Christmas time is a time of tradition. Chestnuts on an open fire, carefully wrapped presents placed under the tree, kids singing carols at your door, and bare-knuckle fist-fights in the middle of shops between people who left their purchases really late. Here in the UK, one of our traditions is the Queen's Speech, where once a year, the unelected figurehead or our apparently democratic nation speaks to the people about the year gone by, and that which is to come in the year ahead. I couldn't help but think of this, when sitting down in from of my pc, to listen to Phllip Linden (or Rossdale in rl) in his first "Inside the Lab" Podcast, where Linden Lab's head honcho, and therefore defacto President of Second Life, discussed 2007 in Second life, and what next year seems to hold, in an interview with Linden Lab's Director of Marketing Catherine Linden (Smith).

Of course, seeing as this is the head of the company being given a grilling by the head of marketing, this was never going to be the hard hitting, no holds barred, lets have some answers grilling that many of us would like, but to be fair, this is an interesting step in the direction of ore transparency from the company that controls many aspects of our virtual destinies, so I thought I really should hear him out.

They started off discussing the effects of big brands coming into SL, and how this was affecting the world and experience of the grid for us all. A big deal was made of how many new companies are coming in, and while they do discuss the companies who choose to stay, and how these are ultimately the one's that work with the residents to make a better experience for all, but neglects to discuss the companies who are leaving, or why they might be (which as long term readers will know is a concern of mine), and also neglects to mention the company on everyone's lips when it comes to rl business and it's difficulties with SL, Coca Cola. So, there's one issue brushed under the carpet.

To give credit where it's due, they do give some interesting information in the interview, and also put their hands up to some of their own limitations. Phillip explains that the number of unique residents in SL has gone up this year from 1.5 million to 6.2 million (although how they know that these are "unique" considering that I appear to be the only person on the grid without an alt, I do not know). Phillip readily admits that they as a company have struggled to cope with this meteoric increase in the popularity of our little virtual world. This is why, he says, that stability and reliability have become such a priority, which is nice to hear, although many would point out that it would be nice to actually SEE some of this prioritisation in action, rather than the continual bundling on of new toys into the grid. Oh, and it's at this point, I'd just like to briefly mention while listening to this interview, I had a vision of the offices of Linden Research Inc. On the wall, possibly in the lobby, there is motivational pictureframe. The photo in it is something like a bridge crossing a huge chasm, and the motto below reads "The are no problems, only challenges". The repeated use of the word challenge instead of headaches / nightmares / cock-ups / etc... made me smile again and again.

Phillip was then asked about the Gambling Ban, one of the big issues of the year. In response, he spoke about just how international the community has become, and the many "challenges" this presents. There's a discussion about "virtual world law" and how this is a truly interesting time, with discussions going on amongst people of various nationalities. This seems an unspoken nod towards the VAT charges placed on Europeans, but does not, however, actually address the fact that this ban is based exclusively on US law, which was the main cause for protest about it.

There is then talk about Second Life's competitors, and those who are incoming, for example the product being developed by Google. Phillip largely downplays their importance by looking down on their "efforts", and talks about the competition as being either imitatory or "not in direct competition". In fact, even goes so far to say that he "hopes to be challenged" by them. Careful Phil. It's when you rest on your laurels, and believe that you are king of the mountain, that someone comes along and show's you that you aren't the biggest dog in the yard. Be warned.

We then look to the future and the year to come. After pointing out that no ne could have predicted all the changes and challenges of 2007, Phillip once again talks about how they are REALLY gonna work on stability and reliability, on every front, be it server, client or support. Then talks about there being a lot more open source involvement, speaking with great pride about how the CSI:NY sims are a great example of what open source can do, with outside workers using the tools LL have given to completely turn SL on it's head, and custom make the world over.

They talk about upcoming trends, and once again the subject of RL business in SL is looked at. Here is the bit that worried me. They talk about how these businesses are putting so much money in and driving forward ideas that they need to work, such as HTML inworld to allow webpages to be viewed. However, after talking earlier about how the best businesses are working within the format, they are now stating that big name companies are walking in, making demands, and Linden Labs are promptly jumping to it. This could be potentially scary, if a big enough company drove enough money to SL's door, and demanded that, for example, they only wanted to provide the music streams, so that they could charge subscriptions to listen. What would happen? Who knows.....

Phillip then says that he thinks that in the future he can see consolidation of virtual worlds, with bigger companies swallowing smaller, to do away with the need to have accounts in various different worlds. Which beggars the question: Who does he have his eye on. I once saw a picture suggesting that most people's favourite Linden, Torley, has an account in Habbo Hotel.
Finally, Phillip was asked if he had a message to us lowly residents. His message was "We're all in this together." He points out that this is still "very early" in the lifeline of SL and virtul worlds in general, and that at the moment, everyone' input is relevant, assuring residents that all our input is shaping this young format. Those who put the hours in, will control the destiny of SL! Or alternatively... Don't give up on us. Everyone will think you're cool if you were here at the start!

So, ultimately, no huge revelations. As I said at the beginning, this seems to be ultimately an exercise in telling us what they want us to know, or even what they want us to hear, and of course admitting things that they can't deny, because they are so painfully obvious anyone who's inworld for 5 minutes can spot them. But marks for effort, and at least we get to hear his voice, and arm ourselves with a whole new set of questions. So, Phil, when are you going to subject yourself to a Voodoo Buwan interview?

To listen to the podcast in it's entirety, check the Linden Blog or click here to download the podcast directly.