"The Guild Is Closing," Gacha Guild Events Coming to An End

 

 

 Fans of the Gacha Guild, officially known as The Guild, got some sad news. Yesterday, Thursday December 15, it was announced by administrator Nama Gearz that there would be no more Guild events. 

With the heaviest heart, I'm announcing the retirement of The Guild. I've taken much time over the past year or so considering the changes in my life and the lives of the rest of the Admin team, and I feel like this past Halloween round of The Guild should be the last.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to all Guild Staff for being absolutely wonderful support and assurance over the years. The events would not have been nearly as magical, nor would it have functioned at all without you wonderful few, so thank you all for sticking with me through each round.

I'd also like to express my thanks and admiration to all the designers and bloggers that have graced the event with their wonderful creations. You all made the event truly special and unique! When (the) Guild started up, the purpose was to create an event to elevate those that had trouble getting exposure and to encourage creators to improve in their craft. I have seen so many of you grow and it makes me so proud to see so many of you absolutely flourishing.

Lastly, I'd like to thank each and every person that came to (the) Guild each year. Your constant support and love for the events are what kept me going and wanting to continue to create. Hearing your stories of exploring the events and seeing it first-hand has always warmed my heart and was my main drive to keep creating them for everyone to enjoy!

That being said, I personally have not lost my drive to create on Second Life. Far from it! But I do wish to pursue different avenues which will only be possible if I do not have the responsibility of hosting/building an event like this, as they each take an immense amount of time, patience, and planning to set up. I truly love building these events and will miss creating these spaces. But everything comes to an end and it's time now for me to change gears and focus on other things in SL and real life as well.

Thank you  for going on this journey with me, and I'll see you around in Second Life.

The Gacha Guild has been going on since at least 2017 when it started having events each October, and in 2019 began having them each spring as well. There would be numerous small stores and/or kiosks around. Occasionally there was a "must have" avatar that sold very well, such as the Chibi Noodle Dragon from the Spring 2019 event. Besides the items, the scenery in itself could be an attraction. At the middle of the month, the "Halftime Hunt" would start, opening new areas and allow players to play a game in which one could get prizes.

About a year and a half ago, Linden Lab announced they would be banning gacha-type machines from Second Life. Despite this great change, it was decided that the event would go on and the event renamed to "The Guild." It is unknown how the change affected sales. 

And so, a yearly event that some looked forward to, in the past to get bargains for items, is now passing into Second Life history.

 

To check The Guild's blog, click here.  To check out it's Flickr page, where the closing announcement is, click here.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

The Gacha Ban From Two Owners' Points of View

 

After the end of the month, the gacha ban ordered by Linden Lab will take effect. The end of an era of Second Life shopping, the ban is being cheered by some, and cursed by others. But how will this affect the owners? The Newser reached out for answers, and two people who make money through gacha machines responded on how the ban will affect them.

Read more in Design.
 

Arcade Gacha, Gacha Guild, To Continue Despite Gacha Ban

 
Linden Lab's announcement on Monday that they would be banning gacha machines from Second Life at the start of next month had people asking what would happen to the various merchants and events that depend on these sales for their business. Of the events, two of the largest are the Arcade Gacha and the Gacha Guild. So no doubt a number were wondering what would happen to them. Would they fold, or try to change and stay?

According to announcements from them, both plan to continue.

On Facebook, Arcade Gacha would post that while their next event would be called off due to lack of time to prepare, their plans were "to re-imagine the event and return strong."

Just like you, we've been rocked by Linden Lab's recent decision to ban gacha. For the past 9 years, gacha's been the backbone of Arcade's events, and we're truly sad to see it go. Due to LL's change and short notice to comply, we've decided to cancel September's upcoming round. This pause provides our team the much-needed time to re-imagine the event and return strong. We'll be in touch soon and look forward to seeing you when The (ALL NEW) Arcade re-opens!

The Gacha Guild had both announcements that they would be continuing, by their director Nams (Nama Gearz) with an announcement in the inworld group.

Gachas may be going away but we are not! Though a lot of changes will have to be made in the coming days and we are prepared to do what it takes to keep the event rolling. .Gacha Guild. will now be called simply .The Guild. going forward as well.

That's our tldr, but the full letter to everyone goes more in depth with how we're going to proceed. Please have a look and we'll see you in October!  

"The letter" was an open letter on the Gacha Guild website. It stated for October, it would just sell items the ordinary way "it’ll just be straightforward, regular sales" rather than include any new systems designed to get around the gacha ban. "It’s likely such systems are already being developed by many SL residents as we speak. Time will tell if those systems will be 100% approved by Linden Labs, and until then, they will not be allowed for use in the event."

"The amazing work designers make will not be diminished because they’re not in gacha form and will be every bit as spectacular as they always have been."

So for the two largest gacha events in Second Life, the ban does not mean the end, but change.

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager, Matoazma Kazyanenko

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Interview with Nams of Static and the Gacha Guild

The Gacha Guild event is over. But the people behind it are back to work with other things they've been doing, and there's the next one this fall. Before it started, Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich) had a chance to interview one of the people behind it: Nams (Nama Gearz). While the interview wasn't finished until after the event, there's still plenty of new information.

Read Cyfir's interview in Design.