Disqus - Latest Comments for nursers

Re: Virtual goods – endless growth?

nursers — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:44:48 -0000

Thanks for your thoughtful comments Coyle - you raise some fascinating points, particularly around the fact that virtual goods may never be removed at the pricing implications. It's certainly an area that will fascinate marketers and economists alike for quite a while to come!

Re: Make your predictions: Philip Rosedale’s next venture

nursers — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:52:48 -0000

Thanks for that Chandlers - sounds a pretty reliable option.

Re: Trademarking and educators: Linden Lab responds

nursers — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:04:48 -0000

Prokofy, for me the issue is that the takedown was issued on one hand whilst Jokay's wiki was promoted in official forums on the other. It's a double standard well worth some scrutiny. I've always maintained my sympathy for the difficult role LL have, but they do make mistakes and this seems one.

I've read through Pathfinder's response a few times and have to agree with KerryJ that there's a healthy does of PR-talk in there, as you would expect.

Re: Suicide prevention, stories and Second Life

nursers — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:44:14 -0000

Laura thanks for posting the link, it's a great comic too totally related to this issue. Everyone should have a read!

Re: Net filtering and virtual worlds: reactions

nursers — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:29:46 -0000

It's all good news isn't it ;)

Having R18+ and X 18+ games ratings in Australia would be a small step in the right direction, assuming the legislation eventually recognises that games / virtual worlds meeting those criteria are ok to escape filtering. My fear is that may be a couple of hurdles too many for our current elected representatives.

Re: Second Life 2.0: safe choices

nursers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:33:00 -0000

No issue re you sounding upset - always happy to be corrected on factual errors and couldn't agree more: if that's close to release then I'm building my own browser ;)

Re: Second Life 2.0: safe choices

nursers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:14:58 -0000

Dusan, you raise a very valid point on 'pre-release' - I've used it in terms of a version not ready for release rather than the developer definition of one imminently prior to release. I'll update the language to reflect that.

On your other points, I did say in my article that there'd be more on the browser in coming days ;)

Re: Second Life 2.0: safe choices

nursers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:56:19 -0000

Dusan, the obvious response to that is in the small pic on the story showing the VERSION number - 2.0.0 build 123963. It is of course a new browser version and a 2.0 one at that, but most likely a pre-release one. And yes, that version numbering may change before release but to claim it's an early prototype is probably stretching things a little.

Either way, are you suggesting that if you'd got a hold of a copy you wouldn't have reported on it? Seriously? There are noteworthy new features well worth discussing. The title of the story is 100% accurate: it is a version 2.0 SL browser with some safe changes.

Re: Second Life 2.0: safe choices

nursers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:13:58 -0000

Hi Dusan,

Not sure what's misleading? It's obviously a new version and as I said it may not be the touted new one we're waiting for.

And like any company I'd expect LL to deny it's the next large version change and that indeed may be the case. All that said, it's still a noteworthy browser which is badged with a 2, hence the story title.

Re: Alter Ego - SBS covers Second Life (again)

nursers — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:01:03 -0000

Hi Orval - no news on broadcast date but I do know it's still on the boil.

Re: What Dave Winer doesn’t get – it’s about the simplicity

nursers — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:18:18 -0000

Well if it is Dave it shows why he believes he needs editing capability within Twitter ;)

Re: Merged realities - events and issues for virtual worlds

nursers — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:22:13 -0000

You're absolutely correct Peter, they've pulled the plug on their island but not their overall presence in SL.

Re: Openlife dumps Second Life viewer support

nursers — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:48:41 -0000

Hi Saffia,

Certainly, any of the alternate grids have some significant work still to do to match the intellectual property underpinnings of Second Life. It's a key differentiator at this stage.

Re: Protest in Second Life: the current Gaza conflict

nursers — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:37:47 -0000

I can see your point Crap. If the deaths of children were the focus, then if Israeli kids have died from Hamas' actions, that would have indeed fitted the context of the protest.

Re: A quick tour of Sony’s virtual world - Home

nursers — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:32:36 -0000

That's a really good point Wolfie - graphics aren't everything but they do make for a more appealing experience for people.

The furry issue is pertinent as well - I've always thought the more varied the avatar customisation options the better.

Re: A quick tour of Sony’s virtual world - Home

nursers — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:46:52 -0000

Gary,

The comment on advertising is offensive and as I've told you a number of times before, the money received from the advertising goes to:

1. Paying other writers on the site

2. Covering web hosting costs and subscriptions to the virtual worlds I pay to access

3. Any remaining money goes to our charity of choice: Kiva (www.kiva.org) - the same reason we are running their banner for nil charge at present. I could talk about Kiva all day - one of the finest 'charity' models around that helps people help themselves. I've only manage to fund a dozen or so entrepreneurs so far but that's growing each month. I've just set up a Kiva Team for future sponsorships from Australian virtual worlds users, something I'll be writing about in the new year.

I make exactly zero after the above three points and that's fine - as I said it's a passion. I'm sorry you don't like my style, that's fine too. I've never claimed to be the 'number 1' information source, nor claimed equality with Gamasutra, NWN etc.

I write what I can in the time I have. I've covered your work repeatedly, along with a lot of other Australian virtual worlds users. It obviously doesn't meet your benchmark but the close to 2000 individuals who read the information on the site have generally good feedback.

In fact, in two years I've had a total of six complaints about coverage: five from yourself and one from a story subject who disagreed with my thoughts on an issue, not the facts of the story. Add to that a handful of factual corrections (all appearing in comments of each story) and that covers it.

Would I like to write more? Absolutely. Would I like to cover virtual worlds full-time? Again, absolutely. Both are goals I'm working toward as the site continues to grow.

It's great to hear there's another Aussie information site on the way - the bigger the variety in coverage the better as it all helps document the opportunities and challenges virtual worlds provide.

On the jibe about purporting to represent Australia's views - I have never claimed that in any way, shape or form. I write on virtual worlds from an Australian perspective. I'd never claim to be 'Australia's view' on the area. Like any issue or discussion topic, there's never 'one view'

My Xmas wishes were sincere and remain so.

Re: A quick tour of Sony’s virtual world - Home

nursers — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:28:25 -0000

Hi Gary,

Why the cynical aside: "Oh and worth actually trying some of these worlds out for yourself too." ?

As stated repeatedly for your benefit publicly before, I spend significant time in a range of worlds. At present I spend more than a few hours weekly each in Second Life, Metaplace, OpenLife, World of Warcraft and Nintendo Wii, and to a lesser extent Habbo, Kaneva and a range of 2D options including NationStates. That's without the fairly frequent access to enterprise offerings as they arise.

Feldspar Epstein spends lots of time in SL, runs her own OpenSim grid and has spent some good time checking out Twinity.

The constant digs don't do anyone any favours - I'm passionate about what I do and I really enjoy covering what VW's have to offer. For some reason you feel the need to constantly:

(a) criticise our approach

(b) make regular comments publicly and on more closed metaverse email lists that I don't spend time in virtual worlds.

You have the right to do both within reason and as always I'll continue to publish them - it just seems a little over the top and bordering on an obsession.

All that said, have a great Xmas, 2009 is going to be a great year for virtual worlds in Australia.

Lowell

Re: Who’s your Daddy?

nursers — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:17:13 -0000

Thanks Prokofy and JJ for your comments, and I'm sure Feldspar will respond here as well.

Personally, I find the suggestion that no-one can commentate on the politics of another country a little strange, as JJ alluded to.

It's a position riddled with double standards given how often the current US President and his ambassador have inserted themselves into Australian political debate, particularly in regard to Iraq and the US-instigated economic issues affecting the world at present.

Re: Even old dogs like IBM can learn new tricks

nursers — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:46:46 -0000

Absolutely - I experienced the same thing when I found out Sun Microsystems were heavily into the virtual world thing as well.

Re: Even old dogs like IBM can learn new tricks

nursers — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:24:02 -0000

IBM also have a number of years work behind them in virtual worlds - they have big credibility in that area...

Re: Hey Scoble, Independent blog editorial policies rock!

nursers — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:23:12 -0000

Cool no probs ;)

Re: Hey Scoble, Independent blog editorial policies rock!

nursers — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:03:49 -0000

Well put Duncan - my editorial stance is similar - I forward stories etc but that's it.

That said, you never reply to my emails either so don't be too hard on Scoble :)

Re: Some New Aussie Tech Podcasts

nursers — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:10:08 -0000

Hi there,

I produce a virtual worlds podcast from an Australian perspective:

http://www.metaversejournal.com/tmj-podcasts/

Thanks and keep up the great work on the blog ;)

Re: Tappity-tap Cranial Tap – anyone home?

nursers — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:53:51 -0000

Hi Dave,

Good to hear from you and your frank response.

On the contrasting coverage between yourself and Rivers Run Red (my story on RRR can be found at: http://www.metaversejournal.com/2008/09/19/imme... ) : Feldspar's story from my view looks at the solution from the in-world angle. My story looked at it from the corporation looking to utilise virtual worlds, with my view being that RRR's corporate intranet-like product would be a powerful way on convincing the more conservative business leaders on how virtual worlds can be an integrated part of work flow.

Your tools obviously do offer a lot for business, something Feldspar alluded to. What's not apparent is the cohesiveness of product offering, hence the different reviews. I look forward to hearing more from Cranial Tap as things develop. ;)

Re: iTunes 8 = EPIC FAIL

nursers — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:14:18 -0000

Just one thing - iTunes has had a visualizer since version 1 ;)