The Alphaville Herald

25 Responses to “Game Gods Play Nostrodamus – Metaplace Apocalypse Jan 1, 2010”

1. 

   tony danza
   

   Dec 27th, 2009
   

   “I gave Cuppycake gift fairies and Raph baby dragons for a while”

   That’s some great reporting there pixel
2. 

   Sigmund Leominster
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   It’s a sobering thought that there is a real world of difference between a “good” virtual world and a “sustainable” virtual world. I shan’t comment on the good aspects of Metaplace as, like Lively, I only made a few visits, so it would be unfair and ill-informed of me to pass any comments on how “virtuous” the world was. Nor is there any need for me to question the passion and commitment of the folks who spent time creating and running the world because they undoubtedly had both.

   All that I can reasonably comment upon is that although the principles of creating a virtual world appear simple enough – and the technology is certainly there to the extent that everyone could create their own personal virtual world – making such worlds financially sustainable is no easier than running any real life company.

   Virtual worlds, like any other phenomena, will bloom like Maoist flowers as the technological cost of entry to the VW business continues to fall, but we should not be surprised if some 80-90% of them wither and die. Like evolution’s “hopeful monsters” they will compete for the attention, time, and funds of the internet-using population looking for new virtual homes. Yet although the number of homes may increase, the potential occupants still only have 24 hours in a day, and the choice comes down to dividing the number of worlds by the number of hours you have.

   It’s never enough just to have a “good idea” and “passion.” Sure, you hear the stories of the ones who succeed in a venture, and they tell you how they (a) stuck to their vision, and (b) never gave in. But as always, you only hear the 5% who win because the 95% who don’t make it don’t have a platform.

   Their press release phrase “as a consumer UGC service is not gaining enough traction to be a viable product, requiring a strategic shift for our company” pretty much reflects an underlying financial Truth; that unless you can create a business that generates profits, you’re likely to fail. It’s fine to talk about the excitement and ambiance of a new world, and also how “it’s not about money but about relationships and sharing a good time with like minded people,” but when the rubber hits the proverbial road, it has to either make money or rely on cash injections.

   It’s tough out there in both the real and virtual worlds, but what’s always tougher is realizing that it all boils down to profits, losses, ROI’s, and filling customer needs for a price. And in both worlds, the winners will not necessarily be the nicest or slickest or even most technologically advanced – they will be the ones with a tight business plan and a way to turn a profit.
3. 

   LittleLostLinden
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   What have I been saying all this time?

   Metaplace is lame, lame, and double double lame.

   Finally the proof is in the chocolate!
4. 

   flippy
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   And nothing of value will be lost.
5. 

   Ari Blackthorne
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   Good riddance.

   Must be because the Herald embraced it so tightly like it was the be-all, end-all when it first went into beta, wetting all over themselves with glee.

   The real issue: it looked like a pre-school kiddie game. Oh wait, then it makes sense why the Herald thought it was the shit!
6. 

   Liquidator Neximus
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   Glad to see this garbage go!

   Now to somehow find a way to make the Post 6 Grrrls go away too.

   The Herald normally is uninteresting to me when I see that junk all over the main page and I go on to other reading material. Only reason I clicked on this one is because it suggested it might be going away.
7. 

   Alyx Stoklitsky
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   Delicious tears
8. 

   LittleLostLinden
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   I thought it was very very annoying that the Herald thought Metaplace came anything close to SL. I mean, please. It was never anything like SL with it’s puny little graphics. So, it will be nice to see it gone.

   What does surprise me, and after posting this in the forums, I am sure will change. But what really surprises me is why the Herald isn’t embracing Blue Mars, which is much better of a VW than Metaplace ever was.

   I bet we start seeing a bunch of BM articles soon now that Metaplace is gone.

   The reason? For some reason, the Herald hates SL now and I’m not sure why. Some sort of vendetta that is apparent in any SL articles posted on the Herald.

   It did make me giggle when Metaplace was mentioned here. Now that it’s gone, I’m not sure I will be giggling as much. I guess that’s ok though.
9. 

   coco
   

   Dec 28th, 2009
   

   Every “Expert” Shown WRONG!
   HAHAHAHA.

   Metaplace sucked. Blue Mars has no paying users and barely works on high end PCs.
10. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 28th, 2009
    

    This is how New World Notes addressed this story.

    http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/12/why-did-metaplace-fail.html#more

    Thoughtful analysis of the hows and whys. A little background research.

    This is how the Herald addressed the story (once all the repeated Post 6 Grrrls had had their second bite at the cherry).

    kateskye: ur an azz hole raph
    Azada: all other websites are sucky sept this 1
    Azada says THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    omgomg cries
    omgomg: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    etc
    etc

    Whilst Pix handed out balloons or whatever it was.

    Awesome. Sheer unadulterated awesome.

    The Herald has gone from fail to fail recently, skipping merrily as it goes. What the hell is going on? And I’m not trying to lay the blame for this on Pix or indeed any other individual. There’s supposedly a t-e-a-m of reporters and other staff working for the Herald. Where the hell are they? You all need to stop being self-identical and decide whether you’re reporters or whether you just like the kudos of wearing the group tag. Where are the editorial staff kicking the reporters out of bed in the morning to go get stories?

    There was a time when the Herald was worth a book being published, remember? Ask yourselves this – “would we honestly be worthy of a book being published as we are today?”
11. 

    Leftist Right-Hander
    

    Dec 28th, 2009
    

    “The reason? For some reason, the Herald hates SL now and I’m not sure why. Some sort of vendetta that is apparent in any SL articles posted on the Herald.”

    The fact that the herald doesn’t always suck Linden Labs’ cock like it’s going out of style or pretend like you all aren’t a bunch of terrible people is the only actual thing about it that I can respect. Second Life is a horrible thing and if there were any good alternatives all the sane people would leave.

    Also,
12. 

    brandon
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    This little “event” should be a wake up call to residents of Second Life. At any moment of anyday an announcment like this could happen and your dear world goes away just like that. Those of you who use it to support themselves should be even more terrified. But they arent I am sure because they are stupid.

    Second losers. Your world Your fail.
13. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    @Brandon

    “This little “event” should be a wake up call to residents of Second Life. At any moment of anyday an announcment like this could happen and your dear world goes away just like that. Those of you who use it to support themselves should be even more terrified. But they arent I am sure because they are stupid.”

    You know, I’ve just been out to buy milk from the store at the end of the street. I could have been hit by a car and killed. At any moment of any day, something like that could happen and my dear world goes away just like that. But then isn’t this what makes every day worth living to the full? Are we ultimately just fooling ourselves even out here in meatlife because if our world can be taken away from us just like that, surely it’s not worth bothering with at all? Because that’s the argument you’re using, isn’t it?

    Or perhaps we should just be bitter and twisted against life and live in a cave, angry that we can’t ultimately control our lives? I know which one I’d prefer! Now shut up and let me finish my coffee in peace
14. 

    Sigmund Leominster
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    @ Senban: The anti-Linden Lab perspective of the Herald is, as you point out, not exactly hidden. Furthermore, I’ve always understood the masthead’s claim of being “always fairly unbiased” as something of a warning that articles within the Herald may need to be read while holding a pinch of salt and placing your tongue firmly in your cheek. In its defense – and I admit to having “taken the King’s shilling” (which is a possible etymology for the word “shill” as a back formation) for articles written here – the Herald probably reflects the real-life virtual life of Second Life residents and affairs in that most of it is trivial. The Post 6 Grrls (or whatever gender they may be) represent the vapid, ephemeral aspect of Second Life existence for many, where what’s “important” is nothing more than the representation of Self as being “interesting.” For a proportion of folks in the SL environment, creating an image of Self that feeds back to a narcissistic center is truly what it’s all about. The “Second Life as Freak Show” perspective is alive, kicking, and in-your-face as far as the Herald goes.

    Your implied point about the declining quality of articles and writing that nestles inside the phrase “The Herald has gone from fail to fail recently” is actually a very good point. The “writers” for the Herald are certainly out there and the quality and quantity of their work is variable. Of course, they are also likely to “have a life,” as the phrase goes, and so writing for the Herald has to be placed in that perspective. This isn’t an excuse for bad writing or poor research but it certainly goes toward explaining why there are “hits and misses” in the reports.

    One other thing that is really worth mentioning is that the value – if you believe there is any – that comes from the Herald is not in the articles per se but in the dialog that follows; the comments from the readers. Such dialogues can range from the patently absurd to fascinating discussions on a wide range of topics (my favorites being anything to do with Free Speech and Censorship). So even this thread about how the Herald is going to the dogs – a thread that comes up frequently, which is ironic for the longest running online periodical in Second Life – has value.

    My experience is that editorially, there is a lot of latitude, and if a story arrived on Pix’s desk that praised Linden Lab, its chances of being published are the same as any other article. Should anyone reading this want to test that assertion, I suggest writing something that is pro Linden and submitting – then we can read the comments of the many anti-establishmenterati who typically read the Herald.
15. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    Hi Sigmund

    Just to clarify, I never stated that the Herald had an anti-Linden Lab perspective. That was “Little Lost Linden” and later “Leftist-Right Hander” I believe. I don’t personally believe that Pix or anyone else at the Herald is especially anti-Linden Lab. If anything I sense more of a desire to get Linden Lab to raise their game on the behalf of the Herald (although as I’ve pointed out elsewhere, the Herald did have a run of describing Metaplace as the greatest thing since the self-wiping arsehole if you’ll pardon the phrase, which I felt was misplaced but then we all have differing opinions of course).

    I agree of course; the writers for the Herald do have lives beyond the Alphaville Herald and indeed all other aspects of Second Life and so forth. Absolutely, this is how it should be! But I’m just one person with the same sort of life over the busy Chrimble period and I managed to put six whole blogs together including research and still have two more waiting to be finished off and published in the next day or so (of course, whether people think they’re valid or worthwhile is another question). And that’s just me, working alone. The Herald has a team of writers and associated staff and so there should be a relatively constant flow. According to the SL Herald Editorial group list (I’m in-world looking at it right this second), there are currently forty five people listed in-world as Herald reporters/editors. Forty five! Allowing for the fact that some will have moved on or whatever, you still appear as if you should have a solid team. If they’re not digging up articles then bin them off and find people who are. I understand it’s difficult to get people to write when you can only pay 1000-2000L$ per article but people don’t write to make money (in SL); they write from the enjoyment of the process.

    I absolutely agree with your point also about how the Herald is a reflection of what is going on out there in cyberspace. In fact I once had that very same discussion with Pix in-world on the day the Chicken Liberation Front Of Second Life was created (yes, I’m behind that but I was led astray by bad influences XD). However, I’d counter the spirit of your argument if not its validity with the following. Why was the Alphaville/Second Life Herald set up originally? Why was Peter Ludlow kicked off The Sims Online? It was because of his investigative journalism, right? The whole history and raison d’etre of the Herald was as follows (from your own page http://foo.secondlifeherald.com/slh/about.html)

    “The Second Life Herald was founded on October 23, 2003, by philosophy professor Peter Ludlow. Its mission, as described the next day, was to observe, record and study “the legal, social, and economic implications” of life in the virtual world. Originally established as the Alphaville Herald and reporting for the most part on life on the Alphaville server of The Sims Online, the Herald soon branched out into coverage of other massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds — helped along by the murder of Herald publisher Urizenus (Ludlow’s avatar) after Electronic Arts got wind of the stories the newspaper was printing about the scams and cyber-prostitution that were taking place within its game, and the company’s indifference to reports of real-world violence. (Note: The paper has never been part of nor formally associated with TSO, Electronic Arts, Second Life nor Linden Lab, but is an independent entity dedicated to gathering news from around the metaverse.)

    EA’s termination of Ludlow’s account made international headlines, but only stiffened the Herald’s resolve to pay witness to the societies that were emerging in this new corner of cyberspace. In June 2004, the newspaper was reborn as the Second Life Herald, under the managment of the resurrected Urizenus Sklar, and began concentrating more closely on the virtual world of Second Life. In January 2005, the avatar Walker Spaight — the online representative of journalist Mark Wallace — joined the paper as Editorial Director. On Urizenus’s retirement from the virtual Fourth Estate one year later, Walker stepped up to the helm. In October 2006, the avatar Pixeleen Mistral — an online representation of news idoru Pixeleen Mistral — became Managing Editor. One year later, the Editrix began her watch at the Herald’s helm.

    In the more than five years of the Herald’s existence, it has gained a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting news sources covering virtual worlds. Unflinching both in its taste for a dramatic story and its demand that those who govern virtual worlds do so fairly, the Herald is often called a muckraking tabloid or worse, but its loyal readers (numbering several thousand per day) love — and often love to hate — the unique service it provides: to take a good, close, often snarky look at the online worlds that are becoming a more and more important part of everyone’s offline lives.”

    Look at that last paragraph especially. Does it still deserve that reputation or are you resting on your laurels?

    To continue, I’d also agree with your analysis that much of the Herald’s value comes from the comments which follow the articles. Even the trolling ones make me laugh out loud and that in itself can bring value to my day. But certainly the in-depth discussions in the comments sections add value to the Herald. But they must be extensions of decent articles. Decently written and decently researched. Well in all fairness, I say “must” but of course I have to restate that as “must, in my opinion”. It’s not for me to say what the Herald “must”.

    All I’m personally asking is that the Herald raises its game. What you need is a blend of the investigative journalism it began with and a reflection of the ephemeral nature of virtual worlds. There are plenty of people out there writing great blogs, investigating SL and all the other virtual spaces too (I don’t count myself amongst these; I’m a blogging n00b and accept this). Try recruiting them as staff. Raise your game and people will raise their game as a consequence and bring the Herald back to its rightful place.
16. 

    LittleLostLinden
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    Senban, I agree with your statement about investigative journalism.

    That said, lets have a story about how bots and campers are still running wild in SL.

    To prove a point. I challenge anyone to be able to stop the camping going on at the Fussy location for the past year or 2.

    The reason nobody can stop the camping, even though Linden Labs frown on it now supposedly according to Jack Linden, is because it will hurt the SL daily logon numbers too much. There is such a story waiting there I don’t know why it hasn’t been posted yet. It’s the closest thing to an RL SL conspiracy and nobody has touched it yet, not even the Herald. (Herald only reported on Camping BEFORE Jack Linden’s recent announcement, and not after).

    Anyway, the challenge is one.

    I will pay $1L to anyone who can prevent camping at Fussy, Inc. for 2 months straight. Here is the Fussy location, currently filled with 20 Campers.

    http://slurl.com/secondlife/Itsumo%20Nandodemo/193/189/22
17. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    @Littlelostlinden

    I’m there right now although I only count eleven at this point. If you want to IM me inworld, please do. For my own curiosity, I have some questions you could maybe help me with. I’ll even wear my Alphaville Herald tee shirt and pretend to be a reporter
18. 

    LittleLostLinden
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    Hey Senban.

    Sounds like a plan. We will have to meet sometime.

    I always mixup Fussy with Kenza.

    Kenza has 20 at the moment, Fussy, usually between 13 and 19.

    Here is the Kenza location, the campers are of course in the sky on a platform:

    http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ciraco/97/233/256
19. 

    LittleLostLinden
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    Usually 20-25 at Club Tagada as well:

    http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sensuel/201/196/21
20. 

    Jumpman Lane
    

    Dec 29th, 2009
    

    metaplace blew, blue mars blows, time to make nice with those pesky Lindens. Second Life is all we got ! heheheheheh
21. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 30th, 2009
    

    Waiting on you now LittleLostLinden. Bring me your story. Anonymity isn’t an issue, just come and talk to me. It’ll be fun! I’ll even make cookies 8D
22. 

    Senban Babii
    

    Dec 30th, 2009
    

    @LittleLostLinden

    Feel free to contact me off-world via email if you prefer. My email address is in the link in my name.
23. 

    Lilwaynezoom
    

    May 14th, 2010
    

    did u hear me DID YOU HEAR ME. No and I mean NO virtual world was better than metaplace. not Habbo,Second Life,Blue Mars, or Active Worlds is better. Raph Koster Don’t know wat the heck he talking about. Metaplace is CRAP now!
24. 

    Lilwaynezoom
    

    Jun 2nd, 2010
    

    @littlelostlinden

    metaplace is not lame smallworlds is lame
25. 

    Ledomaylnosti
    

    Oct 22nd, 2010
    

    You can make a SecondLife clone in Metaplace.
    That was the vision, and what would have happened if Metaplace had more financila backing.

    Metaplace could have produced a SecondLife clone EASILY.

    This is something I think many people here don’t understand.

    The cutsey-2d stuff was just the beginning, to demonstrate the concept. There were hard, solid plans to have 3D capability to the quality of World of Warcraft etc

    This is what Metaplace was REALLY about.

    I hope google ‘borrows’ the vision of Metaplace and does it better.

    They’re good at making profit from online services.

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