I went to Jack Linden’s office hour tonight, alas Jack didn’t. My theory was that a cabal of evil land barons had kidnapped him. They’d stashed him underground on a granite sim and were sending a ransom note along with cuttings of his hair to Robin Linden. The ransom note detailed many demands that needed to be met before Jack would be released, complete with a sound gesture of evil cackling laughter.
However it was nothing so exciting, Jack simply couldn’t make the meeting and was blogging about the delay to the launch of the new land store. Now nobody promised the land store would definitely be working, but now the launch date seems more vague.
However I don’t quite understand why this means people have to order an island at the old price until the land store is ready. The new land store is responsible for cutting costs by $675 an island? Really? What sort of uber technology device are these guys using? I’m hoping people who order at the old price via concierge are going to get a refund, surely they are, right?
In other news there’s a protest going on at the Linden Village in Kirkby. I’m reporting from there live. A group calling themselves “Screwed by LL inc” seem to be the driving force behind this. There are placards and banners but I’m extremely disappointed to have to report that there are no Torches, pitchforks or rampaging mob. OOh and now there’s a griefing attack.
However we all just got booted in a sim reset so the conspiracy theories can start now.
There is of course the issue that some bloggers have chosen to strike during this period. A three day strike from April 15th to April 18th. The strike is aimed at highlighting the issue of the lack of a response over the trademarking policy. The thing is, if it wasn’t for those bloggers who aren’t on strike talking about this, this strike would be getting less publicity. I really don’t see the point of a blog strike unless you’re striking against the people whom you’re writing for. The pen is mightier than the sword.
The issues that people are unhappy about are serious and Linden Lab don’t seem to have the resources or the ability to respond. However one thing Linden Lab are good at is the principles of divide and conquer tactics.
Land owners unhappy at the price changes have seen others gleefully mock their fate. Meanwhile bloggers unhappy over the trademark issue have seen others gleefully mock their fate, in the middle of all this are the performance issues which generate much name calling and mocking over the terms of service and the fact that it’s an evolving platform.
If instead of arguing with each other, we’d actually engage in sensible discussion with The Lindens then progress might be made. Of course this would also require not only that the Lindens showed up, but that they also grow up. Overnight policy changes, moving goalposts, vague deadlines, muddy waters, these are not the responses you expect from a grown up company.
Then there is of course the issue of a blog strike and a protest taking place at the same time means less bloggers to highlight the protest. Whatever the merits or not of either action, the timing is bad by both parties.
In terms of customer service Linden Lab score badly, there are some mitigating circumstances but when they keep repeating the same mistakes again and again you have to wonder if they will ever get it.
One thing is for sure, if the kids are divided, they will never be united.