We’re once again in that weird state of suspension: the old year is now behind us, the New Year is opening up in front of us, and we’re all getting back to “the usual” routines.
Some twelve months ago, this was a time of Great Optimism within Linden Lab; or at least within Mark Kingdon’s “pod”, as he enthusiastically posted not only about the next year in virtual worlds, but the next ten years. As I reported in my review of 2010, when it came to the 12 months directly in front of him, not all M hoped for came to pass. Indeed, there was much he didn’t – nay, couldn’t – predict.
This year, by contrast, those within LL remain resolutely silent. In around a week’s time, this is liable to change, given that Rod Humble “officially” starts-up as the new CEO around the 17th (next Monday) – so doubtless we’ll be hearing something around then.
In the meantime, the lack of news from LL is weighing on us all; although some are feeling it a lot more than others. Tateru Nino is theorising that there is more to the silence than meets the eye – speculating that the silence is that which comes before what she calls the “Big Surprise Announcement” and hinting that it may not be A Good Thing. Ciaran Laval is taking it more lightly, pointing out that if there is one thing LL should do in 2011, it’s to listen to its greatest resource: those of us who use their blessed platform. Elsewhere, others seem to be caught-up the idea that the General Discussion forum should go; recently saw a completely useless thread on this very topic started by one of the forum’s regular naysayers & borderline trolls; but others such a Que Niangao – altogether more respectable – have hinted something my be in the offing where the forums are concerned. Where the information comes from, however, is anyone’s guess.
For my part, I’m actually not at all surprised by the silence; there is a new CEO; the company went through a wave of cutbacks mid-year, and the losses are still accruing: Jack Linden went just before Christmas, as did Joe Linden (Joe Miller), and it appears Wallace Linden (Mark Wallace) has gone after a heady time as the Conversation Manager that is equalled only by Katt’s tenure as the Communication Manager…
Ergo, it is unsurprising that little has been said, either blog-wise or, it seems, through the few remaining Office Hours meetings. For one thing, who knows whether the “restructuring” has reached a point of being “restructured”, and for another, people are liable to have one eye cocked pensively on the door to the board room and the other cocked pensively at the door to the new CEO’s office, waiting to see which way the wind is blowing.
The majority response to Rod Humble’s appointment has been positive: whether this remains so has yet to be seen. There are certainly a lot of people who are going to be disappointed – especially those calling for the scraping of Viewer 2.x; sorry, kids, ain’t gonna happen. Equally, those that believe Rod, with the best will in the world, will have a free hand in matters are also going to be disappointed; he’ll no more be able to push and pull LL as freely as Mark Kingdon did during his tenure. There will be requirements from the Board he’ll be expected to oversee, just as things like the Adult Content Changes came from the Board, and not did not spring solely from Mark Kingdon’s forehead.
Doubtless, there is a Big Announcement coming next week – but I doubt it’ll be as earth-shattering as Tateru implies. I also hope that 2011 will bring about a resurgence in LL’s ability to listen to its users as Ciaran states they should. Certainly, Rod Humble is perhaps more user-savvy than the likes of Rosedale, Kapor, Kingdon et al – but whether that is enough to really make a difference is going to be something that only time will reveal.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 