One thing I've been thinking about lately is the concept of 'xanga blogs' and by that, I mean just a blog where you write whatever you're thinking about/feeling/doing/or whatever. I loved browsing Xanga because I'd just end up on someone's blog and have this window directly into their life.
On my site I have a more 'proper' blog which is mostly articles I write that are structured, planned out, and edited pretty heavily.
I'm trying to get into keeping a "xanga type" blog again, mostly as a writing exercise. I've gotten quite the 'stage fright' since my site became semi-popular on Neocities T_T I hate being in the spotlight and drawing attention to myself, but I feel like it's causing me to be more hesitant than I would usually be in putting my thoughts out there.
Roblox does something similar. It encourages kids to create games for other kids, and pays them virtual money (which can then be converted into real money, at a super low rate of course), basically exploiting kids' labor. And of course, bad actors have found ways to game the system. Roblox has its own economy and stock market. Children can buy, sell, trade expensive "Limited" items (similar to NFTs) using real money. And goodness knows kids have a solid grasp of how money works.
Kinda disappointed I didn't know about this... I mean I know Roblox is owned by a megacorporation and they are overall pretty shitty but I didn't know the specifics of them paying kids in virtual currency. I bookmarked both of those videos and I plan to watch them later so thanks for sharing!
DUDE you spent $16 on it! I spent $2 and I was like "Oh I better keep this a secret or ill be judged" Although I did spent A LOT on in-game clothes in Puzzle Pirates when I was younger so I learned my lesson back then. ALTHOUGH someone I follow posted a screenshot with like 2500 gems, that must be worth over $200....
Alright but you gotta hear me out - when I first downloaded and installed the app, I was like "there's no way I would actually spend money on this". And then I discovered the creator store (which took me a little bit because the app is kind of overwhelming with the menus lmao) and I saw that creators were making WAY cooler stuff than they had in the official shop and for WAY cheaper. Like I think the most expensive item I bought was like 7 or 8 gems? And it's usually the hairstyles. Almost every other article of clothing is between 1 and 2 gems. In the app, $8 buys you 125 gems. At like 1-2 gem per item, I thought it was pretty worth it, and I still haven't spent it all - I don't think I plan to buy any more though.
if they just gave you all the clothes for free, I think (possibly) it would be overwhelming and a bit boring. You neeedd a speed break, and money (although deeply imperfect) is the best speed break we have invented so far.
Okay, like I totally get this for games (real life is a little different imo) but the thing is, you can ONLY buy creator store items with gems, and that's like, where ALL of the cool stuff is. It's easy enough to grind for coins, but then you can't ever convert those to gems or use them to buy the custom made stuff that is really cool. And honestly in every game that I've ever played that had "creator items" were always waaaay more inventive, unique and creative than whatever the official game team would put out. I feel like the fact they only limit these to gem-havers is unfair.
I think a good in-game currency is fine, as long as it's not tied in any way to real currency.
I think your last comment about having more clothes in a virtual world than reality is the most important part. Its ALL about being more than you can be in reality, that's what makes it fun. Its about being larger than life, a high roller and a bigwig in your own fantasy space. Its about the joy of being greedy! I think greed is part of human nature, so its good to have an outlet for it that is (at least mostly) non destructive to the world. At the same time though, greed will always create more greed, so greed focused games will always be made by greedy companies.
I agree with the first part of this, but not so sure about the second. I don't think greed is innate in human nature, or at least not the type of extreme greed we see in our society today. I think in a lot of ways it's a thing that's exacerbated by the society we live in. We're taught or indoctrinated to want a LOT of everything even when it's not necessary.
But I definitely think that the creators of apps like these are approaching these from a 'encourage greed' standpoint, because duh, they want people to spend money!
Can a metaverse be fun and not be greedy? ... Can a shopping mall exist without the shops?
I absolutely think so. I don't think VR chat is greedy at all. I don't know a lot about it admittedly, but I've used it a few times. You can just pick up stuff that other people made. I'm kinda worried about the future of VRChat honestly, because it seems like one of those things that they'll rip away from us in time.
I've seen some corridors on VRChat that are basically "shopping malls" - you can walk in and see a ton of mannequins with avatars and you can try them on, pick them up, no issue! If more of my friends had better PCs, I think it'd be great. The main thing that stops me from using it is that no one else I know is really on there. (Another reason why Zepeto is cool is that almost anyone with a phone can use it - but it does run a little poorly on older devices).
Anyway lots of really good thoughts and discussion here!! I have hope that a good, non-relentingly-capitalist solution for a metaverse comes out soon.
Stomp away! Im sure you know how nice it is to get feedback about things, even if its unhappy feedback, it always makes my day to have something to fix. These are good suggestions, I always fight with the editor and I dont know why I didnt think of changing it
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add height to textbox on posts (this one im typing in) (maybe expand it just a few hundred px? I know you can resize it yourself also)
Made the minimum height 500px, that's about 2x bigger in my browser.
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make text in post textbox larger so it's easier to read, it's kind of tiny and hard to see aaaaaa
The text should now be 11pt instead of 9pt!
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a way to resize images in posts? (i couldn't find a method that works, apologies if I missed it!!)
You can do [img width=100] - there is a bbcode help tab in the footer, but I can see how this is confusing to those who don't use forums often, so Ill think about how to improve it!
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also itd be neat if clicking on 'melonland forum' took you home as well
The logo will now take you home!
Cache clearing may be needed for changes to appear!
hey it looks great! much better! and yay! that image code worked. I swear I looked it up first and tried a few different variations but I wasn't getting the syntax right! thanks!!
I would absolutely agree that making a website (especially a personal one) is fashion! I was writing something about my early web experiences yesterday, and I realized that changing my MySpace layout was pretty much the equivalent to "dying my hair". Especially for personal websites, how our websites look often reflects the type of person we are and what we are into.
In fact, I'd even argue that website fashion is so much better than actual fashion because it's more accessible! No matter how much money you have for clothes or what your body type is, it's possible to customize a website in a way that reflects who you are, in an act of self-expression, the same as us changing our clothes, dying our hair or putting on makeup.
hiii!!! i hate stompin around and making suggestions on other people's sites but here are some changes that I'd like to see
- add height to textbox on posts (this one im typing in) (maybe expand it just a few hundred px? I know you can resize it yourself also) - make text in post textbox larger so it's easier to read, it's kind of tiny and hard to see aaaaaa - a way to resize images in posts? (i couldn't find a method that works, apologies if I missed it!!) - also itd be neat if clicking on 'melonland forum' took you home as well
yea I think that's it!! looking good around here!!
I think it's a cool concept and wish it relied less on IAPs to get cool stuff. Even creators who make custom items for the app have to purchase their own creations with gems in order to own them. It's stuff like that which makes me
But god I wanted something like this for so long. I feel so STARVED for a good virtual world that somehow this app is like.. a feast to me. I just think it could be SOOO much cooler if it was less mobile-app-ish. But I guess that's what most people are using nowadays?
My favorite thing about it is when people "go live" and you can see their avatar talking. Even if there was like a really basic app with JUST that, like TikTok or Twitch for virtual selves? I think that would be amazing!!
@Sadness - I'm curious (since you're the only other person on this forum whos been hooked on Zepeto recently) does Zepeto count as a metaverse in your mind, and how (if at all) has using it changed your opinion on this topic?
EDIT: For those who missed it I made a post about Zepeto here!
It's interesting you ask, because I have been doing a lot of thinking about this!
As I've spent more time playing around in Zepeto, it has increasingly became clear to me that, well, it IS technically a metaverse. I remember laughing at a journalist's coverage of some crypto-event where people were talking about how important virtual clothes will be in the future. Just because it seems so inconsequential compared to like, the bigger shit that's going on in life you know?
But then I look at Zepeto, and how much comfort this stupid little app has given me. I don't know why. It's almost scary, like a dopamine hit straight to my brain.
It worries me how addictive something like this is (and I barely even go in the 3D world parts, because I'm not a big fan of mobile controls - but if this was on PC I would absolutely be on it all the time) and how enticing it is to participate. It blows my mind that such an app even EXISTS! I mean don't get me wrong, it's really cool... but, it also kind of just reinforces the idea that any kind of high-quality virtual world is going to be riddled with in-app-purchases, which are extremely predatory and reward you with something that you'll only use for as long as you use the app. All of that said I have spent $16 on this game that is basically a glorified selfie-taker for my virtual self and I am so strongly principled against IAPs
If something LIKE Zepeto could exist without premium currency... I think it would be absolutely amazing. Like, let us gift copies of our clothes to our friends, or trade items, or SOMETHING that makes the focus off of the main "marketplace" and puts it toward a "community". I think that would be awesome.
I think they predict that as world populations go up, and people are poorer and technology gets more powerful, more and more people will want to spend time online in 3d worlds to get away from life.. THAT'S A GRIM IDEA!
This quote sticks with me though, and I can't shake the thought that I bought way more virtual clothes with $16 than I've ever owned in my entire life. To a poor person that's like... a carnival! Using clothes for fashion instead of necessity! A mind-blowingly fun experience. But will they then eventually pay people in IAP wages? Like cents an hour for their virtual selves to clothe themselves in the distant future? I could see it happening
Today I'm excited to announce the newest issue of the Yesterweb Zine! This issue is called "Websites as an Act of Creativity" and it explores the creative relationships we build with websites. Check it out if you have a chance, there are a lot of really great articles from many different perspectives! https://yesterweb.org/zine/issue-02/
I think it's interesting how the main guy they interview dodges a lot of her questions. Questions that probably should be answered? Idk. It's definitely important, though and worth a watch. I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts.
Hey, quick question - is there a way for you to 'save' your post formatting to your account so you don't need to set it every time? Is that even a thing? o.O
Also, maybe a bug/tech-issue thread might be a good idea? I noticed a few things I wanna report~ but seriously this place is awesome!! Great work!!
i was born n' raised on the internet so it holds a place very dear to me. i feel VERY strongly about the state it's in today (overrun by corporations, profit first).
i LOVE & miss old forums and i'm excited to be here!!!
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I mean I know Roblox is owned by a megacorporation and they are overall pretty shitty but I didn't know the specifics of them paying kids in virtual currency. I bookmarked both of those videos and I plan to watch them later so thanks for sharing!
