Jira improvements coming next week

Linden Lab has just announced that the Jira will return, new and improved, next week.

I quote;

Today, we’re happy to announce some changes to our JIRA implementation – the system we use to collect, track, and take action on bugs reported by users. You’ll see these changes take effect next week.

Recently, this system was working in a way that wasn’t very transparent, and it frankly wasn’t a good experience for the users who care enough about Second Life to try to help improve it, nor was it the best set-up for the Lindens tasked with addressing these issues. So you can see why we’re happy to be changing it!

Moving forward, we’re going to make our JIRA implementation a more transparent experience. All users will be able to see all BUG issues, all the time. You’ll be able to search to see if there are duplicates before submitting an issue, and if there’s a bug that’s particularly important to you, you can contribute your info to it and see when it’s been Accepted and imported to the Linden team.

You’ll also be able to comment. Before an issue is triaged, everyone can comment to help isolate and describe the issue more clearly. Do remember, there are some basic guidelines for participation that need to be followed. Once an issue is Accepted and imported by Linden Lab’s QA team, the original reporter will still be able to comment, as will Lindens and a small team of community triagers – a group that includes some third party Viewer developers and others selected by Linden Lab for having demonstrated skills in this area. This group has been invaluable in helping to keep the bug database orderly and cross-referenced as well as troubleshooting bugs before they’re triaged, and we’re glad to have their continuing help with this process.

Lastly, “New Feature Request” is back! If you’ve got a great idea for a feature, you don’t need to slip it through the system disguised as a bug report – just select the “New Feature Request” category when you submit. Commenting for this category will work just like for bug reports, and submitting improvements through this category will make things much easier for the Linden team reviewing these. Please remember that JIRA is an engineering tool – it’s not meant for policy discussions and the like nor is it a replacement for the Forums, where you can have all kinds of stimulating discussions.

If you’re one of the many who have taken the time to submit a bug report through the JIRA system – thank you! We really appreciate your work in tracking down the issues, and it’s a significant help to us as we continue to improve Second Life.

We think these changes will make for a better, more transparent and more productive experience for all of us, but if you have additional ideas on ways to improve our implementation, you can share them with us in this Forum thread.

This is a great step forward!

And it is also great to see a link added to the forum where people can discuss this news.

SL grid grows for the first time since March 2013

The amount of private estates in Second Life has been getting smaller and smaller for a long time, not a pretty sight.

But according to Tyche Sheperd, who keeps track of all these things, the amount has actually risen week on week for the first time since March 2013.

I wonder if this has something to do with the new wave of optimism that is flooding since the new CEO Ebbe Altberg has taken over and managed to make a rather good first impression.

On the 24th Tyche announced that the grid grew by 14 regions.

I quote from the SLUniverse forums;

The grid actually grew this week by 14 regions , Private Estates had net growth of 15 while Linden Owned dropped by 1

Total number of Main Grid regions is now 26145 ( 19163 private estates & 6982 Linden owned)
60 new regions were added and 17 returned to the grid, with 63 regions removed (20 were renamed and 0 came and went since last report)

A modest growth this week , the first time the Grid has grown week on week since 31st March 2013 . The growth was distributed across a range of estates – no particular estate exhibiting a significant change in size due to new regions.

Adult rated regions were also up this week by 29 to 4526 (17.3% of the grid) while General rate also grew by 9 to 3540 (13.5%)

Breakdown of current regions by Ownership and Classification:

Estate – Adult: 4180
Estate – General: 1916
Estate – Moderate: 13052
Estate – Offline: 15
Linden – Adult: 346
Linden – General: 1624
Linden – Moderate: 5012

Interesting stuff!

The Ebbe Effect?

We’ll have to wait and see if the growth continues.

 

 

Second Life can get you pregnant and other google results

Google Autocomplete gives you suggestions that may help you find something a little faster.

You see these appear while you type your search into google.

They are based on real searches that other people have done in the past, collected by Google and sorted by popularity.

Combining what people search for a lot with your personal search history gives you all sorts of interesting suggestions.

Other factors are also used to determine what to show as well as popularity, but all suggestions come from real search activity by Google users, according to Google.

In a way it gives you an idea of what people in general are looking for.

I tried a few Second Life themed searches, the results were rather interesting, funny, depressing and weird.

It may help us a bit figuring out the reputation problem has.

Anyway, here are the results, share the ones you got here!

The reputation of Second Life

Continuing on the subject of Second Life’s reputation amongst people who haven’t used it and in the media, I wanted to ask my readers a few questions.

I base my ideas on this topic on my own personal interaction with friends, family and strangers on the internet and on what I read in articles and stories written by journalists.

People seem to have several opinions on Second Life that are not true or that at least could be a bit more balanced.

First I’d like to collect a few of these opinions and then I want to hear from you what you have experienced.

Opinions people have about Second Life;

• Strange place where perverts hang out and do weird things.
• No longer exists.
• Shallow game where people dress up avatars and just chat.
• Virtual world but with 2007 quality graphics.
• Flying penises everywhere.

I am sure there are more, feel free to let me know.

As far as I am concerned these are misrepresentations, although partly true, they are not completely valid.

Some are easy to disprove, sure SL CAN look pretty bad and does look horrendous if you’re exploring a badly build sim with an old computer, but there are plenty of stunning pictures available that show SL can also look pretty stunning.

Most people probably don’t have an opinion about Second Life at all, it was something big a decade ago and has very rarely popped up in the media since.

There isn’t a lot of advertising for it and you don’t bump into it very much unless you look for it.

So it is quite understandable that some people will say respond with “What is Second Life?” when asked about it.

But when I started using Second Life and publically mentioning it amongst friends on facebook and in personal chats and even last night during a party, I generally get some of the comments above.

Everyone seems to at least remember it and with generally some negative connotations.

The media does not help of course, when SL turned ten so many articles brought up the negative stories without mentioning that some of them were really old, and as a cherry on top, many used 2009 screenshots without mentioning the date.

So, my question to you is, how do people respond when Second Life is mentioned?

Does SL still have a bad reputation, or after all these years, does it have no reputation at all?

Is this something LL should fix, something we should help fix or something that will eventually just sort itself out?

I see a big problem with SL’s reputation, but perhaps I’m the only one?

Famous people who use(d) Second Life

I am trying to find out a few names of famous people, celebrities, who use of have used Second Life.

I don’t want to know their Second Life names, let’s respect their privacy.
I am just trying to create a list of people who’s connection to Second Life would improve the reputation of our virtual world or would make people curious about our virtual world.

Maybe their name will help you show friends and family that it is not just weird people who use Second Life.
But perhaps, if they still use Second Life, they potentially could be interesting for Linden Lab to involve in an advertising campaign.
Or if Linden Lab doesn’t want to do this, perhaps we can use their identities for ‘meme’s’, but only if we can confirm they are still using Second Life today!

So, if you know of someone famous who once said they used Second Life, let me know and I’ll add them to the list.
It has to be more than a rumour, I want confirmation.

There are 2 lists, one of users and one of people who, as far as we know, have just visited and performed on rare occasions.

Users of Second Life;

Stephen Fry, an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and activist.
2007 quote “I do have a Second Life existence (you’ll never find me, so don’t look.”
Unknown if he is still active.

Tony Dyson, is the Emmy-nominated Film SFX supervisor who created R2-D2 from Star Wars.
Currently active in SL.

Peter Greenaway, British film director, currently active in SL.

Stalarc, Cypriot-Australian performance artist, still active in SL.

Bibbe Hansen is a performance artist, musician, and actress. Currently active in SL.

Patrick Lichty, conceptual artist, writer, independent curator and animator, currently active in SL.

Drew Carey, American actor, comedian, sports executive, and game show host.
As recent as december 2012 active in Second Life.

Duran Duran, one of the most successful English bands of the 1980s, have a ‘presence’ in SL since 2011 and its members have been visiting as recent as 2012.

Yuko Ogu, Japanese gravure idol, model and singer.
Active user of SL although on a temporary break due to motherhood.

Daft Punk, French electronic music duo performed in SL in 2009, use SL with alts, unsure when last active.

Guests who have just visited SL:

Jimmy Carr, English stand-up comedian, television host and actor.
Did a standup show in SL in 2007, unknown if he is still active.

Suzanne Vega, American songwriter and singer, performed in SL. Unknown if she is still active.

Terry Pratchett, English author of fantasy novels, best known for the Discworld series.
Visited SL in 2008. Unknown if he still uses SL.

Anthony E. Zuiker, creator and executive producer of the American television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation came to SL for special CSI episode, unknown if he is still in SL.

Mia Farrow, American actress, activist and former fashion model.
Joined SL in 2007 for a debate, unknown if she is still in SL.

Irene Grandi, Italian singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, actress and television host.
Performed live in SL in 2007, it is unknown if she is still active.

Dwight Kurt Schrute III, one of the highest-ranking salesmen at the paper distribution company Dunder Mifflin.
Hasn’t been in SL since december 2011

Yoko Ono, Japanese artist and peace activist.
Performed in SL in 2009, it is unknown if she still visits.

Kurt Vonnegut, American writer.
Visited in 2007 to do the first interview in SL, it was his last as he died soon after.

Pet Shop Boys, an English electronic pop duo, performed in SL in 2007, unknown if they still visit.

Unconfirmed rumours;

• David Bowie
• Ricky Gervais
• Will Smith
• Sharon Stone
• Tim Burton
• Steve Jobs
• Lee Ann Rimes

TV show seeks SL couples from the UK

A UK production company is looking for Second Life couples from the UK.

They send a request to Ebbe Linden that I repeat here;

UK factual documentary maker Back2back Productions (www.back2back.tv) are looking for couples to take part in a documentary about relationships which start in Second Life or similar sites and progress into ‘real life’.  We are interested in speaking with people who have solid relationships/marriages as a result of meeting in these online communities but also couples who are together online but not yet in real life.  The programme is an entirely positive exploration of these relationships and plans to overturn people’s misconceptions through honest storytelling.  If you are in a relationship that started through online avatars, or know someone who is, please get in touch with jamie.stratton@back2back.tv or on 01273 227700. All conversations will be strictly confidential. 

Because of my RL job I have a lot of experience with the media, I’ve been interviewed by the press and for tv shows many times.

And having worked in the media myself, I feel that I can handle journalists.
So far pretty much every article or interview about me has been positive, thanks in part to me being able to steer the direction it is going in and my ability to make sure people understand me and realise I am not as crazy as I look.
I know the pitfalls and traps journalists dig and I know how to avoid them.

But for many people this can be very hard.
So please think carefully about responding to this request.
You are their guest, you decide what will be filmed, you decide how far you want to go, you decide what you tell them.
Chances are that they want to do a sensational piece about some weird people who did something unusual for viewers to laugh and point at, no matter what they say in advance.
Even if you do your best and they record only positive stuff, it is easy for them to completely turn it around in the editing suite.
I know, I’ve done it myself.
I’ve graduated from Film School and ran my own production company for a while.
Do you think you will look good and convincing, is your house cleaned up, are you not the typical cliche computer nerd who has no social life, in short, are you the kind of person that will make SL users look good or bad?
Ask yourself that, or even better, ask your friends and tell them to be honest.

Yet another documentary about weird looking nerds who have no friends and who spend all their time in a messy bedroom in their parents house wearing glasses stuck together with sticky tape, will not do SL’s reputation any good nor will it do you any good.

Internet trolls and Daily Mail readers will have a field day.

On the other hand, if you have a very interesting and positive story to tell, if you are proud of what you’ve achieved in SL, if you do not fit the image the media and general public has of SL users and if you think you can handle a journalist, consider saying yes.

A good positive interview can give SL a lot of good PR but will also be a great way to explain to friends, family and a larger audience what all that stuff you’ve always been talking about really is.

In the end it is up to you of course, I just want people to think long and hard about this.
Maybe 4 old people and a dog will watch it, maybe half the world will see it and then think they have to respond.
Are you ready for that?

It can be a lot of fun, last time I was in the media, my Facebook page gained 30.000 fans and my work was seen all over the world.
On other occasions people started sending me free stuff, also nice!

But I am not sure I would share my SL life with the world via the medium of tv.

Whatever you do, remember that you are in charge, you are their guest.
Don’t let them talk you into saying or doing something you regret later.
They came to your house with a tv crew, if they don’t like what you’ve got to say, they can go home again.
They will give in.
Don’t be nervous, stand for what you believe in.

And perhaps most important of all, be very friendly and try and convince the journalists.
Once they are on your side and understand you, the footage they shoot will be automatically more positive.
And when they return to the editing suite with positive questions, positive footage and a positive attitude, it becomes harder to make something negative.
As I said, I’ve been there.
You’re still not safe of course, there is always a risk, unless you get permission to approve the final cut.
And they only give that to famous people.

Think it over, think it over again and if you then want to say yes, sleep on it before you respond.

Linden Lab speeds up Marketplace

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marketplace

It seems that the terrible slowness, or lets call it lag, Marketplace has been suffering has been fixed or at least improved.

Go and try it and let me know if it has been speed up for you.

Stephen Fry about Second Life

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Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about how we could promote Second Life and find a way to deal with some of its bad reputation.

I hate being modern, hip and groovy, but today a lot of messages are spread trough the use of ‘meme’s; a single picture with a short text or quote.

I’m sure you’ve seen them pop up now and then.

In some cases they go viral, which sounds disgusting but is a good thing, it means a lot of people share them and they get talked about, a lot.

So I reckon that making our own meme’s about Second Life, its bad reputation, misconceptions, and potential, is a cheap, fun and easy way for us to promote Second Life.

Of course it would be even better if Linden Lab did something like this, but well, Second Life is our world too, so we should stick up for it now and then, even if LL is not spending money on a new advertisement campaign or does not confront journalists who use 2007 screenshots to illustrate their articles about SL.

Anyway, I just made this meme that fights the bad reputation SL has.
The name Second Life has caused many a joker to make that 10 year old remark about how they don’t need a second one because their first one is so great… yeah right.

I think that Stephen Fry is a good name to promote SL with, like him or not, he is intelligent, famous, has a few million twitter followers, is a good writer and well, clearly has a very busy, successful and interesting life.

So I used a quote of him to promote Second Life, I think it will surprise a few people that he said that.

To be honest, he said this in 2007, I have no idea if he still uses Second Life, he may have grown sick of it.
I’ve asked him, but no reply yet.

I hope that perhaps Linden Lab will consider using someone like Fry to promote SL.

Or at least some interesting people, famous or not, who are SL users but who don’t fit the stereotype.
Show the world that Second Life is used by intelligent, educated, funny, pretty and nice people who actually also have a busy active and interesting first life.

I am sure there are a bunch of celebrities who used Second Life and still do, getting them to promote it might be a good idea.

Start with asking Stephen Fry if he still uses it!
If not, get him excited (again) about Second Life, send him the Oculus Rift the second it goes commercial… with the SL oculus ready viewer already installed…
He is known for being crazy about tech gadgets and such, he will love it.

While we’re on the topic, do you know of any celebrities who (still) use Second Life?
Getting some of them to talk about it or even just mentioning their names can give SL more publicity and reputation boosts than all the advertising they could buy.

Stephen Fry has 3 million twitter followers, imagine if he, just once, mentioned still using and loving Second Life…

My 5th rez day

Exactly 5 years ago, on the 20th of February 2009, I logged into Second Life , my avatar was ‘rezzed’ for the first time.
Well to be honest, it was my second time.

I had first joined SL in 2007, but after looking around for a bit, being freaked out by how weird the avatars looked and were behaving and what they were doing and after thinking that there was nothing in SL for me, I left, not planning to ever return.

But in 2007 I bought a new computer and wanted to test it to the limit.
I remembered SL being VERY demanding and having forgotten my first avatars name and password, I created a new one, Jo Yardley was born.

And this time, only seconds before I decided to leave SL again, I decided to try the search option one more time.

As some of you may know already, I am obsessed with history.
I have a 1930s lifestyle in RL, yes everything is old in my home and besides this computer I have nothing modern, not even a tv, mobile phone or washing machine.
I listen to old music, watch old movies, etc.

So I searched for a 1930s themed place and was lucky enough to find Flashmans, a truly wonderful looking French sort of impressionist early 20th century cafe.
There was old music on the stream and there were avatars in vintage clothing there.
And to my enormous joy, they loved chatting about history with me.
There and then I decided not to uninstall SL and perhaps return another day.
I did and at Flashmans’s bad the idea for 1920s Berlin was born.
And the rest, as they say, is history.

After 5 years I now write a blog, record a podcast, have build a huge 1920s city, manage a very successful and busy roleplaying sim and have done something so many people claimed was impossible; my sims not only pay for themselves, they even allow me to turn some of those Lindens into RL money.
No where near enough to be an excuse for all the work I put in and all the hours I spend on this virtual world, but it has shown me that perhaps one day I can turn this virtual time traveling business into something that will pay for my stroopwafel addiction.

In short, it has been a great 5 years.
I still love SL, but also still see that it is only a tiny percentage of what it could be, it has not yet fulfilled its full potential, not by a long shot.
Maybe I am naive or a bit blind when it comes to virtual reality, but I still see SL becoming the next ‘OASIS’, especially now that VR technology is moving so fast.
But well, you know that, I bore people with my excited rants about VR enough.

Above all, SL has put me in contact with some amazing people and put me right in the heart of a wonderful community.
1920s Berlin has become more successful than I could ever thought it would be but it has also come alive in a way I couldn’t even imagine.
I just stuck some prims together but real life people from all over the globe have populated it and turned it into a real city.
The sim will be celebrating its 5th anniversary in about 3 months (yes I was a noob when I started it) and has had a lot of visitors over the years.
But it is still evolving and I hope to get started on my next project, 1940s London, this year, but don’t hold me to that.
Berlin comes first.

SL has turned out to be a great bit of entertainment for me.
In RL I run my own company and sometimes have to deal with the media and keep friends, family and fans happy.
It is great to relax after a long day of work by logging into the past and immersing myself into that wonderful historical place that vanished decades ago.
Escapism, sure, but a lot more social, interactive and educational than watching tv or staring at Facebook all evening.

So, onwards with my virtual life.
Thanks to all of you who have been part of it and thank you time travel companions for making it awesome.
I hope you stick with me on this adventure that has only just begun.

As the song goes; “You ain’t seen nothing yet”!

My avatar’s evolution

Ebbe talks ToS

Ebbe Altberg, new CEO of Linden Lab is continuing his wave of communication, much to the delight of SL users everywhere.

One of the topics people are most keen to hear him talk about is the ToS debacle that I’ve written about before here.

Today on the official SL forums he said the following;

I’m still getting up to speed on that topic. I’ve had several discussions about it. It’s not a simple topic.

Trust me. It’s not becuase we have an intent to arbitrarily profit from your stuff without your permission. That would be very bad for us as we’re all about user to user. We could seriously harm ourselves if we started doing that.

But, the edge cases and the potential cost to us in certain scenarios are quite substantial.

Making the spirit and the language match up seems to be very difficult. I’ll learn more over time but for now I can’t promise anything other than what I said above.

Another step in the right direction!

Update;

Nobody knows what may happen in the future. But we have no intent to steal your stuff. I can imagine scary scenarios that are more likely to happen, that none us have control over,  that would concern me more. I don’t see how SL as we know it could be successful if we started to steal your stuff. I certainly don’t see a business model based on stealing stuff that could last very long…so I don’t really see the logic in this conversation. It sounds scary to some of you but how it could really become a real problem I don’t really know.