SLOz HQ - The Build Part 2
February 18, 2007
We’re pleased to be able to give an update on SLOz HQ - construction is well and truly underway. We’re looking to build something quintessentially Australian without being jingoistic or dinky. And what we’ve experienced with the build so far is something that underlines on of SL’s major strengths: creativity. The basic building tools do give an amazing amount of scope - there’s not a lot that can’t be built with an eye for detail and a passion for symmetry.
(That said, we’ve been told that attempts to create a replica Sydney Opera House have failed - that the building tools in SL cannot recreate the shape of that distinctive landmark. If anyone’s able to prove otherwise , please contact us and we’ll profile the successful builder)
What’s also become apparent is the enormous amount of information available in-world on creating things - we’ll highlight some of them in coming weeks. In the meantime, any suggestions of what you’d like to see in an Australian-focused community area are more than welcome.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Coming Soon a.k.a Teasers
February 15, 2007
We’re really pleased at SLOz to be able to announce a couple of upcoming events:
1. This coming Monday Lowell is being interviewed on a Melbourne radio station on Second life. Not just any radio station but on ABC 774 Melbourne - Breakfast with Red Symons. Tune in at 6.15am Monday 19th February and listen for yourself.
2. We’re in the process of interviewing one of Linden Labs’ aussie staff members - expect the full interview online in the next 10 days.
3. SLOz HQ in-world commences construction this coming week!
Both Graham and Lowell are away this weekend so no further updates until Sunday evening. 
Popularity: 11% [?]
Media coverage of Australian population and love online
February 14, 2007
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age are running an article written by Fran Molloy on Aussies finding love online, which is an interesting read. Fran posted a request via our discussion forum and its good to see people have stepped forward although the article doesn’t specifically discuss SL.
Stephen Hutcheon and Asher Moses have written an article on their MashUp blog about the number of active Australian users in Second Life. Last weekend we sent out a press release detailing the population based on the Linden stats and its been greeted with a great deal of interest across the board.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Environmental Education Potential
February 13, 2007
A few years ago I did a trip through the Macquarie Marshes over an October long weekend. Whilst the marshes are technically speaking under the control of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, much of the public access is conducted only on October long weekends through the Discovery programs run by the locals of Quambone and surrounding properties.
This stunning area of Australia which, like most places in recent times, is being sorely tried by our prolonged drought, is well worth the visit. Not only to see the effect man and nature has made upon this wetland area but to also enjoy and meet a local community that takes pride. Pride in the area’s natural beauty and ecological importance including pains to try and preserve and manage the area sustainably.
The small general store, 2 teacher school and community hall are at the “town” centre - not to mention the pub, of course! With the area’s race course a short stroll from the town centre you can’t help but appreciate the importance of these communities to Australia’s heritage.
What does this have to do with SL? Well, whilst wandering around the other night I came across an area called The Woodland Virtual Nature Center and it reminded me of the many places in Australia that have a similar message to tell.
Woodland Virtual Nature Center isn’t a great place - yet! However, the idea behind it has some major potential to those important nature areas of Australia where people cannot visit either for reasons of mobility or the sheer distances involved to get there.
As you look at Woodland, consider the view behind you after you teleport in. It gives pause for thought.
Popularity: 7% [?]
RadioOZ
February 12, 2007
RadioOZ is a 24-hour radio streaming service with a focus on Dance, Trance, House, Techno and Drum N Bass. Nightly fireworks displays are held to coincide with live DJ’ing.
CEO Pomfus Diller is from Adelaide and has a licence to broadcast.
Popularity: 6% [?]
The Gender Gap in SL
February 11, 2007
Looking further at the metrics released by Linden Labs, the gender breakdown of unique users shows a couple of interesting things. Firstly, Second Life would have to be one of the most gender-balanced internet offerings around, and for one month there was even a female dominance by a small margin. Secondly, the surge in growth over the past six months has seen more males sign up than females which has widened the gap significantly.
The standard perception of internet-based entertainment is that males will seek out options where there are set goals to achieve, the antithesis of Second Life. The statistics are showing this perception to be flawed. Of course, the true test would be the gender balance of active accounts which isn’t clear from the data provided. Nor is the Australian gender balance.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Number of Active Australian Users in SL
February 9, 2007
Thanks to a bundle of metrics released by Linden Labs today, we can finally make a good estimate of the number of active Aussie users of Second Life.
Australia comes in at 11th as far as the percentage of active users. ‘Active’ is being defined by Linden as having logged in for more than one hour in the previous month. As of the end of January 2007, 1.48% of active users were Australian. Unfortunately no specific number is given. To work out the actual number of active Australian users, we’ll use the Linden estimate that ten percent of those who register stay active. This means:
1. As at 31st January there were 1,974,607 unique residents.
2. Ten percent of that is 197,461.
3. 1.48% of THAT is 2922.
So this means there are roughly 2500 to 3000 active Australian users allowing for variance in the 10% active estimate. As far as the number of Australian unique residents, the only rough estimate can be gained by dividing the overall unique resident figure by the 1.46% figure - which gives 29, 224.
So that’s one mystery at least partly solved - it’s the most common question asked of us here at SLOz and kudos to Linden Lab for their transparency on the figures. More analysis on the figures over the coming days.
Popularity: 7% [?]
