News and Commentary: Logins Slightly Down, Sim Numbers Slightly Up Over 2022

 

 During the Coronaviris/Covid-19 Pandemic, the number of people using Second Life rose. Linden Lab stated in April 2020 that signups had gone up sixty percent since it started. In June 2020, CEO Ebbe Altberg stated the number of active users, those who were logging in at least once a month, had gone up to 900,000, a one-eighth of an increase over the previous year. 

Since then, the Lab has been quiet on just how many are coming in and staying in. There has been some speculation that with the Pandemic over, people have been leaving once more. In an article by Daniel Voyager, he stated that the daily peak has gone down slightly, from 55,000 about a year ago to about 48 to 53,000 this month. Checking the Second Life Grid Survey, this was the case. 

So it seems some people are leaving, though it appears to be a smaller number than those who joined during the Pandemic. Some who came back are sticking around, at least for now.

Of the number of sims, things looked more encouraging according to Daniel. With the growth of Belisseria, it should be no surprise to most that the total number of sims has continued to go up. He reported the total number at 27,659. This is an increase of over 2000 from two years ago. What will surprise some is that the majority of these, at least from two years ago, were private sims, from 17,024 to 18,370. But it should be noted almost all this increase was in 2021. The number of private sims didn't change much in just 2022, an overall increase of thirty-eight. But the number of Linden-owned sims grew at almost the same number, 378 more in 2021 and 380 more in 2022. 

 

So the number of private sims is still growing, but it appears economic troubles such as inflation causing the prices of everything from food and energy to rise and cut back on the amount of cash available for entertainment is resulting in fewer people getting new ones. 

So what do things have in store over the course of 2023? Difficult to say. If inflation drops and the global economy avoids a recession, we may see a few more people logging in and more people getting private sims. But if we end up with 1979-1980 style "stagflation," the news over the next several months may have some sim closings.

Source: Daniel Voyager's Blog

Bixyl Shuftan

2021: Year in Review

 
2021 was a year with triumphs and tragedies, successes and pitfalls. As we move on to a new year, we'll take a brief look at what happened over the course of the old one.

Among the biggest changes were that of the staff at Linden Lab, notably the death of CEO Ebbe Altberg. He had been seen and heard from less for some months, but no one outside the Lab knew what was wrong until the announcement of his passing in June. Despite his dying, the company continued to run smoothly without him, with Patch Linden appearing at events he otherwise would, answering questions and concerns. For some reason, Linden Lab never did choose another CEO. It did announce that Brad Oberwager/Oberwolf Linden, one of the leaders of the investment team that bought Linden Lab the year before, was Executive Chairman. While it seems Patch leads the Lab in making everyday decisions with occasional input from the investment team, it remains unknown just how often the investors make directives.

There would be other changes at the Lab. Oz Linden, the VP of Engineering, would announce his retirement. Linden Lab was so impressed with his record, they commissioned an artist to make a real-life bronze statuette for him as a parting gift. Also retiring was the Operations Manager April Linden, noted for her furry purple bunny avatar and friendly manager. Both had worked on the move of Linden Lab to Cloud Servers, which was finished early in the year. Of the new Lindens hired this year, among them was Mojo Linden (Andrew Kertesz) the new VP of Engineering and Oz's replacement.

Sadly, Second Life would say goodbye to a number of residents last year. Robin Sojourner (Robin Wood) had connections to both the Ivory Tower and Bay City. Avi Arrow was the director of the Ivory Tower of Prims. Delightful Doowangle (Barbara Truman RL) was in the VWBPE and a winner of the Thinkerer Award. Dahlea Milena was one of the volunteers at Veterans Isle. Jessicabelle Dayafter was a memorable pilot of a combat RP and aircraft designer. Alleara Snoodle was a noted member of the Chilbo and Sunweaver communities, and a brilliant content creator and coder whom made many things, often behind the scenes so much of her record of accomplishment is hidden.

The year would see further growth of Bellisseria. With the addition of the Chalet Linden Home areas, the continent was now connected to the continent of Satori, and enabling residents to fly or walk between most of the mainland sims without teleporting (a feat the Lindens celebrated with a funny video). With the addition of the Fantasy homes, there would be a subcontinent at Bellisseria's south.

June would see the arrival of a new new user experience, the first one in several years. There was work on the ability to take 360 panoramic view pictures. While the Lab had been working on an app for users to access Second Life accounts on handheld devices away from their computers, although Apple expressed their approval in the middle of the year, later on the Lab would pause development.

Linden Lab would continue to engage in more partnerships as in 2020, such as with the NFL Alumni Association for an inworld stadium, and with the Zenescope comics producers for a sim. Another with Levitate Media would result in a Second Life commercial being made. Although winning awards, it is not known to have been widely used outside Linden Lab and Second Life media, though it has won awards. One partnership with residents was the Second Life Endowment of the Arts, the "Spiritual successor" to the Linden Endowment for the Arts which collapsed months earlier.. Their sims filled with art exhibits were opened in January.

Glitches would be a problem as always. There would be some occasions a number of residents couldn't get on for a little while. But in August was an outage that forced "Unscheduled Maintenance" for many hours. Longer lasting was the glitch of the Second Life map that rendered newer sims invisible in winter and much of spring. Older ones which had been modified, the changes that would have appeared on the map didn't. A couple residents would make maps of their own in early April as a stopgap solution while the Lindens worked on the problem. Finally in  April, the Second Life Map glitch was mostly fixed. The newer sims could be seen on it again, but there would continue to be problems for a while with some land turning invisible as people zoomed in and out.

The year would also see controversy. In August, Linden Lab announced that next month the use of gacha machines would no longer be permitted. The Lab claimed the move was due to "Due to a changing regulatory climate." But there was no evidence presented of any country asking Linden Lab to take action against gachas. Residents were split with some on both sides being quite vocal with their views. Critics called them a form of gambling, or too much like the lootboxes in some games. Supporters stated the charges were false and the ban would hurt some content creators. Despite the ban, some larger gacha events would continue, the people selling their wares without the machines. The ban did not apply to gacha items already sold from the machines, and selling and trading of them would continue. Another issue that raised much less controversy but still raised some eyebrows was the "NFT Sweepstakes" by the Lab and Zenescope which were in a partnership.  The winners would have to disclose some real-life information, which was a surprise to a few as the Lab has in the past taken pride in it's policy to protect the privacy of it's residents.

Outside Second Life, Facebook announced it was changing it's name to "Meta," short for Metaverse, as it would soon e expanding into virtual worlds. Irronically enough, the announcement got Second Life more attention as people looking up "Metaverse" and virtual worlds online ended up finding stories about Second Life. In it's first year withour Linden Lab, Sansar seemed to be doing okay. By by late December, it was a world with severe problems. Activision/Blizzard, the people behind "World of Warcraft" were beset by a series of sexual harassment lawsuits.

For the Newser, it was a busy year with much to report on. And we look forward to bringing you the news of Second Life over the course of the next.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor/Head Writer
Second Life Newser
 

Announcement: "Boomday" Burn2 New Years Eve Event

 *

The last event of the year will be our New Year's Eve BOOMDay 2021. 

Come and BURN the year away! There will also be a COVID germ burn. We're gonna obliterate that Omicron variant, and if you come, YOU will participate in getting that started! Fire syringes for one and all! What's more, there will be skydiving, drunk hockey, Thunderdome, drive-by shooting gallery, ice skating, aaaaaaaannnnnd fireworks!

Effigy Burn times on 31 December: 3:00pm, 9:00pm and midnight SLT (ringing in the new year!).

*All the details are here https://www.burn2.org/

How to Come to BURN2** https://www.burn2.org/who-is-burn2/come-to-burn2/
Questions? IM any staff member inworld or email info@burn2.org.

**CALENDAR**- https://www.burn2.org/event-calendar/
 

Man of The Year: Patch Linden

 

For quite some time, Linden Lab's Senior Director of Product has been quite visible, meeting with residents at various events, explaining what was going on with Linden Lab and Second Life, and answering questions the residents had. When CEO Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden began appearing less, inworld and making statements, Patch more or less stood in for him.

After Ebbe Linden passed away, Linden Lab never did make anyone else CEO. Instead Patch helped fill in the role, notably the public part, with some of the decision making presumably taken up by Linden Lab's new owners, the Waterfield Network (just how much is known only behind the scenes), with Brad Oberwager/Oberwolf Linden standing out more than the others as Executive Chairman. Patch himself would join other Lindens in some Relay for Life fundraising, notably one event that was a twist on the "jail and bail" theme in which he spent time in the belly of a giant teddy bear until enough money was raised. He's also been more visible than Ebbe was in the forums, and sometimes appears in the Bellisseria group chat inworld.

With Patch as it's de-facto head (at least in day to day operations), Linden Lab and Second Life have continued to do well. More houses and more themes of the popular Linden Homes have been produced. There's been progress made on a mobile viewer. The number of privately-owned sims has gone up. The Lab has engaged in more partnerships, including one that resulted in a commercial that while it's impact on attracting new residents has yet to be determined has won some awards.

Not everything has gone perfectly under Patch. The decision to ban gacha machines no doubt hurt a number of content creators. And the Zenescope contest that stated winners would have to disclose real-life information raised some eyebrows as the Lab has prided itself on guarding the privacy of it's residents.

Patch isn't quite the CEO, so maybe he shouldn't get the full blame, or credit, of things that happened that Ebbe Altberg would. Still, with him being the new face of Linden Lab to the residents, and taking some time to talk to them, the Newser declares Patch Linden it's Man of the Year.

Stay tuned for our runner up.

Image source: Flickr

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser
 

Who Should Be Second Life's Man of The Year?

 

On Monday, the noted real-life news publication Time Magazine announced their Person of the Year for 2021: Elon Musk. The "Man of The Year" as the edition was originally called is something they have done every year for almost a century since 1927, the person or group of persons the magazine feels has made the largest impact on the news for the past year. As it's not always a man, women have achieved it. On occasion, it's been awarded to a group of people. The choices have not always been without controversy. One year, it was announced "The Computer" was given the title due to the impact of computer technology. A number of times, the Man of the Year had made the news due to the death and destruction, and sometimes oppression, that he caused.

So with this in mind comes the question who had most impact on Second Life News in 2021? Who should be our Man of The Year?

The Second Life Newser has announced a "Man of the Year" every year since 2014. Over the years, we've chosen Lindens. Last year the Moles got it as a group for their work on Bellisseria. Citizens and communities have gotten it, or the "Runner Up."

So who should be our choice in 2021? The Pandemic has continued to be a problem in real life, so perhaps someone who best showed how Second Life can be useful for real life? Should it be someone who passed away from the virus? Other people passed away in the past year, notably Ebbe Linden, Second Life's last CEO. Should it be someone or a group of people who raised money for charity, such as the Relay for Life? Should it be a noted filmmaker? Should it be a noted community leader or community officer whom made a difference? Or maybe this was someone on the Internet whom had such a big impact, they had a huge impact on what happened or could happen here in Second Life?

We have a few people in mind, but we're willing to take suggestions. Who do you think should be Second Life's Man, Woman, or Persons of the Year?

Source: Time Magazine, Wikipedia

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Second Life 2021 Review - Everything About The Social Metaverse That You Need to Know"

 

From Luca the Guide on August 11, "A mini documentary styled overview of Second Life, from inside Second Life. Its cultures, people, economy, features, outlook, history, social fabric and so on . 

"'Is it worth getting into SL in 2021? 

"Second Life is an open world 3D social virtual world, the precursor of the virtual reality or VR platforms we see today. But is it really on its way out of the Metaverse game as some believe? Or does it hold the keys to realizing the Metaverse as it is envisioned by many futurists and sci-fi authors? This short film seeks to answer those questions. 

:Everything about its history, social fabric, cultures, technology, economy, virtual land system and what the Metaverse truly means is explored in this short Second Life documentary." 

Hat tip: Nydia Tungsten
 

Press Release: Burn2 Conception 2021: Emergence

 
Burn2 Conception 2021:  Emergence
Opening 5:00pm SLT, Friday, 9 July 2021
Ending Midnight SLT, Sunday, 11 July 2021
SLURL:Burning Man- Deep Hole

Conception 2021: Emergence

With this theme, the Conception event seeks to explore interpretations of emergence that are not necessarily about the usual ideas of “emerging” from or through things.about becoming greater, becoming awesome, colorful, unique. How can you interpret the physical or conceptual on or above the Playa? How can things transform, and what sorts of experiences can serve to transform us?

As always, the Ten Principles serve as our framework for how we want to live and do things together. Read Event Lead Holocluck Henly’s words in further explaining the theme, here: https://www.burn2.org/conception-2021/.

The playa has already transformed from its barren,forlorn appearance into a riot of colour, movement and life!

Conception is our third Regional event of the year. It will open with the Lamplighters doing a walk-onaroundthe Deep Hole playa at 5:00 PM SLT on the 9th of July.With their usual fiery enthusiasm they invite everyoneto tour the art installations and camps until finally arriving at the Main Stage, where we can all letloose a littlefire to properly start things off, and start theydo, with music and much dancing!

Burn With Us!
The moment you step off the walkway and onto the playa,you are no longer a mere spectator; you becomepart of the spectacle. Welcome Home!

SHARE the News and Plan to Come!
We look forward to welcoming Home Burners and thecommunity. Experience Burn2 once again. Enter theplaya through the Gate, walk-on with the Lamplighters;visit the Rangers, see the effigy that shall be burned.Wander, explore, climb, interact. Visit the stages,where DJs and musicians bring music to soothe, inspire,excite and incite to dance. You will be surroundedby art, music, fire and welcoming Burners! See the (continuously updated) BURN2 Calendar at https://www.burn2.org/event-calendar/ for the event’s schedule.
 

Emergence 2021

 *

Opening today, Conception, 2021 Emergence! It is an event of the Burning Man in Second Life. There will be so many parties 24/7 beginning after the opening 4:00 pm slt Friday and ending Sunday. There are wonderful gifts on the table before the entrance at Deep Hole. I already grabbed them. Some boxes are from previous events in case you missed them.

To get an idea of what Conception is all about see   https://www.burn2.org/conception-2021/emergence-who-what-where/ . From there you can get to the Event Calendar to see who will be playing at the stage and when!

If you like riding horses there is a horse rezzer (saddle ) in front of the Burning Man Office  before you go to the entrance. Or , once inside there is a choice of Art Cars to take you around . I did a quick overview ride on my horse Sugar to see the wonderful installations that creators have placed and they are beautiful. Be sure to take the tour pod ride to get an overview and visit the individuals after  that.  I will be on the playa as a Ranger so say hello.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/175/35/25

Gemma Cleanslate
 

The RFL Sunbeamers Camp for 2021

  

The 2021 Relay Weekend is now over. But while it lasted, there were many teams large and small taking part, with 93 having campsites. Among them was "the little team that could," the Sunbeamers. This year was the ninth the team has been Relaying, and their camp this year had a mix of seriousness and humor, the latter with a Monty Python bent.
 
Read more in Places.
 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Science Fair 2021"

  

"Science Fair 2021

Saturday June 26, 

7 AM to 10 AM

The annual Science Fair is approaching again and this year the organization is in the hands of special events coordinator Shiloh Emmons.

For this year we have chosen the underwater location at the lighthouse, the temperate coastal and marine ecosystems (New England) of Linda Kelley.

7:00 AM	Karthik Prathaban
7:20 AM	Linda Kelley
7:40 AM	Stephen Gasior
8 AM – 9 AM	Earl Kiech	Classical concert at the Light house
9:00 AM	Greg Bollella
9:20 AM	Phil Youngblood
9:40 AM	William Schmachtenberg

For more information, Click Here. 
  

Press Release: HFOT January 2021 Benefit

 

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce 2021’s kickoff benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life for January 31, 2021!  

Frets Nirvana, longtime supporter and contact for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life in conjunction with the US Military Veterans Group, announces the 2021 kickoff benefit for the Veterans Support Organization Home For Our Troops at Veteran’s Isle .  


Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT 313 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS.”

In 2020 the community in Second Life sent  $15,750 to Homes For Our Troops, thanks to many kind hearts and great Second Life performers.  23 Veterans and their families received the keys to their forever homes in 2021 and the donations received in Second Life were part of that effort.  Currently HFOT has 62 projects underway for extremely wounded veterans.

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The January 31 concert for 2021 is scheduled from 4 PM to 9 Pm PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, Zacch Cale, Suzen Jule, Rapid Randy and Johnny Bellows.

Sponsored by Frets Nirvana and the U.S. Military Veteran’s Group of Second Life.  To learn more about Homes for Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

Various Events on New Year's Eve

 

Ringing out the old year and ringing in the new has always been a reason to throw a party. But with all that's happened in 2020, more were looking forward to it this New Year's Eve than ever for a very long time. A number of places held events. Several were part of the 12 hour FCA New Year's Club Crawl. But there were others.

See the pictures in Events.

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "The COVID-19 Pandemic A Year On"

 

"The COVID-19 Pandemic A Year On"

Saturday January 9, 

10 AM to 11 AM SL time 

The last time The Science Circle presented on the COVID-19 pandemic was back at the beginning of April when we were alarmed that the number of known cases in the world had reached 1 million. By the time of this presentation, a conservative estimate of the number of cases worldwide will have reached 100 million, with no end yet in sight. One bright piece of news in recent days, however, has been the beginning of vaccinations in some countries and the unprecedented race to create more vaccines.

Over three Saturdays from 9 January through 23 January, we will revisit one of the most pressing issues of our times, now a year after the novel coronavirus was identified.
 
On the first Saturday (9 Jan), Phil Youngblood Ph.D., will talk with you about where we have come over the last year and perhaps what we will see in 2021, as well as the many ways the pandemic has taken a toll on us this past year.

On the second Saturday (16 Jan), Robert A. Hendrix, MD, will present the medical side of the pandemic, that is, what we have learned about how this new virus affects the human body and how the vaccines work.

Finally, on the third Saturday (23 Jan), we will hold a “Fireside Chat” intended to address the types of issues that is of most interest to our audience about these issues.

For more information, Click Here. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Happy New Year

 Happy New Year, and welcome to 2021. Plenty went on, and yours truly is going to need a little rest before writing more. We'll have something else later. In the meantime, let's hope the next year is much better than the last.

Bixyl Shuftan, SL Newser

CDS Announcement: New Year's Party

 

UPDATE: Let's say GOOD-BYE to 2020!

What a rotten year! Let's make sure it's behind us!

Join us on Saturday, January 2 from 12-2pm SLT.
Place: CDS - Locus Amoenus - Dancing Under the Stars
(but if you see a red airplane with a trailing banner, you are close!)

Let's celebrate the sparkling New Year, while making SURE that 2020 is gone, Gone, GONE!
Music by DJ Callipygian Christensen.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Locus%20Amoenus/178/46/27

Press Release: 2021 Prim Drop in Bay City

 

 BAY CITY'S "PRIM DROP" TO MARK THE NEW YEAR

Bay City's New Year's event coming 31st December

BAY CITY, SL (27th December, 2020) - Bay City, Second Life's® city by the bay, is one  preparing for their annual "Prim Drop" on the evening of the 31st of December, with festivities commencing at 11:30 pm SLT within the Bay city Fairgrounds in North Channel.

The party will include a two-hour set of DJed tunes presented by Marianne McCann, as well as fireworks and other festive fun. Food, drink, and other party favors will be provided for all attendees.

The event is presented as an outdoor, high-class, wintertime soirée, and black tie attire and/or full dress is requested. All Second Life® Residents are welcome to attend and ring in the New Year with the Bay City community.

This will also be the last event within Bay City this year for donating to Child's Play Charity (www.childsplaycharity.org) .  Child's Play is a 501c3 non profit organization offers online communities such as ours an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information,  please contact Marianne McCann.

 

Announcement: FCA New Year's Eve Club Crawl

 The Furry Club Alliance is proud to present the 2020 New Years Club Crawl!

Twelve hours of song and dance across six clubs rocking into the new year.

The club line-up and all times are SLT which is the same as PST (Pacific Standard Time)

12PM to 2PM: Bouncing Bunny Beach Club
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SunWaterThree/73/53/25 

2PM to 4PM: Club Zero Gravity
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Space/129/250/3597

4PM to 6PM: Urban Furry
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Empire%20State%20Island/76/103/3549

6PM to 8PM: Club Cutlass
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/114/118/757

8PM to 10PM: Perri's Xanadu
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/HV%20community/69/208/4051

10PM to 12AM: The Happy Vixen
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Purrfection%20Estates/203/221/24

Thursday, December 31

 

RFL Announcement: Season Registration Starts January 15

 

 "Are you ready to register your team for the 2021 Relay For Life of Second Life? Registration opens January 15th, less than 4 weeks away! If you have questions feel free to contact Gem Sunkiller, or Selene Jashan for more information."

RFL 2021 Season Logo Announced

 

 
"We are excited to unveil the official 2021 Relay For Life of Second Life Theme Logo!!

"Our theme, "A Cure! For A Happy Ending!" brings to mind fairy tales and nursery rhymes. And what fairy tale happy ending is complete without a castle? With that in mind, we are excited to share the 2021 Theme Logo that will serve as our banner for our 2021 campaign as we march past our $1 Billionth Linden ($4 Million USD). "

 Read more in the Second Life ACS website Here.

 

Announcement: 2021 Relay Season Theme Chosen

We had some great theme options, and I truly feel that any of them would have made for a wonderful Relay season. But, since we can only have one theme at a time, you all voted and the theme earning the most votes is:

A Cure! For A Happy Ending!

I can't wait to see the whimsical adventure that you all create along the track next year as you interpret fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Stay tuned for info on how you can submit your artwork for theme-logo consideration.

Stingray Raymaker