Words of Goodbye and Condolences to Rita Mariner

 

 As word of Rita Mariner's passing spread last Sunday and Monday, well wishes came around. There were numerous short comments from many, but some stood out. Among the usually quiet Sunbeamers, Logi WIldSpirit Arizona (logan Weder), "Rest in Paradise, Dear Rita, you are at peace now." Rififi Resident, "... I've wandering alone in Rita's huge mansion ... listening to the echoes. The echoes now sound even more hollow."

Zidders Roofurry (Zidaya Zenovka) would say, "I just wanted to offer my condolences to all. While it's been a long time since I last spoke to Rita when I first came to SL she was kind, warm, and welcoming in her own way. I appreciated it a lot as well as all the friendships that came about as a result of her welcoming me into her community. I'm so grateful for all the kindness she and other weavers have always shown me. I know she loved all of you a lot, and you all loved her. Again...please accept my deepest of sympathies.

"The Sunweavers were some of my first friends here in sl. I found SL at a pretty rough time in my life. Rita helped save my life. I'll always be grateful for that."

 

Comments came not just from the Sunweaver group, but also from the Relay for Life. Among those that stood out, Sandie (Sandie Loxingly), "So sorry for your loss, Cynthia and all of the Sunbeamers." ϿϮ Kαrmα ϮϾ (mariposa4242 Resident), "My heart goes out to the Sunbeamers."

 

MamaP (MamaP Beerbaum) would say, "Oh my God, my heart breaks.  Rest in peace dear Rita.  I can not imagine Relay without her. We continue to fight for her!" Vickie (Vickie Maidstone), "This is so sad, one of the sweetest Relayers I ever met."

 

Vicki Wildrose (Victab Resident), "I just saw the notice Sunbeamers, so sorry to hear of Rita's passing. " [Bill Wheelwright, "Sad. we will continue to relay until there is a cure." Kitty (Prettykitty Gumbo), "It makes me want to Relay more!! We will miss our dear Rita!! ... My heart goes out to you all!" 

 

Alison Flow, of Roos With a Dream that took part in many events with the Sunbeamers, would say, "So sorry to hear of Rita's passing. She was a wonderful friend of the Roos and a staunch supporter of RFL. Hugs to all who loved her and most of all to the Sunbeamers.♥️"

 

Selene Jashan, "I so hate to hear this.   You all are in my thoughts and prayers.   Please let me know if there is anything I can do .. Rita will be very much missed as she was an extremely big part of our Community." Duchess Trikassi , "Deepest condolences to Rita's family and the Sunbeamers.  Rita was a very big part of the RFL community...she will be missed dearly." Wateru Kohime, "She will definitely be missed. Sending hugs to all the Sunbeamers."

 

On Discord, Lia (WarbloodCityCancerKickers) would say, " It is with heavy hearts that we, the Warblood City Cancer Kickers, extend our deepest condolences on the passing of Captain Rita Mariner. Rita was a true force within the American Cancer Society in Second Life community, touching countless lives through her kindness, dedication, and unwavering spirit. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. Rest in Power, Rita."

 

This was not all that was spoken. There were numerous smaller comments, and others who felt they had no words to express their sadness
 

Bixyl Shuftan 

More on Mal Burns' Passing

It's been a couple days since word began going around about Mal Burns, who has been writing and doing videos about Second Life and other virtual worlds, suddenly passing away. The cause of death is not yet widely known, though the first few people who found out kept quiet about it for a short time until his family in England were contacted. 

 

It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing the news that our dearest Mal Burns has passed away this week.

 

He has been a cherished friend, trusted colleague, and a vibrant voice in our virtual and real life community for over 20 years.

 

We met through a shared passion for virtual worlds, and that connection blossomed into decades of collaboration, camaraderie, and friendship. 

 

Mal was an avid reporter, an insightful storyteller, and a tireless advocate for truth in all its digital forms. His work helped shape how many experienced and understood online spaces — always with integrity, always with flair.

 

For two decades, we shared laughter, many conversations, and a passion for exploring both the fun and serious sides of life — especially in the evolving landscapes of virtual worlds. He was more than just a show host or fellow journalist; he was a pioneer, a storyteller, and a sharp observer of the digital age.

He had that rare gift — the ability to make you laugh with his wonderful humour even when the subject was complex or challenging. 

 

He brought so many people together, sparked meaningful dialogue, and gave voice to stories that might have otherwise gone unheard. His dedication to journalism and his unrelenting curiosity helped shape the way many of us see and understand virtual communities.

 

His absence leaves a space that words can hardly fill. But the legacy he leaves behind — in friendships, in stories, and in the memories we carry — will continue to inspire.

 

Rest well, my wonderful Grumpy Old Avatar, my Metaverse TV colleague, My Metameets buddy and my dear funny friend. Thank you for the years, the wisdom, the laughter, and the journey.

 

There were numerous comments on Facebook and some in Discord expressing sadness at his passing, some in a new Facebook group "Friends of Mal."

 

"I am broken hearted with the loss of such a wonderful and charming man. He was so much fun to work with, funny and patient. I very much enjoyed working with him and talking with him and joining him on Inworld Review. My condolences to his family and close friends may God grant you peace and comfort in this time of loss and sadness. Blessings and much love to all." 

 

"Incredibly sad to hear you have passed away. I hope you are at peace . We never know what to say truly in times like this but rest well. Condolences to those that knew you so much more." 

 

"I am devastated. I loved and respected Mal, and I will miss his friendship and spending time with him, as we all will. ... I am honored to have photographed him and had the opportunity to know him. It's a lot, and there are many more, as I enjoyed taking photos of him. I couldn't narrow it down any further, so here they are. Rest in Peace, Dear Friend. Until we meet again." 

 

"I just learned of Mal’s passing and it truly feels like the light in SL has gotten a little bit dimmer. He was a constant source of inspiration during the many years I was part of large events. He was a thoughtful and encouraging man who was a shining force all his own. Rest well, Sir, you have earned it."

 

"I am sorry, Mal Burns passed away. A voice unmistakable among all, a considerable and inexhaustible flow of words. A burst of laughter, frank and infectious. An endearing personality, mixing curiosity, humor and sharing. The OpenSim community will miss him so much; he put so much energy and investment into it; it's a great loss for all of us. My condolences to all his loved ones, as well as to the HIE team." 

 

"This breaks my heart, he was such a wonderful and charming personality, intelligent and funny and always interested in what people are doing to make Opensim an enjoyable and educational place to be. He will be greatly missed and forever loved. My sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones."

 

"I will miss his infectious wit and candor. A long standing fixture in the opensim and a few other communities, he was always a gentleman and diplomat. Mal's voice and presence set a good example of how we could engage and inspire each other, to create freely and try our best, to be collaborative, and share openly. Of course he will be fondly remembered and sorely missed. Safe paths, my friend." 

 

"Here in Craft-World we are deeply saddened to hear of the unexpected passing of Mal Burns, a cherished figure for all the OpenSimulator community and the voice behind the long-running YouTube talk show Inworld Review.Mal was a passionate advocate for the open metaverse. Through Inworld Review, he brought together voices from across OpenSim - creators, developers, dreamers - giving space to dialogue, inspiration, and that friendship spirit that makes OpenSim a special place. His commitment to documenting and discussing the evolution of virtual worlds made him a cornerstone of our shared digital culture....His presence, insight, and dedication will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all who knew him and collaborated with him. The entire Craft-World team, and the broader OpenSim community, mourn his loss. Farewell, Mal. Thank you for everything you gave us. The metaverse is quieter without you."

 

Mal had been the main host of the Youtube broadcast "Inworld Review." July 13 would be the first show without him, and the people did it in his honor.

 

Rest in Peace

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

News And Commentary: Questions Raised About Horizon Following Zuckerburg's Comments, Announcement of Creator Fees

 

It's no secret that many Second Life users roll their eyes at Linden Lab a lot. But can anyone else do a better job at developing a virtual world. The biggest company gicing it a try is Facebook/Meta, with it's Horizons. This virtual world has already been ridiculed for having avatars with nothing below the waist. But certain comments by the company founder plus how much of a cut it plans to take from content creators is making it look worse.

Read more in Other Grinds, MMOs, and Games.

News and Commentary: Mixed Reaction to Buyout of Linden Lab

Well, that was a surprise.

Occasionally, there's a rumor that Linden Lab is talking to someone behind the scenes in negotiations to sell Second Life or be bought out. This was especially the case in 2010 in the months following the layoffs of a third of the staff. But while the Lab has made deals with other companies, the last time having sold Sansar to Wookey, there have been no negotiations about either the ownership of itself or Second Life (at least officially). That is until yesterday when in a Press Release, Linden Lab announced it had been "Acquired" by a group of investors.

It didn't take long for news to spread, and there's been no shortage of comments, such as the thread in the official forums. There's no shortage of predictions of doom, "Second Life is dead." "We're so screwed." "Damn I cannot believe it, after 13 years its time to say good bye, I guess, that sucks. I mean you put 13 years of your life into something and wham its gone just like that."

And there's more than a little pessimism, "But after being let down by Blizzard, Bioware and Bethesda, I'm usually not rooting for any company to get investors on board nowadays." "This is worrying indeed, I've always been more in favor of a company remaining independent from outside influences, and this is basically... the opposite." "Investment groups are typically parasites that contribute very little while sucking companies dry."

Some others were more optimistic, such as those pointing out Linden Lab founder Philip Rosedale quoted as saying, "I’ve known Brad for 14 years personally and professionally, and I’m confident he will bring his passion and proven strategies to help Linden Lab achieve new heights in distribution, scale, and quality while remaining true to the original vision, creativity, and community that makes Second Life unique and special.” And then there was the track record of Oberwager, "My ... thought was that this fellow buying the outfit seems to have more business success (with this sort of better Task Rabbit thing called Jyve) and more experience than the past lab technicians, and that's a good thing."

And there were those suggesting it was too soon to make conclusions, "I need to wait and see what Ebbe has to say from his side on this to us the users of SL before I get overly excited." "I've worked for several companies that got taken over by investment companies.  What happens next falls into two categories ... Things run smoothly for a year or so, then the investment company starts asset stripping piece by piece. ... The investment company...invests.  They take a loss on the initial purchase, a loss on the initial investment but have a road plan to regain that investment back in 2 to 5 years. ... THIS is the kind of investment company we can hope has taken over Linden Research, the type of company who are in it for the long haul. We will find out (probably by the beginning of next year) if the investment company who took over is path 1, or path 2." "After careful consideration, I have decided not to freak out just yet."  "Hope for the best. Plan for the worst. Expect nothing.That's it. Speculation is lovely and all but being panicked will not help whatsoever."

And of course there was humor, "I guess that guy that's been perving us all and IMing with only 'hi' all these years finally got the money to buy the thing."

It was also suggested that the negotiations for the buyout were the reason that there were no big revelations in the Meet the Lindens event at the Second Life Birthday this year.

Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden would try to answer these concerns from residents on Twitter, saying Linden Lab was free to make it's own decisions, "No plan for drainage here. Great to remain independent. Everyone motivated to build and grow."

Brett Linden would finally step in the thread with his comments, "A few folks are speculating that this is the end of SL and nothing could be further than the truth. Any talk of dismantling or radically changing the fundamentals of SL that we know and love is inaccurate. While we can't get into specific details about the deal itself, I want to emphasize the fact that this keeps Linden Lab as an independent venture led by two investors who have a great deal of awareness about what SL is and isn't. They are excited to join and help us grow both SL and Tilia while also respecting and recognizing the needs and sensitivities of the existing culture and community. " When asked when more information was forthcoming, he answered, "We look forward to being able to share more as soon as we can and I know that Brad (Oberwager) is eager to meet the community as we get closer to the closing/approval date." Bret would go on to say that Oberwager would get an avatar and come inworld, for the Lab Gab show and meeting people elsewhere inworld. A couple Lindens, including Grumpity, would poke fun at the doom and gloom by wearing signs proclaiming "The end of the world is coming!"

My own opinion? In short, I tend to agree with those whom argue "wait and see." After being part of this virtual world for over thirteen years, I've seen my share of people of people predicting the end whenever something big happens. But I do see signs of optimism. That Oberwager is planning to come inworld to discuss things is a good sign. So are the Lindens with their "End of the world" joke signs. If they weren't optimistic, I doubt they'd be kidding around. Of the two people, one a member of Mensa, the other whom has an interesting success story with Jyve, it's obvious they're smart businessmen. That one plans to come inworld shows at least he wants to talk to his new customers.

On the other hand, there are enough acquisitions that went badly, or had mixed results. So those with dim outlooks don't have to look too deeply for evidence to support their conclusions.

So why did Waterfield and Oberwager's group of investors buy out Linden Lab when the company couldn't find a buyer in 2010, assuming the rumors were true? Well, Second Life's glory days were from 2006 to 2008. By 2010, it was clear the place wouldn't be drawing as many people as it once did for quite some time to come. Today, the world is under a global pandemic that has send many places into lockdowns and quarantines, and even in places that aren't people are discouraged from meeting up or going to crowded areas. The result is people are spending more time online, and more are coming here. Our future, at least for the near term, is looking brighter. And this is what financial investors are looking for.

In a sense, this sale marks Linden Lab finally becoming a success story in the eyes of the tech world. It's been commented on that one of the reasons Second Life wasn't considered one was it was never bought up by a larger company. And now, Linden Lab has been bought out under what look like generous terms. Not that Second Life's residents/customers cared much about what those people thought.

In any event, Linden Lab, and Second Life, are entering a new era. How it turns out, we'll need to wait several months at least, maybe over a year, before we can really say it was for the better or worse.

Image Credit: Whirly Fizzle

Source: Techcrunch

Bixyl Shuftan

Islandz Discord Server Taken Down, Questions and Comments Continue

Sometime yesterday on Monday January 28, the Discord channel for Islandz was shut down. On Saturday, Elenia Llewellyn (Beth Reischl) announced that the virtual world, which was set up in November as the replacement grid for Inworldz, was closing down due to her running out of money. While there are articles about Elenia's announcement, such as the Newser's, the announcement itself and the following comments are gone.

The Inworldz Disporia Discord group ( https://discord.gg/aTDyn9U ) that was set up before the closing of the virtual world in July 2018, remains up. And numerous comments have been coming in. Many are angry and upset, such as content creators who never game permission for the goods they designed not to be used outside InWorldz who were unhappy to hear about Elenia deciding she would send back the items residents saved in OARs without going through them to see which content had the okay to use elsewhere and which didn't. But their options are limited as a lawsuit would require hiring a lawyer, and Elenia has stated she's broke and has no cash to give as compensation.

The impending closure of Islandz has brought back the sad memories of former residents of InWorldz when that grid closed in July 2018, as well as reviving discussion of why it closed. Elenia had stated that she had taken out a loan to keep the grid running, though claimed something went wrong in repaying the lender despite having the funds to do so. No one else on the team at the time seems to have been told this decision. Exactly how this came to be is only speculation, though one can guess the departure of certain members of the team that helped Elenia keep it running over the years, things went downhill. With the confusion and questions surrounding the closure, and doubts following it, only a fraction of InWorldz's users chose to move to the new grid to make their virtual home. Some people who kept the faith in the owner did move in, and Jim Tarber did join in to help out despite his earlier talk of staying out. But it wasn't enough. Instead of a new beginning, it was a sad last chapter.

Hypergrid Business, as well as Ryan Schultz and Daniel Voyager have also written about the closure of Islandz. Some people have also left comments. While Elenia may have left virtual worlds, it's fair to say the discussion of what she left behind will be talked about for a little longer.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL10B Statistics and Comments

Daniel Voyager had some statistics about the SL10B published on his blog. While there have been no numbers for the number of visitors (for SLB6 more than 17,000 residents dropped in at some point while it was open), it does say over 640 were present at the moment of the grand opening. For the 22 sims, there were 375 exhibits and five stages, with 470 applications submitted by performers and among the staff, 115 alone were registered as greeters.

Click Here for the whole list, along with a link to statistics of previous SL birthday celebrations.

The Second Life Wiki has a "History of Second Life" page. It's from Linden Lab, so there's no mention of the adult content protests and the 30% layoffs. Click Here.

Of Second Life's future, Daniel expressed optimism, "I think we will see more new technology introduced from Linden Lab in the coming years making Second Life more realistic, faster and better improved."

Hamlet Au of New World Notes also had a few comments about Second Life, a few which made it to a SF Post article, and more in depth on an article in gigaom.com. Hamlet felt the biggest mistake Linden Lab made with the virtual world was "it ignored what the overwhelming majority of residents were actually doing." While it was pushing things like an "Enterprise" version for businesses to hold meetings, it paid little attention to the roleplaying and other gaming, fashion and shopping, adult activities, and other things which were drawing residents. It might have a second chance to get the larger public's attention as technologies like Oculus Rift make it much easier to use. Another thing that got Hamlet's attention, people with physical and mental disabilities were using Second Life to interact with others in ways that would be difficult to impossible without it.

What do you the readers think? What has Second Life done right, and wrong, in it's ten years, and how do you see it's future? Will there be an SL20B?

Bixyl Shuftan

Sources: Daniel Voyager, Hamlet Au