British Government ‘Wasting’ Money in Second Life™?
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009According to this article on Sky News the British Governments Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is spending £12000 per year on a sim in game (region name: Innovation Centre) without even having it advertised on the DWP website. Of course the opposition party and all cynics have gone on about the insensitivity of this type of waste in an economy in which so many people are out of work. That was expected, of course they were going to bitch about that.
What I am more amazed by, however, is where they’re getting these numbers from. Now, Sky News is usually pretty accurate and Telegraph, another source I generally trust, is also quoting the same figures. As well as a staggering £12000 per year in running costs, they are citing a £20000 set up cost!!! WTF?
Ok, a sim costs $1000 set up, inclusive of the first month’s tier. Fees are then $295 per month. Let’s convert that to British pounds using today’s exchange rate and that is a set up fee of £715 and a monthly fee of £215.
So, I figured that this sim must be pretty impressive. I found it and went. And it isn’t. It’s a mega prim sphere textured as a globe with some smaller spheres inside it textured with that freebie glass texture you see everywhere. Now, in order to get to some £20000 either that’s the most expensive textured megaprim in the entire world or someone is being taken for a ride!!!! Looking around at the conference centres etc, I really cannot see how £20000 could possibly have been spent.
And then this maintenance fee…. £12000 a year implied £1000 per month. Considering tier is £215, this leaves £785 being spent somewhere…. but where? Could it be security to control the heavy crowds?? Umm.. well considering I was there an hour and nobody showed up despite the press coverage of this sim today, I somehow doubt it. In addition, traffic is a measley 34. So unless security is there to control thin virtual air, that would be a no. The sim is being managed by Second Places, who I know have done an incredible job over on the Manchester sims etc. So perhaps they are paying them this maintenance money? But I, once again, fail to see what maintenance could be required. Plus, they must also be taking into account monies they are earning from that too, since there are advertisements around for various companies.
Second Life has the potential to be such an incredible platform for information, education, awareness and communication. However, this type of money thrown at this is a complete waste without the sim being used to its fullest potential or even marketed in anyway.
Ok, rant over. Cup of tea anyone?
