Well I am suprised as it appears Legend City Online did break their silence and reply to blog posts made yesterday regarding the “ousting” of Simone Stern from their grid. They’re claiming that Simone had fallen behind on the tier payments which she had agreed to pay, and as a result her assets in world had been frozen. To reply as of yet on any of the other accusations.
A much different story to the one that came apparent yesterday, but LCO’s handling of the situation has drawn criticism now. Additionally, questions are now being asked of Simone, and whether she herself is going to speak on the issue with her own credibility being questioned.
My focus remains on Legend City Online as a service platform provider, and my suprise when the owner LaLa Xevious opted to reply to blog comments over at Profoky Neva’s Second Thoughts, rather than to release a public statement on their own blog addressing the issue, as you’d expect a company to do.
The CEO of Linden Lab would not start replying to individual blog posts – that in itself is a full time job! The counter was raised that LCO is a smaller operation, and thus can be forgiven for employing such tactics. But surely they are shooting themselves in the foot if they get a following and wish to secure further investment in the future? Digging up a little on Legend City Online through Google will lead you directly to articles by me damning their grid and the way they work. Oopsie.
But then, this may lead to a “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario. I think a lot of people cringed when LaLa published the chatlog between her and Simone – I can certainly understand why she did it, but I didn’t think it was professional to do so. If Linden Lab started publishing my chat logs with them everytime I raised an issue, I’d definitely stop trusting them as much as I do at the moment. But then, LaLa was pushed between a rock and a hard place, and essentially had to do *something*.
Perhaps I am being too critical of LCO – it does take an immense amount of work to run a metaverse, and I have little doubt that they are doing the best job they can. But the number of people criticising them seems to outweigh the number supporting them, and with what seems to be one issue after another that is dragging their name through the mud, it does seem it’s time they got a little PR help.
I thought Profoky offered a few sensible suggestions on her blog as to how LCO can re-establish itself and win back customers, which LaLa instantly dismissed. Though there’s a lot of work to be done in the technical aspects of Legend City Online if the platform is to succeed, more immediate is their problem with public relations. A lot of designers I’ve spoken to have lost faith with LCO, and their management needs to win them back.. or do what I’ve been saying all along and stop leeching off the Second Life grid, and work on attracting new talent of their own.
Either way, it appears this is make or break for Legend City Online, and they need to make the right calls if they want to stay in this business.
Queen Coronet on December 29, 2008
I read the response yesterday and I did cringe when Lala published an excerpt of her chat log with Simone. In fact, anytime someone attempts to use a chat log to support their argument they lose points with me. I just don’t think it’s necessary when a well reasoned explanation presented in a thoughtful manner could be so much more powerful. This is the type of behavior I’d expect from a 5 month old avatar running a BIAB store out of their mom’s kitchen. I agree. They need a PR person. now.
Other grids, the next frontier « A Crimson world on December 29, 2008
[...] also in the comments of this post. Please, find more information in this post by Prad Prathivi or this other or in others around the [...]
Shopping Cart Disco · Goodbye, 2008 on December 31, 2008
[...] is currently holding Simone Stern’s account and inventory hostage until she pays her rent. Prad has already commented on it, and we’ve had a running discussion over at [...]
Docwes on January 1, 2009
Being there from the very beginning I can say this. In the beginning the idea of what legendcityonline was trying to do was admirable. On a personal level I was close to Lala we talked almost everyday i can tell you that the team we had including myself worked extremely hard to transform what was central grid into LCO.
As the project gained momentum alot of decisions where made early on that set the precedence for what you are seeing today. Lala is way out of her league on this endeavour and that lack of experience or knowledge coupled with pride and diva tendencies will ruin what could have been a promising base.
You can read my previous post to see the experience i had and unfortunately more have had similar. If LCO wants to survive there needs to be new leadership with experience and understanding that there is no virtual world without the customers us. If you as a startup dont see that its a must you treat the ones who are there with you making it happen for you better than yourself. There doing what you cant to help you succeed. Then you have failed yourself before you even began.
Virtual worlds are the future no doubt. But in times like this where economy is bad people are hurting there trusting to make a future with a dream like the LCO team had there putting money into your world your idea. If they become nothing to you, you will become nothing to them.
Dont lose faith in Virtual worlds because of bad ones we all make bad decisions sometimes but in that, there is a lesson to be learned. Lets learn ours and move on and keep innovating and striving to find that world where we can make our mark even if its not LCO or SL- Have a blessed year.
-DocWes-
Ann Otoole on January 3, 2009
Now La La will sue all of you dastardly bloggers!
Yea that is the way to score points. Go after the bloggers.
Not.
Metaversally Speaking.. » A Retraction on January 8, 2009
[...] is a retraction of a previous statement made in an entry on Metaversally Speaking in the entry LCO: Spades and Mountains. Building upon a reputation of credibility, I have no issues admitting when I am wrong, as wish to [...]