The release of the Viewer 2.0 BETA (caps deliberate, as some in the official SL forums seem to be missing that part) has generated a lot of debate, discussion, teeth gnashing, cloth rending and….feedback from Linden Lab.
Most of the feedback from the Lab has been positive – they’ve recognised issues, admitted errors (e.g. the removal of a lot of the INSPECT tool functionality) and have promised to tweak and improve in several areas.
This is all excellent stuff – and what we need to see and hear. If Viewer 2.0 is the way of the future for both the Official Viewer and all future Third Party Viewers (given the codebase is now in Snowglobe), then the Lab needs to listen and take on constructive and genuine critiques and concerns.
That they are already deserves some recognition – although what comes out the other end in terms of a “polished” version 1.0.0.0 of the Viewer will be the proof of the pudding.
However, while the dev tem are busy responding and taking note, across the room we have Amanda Linden and her “Viewer 2.0 poll” – and once again we’re plunged back into “oh dear, oh dear, oh dear” land, and much shaking of heads.
This, um, “poll” asks one question: “Do you like Viewer 2.0” and gives only 4 options to reply:
- “I love it!”
- “I like most of it.”
- “I’m indifferent.”
- “I don’t like it.”
The marketing spin here is so intense, I got dizzy just looking at the screen.
Come ON, Amanda! If you really want to get solid user feedback, then at least produce a decent poll, one than offers granularity, that asks pertinent questions, that is, in a word, useful.
One like this, in fact.
Yes, the results you get may not stack up against the heavily biased item you put forward, or provide you with the flag-waving worthy of a PR release – but it would provide invaluable feedback to your developers, helping pinpoint clearly (and without all the angst and shouting in the forums) where there are issues with the Viewer.
I appreciate you’ve probably realised the poll is tilted – hence the rapid closure. However, just by putting it up in the first place sends out the message that you and the marketing team are more concerned with fluff rather than substance. Worse, you make yourselves the butt of considerable resident derision.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 