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Mar 18, 2002, 6:40am

Hello all --

I felt a post was necessary because today when I came into my world,
Nova, I saw this: "Warning: this world expires in 25 days."

Nova was established in 1998 and I have allowed the builds to remain from
the beginning. I kept increasing my world. I went to 40 meters then 50
and eventually got to the 90 meter point, where I am now. I did it for
the builders there. I paid so people could build on Nova and express
themselves. It was a fun thing for me as well, because I experimented in
making things and helping my builders. Well I have a hard decision to
make. Renewing Nova will cost me $860 which I have planned on and I have
readily available. HOWEVER with the NEW AW, I am not feeling the warm
fuzzies. I am seeing bankrupcy, and me in line with many others never to
see my money again :( I have been alerting my builders since January what
my decision is. My decision is to renew Nova but as a smallar world. My
host is backing it up for me so if AW makes it, after these crazy
decisions, I will bring Nova back to 90 meters.

Am I the only one here with real concerns?

And another thing comes to mind... I had 5 citizenships as well. These
were not world related. I created these myself they were not world cits
and obviously I will not be renewing them. I have given 2 away already to
friends who were not going to renew. I have one left that I have a taker
for already. So AW will not get the money for these and I have to wonder
how many other people have extra cits they will not renew. I plan to
renew 2 out of 5.

Your comments are appreciated :)

This sucks big time,

Wings0nite

Mar 18, 2002, 8:50am

Thank You, Wings0nite, for allowing Myself and a few friends to build on
Nova. We have enjoyed our stay (though it has been brief).

I'm glad that Nova will remain, even though my build will be lost.

I have put up a teleport on my build at NOVA 67n 85e which leads to my
main teleport center (On Yellowstone). Anyone is welcome to visit any of my
builds, while time remains. I suspect that several will be lost soon. I
will add a few links there to points of interest that my friends have built.

If any of your tenants need some space, Yellowstone has open spaces. I
have some starter objects spread around in remote areas that I would like to
see filled. ( Yellow 353n 764w and Yellow 461n 586w ) Wide open
spaces and few neighbors there.

I am not looking forward to the loss of AW. It has been fun and has become
one of my favorite pastimes. I have lost builds before when worlds closed
or were sold, but nothing compares to the current feelings of hopelessness.
One of my greatest pleasures has been in teaching new folks to build and
interact. Without the tourists, we are fighting a losing battle. Luckily,
I gave out memberships for Christmas gifts before the price increases.

Thank you again wings0nite.

Tom Huxton

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 10:28am

I'm not trying to be mean here but what makes you think that not paying is
going to help them get past all of this? They wouldn't be going bankrupt if
everyone continued what the were doing but since everyone decides to just
stop paying as they usually do they keep making less and less money.
Although they might still end (no one knows but you can't just say it will)
I really don't think that deciding to pay less is actually helping AW to
stay alive I think it's just causing the end to come sooner.

Since I renewed in January which was the smart thing to do if you really
still like AW, although most people didn't do that, I'm just going to wait
until next year to see how it's going and if AW has smartened up by then
I'll renew and maybe buy another world who knows.

Well that's what i think...

-Zeo

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 11:37am

I am seriously considering opening a world. I have a few die-hard friends
who are my neighbors on numerous worlds, and AW is important to us online.
Actually, if you love AW, the cost for the smaller worlds is not much of an
issue, even if you have to spring for the cost of hosting. (I already have
adequate FTP space with my dial up, which I keep just for mobile use) Then,
if you consider the newly raised price of citizenship and the cits included
with the world servers, owning your world does make some sense. (especially
the mid-sized worlds)

To me it appears that the owners of the larger worlds are more concerned
with the loss of the tourist traffic, which leaves some worlds suddenly
empty. It also appears that the new higher cost of individual citizenship
may be a part of the current problem.

We have to realize that AW is a publicly held corporation, and management's
responsibility is to the stock holders. No corporation can survive in the
market while operating at a perpetual loss. The AW software itself is the
main asset, but unless revenue offsets expenses---the future is not
optimistic. I do feel that AW is a viable enterprise. We can't fault
management for doing their jobs.

Thomas

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 2:21pm

i think this is how the walla street crash came about, no one was paying no
more, hence, everything went into a state of bankrupcy
[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 2:59pm

well it did because everyone was selling and no one was buying. But you
can't say the stock market will crash because of one company.

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 3:33pm

I think it's sad that you're downgrading your world :-(( if AW goes down the
drain, at least there are many other good (and some better) unis/platforms
to which you could move your world (a world like that might even be welcomed
freely by a *smart* uniowner) :-))

KAH

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 4:35pm

no, i mean aw will crash cuz no ones buying...
[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 5:35pm

I agree zeo. My world Barsoom (and my current account along wth it) comes up
for renewal in a few months, unless AW is a barren wasteland we will be not
only renewing but upgrading yet again. If you love AW, then you have to try
and help them stay afloat or lose them forever.

[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 5:52pm

Barsoom, nice world. Has a strong well established serious role playing
community that rivals GOR, but without all the.. well the weird slave sex
"can a girl" shit. I'd recommend it for anyone into some serious role
playing who wants something more than some 15 year old kid's half assed stat
building game.

[View Quote] >
>

Mar 18, 2002, 7:22pm

We can't fault management for doing their jobs... How about faulting them for
NOT doing their jobs? Why do you stand for AW management beating up it's users
when even at higher rates their plan still fails?

Ask yourself these questions and see if you can find answers...

1. Why have Jp and Rick failed to advertise AW on any television market so that
people would learn about it?

2. Why has AW failed to bundle their software with video cards, new pc's etc. so
that more people would learn about it?

3. Why has AW failed to have their software on the shelves in stores like others
that are rapidly growing while AW fails?

I have seen AW spend money and beat up it's users for more money, but simple
math tells you that even if AW charged every user $1,000 per year they would
still not cover the amount Rick Noll stated would be needed to run the company.

The key to success in America and the world is advertisement and getting the
word out! It's not holding a reunion for your handful of employees and friends
to gamble and booze it up on the company credit card. It's not killing your
market share by 600% rate hikes. Approximately 30% of users were overseas with a
2-1 conversion rate. They are gone. Approximately 30% were handicapped users on
fixed incomes who were shocked, hurt and run off by the increases. Approximately
30% were children who may or may not get their parents to spring for more $$
during war and recession. The remaining 10%... well they are peeved that their
friends have been run out and they themselves still feel the taste of the bad
faith AW dished out January 2nd.

Look at the user count at any time of the day and you will see the numbers are
about 50% of what they used to be. Very sad considering those numbers were
climbing up daily prior to Jan 2. It was a deadly decision that AWLD made. And
it is a sickening shame that they did it too...




[View Quote] > I am seriously considering opening a world. I have a few die-hard friends
> who are my neighbors on numerous worlds, and AW is important to us online.
> Actually, if you love AW, the cost for the smaller worlds is not much of an
> issue, even if you have to spring for the cost of hosting. (I already have
> adequate FTP space with my dial up, which I keep just for mobile use) Then,
> if you consider the newly raised price of citizenship and the cits included
> with the world servers, owning your world does make some sense. (especially
> the mid-sized worlds)
>
> To me it appears that the owners of the larger worlds are more concerned
> with the loss of the tourist traffic, which leaves some worlds suddenly
> empty. It also appears that the new higher cost of individual citizenship
> may be a part of the current problem.
>
> We have to realize that AW is a publicly held corporation, and management's
> responsibility is to the stock holders. No corporation can survive in the
> market while operating at a perpetual loss. The AW software itself is the
> main asset, but unless revenue offsets expenses---the future is not
> optimistic. I do feel that AW is a viable enterprise. We can't fault
> management for doing their jobs.
>
> Thomas
>
[View Quote]

Mar 18, 2002, 8:14pm

I'll have to agree with you on most of your points. They do seem to have
priced most of the world right out of the market. Even at the old rates the
Citizenships for AW were a lot of money for most of the world. I won't be
giving out 4-5 cits to friends every year as has been my habit.

The questions about bundling and retail marketing make sense, too.
(Actually OEMs are probably PAID to bundle software with new machines) Why
not ask the "Boys in the Front Office" about it? I think it would give a
real boost toward a new market. Of course with so many worlds now closed to
Tourists, I'm not sure how effective that would be. What it WOULD do is
expose the product to new users. I think some of your issues may be
addressed by the link below.

I have not seen the matter discussed here yet, but the timing of the press
releases and the simultaneous changes in AW policies have led me to just
watch and see what develops. http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z6D734C8

Thomas



[View Quote]

Mar 19, 2002, 2:34am

Part of the problem is that some of us have been helping keep AW above
water for years now, mostly without AWC even realizing it. Then they try
to raise prices, and everyone pretty much says "Screw you. You didn't
value me when I paid you $20 a year, and there's no evidence that it
will change if I pay $60 a year." Most of us are fed up with AWC's
shenanigans and this price increase is essentially the straw that broke
the camel's back.

I liken the situation to an abusive husband (AWC) beating his devoted
wife (the citizens). Even though the husband treats her like crap, she
still insists that she loves him and has been made to believe that it's
all her fault and that she needs to protect her husband from his
mistakes. Eventually it gets to the point where the husband feels he can
get away with anything and almost kills her. Some women are able to
break away from the denial and abuse and report him to the police before
it gets any worse. The question before all of us now is, do we want to
continue this cycle of abuse and stay in denial, or walk away from this
"relationship" for good before it gets any worse?

The point is, people don't want to support AW anymore until they see
some proof that AWC has finally learned its lesson and is taking steps
in the right direction to fix its mistakes. But until then, we've gotten
tired of having to "help AW stay afloat" and make up for AWC's mistakes,
and I, for one, am tired of holding this sinking ship up any longer. As
far as I'm concerned, they've got a year to prove themselves (cit runs
out on 4/03). If they last that long, and are actually *improving* the
situation, I'll renew. Otherwise, they'll have one less pair of hands to
help carry this ever-increasing load.

I love AW as much as the next guy, but there's a fine line between love
and masochism. Enough is enough.

[View Quote] > I agree zeo. My world Barsoom (and my current account along wth it) comes up
> for renewal in a few months, unless AW is a barren wasteland we will be not
> only renewing but upgrading yet again. If you love AW, then you have to try
> and help them stay afloat or lose them forever.
>
[View Quote]
--
Goober King
It's financial harassment, and we don't have to take it!
rar1 at acsu.buffalo.edu

Mar 19, 2002, 4:56am

I think you have it exactly right. :)

[View Quote] > We can't fault management for doing their jobs... How about faulting them for
> NOT doing their jobs? Why do you stand for AW management beating up it's users
> when even at higher rates their plan still fails?
>
> Ask yourself these questions and see if you can find answers...
>
> 1. Why have Jp and Rick failed to advertise AW on any television market so that
> people would learn about it?
>
> 2. Why has AW failed to bundle their software with video cards, new pc's etc. so
> that more people would learn about it?
>
> 3. Why has AW failed to have their software on the shelves in stores like others
> that are rapidly growing while AW fails?
>
> I have seen AW spend money and beat up it's users for more money, but simple
> math tells you that even if AW charged every user $1,000 per year they would
> still not cover the amount Rick Noll stated would be needed to run the company.
>
> The key to success in America and the world is advertisement and getting the
> word out! It's not holding a reunion for your handful of employees and friends
> to gamble and booze it up on the company credit card. It's not killing your
> market share by 600% rate hikes. Approximately 30% of users were overseas with a
> 2-1 conversion rate. They are gone. Approximately 30% were handicapped users on
> fixed incomes who were shocked, hurt and run off by the increases. Approximately
> 30% were children who may or may not get their parents to spring for more $$
> during war and recession. The remaining 10%... well they are peeved that their
> friends have been run out and they themselves still feel the taste of the bad
> faith AW dished out January 2nd.
>
> Look at the user count at any time of the day and you will see the numbers are
> about 50% of what they used to be. Very sad considering those numbers were
> climbing up daily prior to Jan 2. It was a deadly decision that AWLD made. And
> it is a sickening shame that they did it too...
>
>
>
>
[View Quote]

Mar 19, 2002, 5:11am

[View Quote] > Hello all --
>
> I felt a post was necessary because today when I came into my world,
> Nova, I saw this: "Warning: this world expires in 25 days."
>
> Nova was established in 1998 and I have allowed the builds to remain from
> the beginning. I kept increasing my world. I went to 40 meters then 50
> and eventually got to the 90 meter point, where I am now. I did it for
> the builders there. I paid so people could build on Nova and express
> themselves. It was a fun thing for me as well, because I experimented in
> making things and helping my builders. Well I have a hard decision to
> make. Renewing Nova will cost me $860 which I have planned on and I have
> readily available. HOWEVER with the NEW AW, I am not feeling the warm
> fuzzies. I am seeing bankrupcy, and me in line with many others never to
> see my money again :( I have been alerting my builders since January what
> my decision is. My decision is to renew Nova but as a smallar world. My
> host is backing it up for me so if AW makes it, after these crazy
> decisions, I will bring Nova back to 90 meters.
>
> Am I the only one here with real concerns?
>


Nope, not at all.


> And another thing comes to mind... I had 5 citizenships as well. These
> were not world related. I created these myself they were not world cits
> and obviously I will not be renewing them. I have given 2 away already to
> friends who were not going to renew. I have one left that I have a taker
> for already. So AW will not get the money for these and I have to wonder
> how many other people have extra cits they will not renew. I plan to
> renew 2 out of 5.
>


I've lost count, but they are all expiring whenever they expire. They
might as well start boxing up the office furniture at AWLD. They can
even blame the whole thing on me. Me and my addiction to Starbucks
coffee. *sigh*


> Your comments are appreciated :)
>
> This sucks big time,
>
> Wings0nite
>
>

Mar 19, 2002, 5:30am

[View Quote] > I am seriously considering opening a world. I have a few die-hard friends
> who are my neighbors on numerous worlds, and AW is important to us online.
> Actually, if you love AW, the cost for the smaller worlds is not much of an
> issue, even if you have to spring for the cost of hosting. (I already have
> adequate FTP space with my dial up, which I keep just for mobile use) Then,
> if you consider the newly raised price of citizenship and the cits included
> with the world servers, owning your world does make some sense. (especially
> the mid-sized worlds)
>
> To me it appears that the owners of the larger worlds are more concerned
> with the loss of the tourist traffic, which leaves some worlds suddenly
> empty. It also appears that the new higher cost of individual citizenship
> may be a part of the current problem.


EXACTLY!
Running a world is a labor of love, to both AW and the community. When
you see it all being carelessly flushed down the drain you get mad VERY
MAD. When you are told that it is somehow YOU the customers fault that
AW is having financial problems you get even madder. At some point you
decide that enough is enough. Even a doormat can get worn out eventually.


>
> We have to realize that AW is a publicly held corporation, and management's
> responsibility is to the stock holders. No corporation can survive in the
> market while operating at a perpetual loss. The AW software itself is the
> main asset, but unless revenue offsets expenses---the future is not
> optimistic. I do feel that AW is a viable enterprise. We can't fault
> management for doing their jobs.
>

Watch the congressional testimony of the Enron executives if you get a
chance. Very instructive regarding this sort of thing. They set
themselves up with multimillion dollar salaries, engaged in all sorts of
phony schemes to make the company appear healthier than it was, and
after it all comes tumbling down, they paint themselves a VICTIMS of
some bad luck and a nasty old Wall Street reporter or two. Of course
the Execs have all the money they need to live out their lives in
comfort, while their thousands of employees are out on the street having
lost their life savings.

As a hard nosed capitalist, I feel that there ARE no excuses for
failure. By definition, good execs succeed when their companies
succeed, bad ones fail when their companies fail. No extenuating
circumstances are allowed.

Whether they were smart enough to drain off a retirement program for
themselves, if (when) AW fails, it will be a failure of its leadership,
no one else should have to share the blame. They had hundreds of good
ideas to choose from, many posted right here in this newsgroup.
Failure to take advantage of them can only be laid at about 4 feet as
I'm counting.

Mar 19, 2002, 5:33pm

Well I thank you for your comment. It is always nice to be apreciated. ;-)>

[View Quote]

Mar 19, 2002, 7:02pm

I'd be very surprised if you had those kind of numbers in front of you.
You're overblowing the situation, although what you said about management
not doing their jobs is what I am concerned about.

SW Chris

[View Quote]

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