Input from all users of OSgrid wanted for a welcome notecard

Eryn Galen · **Joined:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:42 am **Posts:** 233

Hi,
as discussed in the Town Hall Meeting on Sun, 4th of March there are a few things that can be done to make the first impression for new users better. One of those things was creating a welcome notecard - something that had been done in the distant past once - and put that into a giver at Lbsa Plaza.

Here is a first draft for it. It would be great to get your opinions, input, changes for it within 3 weeks, so we can finalize it and put it out. Once we have the final version, we will be looking for people to translate this notecard into various languages. If you would like to volonteer, please make a reply with your inworld name and what language you would like to do. Thank you in advance for your participation

Eryn

Code:

Welcome to OSGrid !!!

If you come from another virtual world or if this is your first digital journey, this notecard should help you make your first day here as good as possible.

FIRST OFF: This is not SL and it is not trying to be. OSgrid is a test grid for the OpenSim software, which means that new software will be tested here and at times there will be weird bugs. Having said that, the beauty of OSgrid is that everything is free - there is no monetary system here. At all. This grid is run by a not-for-profit organisation, but almost all simulators are privately run by the citizens of OSgrid. It is important to know that as speed and quality can vary greatly. If you have any questions, ask around. The majority of people on this grid are very helpful.

If you know your way around virtual worlds, you can skip this part and go directly to: "Places to go" - or if you want to setup your own virtual world, go to "How to create your own virtual world".


FOR FIRST TIME USERS OF VIRTUAL WORLDS:
-----------------------------------------------------
In "The Social Lounge at Lbsa Plaza" (where you are right now) you can find free starter avatars on the boards behind the couches. To use them: click the board, choose "Buy", choose "wear clothing now". Ask people around if they might have clothing, hair and skins - they are often happy to share.

Click on this landmark  http://slurl.com/secondlife/OSgrid%20Welcome%20Station/128/128/2  to go get specific information on how you can walk, talk, how the the viewer works, etc.
Your alternative is to simply ask someone. A lot of people will try and help you here.


PLACES TO GO:
-------------------
- Shopping:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wright%20Plaza/128/128/2
    This is OSgrid's official shopping mall. You can find other shopping locations via search.
- Sandbox:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sandbox%20Plaza/128/128/2, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sandbox%20Plaza%20II/128/128/2
    These are OSgrid's official Sandboxes. There are also other public sandboxes owned by users on this grid.
- Games: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Recreation%20Plaza/128/128/23
    Currently we have PrimWords and SpeedBuild.
    
Look at the events board here (at LBSA Plaza) to find out what's going on inworld.

A collection of current landmarks to privately run regions are also available on a board here (at LBSA Plaza) 


OFFWORLD:
---------------
OSGrid runs its own website with a forum at http://forums.osgrid.org/index.php and wiki at http://wiki.osgrid.org/index.php/Main_Page.


HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN VIRTUAL WORLD: 
------------------------------------------------------
There are lots of information and reference for creating your own virtual world using OpenSimulator software. Here are some to make it as easy as possible for you:
http://www.osgrid.org/index.php/regionconnect
http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Main_Page

To obtain help for running OpenSimulator you can use the #Opensim and #OSGrid channels at http://www.osgrid.org/index.php/freenode.


Have fun in this world !!!!!

Sarah Kline · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:24 pm

Looks good to me, the idea being to get enough essential info they need, using the least amount of words possible.

Cam Chevalier · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:52 pm

Good initiative Eryn, I will probably add some input in the next couple of weeks as it comes to me, I will offer some tidbits from first reading.

Quote:

FIRST OFF: This is not SL

I suggest you use "Second Life" because SL may just confuse first timers.

Quote:

PLACES TO GO:
-------------------
- Shopping: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wright%20Plaza/128/128/2

I suggest you use "Shopping (all free of course)"
Because even though you already said everything is free, people will still see the word BUY and become confused.

Quote:

- Sandbox: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sandbox%20Plaza/128/128/2, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sandbox%20P ... /128/128/2

I suggest here a brief explanation of what a sandbox is, maybe
"Sandbox is a place where all the building tools are turned on and you are free to create and build stuff there".

We take this information for granted, and we forget just how completely in the dark noobs can be, and there is nothing more frustrating than having information which doesnt properly inform. The people who need this notecard the most will be the absolute newbie, and they need to be led by the hand.

Great work Eryn.

ZZ Bottom · **Joined:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:44 pm **Posts:** 83

Agreed with all the above!

Roken Price · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:47 pm

I'd suggest re-wording a little in "FIRST OFF":

Quote:

but almost all simulators are privately run by the citizens of OSgrid. It is important to know that as speed and quality can vary greatly

Perhaps change to:

Quote:

It is important to note that almost all simulators are privately run by the citizens of OSgrid, as speed and quality can vary greatly

I think it gets the meaning across a little better.

Riffey4 DeGroot · **Joined:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:21 pm **Posts:** 15

IMHO it's not important to mention:

Code:

OSgrid is a test grid for the OpenSim software, which means that new software will be tested here and at times there will be weird bugs

It might frighten people. If you think it should be in the notecard, maybe put it near the bottom.

Bo Iwu · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:25 pm

I think it matters a lot to not raise fake expectations...

Kahn Khalim · **Joined:** Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:43 am **Posts:** 130

I agree, although I would love to see people pour into OSGrid, I wouldn't want their experience to be expecting SL and get discouraged by finding out later that (although very good) its still only an alpha test environment.

ZZ Bottom · **Joined:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:44 pm **Posts:** 83

Sorry to say, Alpha does not mean shi.... Second Life is still crashing as much as ever, and All we agree is far behind that alpha stage!
Os grid will always be in a Alpha state and that will not stop any to come and see it or try it.
So I really will focus much less in trying to make all understood how the grid can still be unstable, cause by now All in internet have figured that, there is no such thing as assured guaranty of functionality in any, be acess, freedom or just connecting!
All that newcomers need to know is that, IBM, US Army, Several big companies use Open sim tech.
That Open sim, Hypergrid, Divadistro, free oars, allows any to host really easy, even for dumb Asses like me, one or more regions and those regions can or can not, as any wishes, to be connected to Os grid or any other grids.
That there is already free and good quality content for the ones that look for a similar experience as they have on Second Life, but also a reliable steady and secure environment for any professional company to host meetings, to show and teach staff and so on!
That Open Sims is no longer dependent of the survival of Second Life, nor should be associated as a minor place, but rather a community of users, of all kinds, that choose to be on a free open Metaverse community, where same goals as Second Life can be achieved.
OUR WORLD OUR IMAGINATION!

Bo Iwu · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:55 am

This was not meant to tell "go back to SL". There are grids like http://inworldz.com/ or https://www.avination.com where should people seeking for stability and inworld money go. These grids are based on OpenSim technology too.

OSG is not supposed to be like SL. It is an open grid for early adopters who can live without inworld economy and are ready to instantly accept changes bought by the ALPHA development state.

Making people expect something else is nothing but a set of unspoken fake promises. And that is exactly what sends people back to SL spreading bad words about OS...

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