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Aussie population update - the decline continues

October 16, 2007

Linden Lab have released the metrics for September 2007 and there’s been a further significant decline in the number of Australians actively using Second Life.

The active Australian population is now cited as 11,975, down from the 13,567 reported last month and the 14.832 the month before that. Australia has stayed in 11th place overall for countries using Second Life.

That’s a really significant drop in Australians using SL actively. We seem to be heading back to below ten thousand if the trend continues.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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Written by Lowell Cremorne · Filed Under Australian News, Metrics 

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Comments

Viewing 6 Comments

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    Yep, this trend is almost to be expected, after all the news worthy programs, which in a way make SL look more exciting than it is in RL ;)

    Personally, I think companies and the media are holding their breathe... When havoc comes out and bugs are ironed out so there are no tp problems, rezzing issues, inventory issues, more user friendly interfaces for new folks, better default sounds (that clunky booop sound is so irritatating), and more *reliability*, then I can see other companies joining in with SL, and then we'd probably see the users increasing, once again...

    Also , places like the Pond have put together some really nice sims and what not.. They have a club there, a pub, yet there has not been one event there. They are obviously missing the point that live music in SL is one of the biggest drawcards on SL atm...

    So for the most part, I think a lot of these 'new users' probably walked around lost crashing a few times, bumped into a few 'rude' IM'ing folks at the outback bar, could not find anything of interest and probably never come back!
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    Have you considered something as simple 'the seasons'?!

    Usage of online games and other services rise during the winter months and Australian activity grew through the autumn and winter. Now low and behold the days are warmer and longer and your typical Aussie would rather be out in the sun than sat in front of a whirring, overheating computer.

    If you look closely at seasonal variations in other countries you will see similar rather obvious alignment. Expect it to drop and start to pick up again March/April 08.
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    Maybe it is because the abysmal speed and lag and wait times rather than some “surfs up” metaphor.

    Then again I think you may have an interest in arguing its seasonal given you rely on business to believe SL is growing.

    And until the lag times and abysmal slowness of the whole system in Aus is fixed business has little to gain from being in SL except as an R&D exercise or novelty to generate some mainstream media.
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    I think Gary might be partially right with his comments on the seasons, that could be tested to see what effects they have on other users in the southern hemisphere.

    However, I would still expect to see growth in the SL Australian population during this time, simply because the overall population is expanding too.

    Needs more research.
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    Due to time-zone differences, I find it very frustrating that many of the educations events and functions I would like to attend on a regular basis are on at 4am in my time zone, or at 1pm when I am at work.

    Also, my broadband plan is not the fastest nor has the highest download quota - this tends to slow down my SL experience. By the last week of the month, I am barely online as I have run out of quota!
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    Yes, I agree about the time-zone issue for people interested in educational events.

    It makes it quite hard for those of us that would like to check them out when they are at un-Godly hours.

    The other option is for someone here in Aus to organise one here for "us"...

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