david watt // User Search

david watt // User Search

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Why not applaud COF rather than gripe?

Dec 15, 1998, 8:41pm
Whats with all these posts about how much $ COF has to operate with, and
gripes about how infrequently they reply in this NG, and whines about how
infrequent new builds are coming out?

COF is a SMALL company. They are providing a fantastic environment and
have provided quantum improvements to the interface and the actual universe
since I first started using AW and worlds chat.

Time to start cutting them some slack, and realise that they have to
balance a lot of different factors (eg time spent replying to everyone
here, or actually working on AW). And also, while I recognise that users
are what makes AW go forward and develop, crybaby users who dont get
replied to immediatle or have thier suggestion immediatly worked on are
just wasting the AW communities time. Remember the outcry when we started
to actually pay for citizenship?? Just another example of how resistant
users are to really contributing to the community (and just wait for the
bleating when the next fee increase comes along)

There are lots of hard working AW users out there developing, building and
helping. But in the end, COF rescued AW from the (Worlds Inc) bin, and
COFdeserves our support not flames


David Watt (Cit#16677)
watt at cia.com.au

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 15, 1998, 9:23pm
Has someone compiled a wishlist FAQ?
It would be useful to look at ideas as they come up in the NG, and also COF
development responses where available (ie included in next build, not
possible at this time, in development etc, also COF comments on the
desirability of each "wish")

Here is a few of mine:

1. Better 3d hardware support (I really need to get the visibility and
framerate up)
2. A better building interface (perhaps a seperate program or module that
has each object type as a series of menus and sub-menues to select objects)
3. Individual avatars that can be carried throughout the universe (is so
I can be ME)
4. Voice over IP (admittedly hard especially in a group situation, but
maybe 1-to-1?)
5. File transfer to people in AW
6. Real Vudio and Real Video inside AW

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 16, 1998, 12:24pm
and this would allow development ideas to be thought-through in some detail
by a lot of users, rather than individual pin-heads DEMANDING their idea be
developed RIGHT NOW.

discussion on specific proposals could be done here in the NG, and once
sufficient support around a concensus form of the development, then it gets
put up on a vote-list. Kind of pre-filtering to prevent prolific posters
spamming the voting list to push their cause.

Sheesh, you guys need to lobby more effectively...whinging does not get
results, but constructive community grass-roots activities do...just like in
RL.

BTW, yes I have come back to AW after about 10 months away, and no I haven't
been in the NG much at all, but I have been using AW since the bad old days
of Worlds inc, and browsers that didn't dynamically download. From my
perspective, the project has really come forward since then, but obviously
not at the pace some would like.

Oh ,yeah Fluxen and TheCheese...don't fucking patronise me.

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 16, 1998, 12:38pm
[View Quote]
Exactly, is the 3D engine in need of a major re-think? AW 1st came out
around the same time as Doom. look at the improvement in 3D games since
Doom, and maybe we COF could apply that to AW. Sure, it may mean more
client side caching, but the quality and framerate is possible in these
engines so why not AW?



that
objects)
>
>And maybe off-line building followed by easy uploading to a spot specified
>by you as soon as you get onlin.

Yeah, but you have the problem of multiple off-line users building in the
same space which will clash on upload....1st come 1st servered?



>
>And maybe a board to accept/reject these homemade avatars!


Y? If I cane be me in RL, why not in AW? sure u may get some nudes with
raging hard-ons walking around, but you get that on www anyway. (or porn
spam at least). Just like in snowcrash, casual users will probably stick
to standard AVs, those with more time to model, or $ to buy, will have
custom avatars. Probably have to be universe based, but y not dynamically
download that person's av when u 1st meet them?


>
>Rather 1 to 1 I think. I mean: if I remember correctly you want to speed
>thing *up* ;-)


yeah, but the day is coming when we will all be on cable modems (ROFL). But
seriosly, most telcos are looking at voice over IP, with associated
compression stuff anyway. could be something for AW in the future....dont
look to the present limitations look to the future concept...I would
actually like talking to your avatar, and hear your voice in return
(actually mono 8bit sounds shouldnt be that bandwidth intensive should it?)
remove half the typing.

>
>
>Shouldn't be too hard as far as I know anything at all about it ;-)


AW Client virus protection, or link to standard virus checkers? I like the
Snowcrash file offer (a credit card object?) that once accepted does the t/f
in the background.

>
>Forget it!
>Not everyone has his private T1-connection...
>Too bad actually; cuz the idea of real audio and video is in fact quite
>cool...

I thought that was the point of Real video and real audio..streaming means
that you can receive and play the file without waiting for the whole thing
to d/l. at the moment we get our sounds in AW after d/l.
An imagine placing an object that refers to a .ram file such as a TV screen.
The world server would only need to start broadcasting the .ram when a user
was in proximity to the object.

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 16, 1998, 7:12pm
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OK, been back in the NG 2 days and look at the replies I have got. =
Shows how serious some of you guys are about building community...I =
don't mind debating other points of view, but 'cause I like AW and the =
(admittedly imperfect but still progressive) ideas of COF doesnt make me =
an idiot.

Fluxen:

Are you new here? :)

MGIB:

Why new? There always been from time to time some sycophants poping in =
ngs with the same style and same arguments.=20

The Cheese:

hehe 8-) Lets bring this newbie to school 8-)

EEP:

Woo, your newness (renewness? awayness?) is DEFINITELY showing.=20

Please try and stay current and informed before looking lame.=20

What crack you smoking? Better trace your AW history at =
http://tnlc.com/mauz/history.html and learn a little...

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http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
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</HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV>OK, been back in the NG 2 days and look at the replies I have=20
got.&nbsp;&nbsp; Shows how serious some of you guys are about building=20
community...I don't mind debating other points of view, but 'cause I=20
<EM>like</EM> AW and the (admittedly imperfect but still progressive) =
ideas of=20
COF doesnt make me an idiot.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Fluxen:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Are you new here? :)</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>MGIB</STRONG>:</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Why new? There always been from time to time some sycophants poping =
in ngs=20
with the same style and same arguments. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>The Cheese:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>hehe 8-) Lets bring this newbie to school 8-)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>EEP:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Woo, your newness (renewness? awayness?) is DEFINITELY showing. =
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Please try and stay current and informed before looking lame. =
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>What crack you smoking? Better trace your AW history at <A=20
href=3D"http://tnlc.com/mauz/history.html">http://tnlc.com/mauz/history.h=
tml</A>=20
and learn a little...</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 16, 1998, 7:22pm
[View Quote] Only a mere 10 months yet you think AW didn't dynamically download then?
What crack you smoking? Better trace your AW history at
http://tnlc.com/mauz/history.html and learn a little...


I didn't say that...I was around just after the 1995 asteroid strike, about
December I think. I registered my current account a little later, in late
1996 I think. my citizen number is 126677. And sure, u may have been
around longer, but I have seen AW develop quite a lot and don't need to
check history sheets (although they are quite good).

> Oh ,yeah Fluxen and TheCheese...don't fucking patronise me.
Yea, you do it WAY too much all by yourself. ;)
OK sorry about that, won't happen again.

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 16, 1998, 7:34pm
[View Quote]
That is because COF is a company. Companies focus on staying profitable,
and sure you could cite TQM principles, or marketing focus on the customers,
but in the end it is their invested capital, and hence thier right to decide
what happens to the product, what gets developed and when. When a bigger
company buys out COF and puts in the time and $ required to make it the
killer app, guess what...they will want us to pay for it....watch the bleats
start then.


>Sure, it might be INTERESTING to see what "the community" wants, assuming
it's a legitiment voting system, but I seriously doubt COF will give a
shit...


I just thought a compiled wishlist FAQ would more clearly show what has
already been discussed, and where it might stand with COF. Also, given
that COF doesn't spend the time in this NG that you all would like, it might
be a means for COF to respond to wider consensus rather than not responding
to the deluge of individual requests. If you set it up at a web site, COF
could occassionally visit there and provide the "official" opinion on the
feasbility of widely wanted features.

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 17, 1998, 7:52pm
sorry about that, wrong button. happy to share discussion in public.

[View Quote]
What besides my MBA?
What besides running my own management consulting company?


> Now to spare you a new mail, here is the usual following lame argument
>you should be supposed to use:
> "If you don't like it , leave it and ask to be refunded."
> You don't like my car? Buy a japanese one! Now, THAT'S business LOLOL!!


No, I wouldn't tell you to "vote with your feet". All organisations must be
company focussed, and I grant COF aren't living up to your expectations.
What i am saying is that they have to balance a number of competing
priorities, including making money, so that YOU are not going to be their
main focus. Just because you bleat a lot, doesn't make you representative
of all customers either. Just cut them some slack, and realise that its
their show and they move the development forward in the direction and at the
pace they need to not how YOU need them to.

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 17, 1998, 7:58pm
So, after the flames, who has some ideas on setting up a FAQ?

By having it vailable on an AW website, with a once a month post here saying
(read the FAQ at ...) it will prevent "newbies" like me from opening old
wounds.

You can even include right at the top of the FAQ that COF doesn't actually
respond to the wishlist if that makes you happy.

I would really like to explore some of the development issues for AW, and
the wishlist faq and associated wish "voting and comment" idea is good.
allows us to actually work through some of the issues in detail associated
with each wish that

We can even channel some of the negative energy in the NG to playing devil's
advocate for each wish, highlighting technical and practical difficulties,
which the NG can have thought through before hitting COF with them.


[View Quote]

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 17, 1998, 8:18pm
What you have to establish credentials before making comments here? how
elitist!

[View Quote]

Wishlist FAQ?

Dec 18, 1998, 7:57am
>And read this too: http://home.on.rogers.wave.ca/compend/protag.html

yes, on this i agreed that is is a crying shame that a visionary like ron
has severed his ties under such circumstances.

A way ahead?

Dec 19, 1998, 1:56am
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Warning long post <MBASpeakOn>

OK, I've read back and absorbed most of the basis for your gripes. My =
basic analysis is that COF is an undercapitalised IT start-up suffering =
the fate of many of its ilk -it is product focussed. They have become =
so busy chasing their tales that customer focus has been lost, yet they =
dont have the time to stand back and het a helicopter view of the =
operation, nor the $ to effectivey get out of their rut.

They have fallen into the "build a better moustrap and the world will =
beat a path to your door" trap. I believe, and Rick or Roland could =
comment on this, that not enough attention has been paid to marketing: =
and by this i do not mean selling, i mean the concept of:

1. Identifying the range of customners (individual, corporate, =
potential buy-out)
2. Identifying their needs
3. Tailoring the 4 P's to meed these actual and future needs ie:
Product tailoring the product to meet the needs of all customers =
(not just individual users)
Price tailoring the product to market mechanisms (this is not a =
premium product hence in general=20
terms higher price =3D lower sales above te market =
expectation baseline)
Promotion personal selling, sales promotion, publicity and =
advertising...perhaps COFs biggest failing...the quality of the product =
and its innovation caused reasonable offline attention in the early =
days, but have you seen anything since?
and finally Place how the product is available...options might include =
bundling with other higher profile products and so on...
4. Once growth is established in identified markets, we can go into the =
improvement cycle..both improving the means that COF itself does =
business (ie the internal system how new products and ideas are =
developed), and product quality based on active customer research, =
rather than passive wiating for users ideas.
5. once we go down the continuous improvement path, new markets can be =
identified for product development and growth.


Basically, what i am saying is that COF needs to get more market =
focussed and less product focussed. capital inflow from expaning and =
retaining the client base will get them out of their stuck at small =
position.

OK, Options:

1. COF pays for a marketing consultant to come and solve the problem, =
or
2. we the community help them do it (if they dont have the $ for =
additional programmers, i doubt they will pay for a marketing =
consultant)

I propose that we set up a small working group of individuals who are =
prepared to do some research and thinking (and those who will contribute =
and not gripe), come up with a preliminary study and plan option, =
present it to COF and ask to be allowed inside their decision making =
process.

if there is any one interested in doing this work, please email me at =
watt at cia.com.au

<sceptics flame here>

Does anyone have a AW web site that could be the central point for such =
a working group? As we meet new users in AW with business expertise we =
could refer them to our page.

I would suggest the following phases:

Market segmentation : lets broadly break the task up (at first) into=20
1) individual users (current and potential),=20
2) individual world owners (current and potential)
3) corporate world owners (current and potential)
4) corporate advertisers(current and potential)
5) individual third party developers(current and potential)
6) corporate third party developers(current and potential)
7) potential buy-outs

We can then do market research based on=20
a) geographic segmentation
b) demographic segmentation=20
-age,=20
- sex,=20
- education,=20
- lifecycle stage (child, teenager, young adult, married =
with children,=20
profession couple-nochildren) middleages, pensioner etc)
- occupation
c) psychological segmentation
- social class
- interests
- opinions
- personality types
d) behaviour segmentation
- usage rates
- loyalty status (what would make you change environments?)
- buyer readiness stage

Competitor analysis

We need to provide COF access to all information, plus our analysis, of =
all current and potential competitors. We can actively go out and find =
this information which will provide insight into where we can and cant =
compete.

Strategic Planning based on Market Research

Once the current and potential users have been analysed, it should =
provide pointers of which market segments to target. COF will need to =
be in on this process.

Determining the marketing mix. =20
Based on the 4P's above, COF strategic guidance, and targeted markets, =
effort can be made in price, promotion and place, not just in product =
development.


Things we can ask COF to do=20

1) Provide access to their strategic planning documents, or at least a =
summary of their strategic goals and intermediate objectives.
2) Access to, or summary of any previous market research.
2) conduct a lost user questionaire based on existing db email =
addresses...ie why did you stop using AW?

</MBASpeakOff>

Overall, if we want COF to move ahead we must help. I am sure that =
there are any number of users with business experience, not just users =
full of complaints.

Your thoughts appreciated.

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<DIV>Warning long post &lt;MBASpeakOn&gt;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>OK, I've read back and absorbed most of the basis for your=20
gripes.&nbsp;&nbsp; My basic analysis is that COF is an undercapitalised =
IT=20
start-up suffering the fate of many of its ilk -it is product =
focussed.&nbsp;=20
They have become so busy chasing their tales that customer focus has =
been lost,=20
yet they dont have the time to stand back and het a helicopter view of =
the=20
operation, nor the $ to effectivey get out of their rut.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>They have fallen into the &quot;build a better moustrap and the =
world will=20
beat a path to your door&quot; trap.&nbsp; I believe, and Rick or Roland =
could=20
comment on this, that not enough attention has been paid to marketing: =
and by=20
this i do not mean selling, i mean the concept of:</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>1.&nbsp; Identifying the range of customners (individual, =
corporate,=20
potential buy-out)</DIV>
<DIV>2.&nbsp; Identifying their needs</DIV>
<DIV>3. Tailoring the 4 P's to meed these actual and future needs =
ie:</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <STRONG>Product</STRONG> tailoring the product =
to meet=20
the needs of all customers (not just individual users)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<STRONG> Price</STRONG>&nbsp; tailoring the =
product to=20
market mechanisms (this is not a premium product hence in general </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=
bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
terms higher price =3D lower sales above te market expectation =
baseline)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <STRONG>Promotion</STRONG>&nbsp;&nbsp; personal =
selling,=20
sales promotion, publicity and advertising...perhaps COFs biggest =
failing...the=20
quality of the product and its innovation caused reasonable offline =
attention in=20
the early days, but have you seen anything since?</DIV>
<DIV>and finally <STRONG>Place</STRONG>&nbsp;&nbsp; how the product is=20
available...options might include bundling with other higher profile =
products=20
and so on...</DIV>
<DIV>4.&nbsp; Once growth is established in identified markets, we can =
go into=20
the improvement cycle..both improving the means that COF itself does =
business=20
(ie the internal system how new products and ideas are developed), and =
product=20
quality based on active customer research, rather than passive wiating =
for users=20
ideas.</DIV>
<DIV>5.&nbsp; once we go down the continuous improvement path, new =
markets can=20
be identified for product development and growth.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Basically, what i am saying is that COF needs to get more market =
focussed=20
and less product focussed.&nbsp; capital inflow from expaning <EM>and=20
retaining</EM> the client base will get them out of their stuck at small =

position.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>OK, Options:</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>1.&nbsp; COF pays for a marketing consultant to come and solve the =
problem,=20
or</DIV>
<DIV>2.&nbsp; we the community help them do it (if they dont have the $ =
for=20
additional programmers, i doubt they will pay for a marketing =
consultant)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I propose that we set up a small working group of individuals who =
are=20
prepared to do some research and thinking (and those who will contribute =
and not=20
gripe), come up with a preliminary study and plan option, present it to =
COF and=20
ask to be allowed inside their decision making process.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>if there is any one interested in doing this work, please email me =
at <A=20
href=3D"mailto:watt at cia.com.au">watt at cia.com.au</A></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&lt;sceptics flame here&gt;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Does anyone have a AW web site that could be the central point for =
such a=20
working group?&nbsp; As we meet new users in AW with business expertise =
we could=20
refer them to our page.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I would suggest the following phases:</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Market segmentation</STRONG> :&nbsp; lets broadly break the =
task up=20
(at first) into </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1) individual users (current and =
potential),=20
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2) individual world owners (current and=20
potential)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3) corporate world owners (current and=20
potential)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4) corporate advertisers(current and=20
potential)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5) individual third party =
developers(current and=20
potential)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6) corporate third party =
developers(current and=20
potential)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 7) potential buy-outs</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>We can then do market research based on </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; a) geographic segmentation</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; b) demographic segmentation </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-age,=20
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
- sex,=20
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
education, </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
lifecycle stage (child, teenager, young adult, married with children, =
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=
bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
profession couple-nochildren) middleages, pensioner etc)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
occupation</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; c) psychological segmentation</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
- social=20
class</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
interests</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
opinions</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
personality types</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; d) behaviour segmentation</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
- usage=20
rates</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
-=20
loyalty status (what would make you change environments?)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
- buyer=20
readiness stage</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG><STRONG>Competitor analysis</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>We need to provide COF access to all information, <EM>plus our=20
analysis</EM>, of all current and potential competitors.&nbsp;&nbsp; We =
can=20
actively go out and find this information which will provide insight =
into where=20
we can and cant compete.</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Strategic Planning based on Market Research</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Once the current and potential users have been analysed, it should =
provide=20
pointers of which market segments to target.&nbsp; COF will need to be =
in on=20
this process.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Determining the marketing mix.&nbsp;&nbsp; </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>Based on the 4P's above, COF strategic guidance, =
and=20
targeted markets, effort can be made in price, promotion and place, not =
just in=20
product development.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Things we can ask COF to do </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>1) Provide access to their strategic planning documents, or at =
least a=20
summary of their strategic goals and intermediate objectives.</DIV>
<DIV>2) Access to, or summary of any previous market research.</DIV>
<DIV>2) conduct a lost user questionaire based on existing db email=20
addresses...ie why did you stop using AW?</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&lt;/MBASpeakOff&gt;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Overall, if we want COF to move ahead we must help.&nbsp; I am sure =
that=20
there are any number of users with business experience, not just users =
full of=20
complaints.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Your thoughts appreciated.</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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AW Frequently Wished Wishes-list

Jan 12, 1999, 12:19am
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OK in deference to Eep, I would like to vote for this feature as a high =
priority

One solution if COF are wedded to Renderware might be an alternate =
browser to reader the server data, render it in hardware and display in =
fullscreen mode. Might be too difficult though given COF's programmer =
power at the moment.

In general AW lags behind other 3D software, especially games such as =
TR3. A full screen hardware rendered environment could include the =
dialog on screen, but use a separate browser and alt-tab if required?

22 A better 3D engine Improvements to AW in general 0 votes=20
A 3D engine that supports all major 3D acceleration cards. =
Also, AW should be able to run in full screen when you want so, with the =
tab bars and menu items still on screen, like the status bar at the =
bottom of the screen in most 3D games. This would enable switching to =
lower resolutions, and thus speeding up everything. When working in =
other programs while AW-ing, you should be able to switch back to =
windowed mode.=20


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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 =
HTML//EN">
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>OK in deference to Eep, I would like =
to vote for=20
this feature as a high priority</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>One solution if COF are wedded to Renderware might =
be an=20
alternate browser to reader the server data, render it in hardware and =
display=20
in fullscreen mode.&nbsp; Might be too difficult though given COF's =
programmer=20
power at the moment.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>In general AW lags behind other 3D software, =
especially games=20
such as TR3.&nbsp; A full screen hardware rendered environment could =
include the=20
dialog on screen, but use a separate browser and alt-tab if=20
required?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE border=3D0 height=3D65 width=3D100%>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD width=3D10%><STRONG>22</STRONG></TD>
<TD width=3D40%><STRONG>A better 3D engine</STRONG></TD>
<TD width=3D40%><STRONG>Improvements to AW in =
general</STRONG></TD>
<TD width=3D10%><STRONG>0 votes</STRONG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3D4 width=3D102%>A 3D engine that supports all major =
3D=20
acceleration cards. Also, AW should be able to run in full =
screen=20
when you want so, with the tab bars and menu items still on =
screen,=20
like the status bar at the bottom of the screen in most 3D =
games.=20
This would enable switching to lower resolutions, and thus =
speeding=20
up everything. When working in other programs while AW-ing, =
you=20
should be able to switch back to windowed=20
mode.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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*Yes* File-transfering is here! (Soon)

Jan 10, 1999, 12:23am
Wow... ethnic, religious and newbie abuse in one posting..impressive Eep²!

First-up: I agree that renderware is letting AW down, and that hardware
rendering will put AW miles ahead of other 3d online environments including
VRML based ones. ie I dont disagree with your premise, but rather you means
of expressing it:

>You must be new to AW.

Anyone that expresses a contrary opinion is automatically a newbie or an
idiot?? Why can't you accept that other have VALID opinions (generally in
this thread they are not disagreed that the 3d engine can be improved, but
on relative priority) eg:

>Right, and the balance begins with better 3D hardware support. Do you (or
have you ever) work(ed) in the computer industry? I doubt it.

Need for a put down to validate your arguement? I think not.

>Oh, so you fell in love with how AW jerks, lags, and twitches? You must be
a Christian or something (a glutton for punishment).

Now I'm no puritan, but is it necessary to make religious slurs here?

>"car store", "Monstertruck", and "el-car"--English is DEFINTELY not your
native language. :)


American-centricity again? English IS my native language, and I have used
both car store and Monstertruck inconversation. I actually think that the
non-english-as-native-language posters here make perfect sense. The ability
to learn a second language to a level they have shown is quite hard. Do you
speak any other languages?

Honestly Eep², you should rethink your need to denigrate others to support
your arguements...let them stand on their merits.

*Yes* File-transfering is here! (Soon)

Jan 10, 1999, 12:27am
[View Quote]
Unfortunately, yes, the classroom brat is also the smart-guy. He has the AW
tech side down pat.

*Yes* File-transfering is here! (Soon)

Jan 11, 1999, 6:28am
[View Quote]
Excommunicate me if you must, I actually have little need for your response
(as I doubted you would ACTUALY LISTEN TO WHAT I WAS SAYING), rather I was
making a statement to the wider NG about your manner.

>Oh, my opinion of their opinion isn't valid? How cliche you are...try
again. Opinions go both ways.

Actually your opinion of thier opinions IS valid, but the manner of
expressing them is anti-social. I just bet you could be civil if you put in
a little effort.


>You'll see later that it was true. Therefore it wasn't a "put down". Wee.


I agree it was true, but the use of the put down was by suggesting that
because the person had not worked in the industry the opinion was invalid.

>
>Yup.


Child

>How wasted were you? "car store" is just silly
what a store that sells car like a candy store sells candy, or a drug store
sells drugs (only in the US, here its a chemist)

>and "monstertruck" should be two words, also not capitalized as Cubic had
it.

yeah, and you americans invented all the dumb made-up words (well maybe the
Californians - Aerobicizing!)

>And I don't even need to mention "el-car"...


OK, this one sounds weird to me too..



Actually, I though your response would have been a bit more pointed, maybe I
actually got through to you just a little bit?....Nah too much to hope for.

a lurker wish

Jan 13, 1999, 7:28pm
how about this wish for people who have AW open on their desks but do other
work at the same time:

a text list that you can put all the abbreviations and contractions of your
handle into. when you receive a telegram, or words in your handle list
appear in the chat box, a sound is played to alert you.

This may also be useful for PKs to have all the verboten words in for
notification.

Rolu, but this on the list?

WANTED: Good Direct3D support, full-screen mode, and better 3rd person

Jan 20, 1999, 4:30am
rolu, can we put these three on the list?

BTW, what is the URL again?

Mark Rejhon <me at marky.com> wrote in article
<36A568E7.717F12FF at marky.com>...
> Hi,
>
> I know that Direct3D can be enabled by an unsupported option in the
> AWORLD.INI file, at least in a past version of ActiveWorlds.
> (if it's no longer supported in current versions).
>
> However, my number 1 desire for ActiveWorlds is official Direct3D
> support. Right now, ActiveWorlds 3D severely is becoming more and
> more outdated, compared to many of today's newer 3D games such as
> Unreal. At the very least, Direct3D (DirectX6) support should be
> implemented directly without RenderWare as an intermediary step.
> I believe this would vastly improve the framerate in ActiveWorlds
> for many users who use fast computers (450 Mhz boxes, as well as
> overclocked Celeron boxes) and fast 3D accelerators (such as the
> Riva TNT, 3Dfx Banshee, etc).
>
> My number 2 desire for ActiveWorlds is a full-screen-mode toggle,
> where I can hit a button and then suddenly get full screen 3D for
> browsing. Or a keypress shortcut such as Alt-Enter, like those
> used in some Windows video games or DOS boxes, to toggle between
> windowed and full screen. This would be great for sightseeing,
> or public chat. (Complete chat and building support isn't that
> necessary for full screen mode) That is, there won't be a chat or
> building interface, but you would be able to see text floating above
> other people, and be able to type what you want to say publically
> Just like the "T" chat key in Quake 2 - just very basic chat support
> during full screen 3D browsing mode.
>
> My number 3 desire is better 1st-person/3rd-person support. While
> I can use the Home/End keys relatively easily, I think its behaviour
> needs to be changed so that it is easier to set a certain viewpoint.
> As it stands now, it's almost impossible go into 3rd person and have
> the "camera" hover just a foot or two behind you - it just jumps
> at least 20 feet back at the lightest and briefest tap of the
> "End" key - making my avatar look as small as surrounding avatars.
>
> - I think that "End" should be a "zoom-out" only key, while
> the "Home" key should be a "zoom-in" only key.
> - Hitting "End" for the first time would switch the camera instantly
> to hover behind your avatar by about 2 or so feet.
> - Tapping "End" or holding down "End" will zoom the viewpoint outwards
> incrementally (no acceleration - zooming shoudld stop instantly
> after releasing "End" key so that you don't overshoot(
> - Tapping "Home" or holding down "Home" should zoom the viewpiont
> inwards incrementally. (Once you get as close as 2 feet behind
> the avatar, it would snap back into 1st person view instead of
> 3rd person view)
>
> In general, that would give people more control over the 3rd-person
> viewpoint, and be more easily able to adjust exactly the distance they
> want from the avatar.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> ____
> Mark D. Rejhon WinNT.Linux.Win95 \ / mailto:marky at ottawa.com
> http://www.marky.com/ C.C++.VB.Shell \/ AlphaWorld Home 10S 15W
>
> "A friend is someone who will be there without asking anything of you.
> A friend is someone you know that knows you, and accepts you."
> _______________________________________________________________________
>

3D cards...again

Jan 22, 1999, 11:17pm
Well, just bought a Monster Fusion (3dfx chip) 16Mb video card, hoping it
would improve the AW performance.

It has, but not how you might think.

I run a P100 (getting old now and soon to be upgraded), and had an old
Trident Chip 2 Mb video card. I was getting <2 fps in AW.

With the new card I zoom at around 6fps, UNTIL i installed the renderware
Direct3D drivers then it dropped to around 3-4fps.

Acceleration provided, but renderwares abilty to use Direct3D sux.

David Watt (Tango33)

URL's

Jan 29, 1999, 7:36am
eep, what is the url for The List™ ?

BTW what is your citizen number again old timer?


[View Quote]

=?Windows-1252?Q?Anyone_every_wonder_what_the_sum_of_=22Eep=B2=22_actua?=

Feb 18, 1999, 5:33pm
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gee, you guys are too polite. Eep is a fuckwit. (sport!)
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 =
HTML//EN">
<STYLE></STYLE>

<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>gee, you guys are too =
polite.&nbsp;&nbsp; Eep is=20
a fuckwit.&nbsp; (sport!)</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px">
[View Quote] certainly aren't impressing me, or anyone else I've spoken with for =
that=20
matter. Infact most of us wish you would &quot;Put Up or Shut =
Up&quot;.=20
Preferably Shut Up. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You're becoming VERY =
annoying, and what=20
purpose do your SMART ASS comments serve other than for =
self-gratification?=20
It is obvious that you are just some looser kid out there in the BIG =
world=20
of Computers trying to make a name for himself... You've got one =
alright,=20
and it's not a very good one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well anyway, I better shut up =
now, or=20
you'll find something to complain about... Maybe my text-wrap isn't =
working=20
right, or perhaps your loosing your eyesight and can't read my HTML, =
oh=20
yeah, and my favorite... STOP USING CAPS (Maybe I like CAPS, they =
emphasize=20
words, ever think of that?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope by reading this you =
change your=20
ways, and even if you don't I'll still be happy, as I've finally =
taken the=20
time to write this so ALL can voice their opinions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>***The opinions expressed here were not intended =
for=20
damage, and therefore Andon13 can not be held for Libel*** =
&lt;&lt;&lt;Just=20
a precaution&gt;&gt;&gt; :)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>-Andon13</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><B>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This Newsgroup Posting has a Digital Signature =

attached, to Verify that it was sent by Andon13... You may save my =
Digital=20
ID to your E-Mail / News Client if you wish, so that E-Mails between =
us can=20
be Encrytped...&nbsp;</B></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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