|
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS RETAINED AS ARCHIVAL INFORMATION. As of August 1, 2018 Inworldz has already shut down and much of the information below is already out-of-date.
See end of this blog for the latest information from Inworldz.
INWORLDZ HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS SHUTTING DOWN
This blog is being written over the next 3-4 days. Please return for additional information.
As many are aware, Elenia of Inworldz has just announced the intended shutdown of Inworldz on Friday, July 27, 2018. This gives members less than 4 days to figure out what to do with their creations, where to move (or if they're going to continue with virtual worlds at all)... or to see if what Elenia has stated will indeed come about and Inworldz actually go offline-- or something pull it out of the can at the last minute.
Be assured the Elf Clan Counsel is aware of these things and we will be discussing it over the next few days. Even if Inworldz does close down on Friday, that doesn't mean Elf Clan has to make an immediate decision. We have time.
IN THE MEANTIME
We recommend: if you own regions on Inworldz, ask Elenia to provide an OAR of your region. She has instructed people to make such request in this article:
https://inworldz.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360007381013-State-of-InWorldz
However, realize that an Inworldz-based OAR file is very unlikely to reproduce your entire region on another grid. That's just the reality of the situation. If Inworldz shuts down and you continue with virtual reality, you will most likely need to re-build... a lot.
[edit: Inworldz has announced they will be producing "FULL, COMPLETE OARs" which they will send to individual region owner emails. We await to see what they're able to save for us.]
BACK UP YOUR CREATIONS
If you can, use your FIRESTORM (or other) viewers to back up your creations to your hard drive. This will be a complex and time-consuming process, but the option is to wave goodbye to all your work. Some are deciding to do just that.
In the meantime, we recommend calm and peacefulness among our members. We know this can be an emotional situation, but the truth is that most of us have lost major things in our lives. Some have lost loved ones, husbands, wives, children, parents. Others have lost all their belongings in a house fire, or their heath to advancing age or accident.
All things are relative in importance. We accept the reality of that which we cannot change, and we move on.
ELF CLAN SURVIVES
Will Elf Clan continue on? In some form or another. The Eldar are currently considering several options. It is understandable we cannot "vote" on this as a group; the mayhem would be far too great. HOWEVER, we wecome your suggestions and recommendations. The supporting Eldar are:
Wayfinder Wishbringer
Moontan Valeeva
Cinnamon Raymaker
Peter Lioncourt is the land Eldar. Please do not contact him regarding these issues unless your inquries are related to land. Things are going to be busy enough for him. However if you have questions, suggestions, recommendations (even involving other grids), please feel free to contact the other Eldar. Your voices are always heard.
THE WEES
The tiny community has long been associates of Elf Clan. It was recognized early this day that we wish to retain that relationship. It would be of benefit if Elf Clan and the Wees-- if we move to a new grid-- wind up on the same grid. Discussions have already begun in that direction and a potential committees formed between the two groups. We expect perhaps a similar relationship with STAR TREK EXPERIENCE, who have been our good friends since the early days of Elf Clan.
We will let you know when a decision is made. Again, your feedback, input and recommendations count. The Counsel is in charge of the final decision, but that decision will be based on group needs and advice. Every voice IS a voice. Please do not hesitate to IM us or send a notecard with your thoughts.
Our very best wishes to all.
Wayfinder Wishbringer
and the Elf Clan Counsel
THE LATEST WORD FROM INWORLDZ
Elenia has announced she is working on methods to try to save Inworldz. The latest official news:
* Don't panic, remain calm, don't take your creations offline.
* Inworldz may go offline for a few days, but hopefully will be right back up.
* They ask for time. It will take a few days to sort this out.
* In short, contrary to prior announcements, Inworldz isn't necessarily going offline permanently.
However, understand these statements offer no guarantees. We have no hard evidence that Inworldz will be online Friday or Saturday. So if you hold creations on Inworldz dear, do all in your power, with whatever tools you have, to copy these items to your hard drive. Unfortunately available tools for doing so are hindered by permission / ownership issues and are often unreliable. That is the pox of economy-based virtual worlds.
We will wait with the patience of Elves and see what happens. If Inworldz goes offline, then we can figure out what to do from there.
LATEST GOOD NEWS
Both the Wees and Star Trek Experience have expressed desire to work with Elf Clan in finding a mutually-acceptable grid should Inworldz go offline. There is strength in numbers when bargaining for new lands. Three large, well-known groups have more bargaining power than one. Of course, Elf Clan would change dramatically. We will see what results over the next week or two.
07-26-2018
Most of Inworld has already shut down. As OAR files have been saved, individual regions have automatically been taken offline.
The Eldar of Elf Clan have decided to take a breather, be patient, and take our time deciding on our next step. Will Elf Clan be reborn elsewhere? Will it be a full group or at reduced concept? Should we close it down, satisfied with a glorious 14-year run? All of these options and more are being considered.
The truth is, we have no answers at this time. Inworldz has stated it will be re-opening as a "new" company, and pulling in regions from saved OAR files. However... all inventory will be lost. Does Elf Clan want to rebuild.. yet again? We have have received mixed reactions to this. Some want to rebuild. Some say absolutely no. Some express misgivings and lack of trust in Inworldz itself. So there is a diversity of opinion. All those opinions must be considered and weighed.
The Eldar invite your feedback. You can contact Eren Padar or Wayfinder Wishbringer on SL, Snoots Dwagon on OSgrid. PLEASE USE NOTECARDS, NOT IMS or you'll cap out our IMs. Write your thoughts on a notecard, send it over. It will be considered. Opinoin-based IMs will be deleted. NOTECARDS please.
We plan to make a decision within 2 weeks or so, depending on how quickly Inworldz gets rebuilt, what their price struture and fees are, whether it's the best deal for our group. Realistically speaking: as of this day we have lost a total of some US $150,000 in investments in Inworldz. That's a pretty hard sock to the jaw and cannot be ignored as we choose where to land. Trust once lost is difficult to regain.
Right now things are up in the air, so Elf Clan waits for the smoke to clear. We wish to make a valid and well-studied decision. Such things require time. Thank you for your patience in this matter.
--o--
|
