Comments on: Virtual Worlds 2008 - A Very Mixed Bag

By: Whimcycle1

Whimcycle1 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:30:38 +0000

Help a novice understand why it’s important to have avatars with more “natural” movements and with more “business-appropriate” clothing choices…I guess I can understand the clothing thing because clothing projects persona, but how do movements come into play here? And I wonder if we aren’t limiting the possibilities of virtual worlds when we work so hard to make them so similar to our first one.

I’m sure these comments seem completely elementary to your savvy readers, but many of us are slow at coming to Second Life (and other virtual worlds), and we can’t quite grasp the ramifications of these seemingly important conversations.

By: Corcosman Voom

Corcosman Voom — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:45:44 +0000

Thanks for the report from the front lines, Fleep.

I like getting different, independent perspectives like yours, Gwyn’s and Prokofy’s on the state of virtual affairs. You each have different points of view and some history to look back on that makes your opinions valuable.

I think a short period of rest and recuperation might be in order, no need to carry the world on your shoulders. And keep in mind that great bit of dialogue delivered by Bette Davis, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

By: Tish Shute

Tish Shute — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:05:29 +0000

Yes the conversation at the Open Source Virtual Worlds was very, very interesting. I have posted a full transcription of the discussion on Ugotrade and an audio recording. The audio is not very high quality because the “round tables” were a last minute “unconference” addition to Virtual Worlds 2008, and we were not provided with any media, recording or monitors for demoing. I brought the monitor sitting on the chair in from my home office!! But Fleep is right the discussion was absolutely first class, and the room was packed (even though we were not in the schedule!) and many of the key players in the open source metaverse including Philip and Ginsu from Linden Lab were there!

By: Dave Elchoness

Dave Elchoness — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:15:13 +0000

Hi Fleep: It was great to see you too and I enjoyed our chat very much. I agree with you: a mixed bag for sure. One thing you missed: my brief talk about employment in virtual worlds. Definitely about the ‘user’, i.e. being entitled to real life legal protections despite the ‘virtual’ nature of the job. So a guy sitting in his real life kitchen building a sim with another friendly avatar *could be* unintentionally taking on the obligations of an international employer (think wages, tax, pension, etc.) Interesting stuff. Take a look at Digado’s blog for a video done on the Double Happiness experiment — “virtual sweatshop.”