1  |   Order by index

May 11, 2002, 12:22pm

Everyone below has been discussing how the release of 3.3 will affect AW's
user base, how many people will be willing to pay, and similar topics. I
would like to venture the suggestion that the largest reason for the severe
lack of community involvement recently hasn't been because of the price
increases, the elimination of tourists, or one of AW's recent mergers. The
real reason that nobody seems to care anymore is that Roland no longer holds
TechTalks.

When they were still being held, TechTalks provided a way for normal people
who use Activeworlds to communicate with AW staff, though way of Roland.
Granted, he didn't always have the best information to give everyone, but
TechTalks were THE way that citizens could communicate to AW staff at least
in a basic form. If you look back at posts from 2001 and 2000, you'll
realize how many were prompted by TechTalk topics or by Roland's "hinting"
at something or another.

Now, there are zero events that allow people to discuss aspects of the AW
browser and environment with a staff member. Furthermore, there are very
few events held by AW staff in the first place. Sure, there's bingo, but
generally the bots are just left to run and people play for prizes. Don't
say that normal citizens should organize their own events, because that's
not what I'm talking about. AW needs to have company representatives out in
the community in a visible fashion interacting with people, finding out
what's right and wrong, and creating an enjoyable environment for everyone.

AW's downfall will most likely not be due to price fluctuations,
technological obsolescence, or a poor investment, because it has survived
these problems for the past seven years. AW will fail when its citizens
don't care enough to renew their subscriptions because the sense of
community that defined AW is now gone. People will pay any price, as long
as there is a reason to do so, but right now, Activeworlds is doing an
extremely poor job of maintaining community interest. Unless action is
taken soon, there will be no reason for most citizens (myself included) to
stick around.

Reinstating weekly TechTalks, while not a complete solution, would be an
excellent starting point in reviving community interest.

May 11, 2002, 1:01pm

I vehemently agree that AWC needs to have a better presence in the
community, but I honestly can't see that happening any time soon. Rick
and JP are *afraid* to use their own program, for fear of being
lambasted and ridiculed as soon as they set foot inside GZ (and I can't
say I blame them). Lucrezia's gone, and Mountain Myst's only function
seems to be the newsletter.

As for TechTalks, don't look for those to start up any time soon either.
Roland's leaving after 3.3 is finished, and his replacement, 9 9 9, will
most likely be so busy, being short one very excellent programmer, that
he won't have any time to mingle with the commoners.

[View Quote] > Everyone below has been discussing how the release of 3.3 will affect AW's
> user base, how many people will be willing to pay, and similar topics. I
> would like to venture the suggestion that the largest reason for the severe
> lack of community involvement recently hasn't been because of the price
> increases, the elimination of tourists, or one of AW's recent mergers. The
> real reason that nobody seems to care anymore is that Roland no longer holds
> TechTalks.
>
> When they were still being held, TechTalks provided a way for normal people
> who use Activeworlds to communicate with AW staff, though way of Roland.
> Granted, he didn't always have the best information to give everyone, but
> TechTalks were THE way that citizens could communicate to AW staff at least
> in a basic form. If you look back at posts from 2001 and 2000, you'll
> realize how many were prompted by TechTalk topics or by Roland's "hinting"
> at something or another.
>
> Now, there are zero events that allow people to discuss aspects of the AW
> browser and environment with a staff member. Furthermore, there are very
> few events held by AW staff in the first place. Sure, there's bingo, but
> generally the bots are just left to run and people play for prizes. Don't
> say that normal citizens should organize their own events, because that's
> not what I'm talking about. AW needs to have company representatives out in
> the community in a visible fashion interacting with people, finding out
> what's right and wrong, and creating an enjoyable environment for everyone.
>
> AW's downfall will most likely not be due to price fluctuations,
> technological obsolescence, or a poor investment, because it has survived
> these problems for the past seven years. AW will fail when its citizens
> don't care enough to renew their subscriptions because the sense of
> community that defined AW is now gone. People will pay any price, as long
> as there is a reason to do so, but right now, Activeworlds is doing an
> extremely poor job of maintaining community interest. Unless action is
> taken soon, there will be no reason for most citizens (myself included) to
> stick around.
>
> Reinstating weekly TechTalks, while not a complete solution, would be an
> excellent starting point in reviving community interest.
>
>
>


--
Goober King
T'will be a sad, sad day when 3.3 arrives...
rar1 at acsu.buffalo.edu

May 11, 2002, 1:33pm

Brant i highly agree with your letter. I think AW is trying to be a company
that looks totally professional and sort of isolated from it's community
side. Although most companies do that, and this is normal. AW is not like
anything else on the internet. It can't be isolated via either side. It
needs full involvement, and if they do wish to go for isolation, this is not
the time to do it, you must be fully established and stable before you pull
something like that. I myself hope that something is done about it. Brant i
totally agree with you that there needs to be more involvement and techtalks
is a good start

--
Brock - Admin at iceflare.net
Citizen 308723

May 11, 2002, 2:23pm

Roland is leaving after 3.3? Is this a fact or rumour? Can you tell us
anything about "9 9 9"?

If this is true, I'll add another tickmark in the list of negative signs
related to Activeworlds.

NoMad 1

[View Quote]

May 11, 2002, 2:43pm

"9 9 9" is also registered as MrGrimm.

-Agent1

[View Quote]

May 11, 2002, 3:21pm

I belive it is true. I have been told by two seperate and reliable sources
today that he is leaving after 3.3. It isn't such a bad thing, 9 9 9 aka.
Grimm has been working with Roland for years and will make a great
replacement. Smile. :)

[View Quote]

May 11, 2002, 5:54pm

Well if Roland is leaving aw, I think we, no matter what his reasons behind
it should wish him ever success in whatever venture/area he is wishing to go
into.

AW will be a smaller place without his answers to telegrams and questions
when we had need of a good response.


Best of luck Roland, sorry to see you leave and ever success in wherever and
wahtever to go into.


Wiz




[View Quote]

May 11, 2002, 7:16pm

Well, while others are saying that 999's replacing Roland is a bad thing, I
like to think of it as the start of a new era. I disagree with Goober in
that while he says that Roland's leaving will kill the TechTalk idea once
and for all, 999's start is the perfect time to revive the event or start
something entirely new.

Let's think positive, people! Maybe someone should suggest to 9 9 9 that he
hold a talk like Roland did now so that he could have the idea in his mind
for later? Just a suggestion....

[View Quote]

May 17, 2002, 2:26am

Hi everyone:

[View Quote] I'm beginning to wonder what the REAL purpose is for the bingo worlds.
Aren't you???

> AW needs to have company representatives out in
> the community in a visible fashion interacting with people, finding out
> what's right and wrong, and creating an enjoyable environment for
everyone.

Agreed. They need a Director of Community whose job it is to be a liason
between the company and the community. This person could also be in charge
of the Newsletter too. This person would also need to hang out in the key
AW worlds (e.g. AlphaWorld, AWGate etc.) and basically have a passion for
ActiveWorlds.

They would also need to post (at least ONCE IN A WHILE) in the newsgroups OR
move everything over to a web-based builletin board.

Live365 has such a person now. And her predecessor did many of the same
things. As a result, it's a pleasure to interact with the Live365 Staff
because, even though they're out there acquiring companies and other assets
like any other big corporation, there's a REAL sense of COMMUNITY on
Live365. In fact, ActiveWorlds should be taking lessons from these guys
IMO!!!

> AW's downfall will most likely not be due to price fluctuations,
> technological obsolescence, or a poor investment, because it has survived
> these problems for the past seven years. AW will fail when its citizens
> don't care enough to renew their subscriptions because the sense of
> community that defined AW is now gone. People will pay any price, as long
> as there is a reason to do so, but right now, Activeworlds is doing an
> extremely poor job of maintaining community interest. Unless action is
> taken soon, there will be no reason for most citizens (myself included) to
> stick around.

AMEN....

> Reinstating weekly TechTalks, while not a complete solution, would be an
> excellent starting point in reviving community interest.

'Nuff said...Cheers for now everyone :-)

Patrick Cook
Mayor - City of Hamsterville
pchamster at msn.com
Denver, Colorado

1  |   Order by index