[UPDATE: April 5, 2012] We’ve identified two issues contributing to WEB-4587.
The first issue concerns mismatched data appearing on Marketplace listings. This impacts a very limited number of Merchants and has been occurring since the original migration from Xstreet to the Second Life Marketplace in September 2010. We continue to actively work on a resolution.
The second issue concerns incorrect listings appearing in search results. We have identified the issue and are actively working on a fix.
The information provided by Merchants on the forum and directly to the Marketplace development team helped greatly in identifying the root cause of these issues. Thanks to those who provided information.
We will continue to provide updates as we work through the issues.
There is no indication as to haw far along any resolution / fix for either issue might be – and probably wisely so. Event tentative dates might be taken literally and cause additional strain in LL / merchant relationships if missed.
That one of the errors dates back to the original migration from XStreet to the current SL Marketplace back in 2010 will come as no real surprise to merchants who have been impacted by the issue; it is a view that was aired as a part of ongoing discussions into the matter. It might event be fair to say – as the update hints – that it was such speculation and investigations by merchants themselves that may have helped Linden Lab confirm this particular root cause for the problems.
Even without potential dates for a fix or fixes to be rolled-out, the feedback from the Lab is to be welcomed. Hopefully, now issues have been identified and the line for updates has been re-established, the Commerce Team will take further steps to ensure the merchant community as a whole is kept informed of the situation through the Commerce forum.
Merchants are continuing to investigate the listing errors occurring on the SL Marketplace, with several confirming a suggestion put forward by Argus Collingwood on March 31st, and again suggested today that the issue appears to impact products with listing numbers in the 14xxxxx range. This has also been reported through the JIRA (WEB-4587)
It is currently unclear as to whether Linden Lab are looking into the possible connection, as apart from direct e-mails / e-mails with a handful of those impacted, the Lab and the Commerce Team remain largely silent on the issue.
Which is not to say they are sitting on their hands. As reported in an update here as well as on other blogs, the Lab has made a number of positive moves: extending the deadline for Direct Delivery migration /Magic Box retirement to the start of June; cancelling the overall timetable associated with DD originally published in the DD migration guide, and listing those JIRA they are actively pursuing. Merchants have also received assurances that LL are working to correct issues within support that have led to misleading or incorrect information being supplied to Merchants who have filed tickets on problems in direct response to requests from the Commerce Team.
However, the problem remains one of a need for more direct two-way communications. LL are assuring people the listing issue is being addressed as a “top priority”, yet the amount of information coming out of the Lab is limited. There has been no input to the JIRA from LL since March 29th – and no response to the idea of the issues being focused on items with listing numbers in the 14xxxxx range. Such is the silence of the Lab, that people are wondering if the associated forum thread is being read, and are trying to direct feedback to the JIRA to try to ensure it is being seen by the Lab.
As it stands, Merchants are trying to figure out matters and provide potential pointers to assist the Lab. The theories may be correct, or may be down to bizarre coincidence – and if correct, it’s entirely likely that the Lab have already made the connection and is working toward a solution. But given there is no concise feedback coming out of the Lab at all on matters, Merchants are still very much being left in the dark and to what might be the case.
Given the effort they are themselves putting into the matter, Linden Lab could at least meet them half-way and provide some form of feedback on what is happening and how useful the pointers may be. As I’ve said previously, detailed explanations are not required; but more direct feedback can only be a positive move on LL’s part on at least two counts:
It will reassure those worried about whether Merchants’ own feedback is being read by the Lab and looked into (if not already under investigation)
It will help underline the Lab’s commitment to resolving issues and working cooperatively with Merchants to address issues.
This is a weekly summary of changes to all SL Viewers / clients of which I’m aware and which are in popular use across the grid / listed in the TPVD. Detailed links to said Viewers / clients can be found in my Viewer Round-up Page. The links supplied in this summary are either to change logs or to reviews within this blog.
Updates for week ending: 1 April, 2012
This last week has been a busy one, with numerous updates, some connected to Direct Delivery, others as a result of RLV updates.
The SL Development Viewer rolled through two rapid releases: 3.3.2.252228 and 3.3.2.252611
The Direct Delivery Project Viewer remains available, post-DD roll-out. A hint about further updates, or simply waiting to be removed?
Dolphin saw two rapid-fire releases, with 3.3.0.2700 primarily gaining the latest RLV updates and the Direct Delivery Merchant Outbox, and 3.3.1.23706 primarily adding mesh upload capabilities from Kokua
The Kokua team released an experimental version of their Viewer for the Mac
Update, December 2013: Crimarizon and Crimarizon 2 are both temporarily closed.
I’ve been getting suggestions for places to add to my SL Virtual Destinations for a while now – and appreciate receiving them. One that has come up on three occasions recently (thank you, Ella, JB and Ayesha!) is that of Crimarizon; so I decided to take a look.
The region is the work of Megan Prumier, and is described as a “Photogenic fantasy spot [which] features an eclectic castle housing the Pixel Panic Gallery” – and it lives up to its reputation in every sense. Featuring facilities for live entertainment, the Pixel Panic gallery curated by Dixmix Source, Crimarizon offers the SL explorer with much to see.
Arrival
I used search to teleport to Crimarizon, and did find the coordinates slightly off – I arrived on the wrong side of the land area, ankle-deep in water. In case this is an error with the build, rather than a SL glitch, you might want to use this SLurl. The arrival area itself is a stone walkway over the water, situated in a lush landscape, lit by ornate lanterns; before you stands a magnificent tower / archway.
Where you go on arrival is up to you – there are no set paths here, just the opportunity to wander and marvel. Walk away from the tower and follow the walled path to the water’s edge and you will spy ruins through the trees, sunlight dappling them. The walk to them may result in wet feet – but is well worth it.
Ruins
Follow the path under the arches of the tower and you’ll come to the magnificent structure of the Crimarizon castle (although “castle” seems too dull a name for it), shimmering amidst the trees and water. This has a strong oriental feel to it, although it appears to be a fusion of influences.
Castle entrance
The castle offers much to be explored, halls an galleries and gardens, all with their own unique touches. Here lies the Medusa Masquerade hall, a venue for costumed events, and the Pixel Panic gallery which, at the time of my visit, featured the works of CapCat Ragu and Meilo Minotaur.
Medusa’s Masquerade
Wander the upper levels of the castle and you will come to stone walkway supported by great trees, lit by lanterns, leading you on to other wonders and places such as a market high in the trees, views out over waterfalls which have their own secrets to explore. Walk on through the market and the evolving landscape of Crimarizon 2, the sister sim currently under construction, beckons – but you’ll have to wait to explore it.
Market in the trees
There are also hints of dark goings-on somewhere: a pile of bleached skulls near the market, what might be altars tucked away in corners; a gibbet complete with noose standing in a dark hall… Mysteries that may have an answer or lend themselves to a machinima tale…
As someone with an abiding love of Sri Lanka, I couldn’t help but be reminded of that beautiful island as I explored. Not so much because of the great statues of elephants (which are African, rather than Asian, in origin), but because of the feel of some parts of the build. The stone walkways and the Marketplace, complete with boulders and outlooks from under stone eaves, remind me of places like the Boulder Gardens, while the gilded halls within the castle put me in mind of gilded stupas and gold-coated Buddhas rising from lush forests. Even the ruins, for some reason, put me in mind of Anuradhapura,even though there is little actual resemblance.
But then, that is the skill in creating an immersive environment; to create something that is at once new and unknown but which at the same time triggers memories and feelings of familiarity which draw one deeper into it, increasing the desire to explore – and to come again.
Other elements of Crimarizon are entirely other-worldly, woven in fantasy and a joy to see – although you may have to spend a little time seeking them out.. and all is not in plain sight nor necessarily on the obvious paths.
I spent well over an hour today wandering through the region, capturing snaps and enjoying the evocative feel to the place; I’m thoroughly intrigued to see what emerges from the development of Crimarizon 2. What is there already is enticing, and hints at yet more in the way of an alluring fusion of styles and ideas that will enhance the region’s appeal enormously among photographers.
All-in-all a marvellous place to visit and explore, and another on my list of personal favourites.
Visit Notes
I made my visit to Crimarizon using Firestorm (rather than Exodus) with deferred rendering (lighting & shadows and ambient occlusion) enabled. For the most part I operated with a draw distance of some 200m, pushed up to 520 for the longer, across-sim, shots, with sun set to region time.
While running with deferred rendering is not a necessity to enjoy the region, it does enhance a visit if you can enable lighting and shadows. If you can’t you might like to try setting your sun to sunset or sunrise, or try a windlight preset to gain another unique feel for the region.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 