To: VW Hype Machine
Dear Hype Machine,
I’m sorry to inform you most people use “virtual worlds” for gaming. Yes, gaming. I know it upsets you to hear the truth. I understand. You just want to create a new hype bubble to write stories about and IPO with. It’s completely natural! It’s true though – MMORPGS – EVE, WoW, Ultima Online, Meridian 59’s (back in ‘96!) usage eclipses even the most optimistic stats Linden can put out.
How could this have happened?
It has to be said, even lame games are more fun with other people playing them. How do you think WoW got to be the hit it is? It’s a horrible grindfest. But it’s the framework wrapped around rich social interaction. It’s a shared unreality that people can play in. Yes, play. Sure networking happens, business happens. That’s just what happens when people get together. You don’t have to force it.
Look I know the truth is hard to embrace when it’s so contrary to your world view. Look at the evidence. Put down the Linden stats. Everyone knows they are crap. How much does Blizzard gross? Go on look it up – I’ll wait. How long was Ultima Online – online. It was a trick question, it’s still running.
Making avatars is fun! This isn’t a problem to solve. I’m looking at you IBM VP. I’ve never heard a WoW player whine that they can’t move their ‘toon’ to a different environment. They take about 60 seconds to generate. People – gasp – enjoy playing different avatars!
Second life, with it’s infinitely customizable avatar/content system, is a great idea. When you you can make it something that a person can pick up in an hour with no 3d modeling or programming background – let the media know.
I’m sorry Hype Machine, many of us tried to use Second Life. Many of us WANTED it not to look like a bargin bin game from 95, sans gaming element. Really! Making the avatar go from second life to Google Earth is far from a killer app.
I hope you pick yourself up and move on Hype Machine, this is a dead horse.
Yours not so much,
Brian
