Lost Boys - More New Content Creators Coming!

As SpotON3D is growing and developing we are running into more great and well known content creators among many of us. Jorie Muircastle and Myca Amaterasu, two professional 3D sculpt artists, are a couple of creators that match that description. Their goal is to reaching out to the community, not as competition, but expanding and sharing the market, helping others to build, create or just use and save their 3D sculpt maps. I went to their store in SL to visit with them. They were very hospitable, even giving me some of their great 3D maps as a gift to use in my builds! Thanks guys!

So here is a bit of our conversation.

Jorie Muircastle: we are in our store ... Lost Boys inc.. still under construction, my manager and partner will be here in a moment.

While we were waiting I turned and zoomed around my camera. The store is built in a futuristic environment, in a cosmos looking sky, and the building had glowy glass.Then Myca arrived.

Jorie Muircastle: This is Myca, we often sculp side by side.

Arkad Baxton: I see you guys have some nice work here. Is it the main profile of your business? Maps.

Jorie Muircastle: yes, mostly. We do textures, sculpt maps, various builder kits
Myca Amaterasu: Jorie dos the best stuff. He takes on the larger more detailed projects IMO.
Arkad Baxton: When did you start to do that in SL?

Jorie Muircastle: I think from day one I was building and trying to sculpt. (It) was hard at first and at some points (I) gave up and bought kits, but the huge expense is what got me to start a store to provide more affordable kits for folks. Our new product line is showing what can be done with Curvy 3D, a new sculpt program.
Arkad Baxton: Can you tell me some more about that program?

Myca Amaterasu: I, myself use a set of programs, but right now out of 12 years worth of experience Curvy has the look and feel of a program that takes an edge.
Jorie Muircastle: We are working close with the programmer, Iggie Memo.

Then I asked them to tell me more about their business and their philosophy.

Jorie Muircastle: what drove us is, as a builder you can easily spend 3000+ for supplies to build 1 couch that looks like everyone else’s, trying to complete in prim conservation. It would kill a newcomer to SL.
Myca Amaterasu: I’m a little deferring then Jorie. I put a set of products out for the users to use and learn from, but I don’t keep them out forever. I actually put them in storage, so after some time it helps give folks a set of unique items of their own.

Arkad Baxton: What do you see in Spoton3D as to developing your business.
Jorie Muircastle: I was seeing an education ground in a place to help people- reach a creative potential the old world way by providing a lot of tips and experience for the new people. This may sound, odd, but I like how it was organized, not cluttered. The bare essentials were out for people to get started, the information centers.... the rest is like a pioneering ground for people to explore and build on. It is really artist friendly, and right off the bat, I was shown that its about putting creativity in people’s hand. But, I also like that there was an amount of security... so that people do not have to fear about their stuff getting stolen by copy bots... making it.. well... a safer feeling to be there.
Myca Amaterasu: Well my self ,I have been in many markets and have been in many 3d worlds. I have even worked with motion capture developers and set up my own grid for a sand box. Right now Spoton has me curious. I am wrapping up some projects here and on the web and then plan to "dive into" spoton and see what it offers.
Jorie Muircastle: Normally we do not allow our products, per our TOS, to be used on other grids, but we felt secure enough that we do extend to Spoton3d, and welcome our customers to use our content there... we have modified our ToS to cover it.

Arkad Baxton: What do you think of the Double Dutch Delivery system as idea? Buying it on one place and having the product on both grids.
Jorie Muircastle: I think its an excellent idea. It is actually convenient too. Sometimes exporting content from one grid to another can be a pain in the tushy... it sort of makes it painless.. order what you want.. and run with it.. hassle free.
Myca Amaterasu: That is a brilliant idea I think myself. Its a shame that so few have actually looked in to that. So far the only others I know that have is realXtend and OS or Hippo grid.

Arkad Baxton: Knowing Spoton3D what is your plans for the near future on that grid and with their services? How do you see it working for you?
Jorie Muircastle: after we get things settled here, with the move and settling on the new island, we plan to open a small shop on Spoton and offer our products there as well. It works for us in the fact of it being another adventure in fun and creation.
Myca Amaterasu: well with anything young ... I like to get my paws in early it gives me a chance to really see where its going to head. I know Jorie is excited about it. I am as well and yes I have about a terabyte worth of content that I will bring over to spot on in the upcoming session. I think Spoton has a chance in media , and that’s a lot coming from me, so I know you will find Jorie and myself there soon.

If you would like to check out Curvey3D, you can try the demo, click here:

http://www.curvy3d.com/

And to check out SpotON3D go to http://spotON3D.com for your FREE FOREVER account.

The Questions You Should Ask When Expanding to OpenSim Grids

If SpotON3D is not the grid for you, that kewl. It would be impossible for any one company or grid to meet the demand of such a diverse and passionate community. We still want to help out anyway we can. These questions are designed to help you evaluate the risks and limits as you explore all your options, rather than eliminate any grids.

QUESTIONS TO ASK … THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Does the gird have a certified https:// website?

2. Under About US or CONTACT US do you find a reference to real world contact information, i.e. phone, email that associates with their dot com, physical mail address -not a post office box.

3. Do the founders/exec staff use real identities or game character names?

4. Are you given contact information that clearly identifies the owners, their physical address, a working phone number and email addresses that are answered within 3 to 7 days?

5. If needed, would you have enough information make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau or even the legal authorities where you live?

6. Do they have a user verification system to minimize griefing risks?

7. Do they have a working economy? If so, is it based upon trading one virtual currency for another, like VWallet for Lindens? If so, can you identify the person(s) behind that system in real world terms?

8. Do they have a system in place and staff to deal with griefing and copy bot risks?

9. How do they handle minors on the grid? Is the grid segregated to keep kids that might come in out of areas they should not be in? How would they handle a report of a pedophile? What is their stance on child avatars?

10. How are payments for land & products handled – through a recognized subscription service like PayPal or manually?

11. Can you cash out via trusted money system like PayPal?

12. Do they provide records of all payments for product, services and land rentals?

13. Do they have a TOS in place?

14. Is the grid’s structure based on a peer-2-peer hosting or a hosted solution? A peer2peer grid is where you host your own sim and link up to their central asset server for storage of the communities content? Or is it a fully hosted solution like Second Life® or SpotON3D™? If the second is true, then is the grid hosted on someone’s home server system or a professional co-location?

15. What would happen to your content if you were to have to leave? Would they reserve The right to continue to use, distribute or sell your content on their grid or through a web based selling system, or would it only exist in the inventories of those you sold to and your own avatars?

16. Does the grid have a system in place to report and/or resolve social and legal disputes through?

17. What is the grid's stance on legal Intellectual Property Rights? Some folks believe simply don't believe in IP or copyrights and see no reason to respect such laws. You need to ask subtle questions to determine where they truly stand in this issue if you hope to use the grid in question as a secure selling destination. The easiest way to do this is to ask if its okay to bring in sculpts and textures you've purchased from SL. If they don't ask you to get the permissions of the original seller, or have a 'no see-no hear-no speak" stance on such things, then that is most likely a good example of how much they would respect your work in someone else's hands.

SUMMARY
We hope these questions help you in your exploration of the many wonderful grids available on through the Virtual World community. SpotON3D will be hosting community events for all the virtual would community in hopes that we can rebuild bridges to the many folks who have left out of heartache, frustration and financial redress. These are hard times indeed, but together we can make something even better - let the phoenix rise again.

Response to Linden Lab Blogs & Press Releases

The latest news out of LL has raised a lot of concerns for our community. Many mourn the loss of so many of our favorite Lindens - our last touchstone to Linden Lab. Many wonder what got us here. Gwyneth Llewelyn has written a very timely and accurate blog that pretty much summarizes the last six years and why LL's future is in question. This is a must read for anyone involved in SL: http://gwynethllewelyn.net/2010/06/10/reset-and-do-a-180%C2%BA-turn/

WHY DIDN'T BUSINESS COME BACK TO SL?
Many think the reason is because of the recession or the technology learning curve, but others believe its more about LL's long history of stepping on toes - not just of their business and educational users, but of each and every class of user on their grid. You don't refused meetings with Fortune 50 and 500 companies and garner good will or be taken seriously in the world of enterprise business. The kind of bad will that creates runs so deep that you'll never get a chance at it again. And that's the shame of this, because its not that this could not be done, or that these people didn't want it. Its always boiled down to the arrogance factor. That whole, "You're not important enough for me to listen or respond to." attitude. As a 15 year veteran of the 3D Web I've seen this more than I'd care to admit. But, I also know that this is a necessary transition that I’ve been warning close colleagues and friends about for the last 18 months.

IS SpotON3D YOUR NEW EXPANSION DESTINATION?
Over the last 18 months, me, (Tessa Kinney-Johnson aka Tessa Harrington in virtual), my business partner, Stevan Lieberman of Greenberg & Lieberman, an IP attorney, and our team of programmers have been working tirelessly to create a solution for business, education and even social users. We’re not talking a poor man’s substitute, but rather a truly redefined 3D Web experience. We don’t expect to fit everyone’s ideal, but hope many of you will check us and give us an opportunity to show you our vision for the new face of the 3D Web.

HOW WE HOPE TO HELP THE METAVERSE COMMUNITY -
COMMUNITY SANDBOXES TO CHECK BACKUPS & NO UPLOAD FEES!
We still want to help out anyway we can even if you decide we're not your new home. We have created a sandbox in SL and have several community sandboxes available on the SpotON3D grid for those who need rezzing, packing and unpacking space. Here you can then test out your backups to make sure they have come over well in a more secure and professional environment.

NO UPLOAD FEES FOR PAID MEMBER ACCOUNTS
There are no upload fees for paid members, so the only price of admission is a paid membership of $2.99 a month to the SpotON3D grid and to joining the SpotON3D group in SL and the SpotON3D HELP group in SpotON3D. Yes, you will hear a few announcements about our presentations during the month. I hope you can understand the need for such things.

NO IP RIGHTS ISSUES
Our TOS clearly states we have no rights to your content except to support the delivery and storage of purchases made by our users of your products.

CONTENT PROTECTION AT THE FRONT DOOR & MORE MAKE SPOTON3D FAR MORE SECURE
We redirect all non-SpotON3D clients to an locked down region, so you'll not have much worry about your content being ripping by the use of a client.

NEED REFERENCES? LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE ELITE OF SL & VIRTUAL WORLDS SAY ABOUT SpotON3D!
"Another strength of @spoton3d: leverages Amazon cloud computing so customers can boost scalability to 100 avatars or more based on need." - Erica Driver of Think Balm.com

"This company has clearly given a lot of thought to their platform especially in the areas of copyright, intellectual property, cost and user experience for both Enterprise and Education." - Shambles Guru (SL™) of International Schools Island

"I heard a lot about how SpotOn3D is really making sure that content creators can safely sell their products and be sure that it is not easily copied and pirated. Technically and theoretically it remains impossible to make it 100% proof, but many should be happy with 99% solution." - Jani Pirkola - Virtual worlds specialist, Research program coordinator at CIE.fi. One of the founders of Maxping.org magazine.

"Well right now Tessa you are top of my list regading an alternative grid to work in!"
Lilith Heart of Heart Designs in SL

AND THE LIST GOES ON OF THOSE WHO ENDORSE THE SPOTON3D GRID:

Chris Badger, formerly of Forterra
Light Sequent Educational Instructor Training Specialist
Sexat Uralia of Virtual Helping Hands & Texas University
Yehoo Newall, Security Specialist
David K., Formerly Dj Linden- SLE Project Manager of Linden Labs
Matt Fiertze of First Link, Inc, V-Business group the best practices and standards frameworks group for Virtual Worlds
Stringray9798 with the American Cancer Society
Luna Bliss & Dakota Callahan of Bliss Gardens
Lilith Heart of Heart Garden
Steffi Villota & Dark Hennesy of DeeTalez
Madddyyy Schnook of SL Guide
Lindy Low of Grid Gear on SpotON3D
Nazz Lane SL Resident and Blogger
Angelo Biondi of Second Inventory
Ariella Languish of Framedin3D.com

We of coarse do this in hopes that you'll make us your new home for your expansion beyond any one grid. We hope you'll see the value in the work we've done, forgive our growing pains as we push forward our very aggressive technology to do list, and give us constructive feedback on how we can make your experience better.

SpotON3D – 10 Day So3D Launch Events

May 27th thru June 5th

Expanding Virtual or V-Retailing™ into a Global Market
Concerned about Constant Changes?
Want More Stability, Control & Protection?
What’s the Future of V-Retailing?

Attend This FREE Vendor Event & Learn How To Expand Your Virtual Retailing Business Securely. Seats limited to 10! RSVP Today at SpotON3D.com

Featuring Tessa Kinney-Johnson, aka Tessa Harrington in SL™ 15-year Veteran of the 3D Web & Virtual Worlds! Opened BizWorld in 1995, the first 3D Internet Mall with real world & virtual vendors in Active Worlds.com the grandfather of Virtual Worlds Co-Founder, COO & Art Director for SpotON3D A Proven Track Record Forecasting the Future of the 3D Web.

It’s been said Tessa can see around corners most people don’t even know exist. This is A rare public speaking engagement for this quiet, behind the scenes 3DWeb Developer and entrepreneur. If you want to know the history & the future of the Metaverse and your place in it as a V-Retailer, then this is a ‘must’ event!

AGENDA:

• 10 – 10:30 am PDT :: Virtual- V-Retailing – 2010- 2020 Forecast
• 10:30 am- 11:30am PDT :: Q & A
  
• 11:30am – 12:30pm PDT :: Trusted Grids & Secure V-Retailing BREAK OUT – Tour SpotON3D’s V-Retailing Venues

What other’s are saying about SpotON3D:

"Another strength of @spoton3d: leverages Amazon cloud computing so customers can boost scalability to 100 avatars or more based on need." - Erica Driver of Think Balm.com

"This company has clearly given a lot of thought to their platform especially in the areas of copyright, intellectual property, cost and user experience for both Enterprise and Education." - Shambles Guru (SL™) of International Schools Island

"I heard a lot about how SpotOn3D is really making sure that content creators can safely sell their products and be sure that it is not easily copied and pirated. Technically and theoretically it remains impossible to make it 100% proof, but many should be happy with 99% solution." - Jani Pirkola - Virtual worlds specialist, Research program coordinator at CIE.fi. One of the founders of Maxping.org magazine.

To Attend InWorld go to http://spoton3d.com to get your FREE FOREVER

Account Listen in and Text Questions via Facebook’s Vivox Plugin @ http://bit.ly/aeN2SH

Can’t be there in world? CALL IT IN!! Dial 1-646-727-4472 extension 906911 Thursday Starting @ 10am PSD

Bob Johnson said... Our Response to Common Misconceptions

Bob Johnson commented to our blog saying...
'So let me get this straight.
-You are using OpenSim, which is reverse engineered from the Second Life client. (Linden I believe allowed Opensim to happen, they could of stopped it)
-You are using Hippo client which is Open Source Second Life therefore all the graphics in your environment are from the viewer which is built by Linden

Yet Linden is the bad one? What do you do if Linden stop allowing you to use their tech? (e.g. viewer) they have a lot of people working on that. You can price lower than Linden because you do not have to pay for viewer developers. What that math says to me is that you are stealing from the company that is feeding you.'

Some might call this gentleman's commments as 'pot stirring', but we feel strongly that if we are a viable company we should be capable of responding to most anyone's concern's and opinions in a professional manner to at least try once to educate and clarify. So here goes, and please forgive the long winded response. We felt it important to point to facts to substantiate our reply, seeing very strong words were used to describe our business, as is evident above.

BOB JOHNSON REPLY:

Hello Bob and thank you for your comments and questions. Many people express similar opinions that simply aren't founded on fact. We like to think its not out of spit of fear of us as competition, but rather out of their devotion to Second Life(r). We can understand the sentiment. After all we're a team of SL veterans, (2005) and Virtual Worlds (Active Worlds 1995).

First, the client was open sources by Phillip Rosedale in January 2007 in hopes that the community WOULD INDEED do exactly as they have, and reinvent it in their own vision.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/07/technology/secondlife.fortune/index.htm

"We think that if we open source Second Life its product quality will move forward at a pace nobody's ever seen," says Rosedale.

We'd wager the open source community played no small role in achieving the stability we enjoy today in Second Life(r).

Secondly, lets look at the most widely accepted definitions of Reverse Engineering and Re-Engineering and see what side OpenSim falls into. We're quoting this recognized leader in the programmer community:

http://wiki.ercim.eu/wg/SoftwareEvolution/index.php/Terminology, according to Chikofsky Cross 1990.

Reverse engineering is the process of analyzing a subject system to identify the system's components and their interrelationships and create representations of the system in another form or at a higher level of abstraction. Reverse engineering generally involves extracting design artefacts and building or synthesizing abstractions that are less implementation-dependent.

Re-engineering, on the other hand, is the examination and alteration of a subject system to reconstitute it in a new form and the subsequent implementation of the new form. Re-engineering generally includes some form of reverse engineering (to achieve a more abstract description) followed by some form of forward engineering or restructuring. This may include modifications with respect to new requirements not met by the original system.

To say OpenSim is a reverse engineered platform is really not accurate. The history of the OpenSim project started in the fall of 2006, months before the SL client was open sourced on January 2007.

But, if you want real proof that the OpenSim is an animal of a different breed, simply come on in and work in one for a few days. How different is it? Well, if Second Life(r) were to swap out their platform with the OpenSim platform an estimated 50% of the Second Life(r) grid assets to become completely unusable, if not outright crash the server. Why? Because its simply not the same code. That doesn't mean LSL and SL Scritps won't run on OpenSim - they do, but some need a bit of tweaking to perform best.

Also, it should be noted that SpotON3D is NOT a rehash of Second Life(r) OR OpenSim. Many make assumptions in this regard, but we all know what is said about assuming. :P Never was that more true than in this case, as SpotON3D has completely reorganized how a grid is organized, adding in tiered membership systems, security in a technical, social and legal manner and a working economy the permeates the grid experience through its web based selling portal, http://spotonsynergy.com.

All these differences add up to three major improvements many experts have called for as necessary to making the 3D Web a reality - The Universal Registration, Universal Avatar, and the Universal Inventory. There is a fourth - 3D in a web page, which is right around the corner - 3 to 5 years using server side rendering technology that other game industry experts are working to make a reality. Just check out this company's promos: http://onlive.com and you'll get the big picture.

Thirdly, YES, Linden Labs could elect to resend their open source client status and make the 2.0 viewer closed source, but they could not ‘stop’ anyone from using what was out there already - only be able to legally prohibit the use of what new client code they put out. Anything up to that point would still be considered open source code and available for anyone to use as long as they make their changes public and contribute changed back to the source code community as we have.

And lastly, SpotON3D is a six figure and counting commercial project, which in fact does include client and platform programmers. Thanks to their hard work it simply runs better, allowing us to host 120 regions on just two servers. Being able to host so many islands on so few servers is one of many reasons we can price our product so affordably. To call that 'stealing' or saying LL is 'feeding' SpotON3D is just grossly inaccurate, something I hope you can recognize as an unfair statement.

I’d like to think that SLers can look beyond their attachment to Second Life® and see SpotON3D™ for what it is – simply an alternative grid primarily for business, education and social nets and communities, yet, with room for responsible players too. IN OTHER WORDS AN EXPANSION OF THE METAVERSE. We are here to show there is a real industry for people to grow with – not just one company with one vision. Thank you again for your comments and we hope you can find a way to be a tad more open minded, welcome this evolution and become a part of the solution.

Can Loyalty to Second Life(r) Unknowingly Hinder the Metaverse' Growth & Adoption?

As the 3D Web and Virtual Worlds expand and grow into integrated communities, with both secure and public spaces, its important to remember no one company can own this market. The audience is too vast and diverse to be met by any one entity; social, educational, governmental, e-commerce, enterprise and yes, even recreational.

This is why we at SpotON3D™, found it so refreshing to see so many virtual and game platforms choices shown on the FCVW's recent promotional video for their upcoming conference in DC*. Ms. Robinson, the lead for the Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds Conference, seems to embrace this reality and encourage the idea that more choices equal healthy competition and the ability to service a wider market.

For those who are fiercely loyal to their home platform... THANK YOU! The last couple of years haven't been easy. The recession hurt everyone world wide, and VW's were not immune. Forterra, There.com and Metaplace are all gone, either just ceasing to operate, or were sold at a loss. Second Life® by many estimates has suffered as well. No longer do we see 80,000 users on the grid daily. The new users coming in aren't spending money as they used to, some feel. The creator market is said to be saturated with excellent content, so competition is fierce, while at the same time their expenses to do business have gone up. Many of the community's favorite Lindens are no longer employed, and some LL investors have cashed out for pennies on the dollar, probably because they needed funds to get through this recession. Yet, as we near to end of these economically induced problems we still see a very strong and supportive core community, which is profoundly gratifying to witness. Definitely something SpotON3D aspires to through our innovative systems and true customer service.

BUT ...*yes there had to be one, didn't there? ... for Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web to become more than just a flash in the pan we, the citizens of the Metaverse, need to be the catalyst for change. Having witnessed fifteen years of boom and bust in the Virtual World Community, one can see red flags that could present serious problems for the growth of the Metaverse and SL® in particular. Change that isn't just about monetizing the 3D Web, Virtual Worlds or live content gaming systems, but more about creating healthier free enterprise standards that promote the Metaverse as an industry of many, rather than a business of one.

There are some key community standards with the citizens of the Metaverse, should be calling for loud and clear to ensure Second Life® and as a result, the Virtual World Industry as a whole doesn't go the way of the before mentioned companies. These are standards not only espoused to by SpotON3D™, but already implemented to illustrate that indeed this can be done effectively without leaving anyone behind. The Metaverse truly depends upon the core principals introduced below being adopted by all the professional grade grids, for the community to become a strong and viable industry.

- Universal Registrar, and Avatar Systems
Eliminating registration fatigue for the majority by ensuring the user's Avatar is available on all trusted grids through on secure registration system, thereby bridging the gap between the 3D Web & VW in a secure and legal manner.

- Comprehensive Membership and User Permissions
Tiered user memberships whose permissions go beyond registration, reaching deep into the platform to support enforceable rational and reasonable rules and standards concerning avatar access, permissions, usage rights of content and behaviors to help create a more stable and socially responsible community.

- Universal Market Place
First, the Metaverse Market Place must facilite the legal and secure distribution of content across trusted grid systems in a responsible manner, while retaining the content creator's IP rights as efficiently and safely as possible.

Secondly, no real business is going to invest the thousands of dollars needed to establish their 3D Web investment if they are not reasonably sure the content used is legally gotten. That's why its so important that a there be a system that supports the legal Purchase, Contract, Backup, Import and Move of 3D assets.

Thirdly, the control and IP rights of virtual world assets need to always and completely remain in the hands of the creator, with the virtual world host only retaining enough rights to ensure delivery of those same assets. The exception of this is of coarse contracted work for a company that requires exclusive rights and new content.

Virtual Worlds or girds that give themselves Shared or Exclusive IP rights OR give themselves the equivalent of the same by the way they describe their usage rights really only serve to hurt the market place. Imagine if GoDaddy(r)suddenly gave themselves the right to use/giveaway/sell customer's web site assets in the name of marketing and promotions as requirement of using their service. Undoubtedly, folks would turn tail and run ... NOT WALK ... the other way, expressing loud and clear their displeasure.

- Universal Mediate and Arbitration System
Community driven dispute resolution to handle social and legal disagreements in a affordable, responsible and legally sound manner, such as a FREE and Public Mediation System that is recognized by the Metaverse community as a whole, and real legal and binding Online Arbitration at affordable prices, ($150-$300 usd on SpotON3D with our exclusive real world judge arbitration service)

-Define Trusted Grids in the Context of 2D Web Hosting Standards
Apply responsible permissions and restrictions on the users as we see in 2D Web Hosting companies, such as GODaddy.com®.

If we look to Virtual World Grid platform’s basic functionality there are very clear parallels between the services Second Life®, Teleplace™, ProtonMedia, ReactionGrid and SpotON3D offer and your standard 2D Web hosting service. Fundamentally they all offer the means to host, store and display content and software for individuals, businesses, educators and more, but the advent of content creation inside the web hosting solutions is what complicats things. It shouldn't. Its really no different than the 2D web hosting companies that provide their customers with the DIY tools to make their own sites on their web portals. They own those tools, but not the content that the web customers add to it to make it their own. Those IP rights stay with the creators of the content, be that the person using the tools, or someone they've contracted to provide materials for their web sites.

COMPETITIVE COLLABORATION
To some this phrase might sound odd contradictory – Collaborate with your competition? But there is a long history of competitive companies reach out to each other to make their industry stronger, while still competing. An example is the Hotel and Food and Beverage Industry. When one runs out of a food, such as french fries, they often run over to their nearest competitor and "bum" off a bag or two to get through the night. No money is exchanged, only an IOU. Why? Because they know that somewhere down the road they too will come up short and need help. To use such a problem as leverage would not only be seen as petty, but to expose that problem to get some leverage in the public's eye, really only results in giving their industry as a whole a black eye. That turns consumers and other businesses off, because its just so messy and drama driven and definitely wouldn't show that the companies in question put their customer needs first.

How does that apply to the Metaverse? Every time we hold a virtual worlds event, appear on a panel of experts, blog about our experiences or talk about these grids we are extending our reach to a wider audience and giving validity to the whole idea of a interconnected 3D Web community. If we feel compelled to show how much we love our most favorite grid, lets not do it in such a way that makes us look desperate or insecure as a community, but rather illustrates our ability to be open minded and supportive of all the Metaverse. After all, grids are now just a TP away.

It's not about LEAVING ...

It's about EXPANDING Beyond any one Grid's Borders

For enterprise level Fortune 500 companies and individual business to embrace the Metaverse we have to be okay with acknowledging the many choices that are out there for them to tap into. Otherwise they are going to be squeamish about investing the 100’s of thousands of dollars into their 3D Web push. They need to see a cohesive, well funded organized community of professionals and see a user bases open to traveling the 3D Web the way they do the 2D Web. Isn’t that what Social Networking is supposed to be about anyway?

Entities like Smarter Technology™ and Train for Success™ have done this. They should be applauded for extending their eye beyond Second Life’s boarders and pointing to the rest of the industry as an example of what is possible. Now its time for the rest to step up to the plate, such as Metanomics, TreetTV and others. Many media firms, consultants and sim developers want to be a part of the Metaverse, but can they really do that if they only acknowledge a fraction of the community? By not reporting and participating in the WHOLE Metaverse, we ultimately play a role in silencing the voices that might help push the Metaverse forward and ensure its survive through these early years. After All ... ONE COMPANY DOES NOT AN INDUSTRY MAKE & NO ONE COMPANY CAN NOR SHOULD OWN THE 3D WEB/METAVERSE.

If you agree or disagree, lets us know! Comment here, or come on in and check us out at http://spoton3d.com with our FREE FOREVER account. It costs nothing to learn how different and down right exciting the 3D Web can be if we open our minds enough to see.

Check out the FCVW's Conference and the video in question here

http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/fcvw/fcvw10/index.html

Training for Success Event Featuring the Unique & Innovative SpotON3D Grid

May 6th, 9:00AM PDT

This week’s Train for Success meeting for May 6th, 9am PDT, will be held outside of Second Life in a very different kind of grid utilizing ONDemand Cloud Technology - SpotON3D with Tessa Kinney-Johnson, Co-Founder/COO/Art Director at SpotON3D, formerly an SL Provider Council Member under her design firm UnReal Designs, LLC.

Ms Johnson will show how SpotON3D is 'Transforming Web Pages Into 3D Web Spaces' - Featuring Key Solutions, such as The Universal Avatar, Universal Registration and IP Valid Virtual Content Distribution via Double Dutch Delivery, as well as Turn-Key Virtual Offices with Rent-&-Go technology.

Please allow 30 minutes to register, download the SpotON3D viewer and connect to the SpotONthreeD VOIP Channel on Facebook via Vivox's plugin conference session.

1. Register a SpotON3D 'FREE FOREVER' account @ https://spoton3d.com/ and follow the instructions to create your avatar and download the viewer at https://spoton3d.com/pages/downloads

2. Access Vivox's new VOIP on a webpage plugin via your Facebook account. You'll want to get a Facebook account try this exciting new conference tool. Join in the voice session by clicking on this bit link, http://bit.ly/aeN2SH where you'll be prompted to install the ViVox plugin OR you can call it in @ 1-646-727-4472 extension 906911.

YOUTUBE ViVox Tutorials:
FireFox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01hvGFag_uM
IE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7XRh0qePo
runs well on Chrome and Safari as well