Your2ndPlace

For the first part of the live discussion, LukeConnell Vandeverre said the following things (taken as notes during the audio; analysis to follow):

• 'What we are doing at WSE is special'... 'it is a service'... 'it is a role playing game'... 'however, the technology behind the WSE service is'... 'Ruby on Rails'... 'chose because it is a new and exciting language'... 'provides best opportunity'... clean upgradable...
• 26,000 user accounts
• quotes the '12 million user accounts' from Linden Lab.
• around here he starts saying umm.
• Talks about Facebook, as if WSE is tied to it...
• WSE is not a real investment, not a casino, just a 'game'.
• WIC was based on the Linden Dollar. WSE was in breach. WSE's risk exposure was increased to future policy changes by Linden Lab (no it wasn't).
• Multilingual interface.
• 'Web 2.0 has taken the internet to an all new level'...
• talking about what WSE will be in about 12 months time. 'exciting and new'.
• WSE will no longer be using the Linden dollar.
• hints that Linden Lab may get rid of stock exchanges, or even Linden dollars (probably bullpoop).
• Middle to late march is new date for opening.
• Pointed out that if there are sellouts, they will be bought up by other people.
• unsubstantiated forecasts of more accounts.
• Wanna get out of WSE? Sell your license to use WICs... tada. Now, remember what Luke said - the Linden dollar is also a fictional currency, and he's cutting ties because he's afraid that they might change their policies without warning. WSE has a track record of closing in much the same way.
• 1:1 currency for Linden balances. Previous WICked balances were 1:1 US. The latter have been converted from 1:1US to 1:1 Linden (x 265).
• Claims better exit plan than other exchanges (VSTEX, SLCapEx, et al)
• End of Jan was initial deadline. This (obviously) didn't happen. No full time developers, 4.0 is so 'complicated', etc - which goes against comments supporting use of 'Ruby on Rails'.
• 5 days after developer says it is done they will reopen.
• Said LL did not inform them of banking ban, but that WSE staff are super-intuitive.

It is probably not a mistake that there is no text associated with this on the WSE Live website. LukeConnell Vandeverre wittily contradicts himself on more than one occasion. This is glaringly obvious when he spoke of the use of 'Ruby on Rails' for ease of development, which he later blames for their lack of progress. It is also obvious that he defended the move to forcing people to the WIC instead of refunding people by stating that the Linden dollar itself is only a limited license product, and that 'Linden Lab could revoke it at any time'. In essence, he implied the same thing of the WIC - but spoke highly of the WIC itself.

In essence, this seemed like a monotone message of desperation with an Australian accent.

Anyone who knows anything of software development knows that code development happens offline and is then tested before going to a live server. This is not what LukeConnell Vandeverre is claiming to have happened for 'WSE 4.0'.

Further, comparing WSE to Facebook and other successful ventures is a lot like comparing your water hose to a swimming pool. It just doesn't work.

As far as claiming to be 'better' than the other stock exchanges - LukeConnell fails to acknowledge that every other stock exchange is open, and that they are doing their best to avoid people losing money. At least they're honest about it and stand up to criticism, instead of doing live broadcasts with no room for Q&A. LukeConnell, please find some... intestinal fortitude to go with the stoic monotone.

My advice: If you have Stockholm Syndrome, believe everything he said. Otherwise, start making plans on how to best get a return on your fictional investment in the fictional role playing game of the fictional WSE run by the fictional LukeConnell Vandeverre.

In Part II, LukeConnell Vandeverre shows off a 'museum' of Wikipedia linked objects. Sorry, Luke, I did that in August 2006 and give out my collection full mods in person, or make it available for 1 Linden dollar on SLExchange. At 10 Linden dollars per texture upload, I'm glad that LukeConnell Vandeverre is trying to make so much PR out of what is not original.

I am sure glad I don't have my money being hijacked by WSE.

What it boils down to is this: Cheers, Mate! Have some Kool Aid while we use your money, since you gave the license of your Linden dollars to us!

Shades of Nicholas Portocarrero.

Technorati Tags: Business Linden Lab Metaverse Op/Ed SecondLife Stock Exchange WSE Ruby On Rails LukeConnell Vandeverre museum Wikipedia