VastServer announced
March 21, 2008
VastPark is continuing its steady journey to open beta, with the company claiming a successful stress test of its servers. Additionally, they’ve also announced VastServer: “Similar to a web server, VastServer serves up IMML, an XML based Virtual Web equivalent to HTML. It acts as the message rely between all the users on the site so they can interact with each other and see what others are doing online in real time.”
It requires a Windows machine with .NET Framework 3.0 to run with no mention of future Mac or Linux compatibility. VastServer is being touted as non-demanding in terms of computer specs, allowing end users to create virtual worlds “much like Skype conversations”. The real test of those claims will coomence with VastPark’s April 10th open beta launch. The usability of the client application will give a taste of how VastServer may perform as well.
We have an interview pending with VastPark CEO, expect to see the results of that in the coming week or so.
Popularity: 3% [?]
22 more Second Life tutorial videos
March 20, 2008
Linden Lab’s Torley Linden is a man possessed - today he’s released 22 new tutorial videos:
“Adding & divorcing a Partner - Love & separation in 2 min.
Building materials explained - Rubber? Glass? Stone? What difference do they make?
Changing the time of day - Override to see better.
Changing your login location - For your sheer convenience.
Chat bubbles - A different, cartoony way to communicate.
Cheesy red tracking beacon - It’s animated and easier to see!
Driving a vehicle - Basics of buying and riding transportation.
Finding stuff buried the ground - Popular question, practical advice.
Finding your chat logs - So you can read, archive, delete, etc.
Freezing stuff for snapshots - Supahmodel, work it!
Friends permissions - What do those icons mean?
Hiding online friend notifications - Annoying you? Turn it off.
Hiding the Search panel in the menu bar - BY POPULAR DEMAND, NEW IN 1.19.1 RC!
Hover tips - Use them to get more info.
How high can you fly? - … and what’s up there?
Increasing font size for better readability - SLize matters.
Muting jerks & objects - Don’t let the spam crap get you down.
Stretching prim sides & textures - Makes editing objects easier.
Turning off object selection glow - Remove an annoyance(followup to “Advanced attachment adjustment)!
What are particles? - Not just for *bling*! I show you.
What is a sandbox? - Great to show your new-to-SL friends.
World Map - How to use it. “See the world, they say!” ”
Popularity: 4% [?]
ABC in Second Life anniversary event on Wednesday night
March 18, 2008
ABC Island has a range of events slated to celebrate its first anniversary, which are being held Wednesday evening Australian time:
I also received the following notice from ABC admin Juko Tempel:
“Following the Anniversary Party events on Wednesday night, interested ABC Friends, Admin group members and ABC Staff are invited to a discussion forum at 8:30pm AEDT Thursday 20 March, at the Amphitheatre on ABC Island.
The agenda for the meeting has one point: To raise and explore ideas for the future of ABC Island and collate those ideas to be presented to the ABC management. ”
If the comments to date on our original anniversary story are anything to go by, there seems to be some motivation to debate the future evolution of the ABC presence. So if you want some entertainment, the opportunity to have your say, or both, then check it out in-world
Popularity: 3% [?]
Telstra responds on first anniversary in Second Life
March 18, 2008
Today I was contacted by Craig Middleton, BigPond’s Group Manager, Corporate Affairs, after seeing our story on Telstra’s first anniversary in Second Life. He’s provided his list of Telstra BigPond’s achievements in Second Life:
“ACHIEVEMENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~
* We have built and maintained a leading position as the most popular real life brand presence in SL in the world, which has continued to reach record levels in early 2008.
* Approximately 85,000 registered users through the BigPond.com registration process.
* We have continued to grow the estate creating the opportunity for the community to take up residence and have recently added a further residential island called ‘Pondune’ which will be available for rental shortly.
* We hosted an in world extension of the Samsung advertising campaign for their new mp3 player during November 2007 (also reported in B&T)
* We have moved from a limited in-world support model to a more organic model made up of volunteers from the community. The community is now monitored 24hours and there is always help at hand. Further, a User Forum was launched on March 10 providing community members the opportunity to share knowledge between themselves and other members of the BigPond and Second Life community.
* We launched SydSIM - a virtual Sydney CBD - in late 2007.”
It’s now over to you - what would you add as far as further achievements or other observations on Telstra’s first year?
Popularity: 4% [?]
A year ago on The Metaverse Journal
March 18, 2008
We provided a blow-by-blow account of the Four Corners episode on Second Life and the in-world Q&A with Four Corners reporter Ticky Fullerton.
Popularity: 3% [?]
World Stock Exchange: Anshe Chung no threat
March 18, 2008
Over the weekend, Massively ran a story on the ongoing saga with the Australian-owned World Stock Exchange in Second Life. I contacted Luke Connell (SL: LukeConnell Vandeverre) via IM in-world and asked for further clarification on the ongoing delays with the relaunch. His response was as follows:
[4:19] LukeConnell Vandeverre: Hi, no date yet but we are getting much closer :). Anshe launched her exchange ages ago and it hardly gained any traction in the market. This will be a new launch if she does it again however the market technology hasn’t changed much. I am not focused on her market at all.
If nothing else, Luke Connell is excellent at maintaining his PR line. Chung has comparatively huge financial backing and if her company decided to expand its push into virtual world finance, you’d have to think she’d have some impact on the field. Anshe Chung has been a significant investor in the World Stock Exchange previously so it’ll be interesting to see what future moves play out.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Telstra in Second Life: one year on
March 17, 2008
It’s actually just past a year since Telstra launched its Second Life presence. The reason we haven’t covered the anniversary until now is due to having a request for a comment in to Telstra on the first anniversary. There’s been no response, so I’ll reply on my observations and hopefully your comments on Telstra in Second Life.
The first theme that comes to mind is expansion - the initial eleven sims was significant but there are now sixteen in total plus the two Telstra Experience sims. Aside from geographical expansion, evolution in what’s offered on those sims has also changed, with the opening of rentals for individuals one landmark event. The SydSim virtual Sydney CBD expansion was also launched with some fanfare but is yet to be completed.
The second theme is learning - mostly on the part of Telstra. In the initial couple of weeks after its launch, The Pond sims were inundated with new and excited Australian Second Life users - the trouble was they weren’t getting any guidance. Not long after that, volunteer and paid staff started giving support in-world and that support is still pretty much in place. Another key learning was around what an effective social space was. The Pond sims have numerous activities and spaces - clubs, pubs, sport activities and sandboxes. And what’s the most popular? A bunch of wooden boxes out the front of the Billabong Bar. There’s nothing fancy - just the boxes to sit on and a campfire. And no matter what time of day or night it is, you’ll usually find a handful of people there chatting whilst the nearby club is deserted.
There’s no doubt Telstra have succeeded in Second Life - their traffic is considered one of the best for a corporate presence. They’ve been responsive to feedback and have had the resources to implement changes where needed. Whether they’ve succeeded in engaging the wider Second Life community is something to be judged by you. If you’re a regular Pond frequenter, what is it that keeps you coming back?
Popularity: 3% [?]
