A very controversial and hot topic at the moment is the Linden Lab acquisition of Xstreet SL and OnRez. Arguably I think that this manoeuvre by the owners of Second Life could prove to either be on of the best (or worst) things they have done.

Apotheus Silverman the owner of Xstreet SL, along with 8 members of his staff, will be employed directly by Linden Lab to integrate the Xstreet platform into Second Life. On February 11th trading on OnRez (originally developed and maintained by The Electric Sheep Company) will cease and the site will close. All OnRez only merchants are urged to create Xstreet accounts asap to make the changeover as easy as possible.

With approximately 120,000 avatars registered on Xstreet SL (formerly SL Exchange) and an undisclosed (yet considered smaller) number of OnRez users this move affects the majority of Second Life merchants and web shoppers.

All of the preceding information is fact. From here on in, the facts are mixed with my opinion, as a Second Life/ Xstreet SL/ OnRez shopper.

One of the most common complaints about this development is the stronghold monopoly situation that LL now appears to have. I don’t personally subscribe to this opinion, as Linden Lab did not have (until now) any web based merchant system in place. Encompassing the largest sites under their wing is a sound move by Linden Lab, to offer web based shopping (which we know as a popular alternative method to teleporting and visiting shops). Indication stands that OnRez would be closing in February as The Electric Sheep company continues to withdraw it’s prescence in Second Life, therefore for the purposes of the monopoly analysis, OnRez should be therefore discounted. Alternatives are in place for those who don’t want to use the integrated machine that Linden Lab will no doubt build. On the shopping side, smaller popular sites like apez.biz should be able to capitalise on being a truly independent site. Predicting a new ‘all worlds’ merchant site isn’t too far fetched either, considering XStreet SL themselves investigated coverage of other worlds, and one would certainly think if there was a ‘good’ time to launch it, that time would be now. Lastly, the forums on Xstreet have quite an avid following, I would expect them to become a casualty of this buyout since their independence is lost, however sites like SLUniverse should bear witness to a rejuvenation of their forums.

Speculation surrounding Xstreet SL of late has been that the site was troubled. With falling sales and commissions the site was deemed, by many, to be in trouble. Perhaps these rumours had more weight than many of us thought. If Xstreet SL had collapsed it would have caused a cataclysmic wave in the economy of Second Life. If this conjecture is true, Linden Lab may have stepped in to stop this from happening.

Xstreet SL, and OnRez were well known and respected institutions in-world, with good coverage on many sims with terminals, and box hosting sites popping up left, right and centre. One institution with more coverage than these two companies put together has to be of course Linden Lab. Once the initial furore has calmed, providing Linden Lab put the necessary resources behind Xstreet SL, this site with the in-world backup could increase users, items and ease of use immensely.

Talking about ease of use, I perceive the biggest advantage of this development as being the potential to streamline the systems. One problem many ‘high users’ had with this site was the time it took to list items online. With a Linden Lab incorporated Xstreet SL, merchants, may, find selling their items get easier. Currently deliveries depend on the blackbox/dropbox systems, which of course rely on the hosting sims of these boxes being online and responsive. With the potential for streamlining and direct inventory transfers the future of these sales is an interesting and greatly anticipated one. It’s also been cited on the SL Blog, that the potential for sharable wish lists and, I’m sure popular, scheduled deliveries are amongst some of the possibilities for future innovation.

It would be business suicide for merchants listed on these sites to leave, therefore without a mass exodus; everyone will sit back and watch the developments unfold with great interest. One of the biggest areas to watch will be the future of Xstreet’s own Linden Currency Exchange, although Linden Lab promised nothing will happen to this until they watch the intricacies of this system in the coming months, I suspect this will be the biggest casualty of this buyout.

This of course is my personal opinion about this matter, it is based from facts, but the opinions formed are mine. In a world where we all see different angles and perspectives I have invited Peter Stindberg, owner of Babel Translations (Second Life’s premier translation company), co-owner of GREENE Concept sculpt furniture and also the business analyst for ~flirt~ fine jewellery, to give us his take on these events. (A merchant's view: SLX, OnRez and the alternatives)

By now if you regularly read our site you will have realised that I have an itch to rant. Various things annoy many people, usually different things, from lack of customer relations to lag. At points in our day to day lives I am sure things annoy you, why should a virtual world be any different?

I need to make you all aware of one thing, something that should be kept in mind at all times. I may complain, I may moan but I do love this game. People and things annoy me, causing me to ramble on, but through it all I continue to pay for this wonderful colourful experience that is second life. Everyone in second life is allowed their freedom of speech. I have the good fortune to be able to do it here on Rez, it’s my choice to do it, the same as it is your choice to read it. We may not always agree but if we all agreed on everything the world, both real and second would be a very boring place.

I found myself the other day actually shaking my head at my computer screen. Here I was wondering about the ¼ sim I live on. Minding my own business, as I often do, tidying up the land, playing with prims when in drops a….. normally I would say gentleman but he wasn’t. I gather he was excited and that the atmosphere was rather cold his xcite attachment out for the world to see and admire. Shame in this case he happened upon a lesbian. The first and only words out his mouth where “wanna fuck”. I thought to myself how rude. You arrive on my land, don’t even enquire after my wellbeing, don’t even dress for the occasion and presume I will take you up on your delightful offer. As tempting as this question was, even to the most gay of women, I simply retorted with “fuck this” and hit eject.

It made me think however. In what world is this accepted as normal behavior? If a man approached a woman in the street with his tackle showing and that question, she would call the police! Sure most of us have had the delight of walking past a building site… hot sweaty men with jeans too small for them shouting obscenities. We know how delightful an experience that is!

Whilst thinking over the complexities of this situation, I happened upon more ponders. I am a keen reader of classified adverts. Since I explore and shop a lot in this game a classified advert is second nature. I understand that in a digital world the want for shortening words is great so things like ‘u’, ‘nvr’ & ‘gr8’ creep in. As for the great typo… we all do them, in the heat of fast and furious conversations a typo will appear. I wonder in what world however some of these classified adverts are from. If someone has taken the time and care to produce something, then surely it takes 2 extra seconds to market it properly. I watch with keen interest some of the ‘big’ places in sl. Clubs etc…. I have been a few times to some places that have hosts with horrendous spelling. I am not about to get my big red marker out but if you sell something or represent something at least TRY to do it properly. The odd typo is one thing having a language all of your own is quite another!

One further progression in my thinking (and ranting) is to do with selling objects. This world allows endless possibilities. You can create and package anything you want. From glorious fantasy outfits to gothic cathedrals. The depth of knowledge and experience in second life can be truly awe inspiring at times. As I mentioned above being the keen shopper I am, I often look with bemusement upon objects for sale. I have in the past seen absolutely stunning designs of clothes, or a beautifully crafted high prim building boxed up and listed in slx or sold in world with a simple snapshot to sell it. Like I said above if you have taken the time to create these things you have followed a process. For example think of a building…. Firstly you need to think of what style of building and then you must build it, taking time to align and link pieces. You must select a texture to use, one in keeping with your building. If it’s a larger building then you must use a rezzer to package it up… then you take a snapshot and shove it onto a prim? If you have spent a few hours or a day or so creating this surely taking 5 minutes extra to make the most of your creation is advisable? Obviously not everyone has Photoshop (or similar), I accept that, but there are a few things you can do to show dedication to your build. With windlight available as First Look, and soon Main Grid I advise people use it to the best of its ability.

I find myself, especially on slx shopping with my eye. I scroll through endless pages of simple pictures then stop at the ones that catch my eye. I.e. the ones that show imagination and a desire to allow the creation sell itself.


Take a few moments out to look at these:
Fashion Examples

DoC Eldritch (DE Designs)

Sherona DeGroot (DG Designs)

Building Examples

Amiryu Hosoi

skimi mission

These are a handful of people on slx that grab my attention, not only by the creations they produce but they dedicate to carry it through from start to finish.

Second Life gives everyone the freedom they may not have in real life, for that it’s an amazing experience, I just wish some people would have some foresight and think of others. If you spend time creating something then finish the job as you started it. Use your products to sell themselves. If you represent a club or list an advert then think how it looks to others and if you have to walk this world with your package showing then don’t expect everyone to be as happy to see you as you are to see them.