here. Do I smell a price raise? Gwyneth, don’t panic. I don’t think anything will replace in-world shopping. Even if the big brands decide to not have their stuff in-world, they are about to get disappointed at the web sales.

I have been using Onrez and Xstreet for a while and the sales on both combined cannot match a 10th of what my sales are in-world. I assume it is like that for others too, well, depending on how much advertising they do in-world.

Personally I don’t mind this move at all, the only thing that worries me is the Linden Exchange. XStreet always gave about 30 dollars US MORE per 50k Lindens (I think that’s what it was last time I looked) then Linden Lab. SO that would be like…I am losing a good chunk of money here. Do I smell a price raise?

]]> By: Alberik Rotaru http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29333 Alberik Rotaru Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:21:24 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29333 LL really does have the feeblest public relations staff in the known universe. Assuming that Gwyn's statements are accurate, which I do, the very first point LL should have made is that Onrez was about to fold and XStreet was barely making payroll. There's a lot of wolfpacking at LL's expense and most of us have been guilty of it at what time or another. LL's failure to post pertinent facts just feeds the bloodlust. LL really does have the feeblest public relations staff in the known universe. Assuming that Gwyn’s statements are accurate, which I do, the very first point LL should have made is that Onrez was about to fold and XStreet was barely making payroll. There’s a lot of wolfpacking at LL’s expense and most of us have been guilty of it at what time or another. LL’s failure to post pertinent facts just feeds the bloodlust.

]]> By: Linden XStreet Takeover, No Surprise « Mo Hax http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29327 Linden XStreet Takeover, No Surprise « Mo Hax Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:07:00 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29327 [...] the real world economy back in April of 2008. Reading similar thoughts about this evolution from Dunsan, Prokofy, and Wagner provide some good insight. I really wish I had posted my internal blog post [...] […] the real world economy back in April of 2008. Reading similar thoughts about this evolution from Dunsan, Prokofy, and Wagner provide some good insight. I really wish I had posted my internal blog post […]

]]> By: Gwyneth Llewelyn http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29325 Gwyneth Llewelyn Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:45:11 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29325 No no no — OnRez Shop would be closed anyway, the Sheep don't want that (and the client) any more, since they're semi-abandoning development for SL anyway. February '09 was the deadline for the shutdown. LL probably just bought it to at least save what they could. I agree with Prokofy, searching in XStreetSL is a pain, because we're spoiled by Google :) XStreetSL doesn't even allow complex searches like two words together (it searches by one OR the other). But, alas, that will now be easy to fix: feed Apotheus' listings exported from XStreetSL into LL's Google Appliance (the very same they use for Search > All), and there you go :) Instant Google-based search! No, actually short-term, I think this is exciting: small content producers will definitely enjoy a huge increase in sales. It's long-term where I worry. Webshop-based shopping will ultimately drive out the Big Brands in SL — the ones with thousands of products and millions of monthly transactions — since they'll simply list their products on an in-world XStreetSL, and close down their sims. And all their shops. And tier down. They'll just create content — like they do for IMVU, There.com, Kaneva, and others — and put it on the web, add some extra for classifieds and higher ranking, and that's all. So, bye-bye in-world 3D shopping, which was one of the key features of Second Life. I cannot say how much this worries me. In-world shopping was not just about clicking on vendors — it meant browsing through shops and talking to people, it meant organising with friends to go to a shopping spree, it meant talking to owners and shop assistants to get recommendations, it meant returning to a space which was fun and enjoyable. Well, not to all, of course. But at least for a few millions. How many sims are there which <i>only</i> have shops on them? Another 10,000? Well, my prediction is that they will all go away, only a fool will still keep an in-world shop and pay costly tier for it if you can simply sell it on a well-done web site... XStreetSL and OnRez Shop, as well as the other independent webshops around there, never "hurt" commerce because they had marginal use. XStreetSL has about 1/4000th or 1/5000th of the content for sale in SL (OnRez Shop even less). The transactions from those sales, compared to what happened inside SL, were marginal, and thus, many of the major brands totally neglected to offer their products on the webshops. For small merchants, however, these were a blessing (less competition, and a large enough market, for no running costs, and no upfront investment). Now imagine the exact reverse will happen: all content in SL being offered on the webshops <i>because they're integrated within the SL client</i>. Bye-bye in-world shopping... Mmmh. Another decision like this, and by the end of 2009, there will be little left on the grid... and maybe we'll all be on Facebook, selling avatar clothes to wear on our own OpenSim-based sims at home :) No no no — OnRez Shop would be closed anyway, the Sheep don’t want that (and the client) any more, since they’re semi-abandoning development for SL anyway. February ‘09 was the deadline for the shutdown. LL probably just bought it to at least save what they could.

I agree with Prokofy, searching in XStreetSL is a pain, because we’re spoiled by Google :) XStreetSL doesn’t even allow complex searches like two words together (it searches by one OR the other). But, alas, that will now be easy to fix: feed Apotheus’ listings exported from XStreetSL into LL’s Google Appliance (the very same they use for Search > All), and there you go :) Instant Google-based search!

No, actually short-term, I think this is exciting: small content producers will definitely enjoy a huge increase in sales. It’s long-term where I worry. Webshop-based shopping will ultimately drive out the Big Brands in SL — the ones with thousands of products and millions of monthly transactions — since they’ll simply list their products on an in-world XStreetSL, and close down their sims. And all their shops. And tier down. They’ll just create content — like they do for IMVU, There.com, Kaneva, and others — and put it on the web, add some extra for classifieds and higher ranking, and that’s all. So, bye-bye in-world 3D shopping, which was one of the key features of Second Life. I cannot say how much this worries me. In-world shopping was not just about clicking on vendors — it meant browsing through shops and talking to people, it meant organising with friends to go to a shopping spree, it meant talking to owners and shop assistants to get recommendations, it meant returning to a space which was fun and enjoyable. Well, not to all, of course. But at least for a few millions.

How many sims are there which only have shops on them? Another 10,000? Well, my prediction is that they will all go away, only a fool will still keep an in-world shop and pay costly tier for it if you can simply sell it on a well-done web site…

XStreetSL and OnRez Shop, as well as the other independent webshops around there, never “hurt” commerce because they had marginal use. XStreetSL has about 1/4000th or 1/5000th of the content for sale in SL (OnRez Shop even less). The transactions from those sales, compared to what happened inside SL, were marginal, and thus, many of the major brands totally neglected to offer their products on the webshops. For small merchants, however, these were a blessing (less competition, and a large enough market, for no running costs, and no upfront investment).

Now imagine the exact reverse will happen: all content in SL being offered on the webshops because they’re integrated within the SL client. Bye-bye in-world shopping…

Mmmh. Another decision like this, and by the end of 2009, there will be little left on the grid… and maybe we’ll all be on Facebook, selling avatar clothes to wear on our own OpenSim-based sims at home :)

]]> By: Kyle G http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/01/21/xstreet-and-onrez-buy-out-by-linden-lab-opensim-and-trust-and-elevating-content/#comment-29323 Kyle G Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:38:05 +0000 http://dusanwriter.com/?p=1138#comment-29323 I do want to mention this phrase "erode the overall trust by users in “those openSim worlds". Our grid has easier access to the owners than SL. You can call our offices with issues or Skype/MSN us. We are inworld and easy to find. We are the first OpenSim grid to host a major event for Microsoft this May with over 90 attendees planned. We have been in business hosting sites, e-commerce and business applications for over 12 years as G2. If you are concerned with trust and OpenSim you should visit our grid and meet the staff in person to find out if there is an issue for yourself. We will in fact build better trust with our users than has ever been done in any grid you can mention, period! I do want to mention this phrase “erode the overall trust by users in “those openSim worlds”. Our grid has easier access to the owners than SL. You can call our offices with issues or Skype/MSN us. We are inworld and easy to find.

We are the first OpenSim grid to host a major event for Microsoft this May with over 90 attendees planned. We have been in business hosting sites, e-commerce and business applications for over 12 years as G2.

If you are concerned with trust and OpenSim you should visit our grid and meet the staff in person to find out if there is an issue for yourself.

We will in fact build better trust with our users than has ever been done in any grid you can mention, period!

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