The End of the World As We Know It

May Rezzable staff and their families visit at half price entrance fee? *ducks and runs*

for my 75 cents, I would like something cooler than a digital watch. something I could wear and have people say "wow, that's a cool (dead bird on your head, prosthetic limb, invisiprim that shows your guts, lemur clinging to your face)- where did you get it?" and I'd say "not ONLY is it a cool (see above)- but it grants me access to one of my favorite sims..." also, being blown up by the drones is a little too much fun. but yeah, my first thought is- make the object that grants access something people will want to wear outside of the sim.

Personally I think charging for your sims is fine. I would most certainly pay to see them, I understand others might not, or feel they cannot afford too. One could argue as far as innovation in Second Life goes you can't afford to NOT visit Rezzable Locations.

It's a bold new step, that's for certain and it may or may not work - who can tell? However, you need to provide a choice of "admission tags" as a wrist-watch would not look right on a semi-nekkid green faerie wearing flowers and butterflies. Or a furry, or an elf, or a steam punker, or . Make the entry tag(s) something we would want to wear outside of your sims and then the fact that it operates as an entry tag/key becomes a bonus instead of the only reason to buy it. As for the prices that some of your articles sell for, I would please ask, alright I PLEAD to you on my knees, please adopt the "low price = high volume of sales" business model instead of higher (even "elite") prices and lower volumes. It's brave to charge less for things that have taken time and skill to make, BUT places like Bare Rose have shown how successful it can be. I have spent more money in BR than in any other store simply because the low prices mean that there is no reason not to buy that fab outfit....and this one....and that one.... and that one too!

@Faerie: I think the heart at the Melodious show is rather kewl. I don't know if you have that one, but it is to enable full functionality at one of the Cannery exhibitions. I understand the idea of a watch, and the item being universal and such. It's kind of hard to find something that suits all races & genders in SL, especially as you can't script clothing layers. A nice gentleman's watch would do it for me. Of course that one would not figure out my RL time probably. @Anony Don't get me wrong, I think there's a lot of quality free content out there on our precious grid, but at one point, people will have to realise that quality content might cost them a few LS. Because if 'newbs' aren't willing to spend 275LS (not even 1 Euro) on access to quality content, what's the worth of SL then? Myspace I haven't visited in ages. Faceobook is free to use, but there are ads. As goes with most popular 'web 2.0' networking spaces. Most time it's either: enjoy the ads or pay for quality. I guess not even one Euro is not asked much? And it's not listed. An overweight Greenie on an oversized b-day cake made it to the secondlife.com frontpage. Black Swan or the Garden of NPIRL Delights did not. Yeey.

So, let's look at some arbitrary numbers. One sim, say 100 visitors a day=27,500 Lindens a day. Would that be a fair presumtion? Are these the #'s your needing/wanting? One statue=50,000 lindens, how many are you selling in a day? week? month? As two annonymous posters pointed out, where is your customer service model? Are not customers # 1 in most successful enterprises? Aren't they the one's who really make or break you? Case in point, or example: One SL retailer, makes good quality furniture, reasonably priced. Customer service on the other hand comes at a sacrifice. The creator/seller treats you like its a huge bother to help when you need it. Result=not return to buy anything and reputation starts to slide. Your company just flat out does not respond at all. How do you think that lands on a buyer? That you don't care, you don't have to? How pompous is that? I happen to know that alot of your products are purchased with full perms from other SL creators. They wish, secretly, that you had not done so. Because, they are the ones being asked to support a product they created, but do not sell. It hurts them as well when it shouldn't. If you need a reference for providing great content, I don't think you need it. If you need better staff, I don't think you need that either, they do a stellar job at what they do already. Your great at pulling people together and making things happen, this is certain, but after a short time the continuity is lost. The community that's started is gone. Isn't a great city made up of its members? SL, is really a 'small' town of about 65,000. So, a sense of commuinity is imperative, to belong. You create belonging, but it's temporary for one various bussiness reason after another. I seem to recall why and how your Greenies home is so successful. That's becuase it interjects very subtle advertising that is nice to look at and doesn't get in your face combinded with something beautiful and fun. Finally, if you start a community and its not going as desired, then you either approached it wrong from the start, or failed on implementation/marketing, etc. Don't destroy/erase a community that you failed at. Give them a chance to help you with feedback like this. Then take it to heart like LT has, and see whats feasable. Meanwhile communicating to your citizens, just like one would see in the bussiness section of a newspaper. Its all about communication isn't it? I do wish you much success, you have something here that requires focus as your content is king. Sorry for being so long winded. :)

I think there are a few important issues people are missing. Real Life rules and models cannot *always* be applied to a business in Second Life, I certainly wouldn't pay for someones portfolio in real life, however Second Life is different. Everyone seems to like working out fictional numbers, I think I shall have a go. 199$L is approximately 1 USD$. Entrance to a theme park for example 56 USD$. Art Gallery 18 USD$.... I have heard people suggest lowering the pricing of statues as means to recoup money. Of course said statues are the backbone of many of the Rezzable Sims, reducing the price to buy one reduces the exclusiveness of owning one. It is a test, it might work, it might not, instead of rolling it out over 25+ sims Rezzable are trying it on one of the premier sims, personally I say good for you. Can Second Life be profitable, or at least have the ability to break even? No-one actually seems to know, interesting to see how this test pans out.

Peter...is trippy post there dude... actually not sure where you got that figure of 370/$1 but I guess I might be buying at that price! See me inworld and we cash you out! If you sell Lindens 199 = .70 on their site today (https://secure-web20.secondlife.com/currency/sell.php0 --is about 265L/1$USD...however, if you buy 199 Lindens is gonna cost $1.06 --so what is the difference--more LL profits! I take the point that inworld money has a different sorta value than it's rl value, but at the end of the day people are paying for virtual world activities with rl equivalent money--money that could be used to see a movies, buy a magazine, pay for some other things. So it is more about making that entertainment purchase of some value to the person, including some other inworld alternatives. But surely you must be making enough money in your inworld office to afford a nice visit to Black Swan--or why have that office?

I have visited Black Swan and Greenies, and they are beautiful and inspiring builds. Having seen them, I think I would be prepared to pay an admission fee for other similar builds. BUT, when I was a newbie and exploring the grid, I wouldn't have spent L$199 on admission - without at least knowing what I might get for the money. 199 is a lot of money trees to pick! It took me about 2 months to put RL money into SL, and longer to make money in SL (which makes the 199 more affordable). So I would suggest you need a mini "showcase" sim (maybe an Openspace or part of another Rezzable sim) to tempt people who haven't seen your builds before. You also need good marketing and word of mouth - one lesson I have learned here is that if people don't know your stuff exists, they won't come. It might be the best stuff on the grid, but unless it's marketed, people won't find it. Also, if RL sponsorship isn't forthcoming, would SL sponsorship/advertising (billboards? sponsored events?) work?

ty Juush, good point...can sort that!

Certainly got a point there Miss Juu. What about:

Come in! Come in! Come in!
(We'll automatically deduct 199L$ from your balance. Each time you visit.)

Yeah, yeah. I know that is not possible (in any legit way) in SL. But the business model seems to work fine for on-demand television in Belgium! ;) Something along the lines of 'we have good stuff for you here, but must request a friendly donation for you to allow to see it and for us to allow to build it'? Better. It has less storyline to it than 'warning, warning, warning!' though.

Peter, a wrote a whole piece about 'has the LS another value, which is not linked to it's 'real' value/Dollar but which is higher', but deleted it, as I'm still not sure. Will get back to you on that later, when I made up my mind. ;) For now, I think that is true for a part of the grid, another part just thinks, ah, well, if I purchase x amount of LS, x amount of USD will be deducted from my balance/credit card/whatever. At a rate of 8 euro's to go see a movie or for a good bottle of wine - both 'entertainment' products, non-necessary, that's still cheap. It is also what you consider a necessity. Nothing is a necessity in virtual life, actually, as virtual life isn't one an se. Still we think of culture to be more important than the average person finds culture to be IRL. Would I pay 45000LS on lingerie in SL? Nope. IRL? Yes. Would I spend 5k LS on a gun in SL? Yes! IRL? Nah, not even when giving to me for free... Hmmm, and now I'm thinking & typing at the same time again... *shuts up until she made up her mind*

What about: Welcome to Black Swan! Black Swan is a high end virtual art gallery with an admission charge. Purchase your ticket, in the form of the watch, at the pedestal ahead. A L$199 payment allows you access to the gallery for # weeks. You will not be able to enter the gallery without the watch. Or some such. Big, bold, simple words and exclamation points get the, well, point across, and we all run through greeter spam very quickly. With less "HALT!" in the greeting, you'll have a lot of people fail to read it. But a useful, big, clear sign above the humongous watch will help catch those that miss the greeting. It's possible to communicate clearly without yelling, or pushing visitors away.

@Rar, I'm the long winded one from earlier this morning. :) Thanks for your response. I wasn't sure why you mentioned the thing about "ripp-off"? Was that intended for me? I also understand your position on prices. I was just looking at a scenario wherein your company is in need. Seems a starving artist would do what's needed, where possible, to survive. I guess the despartion hasn't reached that point. Although, I would add, you seem willing to remove sims without batting an eye. When they are just as much artistic as your statues. I believe everything in SL is art, really. My key point was to support communities lasting and not be 'wiped' off the map due some failed bussiness model. And encouraging you to seek members to assist in making it work. I'm sure you haven't been surprised by other requests made to SL'ers for assistance with this or that. I do appreciate your support email, I had no idea, is that published elsewhere? Do your products now include this in its contents or folder? It is a unique method to use for support in SL. Hence, may be why there is so much confusion. btw, I dont really object to your concept of charging an entry fee for a sim. I do question whether there aren't other ways to generate more income. This is why I mentioned/suggested all that I did. Even if one is indirect, e.g.; customer service issue.

I have been following this post for awhile now. And feel the need to contribute to these posts. So, you may see things through a residents eyes. I have been a resident almost four years now. I have seen alot come and go, fads live and die, being able to walk the entire grid in one hour, and so much more. For whatever this is worth, here it goes. Reputation in SL is all you have. This has been tried and true for as long as SL has been alive. My first encounter after touring the Rezzable sims was buying an expensive product from one of The Rezzable sims that has been now removed. I had a technical problem with the product. With no one to contact but the creator himself, I did. After, a long discussion, and much frustration on both our parts, we said goodbye without a solution to Rezzable's support. Left with a faulty product and no solution really left a bad taste in my mouth. And, wary,about purchasing a high price creation, again. But, I still continued to explore and was impressed with what The Rezzable Team had to offer residents to visit. And have enjoyed it all. But, now ... charging to visit a sim? Black Swan is no doubt a beautiful and wonderful creation and I have all the respect in the world for Lightwave. And, grant you this is unexplored territory for SL. I have never paid an admission for any activity in SL. Yes, I have given generous donations, but, if asked to pay an admission price to explore a sim.... It isn't the price I am being ask to pay, it is the principle. With the RL economy crunch, I feel it is not going to be well received at all. Hence, more Residents wondering where will The Rezzables marketing take them next.... For whatever it is worth... Raina Robertson

art and commerce are not mutually exclusive. I might remind some of you that it was RightAsRain Rimbaud who opened his wallet and his mind to handful of artists in SL to make all the things you've enjoyed at the Rezzable sims possible. do you suppose that RAR and all the creators who work for him are altruists with no bills of their own to pay? I would hope it's obvious that we care about SL and making it a richer experience- and this experiment at Black Swan isn't about "mindless commercialization". It's about trying to stay here and continue to bring you the best of what SL can be. don't make me get all Jimmy Stewart on you, here... :P

(btw anony...this is most definately NOT our worst idea ever in SL--one day maybe I write a book about our experiences here)

I've heard much more often about Rezzable sims than having been there, and the general opinion of the sims and my own impression differ. I remember walking around an exhibition ground confusedly, looking for a particular exhibition, armed only with a texture map and it was not even accurate. I was in Carnival of Doom with a case of photographer's block and I didn't know what to do there. I enjoyed going to Crimson Shadow, though, and the Greenies were cute. Ideas, ideas. L$199 is a paltry sum, but I am afraid I still want to be convinced to part with it. Maybe if I can see the build BUT can't take pictures without paying admission, maybe if I know I will DEFINITELY be entertained, my creative mood notwithstanding. Maybe you can maintain less sims? By the way, don't be so quick to dismiss the idea of lowering the price. The first greenie I saw was the one struggling with cola bottle on a shopping sim. Seeing how evocative your sculptures are, isn't it better when a healthy number of them are scattered inworld as a form of advertising? If Rezzable were to succeed in charging for admission, I am afraid the other sims would follow suit. But it was seeing the Amsterdam sim as a day-old-newbie that made me stick with SL in the first place. (Admittedly none of the money I've spent goes directly to Amsterdam). The idea of the better designed sims charging for admission is therefore bad for Second Life's recruitment number. Which leaves me wishing that you guys would not succeed.

If Rezzable is not making enough money then they may have run their course in Secondlife. It may not get any more simple than that. The number of businesses vanishing is on the increase as the sims fill with bots to falsify traffic in desperation and the mainland continues to be overrun with ad farms. Now who is to blame for the policies that support the sort of image that drives responsible people away? As for L$199 to enter a sim? Probably keeps out bots. But they are not looking there anyway. There is no way a one time fee of 75 cents per person will represent any form of revenue. Poor people can't afford your stuff anyway so they are not going to look. And thus you eliminate the majority of Secondlife from your sims and those people will never consider becoming a customer in the future because you turned them away and turned them off. Sounds like you don't want any scruffy dirty third world people hanging around your pearly white simulators. Your sims. You can do as you please. There are no resident rights in Secondlife anyway. Other than the way people choose to treat other people that is. You are walking away from Secondlife by violating long standing traditions. May as well finish the trek it seems most long standing businesses are taking. Oh and make sure you google for articles about this L$199 deal and correct anyone that forgot the L in L$ rofl. LL needs to be run by entertainment people. And working there will not be uber fun and happy if SL is to be a stunning success. It isn't fun to work at Disney. Not at all. Everyone else gets to have the fun. Not the staff. And forget holidays too. Life is just that way in the entertainment business. And SL is entertainment or it is nothing. Someone appears to be incapable of comprehending this fact of life and some changes are required to correct the situation. But it won't happen. The people involved seem to be the type that would rather burn it down than admit they are wrong. Make your preparations and have a controlled exit strategy is all I can say. Any serious business has exit strategies for investments. Got to know when to fold and cut losses in the game of business. Just simple common sense. Not a doom and gloom position.

Well the "pearly white" phrase is a metaphor. There is no politically correct way to describe class discrimination anymore. My apologies if it came across wrong. Most creators I know have either already quit Secondlife in disgust or are considering quitting. Rezzable is reigning in and going into a holding pattern judging from what you said. The furture for Secondlife is not all that bright and shiny anymore. I think it would be in the public interest for LL to IPO so shareholders could have a say in who controls the steering wheel. Seems like the direction choice system has developed problems somewhere. People paying for the right to support and to own a chunk of ad farm infested mainland are giving up that option. Never a good sign when people decide your support staff isn't worth keeping. Maybe the concept of "premium" needs to change and people who own parcels get support and just discard the notion of "premium" and "stipend". Want support? pay tier. Tier is the revenue stream for Linden Lab now yet they are working to give that up by way of working priority one on pushing Open sim and the resulting effect of pushing land ownership (and the tier payments with it) out of Linden Lab. What is wrong with this picture? Well you have a store sim with cool stuff (that crimson sim). That will last a good long while. People like having cool stuff to wear while they engage in entertainment. And entertainment is the only thing Secondlife is all about. Take out entertainment value and nobody will stay. It is as simple as that. Anyone that cannot comprehend this fact should not be in a decision making role for Secondlife.

I've been trying to find out what happened to the sims that were immediately adjacent to Black Swan... I loved Surfline Beach and the cool underwater maze sim (the name of which escapes me at the moment).  I, for one, and more than happy to pay a small fee to visit your sims since I return to them over and over again. 

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