Maybe it’s time for Second Life to get a touch of Unity. Sure it’s a community and I wouldn’t miss the Second Life Community Convention (SLCC) about which Hiro Pendragon wrote a post suggesting changes:
“This year’s SLCC had great content for attendees, though the convention was somewhat disorganized. I’ve heard from a lot of folks interested in helping SLCC. Really, it comes down to getting an early start and getting people into appropriate roles. Everything else should flow from that. The organizers already have been taking feedback about this year, planning, reorganizing, trying to continue the momentum from this year’s convention. I have every reason to believe that difficulties experienced this year will be addressed, and there’s a lot of good people putting in a lot of work and money into SLCC.”
But I have to admit, there was something really appealing about the announcements for the Unity developer conference, coming up next week, and focused on the popular 3D game platform that is increasingly picking up traction because of its ability to produce 3D apps for the iPhone.
While SLCC covered the whole range of music, art, education, business and simply making connections, I couldn’t help feeling that the keynotes from Linden Lab announcing features of a road map, a term I’ll use with reservation: some of the road map was less a map and more like a general statement of philosophy with a few sneak peeks and bells and whistles thrown in.
Unite 09 is focused on the platform itself: how to use it, case studies about it, what the tools can do, and how to optimize working with it:
“Once again it’s time for developers, artists, publishers and anyone else interested to come together for a few days to learn more about Unity and how to get the most out of it. We’re larger than ever before: We’re now a four day event that starts with a day of advanced hands-on classes, followed by three more days of technical sessions.”
I’m hesitant to put to much emphasis on Second Life as a ‘platform’ because of the risk that we forget it’s a world, and yet I’ve long advocated that Linden Lab needs to act more like a XBox or Playstation, say, than Blizzard: to keep attracting the content developers that can create the stuff that brings in new users, they need to provide increasingly professional levels of support – whether it’s mesh imports, or developer kits, or proper road maps or, maybe, a proper developer conference, the kind of thing that focuses on tools and gives residents forums for proper dialog with the Lab, something that was sorely missing at SLCC.
Whether SL needs a live conference like Unity I’m not sure – combined with proper in-world events (another thing sadly lacking at SLCC), I think it could attract both current residents and new talent. While SLCC would continue to focus on communities (education, business, music, etc.) a developer conference would focus on things like land management and rentals, content development, Web integration, animation, road maps, and policy.
But what do you think? Is it time for Second Life to get a taste of Unity? Would a conference focused on the ‘platform’ work?
I attended the SLCC 09 and, as you said, it was disorganized. It is amazing to me that Linden Lab as a large, successful company and with as many customers would have a high profile event such as this run by volunteers instead of having a professional meetings department.
As a small land holder in Second Life—two educational sims supported by NASA contracts and one half personal sim promoting culture and arts—I attended the SLCC to meet with and attend sessions relative to my work Second Life. I am the sole developer and builder on my sims with limited graphics development experience. It would be great to have sessions on how to with hands on experience workshops. This was sadly lacking at SLCC, most of the sessions where more show and tell or thinly disguised marketing ploys.
Perhaps something like you suggest with a Unity conference that pays attention to developers at all skills level would benefit. I do not see that coming out of Linden Labs.
Your comment”some of the road map was less a map and more like a general statement of philosophy with a few sneak peeks and bells and whistles thrown in.” is what resonated with me the most, and the title of your piece “Time for a Developer’s Conference?”for one moment gave me the sign I was looking for but alas this was short lived.
In my humble opinion there seems to be a disconnect in forward thinking on the part of Linden Lab, with regard “The Platform” by which I hope you mean VW.
At this time when those of us using different platforms to get various tasks done we look to our main provider, and I must add market leader to take the bull by the horns, and move on with coordinated collaborations and help unify this platform, so as not to dilute the communities forming,but like you pointed out we get vague pronouncements, which are becoming to be kind, mundane in their nature.
I have slowly watched in my short time in VW people beginning to explore the avenues available out there to expand their VW and wonder whether second life see’s the erosion of their dominance, and why this simple step of outreach is lost on them?
If second Life is to maintain its position as the guiding light it better switch on its torch
Just my humble opinion
Julius Sowu Virtually-Linked London
Unity3D like most apps is sold as a “tool”. SL is sold as a “dream”
way different crowds…
way different buisness..
Having been part of Second Life since 2003, also part of the original team that created the first iterations of the SLCC conventions. We even designed the original branding, which year on year has simply had it’s yearly number replaced.
My observations:
The first SLCC conventions enabled the original pioneers to come together and share experiences in the real world. The sheer novelty of the meet up was enough of a glue to hold it all together.
We even sponsored, which was a loss leader. As we felt it was important and vital to work within the community; we came from SL, the first company to create and identify SL as a commercial platform in 2003. RRR was the first of a 250+ developers now in SL, six years later we’re still here and more enthusiastic about the potential of Second Life.
By the time Chicago 2007 came around, it had lost direction. Each track was it’s own convention, with arguably the Education track the strongest.
So we stopped supporting the SLCC in 2007, for the reason of its lack of direction, management and how it handled sponsors. Second Life by its very nature is arguably a “Public Park”, therefore it’s rules and interactions are very different and unique. The entry points are not defined and the terminology is skewed.
Second Life is a game that moves as you play: The Second Life of 2003 – 2004 -2005 – 2006 – 2007 – 2008 – 2009 is a story of 7 parts: each year a new epoch of change, growth and un/focus.
As we enter 2010, this will change will bring about a more defined set of entry points:
EDUCATION – second life and privately managed entry points
ENTERTAINMENT – P2P content creators, defined by Xtsreet and Second Life.com
ENTERPRISE – (b2b) privately managed solutions, delivered by the SL develop community
With education and enterprise a hybrid of managed privately hosted environments and “code name: Nebraska” behind-the-firewall solutions. Entertainment’s front door with be via the traditional Second Life.com experience.
These defined entry points – I believe greatest epoch change since 2003 – will give us all the opportunity to focus and build relevant experiences. This is arguably why the media still has trouble categorising Second Life. Some of the press still see Second Life as a “story” from 2006-2007, with little to no definition beyond Google researched news threads. As we know, it’s not that black and white. Hence why I think 2010 will be the tipping-point. Definition creates Clarity*.
Beyond the SL developer community, we need to crossover from “niche conventions” and take this into the mainstream clients/sales/development conference circuit. Virtual Worlds are coming of age as a business tool; we’re seeing real ROI and real tangible benefits. The longer we hide this in the wilderness, the longer it will take to adopt. The current “niche conventions” are peer-to-peer meet ups, with no purpose other than showcasing platforms.
Success will come from proving to the market that these “platforms” have relevant and developed “solutions” for sector specific business use and challenges. This is the reason we created Immersive Workspaces, a complete solution for the collaboration and virtual business development.
The Entertainment entry point is the world of the fantastic designers, artists and artisans who create the rich tapestry of content and ideas in Second Life.com They need a celebration and party once a year, with the opportunity to network and attend workshops. Linden Lab can use these sessions as a “listen and learn” with the community. This would also be a great place for Adobe or Autodesk to run master classes.
Education needs it’s own convention, maybe again within the established Education conference circuit? I will leave the educators to answer this one, as they do it well and with gusto.
Justin Bovington – CEO – Rivers Run Red the creators of Immersive Workspaces
*This is a contentious statement, one though I feel needs to be said. If Second Life delivers what I think it can in 2010, it will be “game over” for the majority of the other vendors/platforms. Especially the ones that leverage off a similiar immersive experience.
The opportunity is for the developer community to be part of conferences that are focused. I believe this is being handled well by the new Gold Solution Provider category, created by Glenn Linden and his excellent team. This is manifesting as in-world conferences; the recent one was excellent and showcased the power of virtual conferences as a credible alternative to physical meetings.
squints, feels her head fill with corporate double speak, leaves the room.
ReactionGrid Inc. is first & foremost a platform for others to develop on. We will have a developers conference in 2010 to include our upcoming Unity3D meeting spaces & Opensimulator Hyper-V developer templates from which to select a base of services and applications to build on.
It is critical we hear firsthand the struggles and successes our resellers & developers are having. The offerings we have for them will always be a reflection of their feedback and especially those who would travel to see us.
Our road map even includes Unity3D & Opensimulator integration though not until 2010. Our R&D staff is very excited to be working towards mobile meeting spaces in particular Iphone & Ipod Touch technologies.
Our partners are already chomping at the bit to get some easy to use templates we’re designing in Unity3D this year based on their ideas & our own. To meet these friends in person will be a treat next year.
We also will attend Unity3D conferences next year to touch base with the developers of the platform WE are investing so much time and money into. I would expect they would want to engage the community like this. Less IRC and more face to face and or virtual meets, occasionally face to face is a good thing
I think SL could also benefit from the same kind of event especially for those who develop applications on top of it. This is exactly one of the strengths Microsoft has shown towards its developer community even using virtual worlds to do so with SL and now ReactionGrid.
Virtual worlds need to move in the direction of letting many more content or technology development firms feel like this is a tool to create upon so choice becomes greater than it is now and an industry blossoms like Flash, Silverlight & more (who hold fantastic live and virtual events).
I would pay serious money to see overviews of other Second Life elite developers work flows outlined–especially those in the high-end fashion and building tracks. Something tells me that will never happen, however, because so many consider their work flow a competitive edge. I would be willing to present or run workshops about advanced scripting, for example, in exchange.
Kyle – bang on – the Microsoft analogy is good (if only I didn’t get shivers at the mention of the name – yay MS 7!) And P.S. you guys rock.
Mo – there’s an elite?
Cube – yes on dreams, but there are a lot of people trying to do a lot of things in SL and it would be nice to be able to share notes in a practical way. (OMG, did I just say practical! Promote me in the ranks of ThinkBalm please).
And Justin – great comments. This history is good to keep in mind. I do believe that the next phase here is about outreach to larger communities – we’re trying to do that on our end…healthcare conferences, that kind of thing. But that’s more about marketing maybe than being a ‘developer’ which, as you point out, could leverage off the infrastructure being created for the Gold Provider FIC. Um, program.
I’m not entirely sure I know what you mean by definition, it makes it sound like SL needs to have a single statement describing what it actually is, and good luck with that. But yes, it needs definition on channels, maybe…education, enterprise, industry segments, whatever.
Good discussion to be held at a … developers conference!
Oh – and finally, the only way the idea would work at all is if the Lab was willing to properly support it, staff it, present at it, lead workshops, and attend the other workshops as well.
I was totally shocked that SLCC, which was held in the Lab’s backyard, seemed to have maybe 15 people from the Lab itself….totally baffling. I thought the idea with holding it in San Fran was to be able to interact more with the Lab, meaning beyond the Luau. I think they were trying to be respectful of it being a ‘community convention’ but it felt under-attended from their end.
Philip and M were there for a day, I think. Tom was camping in Sedona or something until his keynote. But whatever – maybe it wasn’t the right venue or something.
I just posted my initial reaction to the post and Justin’s comment in particular: http://jeanricardbroek-architect.blogspot.com/.. Combined with your post “The Green Light” reflecting on pip’s moving on (along with Eshi and now Zoe Connolly)I am afraid that the vision of a new 3D web will take the form based on something other then SL. Justin’s three market segments do not support more then multi-million dollar nitch markets.
Nothing wrong with PRATICAL..in fact its whats been missing from all attempts to do business as third party developers in web3d since, not 2003;),. but 1995.
Developers/ Designers – they must create their own professional groups, if beholdant to tool makers and hypsters of a web1.0/ 2.0/ 3.0 whatever,theyll never have a profession to offer to clients in a fair way. Itll all be just more of the same..
I was there at Macworlds in the late 80s.– today it’s a luggage show for ipods.:) nothings left for now:)
Unity is where LL was in 2003. where they go from here is all up to HOW and HOW many can make business from the tools sold/licensed. Not fan based communities built;)
anyhow.
As to open sims, time will tell, I have spent the last months now setting up in ReactionGrid. Posting and writing with maxping mag.. etc…got a full sim of commercial designs ready.
now to see if “web3d 2010″ is a business , a profession, or a cult.;)
c3
Glad you brought this up, Dusan. Linden Lab took a big first step in this direction with a conference for its Solution Providers last June, and I think it bodes well for more developer resources ahead. The conference (held inworld) was a great success and Linden Lab seems to me to be very committed to offering information, resources, and support to developers. There’s more info about the Solution Provider program at http://secondlifegrid.net/technology-programs/join-solution-provider-program
Dusan,
You asked the following:
I’m not entirely sure I know what you mean by definition, it makes it sound like SL needs to have a single statement describing what it actually is, and good luck with that. But yes, it needs definition on channels, maybe…education, enterprise, industry segments, whatever.
My thoughts:
There is never one single definition, we do though need clear articulation; clear market led “solutions” propositions. This can cover sectors, but the vital things is that this all stems from “solutions”. Currently, there is an emphasis on the technology/platform.
The clear market leader for 2010, should be B2B:
The B2B market has clear ROI and tangible returns. This has been proven, especially in this era of reduced budgets, restricted travel arrangements and the need to work more intelligently.
This is something we both know is clearly achievable and being delivered via virtual worlds. Something we’re both experiencing via Immersive Workspaces.
We also know from Gartner and GigaOmPro that the potential market revenue is in the billions.
Justin
I’m with you Justin. And I have to say….I just finished a road trip of pitches: not ONCE did I have the reaction to virtual worlds that I did a year or 18 months ago – as soon as I showed IWS and SL all I got were nods and I ‘yeah, we need THAT’ response. I was covering the gamut of communications – print, Web, etc and then including virtual environments in the mix – but that was always the spot where the conversation just took off.
And a final note – almost every conversation included a discussion of avatars….I was talking with very serious professor and senior VP level corporate types, and all of them ended up saying something along the lines of – “oh! and we could have cool avatars, or we could be robots or dragons or something”….so I’m still convinced that trying to tame down stuff too much doesn’t make sense when you see the light go off on how much fun and how engaging this can be and how that’s a business BENEFIT.
Work avatars? Meh.
Fine, include them. But have some cool AV options once you’ve figured out how to walk around.