Category: Linden Lab

So we have another round of departures from LL – among them Catherine Linden. Some have praise Catherine’s tenure at LL; I’m not entirely in the same mindset. As the architecture of the LL Trademark documentation, she opened up something of a can of confusing worm – particularly with regards to the use of every day words such as “Life” (which LL “banned” the likes of TPV developers from using, claiming it was a breach of their trademark / copyright). As someone with a degree of responsibility for communications (at least at one time), she also made a pretty poor communicator herself; although that is pretty much par for the course for many at LL.

Her departure is somewhat “balanced” by the announcement from Terrance Linden of the move to bring in younger teens to the main grid after the inevitable decision was made to come clean and close Teen Grid. And for once it shows a degree of common sense. Those who witnessed Philip Rosedale’s SLCC 10 address – particularly the closing minutes when he was challenged by an educator over the Teen Grid decision, could not help but feel his sympathetic ear was somewhat closed to her pleas: the move was a done deal. It is therefore refreshing that those at the Lab have taken the time to listen to a section of their community (educators) and take steps to ensure that needs of that sector of their community continue to be met. In a nutshell the move announced by Terrence means that 13-15 year olds will soon be able to access the main grid BUT – and before people start shouting and screaming, they will not be able to:

• Move outside the educational sims / estates hosting their affiliated educational organisation(s)
• Use search to make purchases via in-world stores or the Marketplace

This is still not an ideal solution – a dedicated Educational or “Teen” Continent would perhaps be preferable – but it does mean that risks of lawsuits etc., are drastically reduced so long as educational organisations themselves are restricted to private (and discounted) sims. It also means that there can be greater and more positive interaction between youngsters and others on the grid in a “controlled” environment: educators will have to ability to vet others on the main grid and invite them into their sims to give talks, presentations, etc. Undoubtedly, this could be a major boon for a range of educational projects that schools, etc., may undertake: one can well imagine in-world science lessons being enlivened by a visit from representatives from NASA, ESA or the International Space Museum.

Nevertheless, as others point out, it still begs the question why LL didn’t simply create the aforementioned “Teen Continent” that might have provided both a contiguous experience for youngsters that come in-world for educational purposes and an environment for those aged 16 and 17 (whose presence on the wider Grid is still very much a potential minefield for LL and adults alike). Indeed, if what I’ve been told is correct,that the Teen Grid was pretty much a Continent in its own right, albeit it one with additional access restrictions, why not simply merge it with the main grid as a “new continent”, complete with safeguards to avoid the pitfalls of the “wrong” kind of adult / teenage interaction (I’m not talking sex here necessarily…the “wrong” kind of interaction covers a broad spectrum of what might possibly happen – up to and including an adult “looking over” their teenager’s shoulder and getting completely the wrong impression of what goes on in SL). Doing so would have removed a “caretaking” headache for LL, removed the heartache for teens, still provided the environment Terrance has announced and – most beneficial of all – allayed the fears (real and perceived) of the adult community already on the main grid.

Sadly, however, we’re not going to get anything like a “teen” or “PG” (or even “G”) continent; that was made clear during the Adult Policy / Zindra fiasco, so campaigning for such – as some have been attempting to do since news of the closure of Teen Grid was announced – is a waste of time. It simply doesn’t fit with the LL “roadmap” – whatever that might be. But – in the case of 13-15 year olds, this move is perhaps the best compromise for all concerned. It doesn’t provide an answer for everything, but it is potentially enough to help reassure both sides of the youngsters-in-SL argument that things are not going to end up an unmitigated disaster; at least where those in the younger age range are concerned.

Tateru Nino reports some interesting news concerning Linden Lab, with three new hires joining the ranks, namely Judy Wade, Eric Argel and Peter Gray.

Wade comes in as “Vice President of Stategy and Emerging Business,” while Argel is the new “Director of Information Architecture”. Gray joins as a “PR specialist”.

What is most interesting about Wade and Argel is their pedigree: Wade was formerly employed by Mitch Kapor (a serving member of the Linden Lab Board), while Argel worked at Organic…former home of Linden Lab’s CEO Mark Kingdon (“M” Linden).

Quite what their precise roles will be is unclear. However, it would appear that Argel’s role has potential cross-over with that of Frank Ambrose (“FJ” Linden), the Senior VP for Global Technology. Has Frank perhaps been too forthcoming of late with he blogs on the status of the Grid?

Wade’s title is probably more revealing, and again, following on from the acquisition of XStreet SL and OnRez, tends to confirm that the Lab is moving to pitch itself more as a service provider than the “mere” platform provider it has until now insisted it has been.

Question is, service provider to whom? The existing user community? This is kind of hard to accept given the overwhelming attitude of Kingdon and Zdanowski, which frequently suggest we are a necessary evil to be tolerated, rather than embraced, while taking the company on to Bigger Things.

Again, taken in a broader context: the emphasis on “immersive experiences”, tie-in with the likes of Rivers Run Red, Wade’s title and Argel’s background do tend to point to Kingdon et al pinning a good part of the Lab’s future on “corporate solutions”.

Or are they looking to beef-up the company for an IPO or possible technology sell-off, as some have suggested? Of course, talk of IPOs have been around for a while – as have reasons for the company not going in that direction. But times are changing. Kapor et al like to have Things That Do Things – and push-come-to-shove, in the real business world, SL actually does very little in the scheme of things. Perhaps the only thing mitigating against an IPO at the moment is the general state of the global economy, and you can be sure Kapor et al will want their pound of flesh arising from any offering. Which is why a technology sell-off might be more the thing…

But back to staff. As both Tateru and Prokofy Neva note, Kathleen Craig (Katt Linden) has now gone from the Lab, having departed last week. While Linden Lab rarely – if ever – discuss specifics of staff moves, that Katt went without mention, and no apparent move has been made to replace her in the role of “Resident Communications Manager” again tends to confirm the importance (or lack thereof) The Management accorded her position, as I reported on her appointment. It will be interesting to see if we ever hear anything about the position she filled, or whether it’ll be carefully packed into a box and filed in the Lab’s basement….

Peter Gray’s role seems somewhat nebulous based on the reports filed so far, and one awaits the official Linden Lab announcement with interest. However, he comes from Lewis PR, the firm used by Linden Lab for its PR and media communications. This suggests that he is somewhat familiar with Second Life…and also begs the question, whither Catherine Smith (Catherine Linden), the Lab’s Senior Marketing Manager? Is she indeed consigned to the Lab’s car park, as Prokofy Neva suggests?