When the development of ‘Windlight’ (Second Life’s graphic improvements) was announced, it was greeted with much controversy. While some where happy about a graphics upgrade, most wondered about the priorities of Linden Lab. Platform stability was the big issue then, and the users rightfully wondered whether this new feature which obviously was not just another patch should really be given priority over more pressing issues.
Linden Labs always responded by saying Windlight was an acquisition, so it wouldn’t take time away from their other developments regarding usability and stability. Of course this was never entirely true as the integration of such a graphic change Windlight has brought about doesn’t go unpaired with a lot of planning and reconfiguration on the existing platform.
However, today - a good few months after the integration of the Windlight engine into the official Second Life client - I was reminded of the issue as one the one hand we see LL experimenting with new, heavy duty graphic upgrades and content features such as a shadows (see picture), light sources, and even the integration of megaprims (objects that can be bigger than the usually allowed dimensions), while on the other hand Prokofy Neva shows the horrible state some of the basics such as the first user experience is in.
Linden Lab’s has about 250 people employed, so it wouldn’t be ‘entirely inconceivable’ they can multitask several of these issues/features at once - but in their current approach I just see the problem that has been bugging Second Life ever since launch: Trying to be everything to everyone, and constantly exposing shortcomings in all of those markets:
Social platform for the masses
Priorities: Accessibility, communication tools, stability
Problems: No social context, bad first (month) experience
Solutions: Voice, community portals, volunteers
Gaming platform
Priorities: Scripting, graphics, performance
Problems: Limited scripting, slow loading
Solutions: Havok4, Mono
Pretty picture platform (3D Photoshop)
Priorities: Graphics, build toolset, showcases
Problems: No import/export, bad content filtering
Solutions: Windlight, Second Life Showcase (new popular)
Marketing tool
Priorities: Metrics, critical mass (user base growth), web integration
Problems: No critical mass, no reliable measurement tools
Solutions: Web interface improvements
A serious (business/educational) platform
Priorities: Accessibility, stability, content control (privacy/security)
Problems: No reliability of the platform, security, steep learning curve
Solutions: IBM’s walled gardens, The Grid portal
Whether Linden Labs is afraid to clearly define Second Life - they would lose part of the users that have so far build the company into being worth an estimation of $1.1 billion dollars - or they think they already have and is just communicating it poorly I don’t know, but I believe this ‘don’t ask - don’t tell’ tactic is really hurting their platform. But then again, the ambition of building a 3D web doesn’t allow them to differentiate - it’s future potential!
Posted on: May 13, 2008 | Share on:
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dandellion Kimban
said on May 13th
While I would also appreciate stability over shadows under my feet, you are missing the point here. Second Life, as a platform is ment to be “everything to everyone”. That is the meaning of the general platform, a system that is a base for development of what you need. Sure it isn’t the perfect platform, far from that, but making it just one of the thinks you listed is completely other job from what the main idea was.
And btw, megaprims are not performance heavy, on contrary. Main reason there are restrictions on prim size are security (hmmm… and maybe Linden’s attempt to make us buy more land).
Rick van der Wal
said on May 13th
I’m not missing any ‘point’ just because I don’t agree dandellion, I wish for once you’d consider that option because our discussions keep running into this. In fact, the point I’m arguing is this trying to be everything to everyone is hurting the platform into actually becoming a general platform. Losing its potential customers on all sides (one of which i tried to show you on your blog, in the closed virtual worlds) but also the non-business user clearly shows they’d rather find a world that accommodates their specific needs rather then everyone’s wishes just a little bit.
This causes the adoption curve to lag because it doesn’t EXCEL in anything - it doesn’t solve anything and though it once was remarkable as a concept, it’s execution is what is lacking at this point. This is exactly what cause the hype to fumble halfway trough 2007.
With 13.000.000 accounts created, but an estimated userbase of 500.000 (minus 0.5-1% bots), and almost halved since aug. 2007 I think the facts speak for themselves. Yes - Linden Labs could be contributing to a 3D generalist web, but this approach is damaging their chances. Prioritizing doesn’t mean just excluding certain interest, it also results in ATTRACTING larger interest by excelling, and being really good at what it is supposed to do, the reason we use applications in the first place.
P.S. I actually meant heavy duty graphic options such as shadows and multiple light sources - Megaprims are just another content feature, not a ‘heavy duty’ graphic one, but thanks for pointing that out.
dandellion Kimban
said on May 13th
What hurts SL as a platform is its structure. It should be more simple and then, upon that simple base, more extendable. What we need is a very simple platform, both on server and the client side which then can be upgraded by some kind of modules or plugins. That way you take the base and then build your own specialized sim according to your needs. What you get is exactly what you0′re talking about, a sim that is tailored to its purpose but which still operates with the rest of the world.
Rick van der Wal
said on May 13th
P.P.S.
I don’t mean specializing by the way, I meant prioritizing - there is a huge difference there.
Rick van der Wal
said on May 13th
Sounds wonderful dandellion, when will you start building? I mean, realistically, that is not there yet, and you keep sketching this ideal, and as I’ve pointed out before, that is just not the reality of today.
It’s one thing to say ‘build X and Y’ but it’s another to actually make it. I’d love to see your write up of this world though, define it, make a roadmap - show the benefits, and you’ll see you too will have to prioritize. The choice is whether you try to be everything to everyone from the start, excelling in none, and find this old type of marketing a very, very difficult if not impossible path, or would you prioritize some technical features to best accommodate your niche and create a GOOD experience from there, worthy of the attention it received and capable of a much better retention rate.
I’d really like to recommend ‘Crossing the Chasm’ to you, great book that deals with communicating technology, and how to address your niches. I’m not saying you”ll come to the same conclusion as I have - but it certainly proved insightful - I recognise this ideological vision you have but that’s not the reality of today :)
dandellion Kimban
said on May 13th
Yes, it’s a huge difference. I guess that you’ll agree that stability and possibility to get things done is a priority no matter the niche.
Right after I typed the previous comment I went to FaceBook. And, no matter how I hate FB for many reasons, it has something I am talking about here. Basicaly, it’s a very simple site. Boring actually. But it has that possibility to add 3rd party applications and there you go. We have a tool for so many purposes and covering so many niches. From connecting and communicating of serious professionals to a fun place where people are selling and buying friends, throw sheeps at each other or run narco cartel wars.
I agree that reality of SL is not that kind of platform at this moment. But, that platform is not its future either. LL missed the train. SL is already too complicated. It was supposed to be done in the earlier stage. But, LL wanted to make one niche working first, I guess that’s a social and gaming one. Due to that, we got a simple web browser after four years of SL’s existence and internal IM system instead of just plugging in into Jabber. Sure, marketing of such system is heavy, just look how Open Croquet (which is a basic and expandable platform, much more stable and more useful) is having a hard time.
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