Inworldz, SL/OpenSim Spinoff, Launches Last-Ditch Gofundme to Survive

Here's a GoFundMe crowdfunder to save InWorldz, a commercial spinoff of OpenSim, which is in turn an open source spinoff of Second Life. While InWorldz is relatively popular for OpenSim-based worlds, boasting 180,000 registered users (I'd estimate 5-10% of that number still being monthly active users), and offered virtual land at much lower rates than Second Life ($75 for a private island, versus the $295 that SL charged until recently) , the owners still hit some dire economic straits explained in exhaustive detail here.

On the positive side, GoFundMe has already raised $16,301 of its $17,000 goal, so it's looking likely that InWorldz will return. So it's not improper to point out a takeaway here: Low virtual land/subscription costs are not necessarily the key to a virtual world's longterm success; users, lots and lots of active users, are all.

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager, Mr. Woolhaara.

Comments

[Vince Medlock]

This drama today has been interesting. For their creators, I hope they pull it off. If I were a user of that grid, though, I'd demand a change of management. If the issue really is purely PayPal, one has to wonder how Reischl got caught there in the first place. Anyone who can think logically should've run screaming from PayPal as soon as they forced a "You can't sue us for anything, ever" clause into their TOS. Any shuckster that's planning something so boneheaded that they need to try and forbid lawsuits is waving a giant red flag. Reischl should've heeded it.

[Fuzzball Ortega]

Seems, according to a recent update, that now it's been suggested in starting a new grid, altogether. That's gotten some mixed reactions. I don't see the point if the goal was to save InWorldz, but then I'm in InWorldz very rarely. I've got too much time and money invested in SL to spend a lot of time in other virtual worlds, although I'm wanting to check out Sinespace, my favorite clothing designer left to go there.

Hope whatever they do that they're successful.

[sirhc deSantis]

The legendary Linda has withdrawn support. That is all I need to know.

[Minethere Always]

Looks like Christmas arrived much earlier this year for me.

[Bill Snowden]

Inworldz falls into civil war
https://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2018/07/inworldz-co-founder-has-doubts-about-grids-future/

[Eliza Wierwight]

I've just seen a Tweet that they've shut down. Accompanied by a screenshot. That's a genuine shame, though I've never been a member I had read about the valiant attempt to keep it open, seemed the crown fundraiser was close to goal to. I hope to be proven wrong. Didn't look good though.

[Adam01time]

Real simple so long thanks for all the fish. who got that 16k