The Herald Profile: Anshe Chung, Part 2
by Alphaville Herald on 27/01/05 at 10:56 am
by Walker Spaight
You don’t need money to have fun in SL.
–Anshe Chung
On Monday, Anshe Chung described the origins of her real-estate empire to the Herald in Part 1 of our two-part Herald profile of Second Life’s best known “business girl.” We conclude the interview today with Anshe’s thoughts on the economy of the grid and what it takes to have a good time not just as a business girl but as any kind of resident.
Most people think of Anshe Chung as either a real-estate mogul or a cut-throat land baron, depending on their views. But some SL residents will be surprised to know that Anshe got her start in a business for which Linden Lab does not provide a leaderboard: teaching classes in cybersex and selling erotic animations.
WS: You didn’t originally intend to become a real estate business girl when you came to Second Life in early 2004, did you?
AC: Not at all. Ironically my father-in-law does real estate in the real world. But that I do it in Second Life has been driven by other factors. Since I started here I simply looked for services that I felt were in high demand. At some point I noticed how people buy land cheap and resell it with insane margins, not even parceling off the land or doing anything to improve it. So I felt that competition in this field would be beneficial while of course it also offered opportunity for me. It is the same motivation that made me start creating animations before. When the patch with custom animations arrived and there were no products on the market on patch day I was very surprised. So I took some time off and made animations. People were happy.
WS: People aren’t always happy with you, though. How do you respond to people who say that you are making SL harder for those who can’t afford to compete with you for land?
AC: I tell them that since I joined the land market I added competition and margins dropped considerably. For consumers, what counts is competition. I believe I brought a great deal of competition into any market I entered. May it be land, may it be malls. If I wouldn’t be there, you would have others who might work with higher margins and provide less service because of less competition. When I started, it was not uncommon that realtors had margins of up to 100%. I have a lot of competition now. It was somewhat quiet in autumn when many did not have the courage or the necessary trust in the land market. But recently many people entered the field. I think we even had one little speculation bubble in December due to this.
Walker Spaight: “Your empire.” Anshe Chung: “My tier sink!”
WS: Speaking of the grid’s economy, what kind of job do you think the Lindens are doing in steering it?
AC: They have been doing better than any other MMORPG company. But of course there is always room for improvement. There has been misjudgement concerning demand for snow land in autumn, just to give an example. The recent economic changes, on the other hand, show that they know what they are doing and are even willing to do unpopular but necessary things to keep the economy in shape. Inflation of the L$ has been a very serious threat. Sometimes it is difficult to react fast enough. If I look at the land market since the economic changes two weeks ago, it also seems that some reaction is necessary. But how does Linden staff know? Many economic indicators can lie to you.
WS: Is there a single piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to emulate what you’ve been able to achieve in SL?
AC: If you want to emulate what I am doing, don’t try to copy a business model. Find your own niche and go wherever you find least competition and most chance for improvement. If you want be successful, you need to bring something new, not copy what worked for others half a year ago.
WS: And what would you tell a newbie who just wants to have fun in SL?
AC: That you don’t need money to have fun in SL. What is much more important is to meet friends and people who share your interests. Many people believe they need status symbols. may it be a big car in RL or a big castle in Second Life. While those can be fun, they are not needed. So newbies should relax and not try to compete too much.
WS: You’ve been here almost a year now. What do you see developing in SL as a whole in the coming year?
AC: I see three big things in the future. I cannot say when exactly they will happen, though.
Maybe the first is real game content, as it is slowly beginning to happen already. Another thing would be involvement of big real-life businesses sponsoring content. And another thing is that I believe one day Second Life or a similar platform may be used for consumers to prototype products, by which I mean the design and customization of real-life products.
WS: That’s about it, Anshe. Thank you, it’s been a pleasure. Is there anything you’d like to add that we haven’t touched on?
AC: Thanks, Walker. Yes. After almost one year I am still very excited about Second Life and when I see all those great projects that are going on now and on much larger scale than one year ago I am very fascinated. This world is just bits and bytes, but real people and real talent make it unique, real and valuable.
Torley
Jan 27th, 2005
I enjoyed this read, Walker. Insights into the person of Anshe Chung… good stuff, keep it up!
Godfather John Gotti
Jan 27th, 2005
HEY HAROLD, ITS GOTTI FROM AV. YA ITS ME I APPERED IN SOME OF YOUR ARTICLES AND I WANT MY OWN INTERVIEW. I RECENTLY BOMBED THE EDGE BURNT A KKK CROSS IN TEAZERS AND DOING MUCH MORE WHEN I COME OUT. I DRESSED IUN A KLAN OUTFIT AND BURT A FUCKING CROSS AT THE EDGE. I ALSO STARTED THE GOTTI MAFIA BACK UP IN SECOND LIFE. SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU WANT TO DO AN INTERVIEW YOU BIOTCHES
GODFATHER JOHN GOTTI
Jan 27th, 2005
YO YO YO HELLO I’M BACK AGAIN, U WANT TO INTERVIEW ME SEND ME A EMAIL AND I’LL TELL YOU WHERE I’VE BEEN FOR THE LAST FUCKING 5 YEARS, SWG, SL, TSO THE LIST KEEPS ON IF YOU WANNA INTERVIEW ME JUST DO IT, ALSO I AM VERY APPAULED THAT MY NAME WAS USED ON A SSG INTERVIEW, THEY’RE DEAD NOW SO TAKE IT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
Urizenus
Jan 27th, 2005
riiiight. we’ll get right on it. Just as soon as I finish reading the dictionary cover to cover.
The Teflon Don
Jan 27th, 2005
Usually, we approach you.. Not the other way around. Besides I know your background, no one is interested. You don’t pay back your debts, your lot was trashed a few times if I am not mistaken, you got kicked out of various groups and are poor in-game. This site is for interesting news, not a VH1 Behind The Sims show for people who once thought they were big.. Maybe build up yourself in-game and I may come knocking on your door personally to interview you. We need something funny to read at least. And I’m not harsh, I keep it real. Dislaimer: These are my views, not the Heralds.. Well they could be the Heralds but I doubt they would admit it haha
-The Don
Writer for SLH
Godfather John Gotti
Jan 28th, 2005
lmao, u guys are silly. oh yeah urizenus i subjest you read the small dictionary , its better than the big one, it wont strain your mucles holding it:) anyways i’m suprised you secondlife fans didn’t hear about the KKK/edge bomng, our the teazers assult which i have to admit i was in, yes me. Hash Velintino was there. He can fill ya with info. Also suprisingly i mention me in SSG articles and like i said before i’m shocked u used my name without telling me. After being the second biggest threat after JC. Soprano which was eh, acting like a bitch now. Oh yea “teflon don” nice name fag lmao. I bet your not even italian i bet you don’t even know what it means. Well i have to be going u have my name and yet you talk about sex and drugs( fucking stupidest thing) u have no intention to interview a real godfather but second life shit is amazing to you. u changed “harold” u used to be cool now your acting like a bunch of Homosexuals, crappy comebacks and gay names. OK so ttyl Gotti
urizenus
Jan 28th, 2005
You’re not a Capo, you’re just a publicity ho and a griefer. You diss us, but then you come crawling to us begging us for a scrap of attention. Well keep begging, biotch. Someday when you grow up maybe we’ll let you be a Post 6 Girl.
JC Soprano
Jan 28th, 2005
Ummmm, Gotti.. Your a bitch. You was never a threat to anyone. And don’t rag on Teflon Don, at least he has an original name, unlike you. Don’t even bother replying back, becuase I will tear you a new one on here and embarass you. So do yourself a favor and silence yourself.
JC Soprano
http://www.thesimmafia.com
Gotti is a nobody who was kicked out of my family.
Godfather John Gotti
Jan 28th, 2005
lmao i’m a ho? like the one you payed for yesturday????? oh ya i’m not craving attention i’m supried u haven’t asked me. dickweed!
Godfather John Gotti
Jan 30th, 2005
yo jc i was never in ya family braah,u changed u use to be cool but now u all an uptight bitch becuase ya got a job like the rest of the world…. get use to it… Gotti out!!!
JC Soprano
Jan 31st, 2005
You was never in my family? That’s funny becuase I got hella people who remember you getting kicked out. Oh ya, got that $3M you owe me? Oh that’s right, I took that out of your property.. Twice. hahaha
JC Soprano
http://www.thesimmafia.com
Least I got a job lol