Goodness, I hate SPAM. I hate sending it out too.
Anyway, as you all know, our attempts to mail the millions of There members to let them know about the survey has had mixed success, mostly due to the ever-vigilant SPAM detectors at places like Yahoo and Comcast (good for them, actually).
Last night, we decided to bite the bullet and spend some money and use a “real” email service to do the mailing. This would be money out of our pockets, but that’s OK.
To keep it from being completely ridiculous (there are LOTS of accounts that never visited in the system, for example), we’ve decided to limit the mailing to folks who logged in in roughly the last year of There’s existence (2009-2010).
We’ll hopefully do that this week. Some of you may get a duplicate notice but, judging from the response so far (“My preeecious, I haven’t gotten my preeeciousss email yet. Preeciousss….” 🙂 ), I think that will be OK.
Also, we’re thinking that if we DO re-open, we will probably do it in a staged fashion: ThereIM first, then “Public Lands”, then “Houses”, and finally “Real Estate”. Please don’t indunate us with questions about that yet, but I wanted to let you know we were considering that.
(Even if we do do a staged approach, we’re going to try and restore everything just as you left them).
I am so There 
#1 by Samantha on 2011.08.17 - 5:10 pm
PLZZZZ HELP email me at CherryThong101@hotmail.com PLZ i need help????? would really appreciate it
#2 by Samantha on 2011.08.17 - 5:08 pm
I AM 18N OVER, IVE TRIED GETTING MY OLD PW BUT I JUST CNT REMEMBER IT, I REMEMBER MY USERNAME BUT NOT PW<<<<< IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO , CAUSE I WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED, I WAS A LIFETIME MEMBER ON THERE AND NOW I CANT REMEMBER MY PW..THIS REALLY SUX………can any1 out thee help???????PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
#3 by LESLIE on 2011.05.15 - 6:13 pm
MAY I ASK WHY NOT FIRST FIND OUT HOW MANY WILL COME BACK TO THERE………MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE COMPLETELY HOOKED.
THEN DIVIDE AND ESTIMATE HOW MUCH IT WILL TAKE TO RUN OUR PROGRAM….DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?? ME AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER ARE ALL IN IT AND WANT IT BACK ON LINE…WE’RE HOOKED.
#4 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.15 - 7:05 pm
You’re not 18 are you?
#5 by Kerry Omar on 2011.05.11 - 5:10 pm
If there does not open after all this it would be like dangling a carrot then taking it away. I think you ought to just step out on a limb Michael Wilson and see how many people jump at a chance to get back into the game. They would find a way to pay to get back in the long run. Do a trial run for a few months and see what happens. I bet so many would come back that it would be worth it. No other world compares to there.com.
#6 by Maitane on 2011.05.09 - 6:28 am
Just a thought. It was done before so what will prevent this with the new 18+ There. I met many parents who set up accounts for their children (one child that was 4 years old) that the parents turned over to the child so the child to play. The children would get reported, their accounts banned and the parents would just make another one for the child. There are probably many parents who are already planning on doing this for their children.
#7 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.09 - 6:49 am
Because we’ll also ban the credit card associated with the under-age person.
#8 by Timo on 2011.05.08 - 8:07 pm
Having a monthly fee does have it’s benefits. Generally you get a better quality of people joining, and less of types or players who just like to harass others and cause trouble. 18+ only would also encourages a more mature player base, tho it’s difficult to verify someone’s age on the internet.
#9 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.08 - 9:44 pm
Timo you make some pretty broad statments there, How do you know you get a better quality of people joining if there are monthly fees? It has been my experience that there are a ton of over 18 year olds that are the most immature group I have ever met and they have been age validated!
#10 by Timo on 2011.05.09 - 12:59 pm
Hello Sissimaid. Yes it is a broad statement, but I think if someone is willing to invest there time and “own” money into something then they are not the type of people who grief others. It’s no guarantee of course, but in theory it should reduce the problem. Also it’s easier to get rid of trouble makers because eventually there going to run out of credit cards.
#11 by Summers on 2011.05.10 - 5:50 pm
“It has been my experience that there are a ton of over 18 year olds that are the most immature group I have ever met and they have been age validated!”
Let me just say formally Sissimaid, in my experiences on there as an 18 year old I have met some of the most immature 30+ year old’s I have ever encountered in my life and they have been age verified for multiple years.
#12 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.09 - 4:07 am
Timo has a good points regarding the other inworld benefits of >18. Are there reliable measures to verify a user’s age?
#13 by Winston on 2011.05.09 - 7:45 am
Not sure if it’s true anymore but I would guess the majority of -18 do not have multiple credit cards. Probably just one plus a debit card. There will of course be exceptions but I think those are safe assumptions. An insistence that the user’s data match the cards data (name, address and phone number) will also help to limit griefers. Not only can you ban the card number but the address and phone number as well. I can’t see a parent willfully giving out multiple CC numbers to their child as each account is banned. Not only would they have to come up with a new card with all different info but they would have to create a new email address for each new account. That’s a lot of work to go through just to be an @ss to someone in a game 🙂
#14 by Emma on 2011.05.08 - 5:47 pm
Michael, I WANT There to Reopen again, but paying to play? I joined There when I was 7, (Yes, I lied about my age, but I gave a real e-mail address.) and I have 1 friend that I keep in touch now and then on YouTube. I had about 238 Friends in there, about 187 were reg users. I missed them, and I was looking back at all the e-mails for goodbye, And I teared up. If I have to pay to play, I will not EVER play. Yes, these times are tough, but a while back you said something about Minecraft, why not team up with them? With 6,000< copies being sold every day for $28.99, There would be saved, with no problems.
#15 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.08 - 5:49 pm
My goodness. If you joined when you were 7, you’re (at the most) 15 now, and unfortunately wouldn’t be able to play IF we re-open.
The issue of paying or not has been addressed many times in these comments.
#16 by Sheena on 2011.05.09 - 9:48 pm
If she lied about her age then, I’m pretty sure she’ll lie about her age if there re-opens.
P.S. I am looking forward to trying there out for the first time, with my husband showing me the ropes.
#17 by factorialurchin on 2011.05.08 - 2:50 pm
Do you have a Date, that your going to re-open?
#18 by jimony on 2011.05.08 - 11:27 pm
I don’t have one, will you go with me? Just don’t tell my wife we’re dating.
(I hope you’re a girl, since you were asking Michael Wilson whether he has a date or not.)
#19 by mimi06 on 2011.05.08 - 11:52 am
If age has anything to do with an opening, my bibles autographed 🙂
#20 by Bronnieb59 on 2011.05.08 - 11:11 am
Thankyou for my long awaited email. Was really starting to get worried. 🙂 now I am a very happy camper!
#21 by Corrupt on 2011.05.08 - 8:36 am
Mr wilson what is your age?
#22 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.08 - 8:47 am
I’m older than dirt.
#23 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.08 - 10:30 am
Michael,
“I’m older than dirt.”
My dirt still has Moses’s fresh footprints in it.
I helped herd some of the animals onto Noah’s arc.
Jack Dawson, from Titanic fame is my great, great grandson.
Your probably wondering how, at my age, I can even move the mouse to Paintball, I don’t, I have an Aimbot 🙂
Feel any younger now?
#24 by dirty_dirtball on 2011.05.08 - 6:51 pm
I beta tested dirt
#25 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.08 - 7:23 pm
Yah? Then why are there so many bugs in it?
#26 by jimony on 2011.05.08 - 11:21 pm
ROFL, Michael. But that is the anwer. (That IS why.)
#27 by jimony on 2011.05.08 - 11:24 pm
I would have helped shovel that dirt onto Atlas’ shoulders but they only wanted the youngsters to do the heavy work.
#28 by watchlight on 2011.05.08 - 7:05 am
So Mr. Wilson, do we get an update soon on what’s going on??
#29 by Jane Meyers on 2011.05.08 - 5:58 am
Will my daughter’s account be closed because she is underaged? She did not receive a letter, and I’m guessing that is because she’s only 13. Will I have an oppurtunity to transfer all her items to my account? I have spent a lot of money on her items when she played There.com, and I would like to at least transfer them to my new account once I begin to play. I understand the risk of minors playing, and I know that There can not afford to keep the world safe for children/teenagers. Just wondering if it would be a possibility to retrieve her items so that it won’t be a waste?? It’ll be a nice headstart for me as well, considering this will be the first time I have my own account :).
Looking forward to There.com possibly reopening.
#30 by majandithere on 2011.05.08 - 10:40 am
My daughter (also 13) did some serious developing together with me (the Ninka Kites) soled under her account. I too ‘d like to know how this is going to be handled. I don’t suppose developer items can be transferred from one account to another.
I have at least two more avatar accounts with developer items on them, but Ninka’s would really matter to me, to be honest.
#31 by Jane Meyers on 2011.05.08 - 2:19 pm
Yes, I’m sure alot of people have this issue. My daughter never developed, but I put a lot of money into her account for houses, cars, clothes, furniture, etc..
I’m hoping Michael Wilson would understand that myself and others would like to reclaim the items we spent so much money on.
#32 by majandithere on 2011.05.08 - 8:11 pm
Which on the other hand would be lost anyway, if There didn’t reopen.
I guess many developer items are going to turn into quite rare items after a reopening.
#33 by SassyBeMe on 2011.05.09 - 3:05 am
I wonder if your daughter will sell you painter rights to her models. 🙂
#34 by majandithere on 2011.05.08 - 3:33 am
Will gmax actually stay the tool of choice for developers?
I hope things won’t change to a software (3DS only for example), that no one can afford and we’d all have to work with pirated software, which I’d really not feel too good about.
Or has this already been covered by the FAQ?
#35 by RRTT on 2011.05.07 - 9:41 pm
Got my 2nd emails today for both my accounts. The second emails ended up in the spam folder again on AOL and Gmail. just FYI. Get your money back from that commercial email service. still got filtered.
#36 by Lifeofcory on 2011.05.08 - 10:55 am
That could be from the first free bulk emailing thing he used, wait and see it you get another one…
#37 by SFada on 2011.05.07 - 7:52 pm
What are you waiting for?
#38 by mimi06 on 2011.05.07 - 5:41 pm
Some of this is so comical… 2 days prior to THERE closing.. all we heard was.. ” I WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP KEEP US OPEN”………….and here we are.. gimi gimi gimi.. we are still at “IF”……….. Happy Mothers Day!
#39 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.07 - 5:31 pm
I dont really know if this has been tried or not but is it possible to sell shares (stock) in a virtual world? If not why not? Just because it has not been done does not mean it isnt worth looking into.
#40 by Ned Nederlander on 2011.05.07 - 4:34 pm
Mr. Wilson,
I received a survey email that you mentioned to all about sending. I went ahead in filling out the email survey as well as the very first online survey way back when. Hope you do not consider that gaming the survey. I think there are a lot of Therians out there that either have not fill out the email survey because they filled out the original one and or some like me that filled both out?
#41 by Winston on 2011.05.08 - 2:43 pm
What?!
#42 by Drakez on 2011.05.07 - 4:05 pm
Mr. Wilson. I assume there will be benefits that go along right these monthly membership fees right? Like monthly allowances?
#43 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.07 - 4:06 pm
Good question.
I don’t know yet. First, we need to make enough to cover costs. 🙂
#44 by Drakez on 2011.05.07 - 5:02 pm
Fair enough. And really, you should partnership closer with the fantastic developer community you had/have, that would be a great way to get the money flowing and get more talented people involved with the game.
#45 by padwan on 2011.05.07 - 3:10 pm
#161 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.07 – 8:53 am
As long as people think of any money spent in a MMO as an investment, they will always be disappointed (unless they’re possessed of a Dali Lama esque sense of tranquility and understanding, or just plain good sense).
MMOs are not an investment. Period, the end.
P.S. And, BTW, I’m not sure anyone has proven investments in MMOs are investments, either, with the exception of Blizzard, who invested for 10 years before they began to get a return.
Venture capitalist firm anticipated at the‘Funding & Investment Summit for Casual Online Games, MMOs & Virtual Worlds’
VC firms such as DN Capital and TLcom Capital LLP, along with a number of development, publishing, retail and technology firms , which promises ‘frank and open discussion about the implications of the current financial market and emerging business models that attract investment’.
predicted performance of the Casual, MMOs and Virtual Worlds segments in the ongoing tough economic climate, emerging business models, funding support, valuation advice, capital requirements and many more.
In the current credit crisis, one sure thing is that entertainment and new media platforms, especially games and virtual worlds – will outperform many other sectors in terms of market reach and sales. Witness this with the recent increase in sales at retail and online – and the massive injection of VC funding into Virtual Worlds over the last 12 months.
#46 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.07 - 3:41 pm
Excellent Googling EvoLast. Now, find us an investor which has made a profit on a social MMO. Not a MMO that turned a profit: one where the investors made a legitimate profit on a VC investment.
P.S. You might want to refresh your learning on intellectual property law too, you know strictly as an educational exercise. Amazing stuff that which I think some other folks will be learning about soon ‘wink ‘wink.
#47 by Joeydantonio on 2011.05.07 - 5:41 pm
evolast, don’t hide your name. everyone already knows you are the only one who googles stuff like this just to be a pain in the pixel. fail x2.
#48 by Orielle on 2011.05.08 - 10:09 am
“P.S. You might want to refresh your learning on intellectual property law too, you know strictly as an educational exercise. Amazing stuff that which I think some other folks will be learning about soon ‘wink ‘wink.”
I wonder of whom you speak… ‘hmm Hopefully not me… ‘coy
For those wondering… I did a parody of a certain place’s avie and posted it in Thumdar’s forums.
#49 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.08 - 11:38 am
No, not you 🙂
#50 by jimony on 2011.05.08 - 11:16 pm
I think it is me, Orielle. I think he thinks I’m trying to steal his intellect. 🙂
He shouldn’t worry, I’ve got him beat anyway; he’s just smart but I’m smart-Alec.
#51 by Summers on 2011.05.08 - 8:12 am
I don’t think you realise your talking to a pretty damn smart person. Please stop making yourself look like a total idiot.
#52 by watchlight on 2011.05.07 - 3:09 pm
‘wave Okalnix 🙂 Miss ya buddy!
#53 by Okalnix on 2011.05.08 - 2:54 am
Good to hear you buddy.
See you soon if there comes online, hope so to see my old friends.
#54 by Bad Mood on 2011.05.07 - 1:30 pm
Just open it already. I have an ogre to shoot.
#55 by Trawlers on 2011.05.07 - 12:28 pm
I really hope there returns, i miss the game BIG TIME.
#56 by adrian witt on 2011.05.07 - 12:14 pm
wow man what a lot of bad vibes in here. ok, I missed “there” when it closed but dang I also missed my favorite sitcom when it went off the air too. I can’t tell you how much I’ve spent on popcorn at the movies that had hard kernels in ti noe can I tell you how much I’ve spent in my life for bad tv programming, but I was entertained none the same. How the heck do soooo many people now have the time and energy to “keep up” with how much money they “lost” in an entertaining game. dang!!! If you don’t like it why whine about it? I once played putt-putt and didn’t like it, guess what, I didn’t do it again. geez if you got problems that big about it move on in peace man.
#57 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.07 - 11:54 am
some suggestions:
An avi walks into a dominos pizza in there, orders a pizza and 30 minutes later it is delivered to their home
An avi walks into a clothing store, perhaps tee shirts, 10 days later their order is delivered to their home
An avi goes to the LA Art Museum, goes into the gift shop orders a book (it could be a kindle version) and dowloads it
These kinds of linked enterprises could be a wonderful source of income as well as a link between virtual and real world activities.
#58 by Malingo on 2011.05.07 - 1:57 pm
Such connected enterprises sound interensting 🙂
(Hmm, I dont think the Domino’s exist here in Sweden yet. I guess my Pizza has to be shipped from Denmark then, or sent by flight from Russia. 😉
#59 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.07 - 8:09 pm
although dominos does not exist in sweden the crux of the idea is that there.com could create virtual stores to link up with services or stores that exist in real life and have web presence for the sales of their producrts and that the delivery of those products are based primarily or in addition to those web based sales. I would venture to guess that places like IKEA have a way of puchasing via the web and then directly delivering the goods to your home.
#60 by teri on 2011.05.07 - 2:23 pm
i think michael’s just worried about trying to get the original game back. that would take a looooooot of money and effort that they’re already spending just to get there reopened and running functionally.
#61 by NoBioN on 2011.05.07 - 9:47 am
Hoping for a update on this precisly a month the survey have passed day 🙂
#62 by satarell on 2011.05.07 - 7:20 am
Hmm lets see its been a little over a year i bet my dog really needs to go for a walk, trapped in my av’s huge pockets all this time hope he is ok.
#63 by Okalnix on 2011.05.07 - 5:39 am
I think its a good thing that there is re opening.
A lott friends are still there and a lott of fun to se my old buddy’s
I am from the Netherlands and There for me was a good contect with people around the world.
To use voice is for me a good experance to learn better talking.
I was join on there in 2003 and only a yes and no were there for me in that time.
So I have learn my way of talking in there.
Also the way people talke is great to hear ,most online games is typing ,voice is more fun.
The people I know from there are great.
Afcorse some times things happend but that is also in real life.
To pay a mouth price to get online is normaal for morst online games.
Most games have have 10 a 15 dollar apend what you pay per mouth or year.
I know the softwaer is a older type, but its oke and if all go well the softweare update comes to.
If you See Warcadft ,Aion ,Star Trek ,some are new but the get good updates to get more fun.
Afcorse every 1 wanted the old way of there but guy’s look to this history a server online cost monny.
The 18+ are a good thing to do less problems.
hopping less griefers becorse we are aldult to have fun.
I am a clean chating player that respect people around the world.
For me There to re opening are great ,If I can still do the events on Dune valley I be very Happy.
Buggy events and race are fun.
Just wanted to say let Re opening There to get friends and new people to the 3d World.
#64 by Ukie on 2011.05.07 - 5:11 am
Yippie, I so miss There, my avi and friends. Please keep us posted on the reopenning.
#65 by SugarLipps on 2011.05.07 - 5:05 am
Enough with the waiting Mr.MW can u give me what u have up already… (withdrawals here).. waiting patiently in a corner so sad with the other vw’s out there. ps. just give me a board or bike , a moon or a mountain then I can work from there .. ‘tu…
Mr. MW thanks for considering opening back up..( sad to know i still miss There… I need to play ..
so sad dont kno which email is with There.com sorry
#66 by SugarLipps on 2011.05.07 - 4:54 am
Enough with the waiting Mr.MW can u give me what u have up already… (withdrawals here).. waiting patiently in a corner so sad with the other vw’s out there. 😦 ps. just give me a board or bike , a moon or a mountain then I can work from there ;).. ‘tu…
Mr. MW thanks for considering opening back up..( sad to know i still miss There… I need to play 🙂 ..
#67 by majandithere on 2011.05.07 - 3:45 am
” …sorry dude but its really not even worth trying”
Now , where have I heard that before?
Ah, yes.
Those people who tried to keep Columbus from sailing around the world.
Those that also said “If god had wanted man to fly, he had given them wings.”
Those who tried to warn lots of other people not to try something, because of a previous failure and who are the reason why we don’t have
phones
TV
cars
trains
electricity
computers
mobile phones
the Internet
satellites
and
oh, wait! We have all that.
So who actually listens to people saying:
“…sorry dude but its really not even worth trying.”?
I say: It is never worth NOT trying!
Only if you try you will know whether it works or not.
Of course it’s a risk.
We always risk losing something again after we put all possible effort in getting it in the first place.
But hey, at least we had it at all …
and why should anything keep us from trying again, and again, and again?
#68 by Cat on 2011.05.07 - 2:09 am
A lot of folks are anxious to get back into There.com. Many have already stated they’re happy to pay for it. This whole “should we reopen” debate has gone on since the beginning of April. I think by now the various discussions both here and at Thumdar has shown a solid userbase and income.
Its beginning to get to the point that some are wondering if it ever will and should they invest any more time contemplating it. A select few are even suggesting it’s an april fools joke taken too far.
Just do it. If it is a sucess, wonderful! If it sinks, then you can look at everyone and say “Hey atleast I tried”. It might be a risky venture but atleast folks will know you cared enough for the game and for the users to give it a go. Just open it and see if it works out.
#69 by Rick on 2011.05.07 - 1:55 am
too much negativity in these comments, its like people waited for a possible reopening but now theyre more worried with it closing again other than it actually reopens seriously enjoy every minute in there if it re-opens and dont think about it closing or whatever if it does im sure it wont be a month later nor 2 it may do good im optimistic
#70 by EvenStupider on 2011.05.07 - 8:36 am
Rick, I don’t think there’s enough validity to the aforementioned negative comments. By reflecting on the so called ‘negative comments’, combined with the massive swings in the ‘No, I will not pay for There.com’ section of the survey, one can easily observe that these are pathetic attempts by the digital terrorist network otherwise known as ‘YowNow’ or ‘Vonorrhea’ to detract the efforts of Makena. It is for this reason that MW quickly dismisses their comments with responses like “cya, take care.”.
Second, I do however believe that there are legitimate concerns from past users feeling shaky over investing in There.com again. This may act as an obstacle for cash inflow, but only for a short while. Think of how financial markets have collapsed, leaving people devastated – yet, today they continue to flourish. Human nature tends to be forgetful, I don’t think this is will be too much of a problem for the company.
#71 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.07 - 8:53 am
As long as people think of any money spent in a MMO as an investment, they will always be disappointed (unless they’re possessed of a Dali Lama esque sense of tranquility and understanding, or just plain good sense).
MMOs are not an investment. Period, the end.
P.S. And, BTW, I’m not sure anyone has proven investments in MMOs are investments, either, with the exception of Blizzard, who invested for 10 years before they began to get a return.
#72 by EvenStupider on 2011.05.07 - 9:09 am
You’re right, I did use the word ‘investment’ in the wrong context, insofar as there.com does not bring about any future financial return or benefit. Should have used spending* rather than investing.
#73 by watchlight on 2011.05.07 - 1:09 am
Excuse me ladies & gentlemen. Now I’m scrolling down the site, and then I see all those stupid comments from people saying “I don’t want There back” etc…. Well? Then don’t take the survey, or don’t event comment?…..
#74 by Will on 2011.05.06 - 8:33 pm
Listen…I really do want there back…but look at it this way
25% or so who say they are 18 are definitely not. – this could lead to legal problems if age verification is not put in place not to mention if that happens 25% will not be joining.
25% of people who say they will pay will not – there goes more profits and more members
25% of people will either be to impatient and give up on there or only pay for there for 1 month – more profits gone
I really do want there back but i dont want it back just to have it shut down another month later. Its like if you give a dog a bone after it does a few tricks and decide you cant afford to give him the bone and take it away>.>.. .or something so listen I dont want this to be such a massive failure and trust me i would love/ to have a there2 ..but its just not gonna cut the cake….sorry dude but its really not even worth trying.
#75 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 8:36 pm
Uh, ok. Thanks for visiting. Cya.
#76 by Will on 2011.05.06 - 9:36 pm
Dang dude …you really are kinda being an ass about constructive criticism
#77 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.07 - 8:47 am
Will,
“Dang dude …you really are kinda being an ass about constructive criticism”
There was NOTHING constructive about anything you said!
“Go to YowNow then Will (IF you aren’t already there). They promise that they’ll never shut down!”
Take that advice cuz it’s the best your gonna get with your attitude. Watch how long they survive when There2 opens up. Then you can come crawling back to the REAL There.
Face this fact, whether it lasts a month or 10 years, it’s the site the vast majority of us prefer over any other, PERIOD!
If you feel differently, tell us what other site is better rather than criticize his efforts.
Bottom line, although some of us have and probably will be critical of some things Michael has done, WE HAVE HIS BACK!
#78 by there_forever on 2011.05.06 - 8:45 pm
Go to YowNow then Will (IF you aren’t already there). They promise that they’ll never shut down!
#79 by jimony on 2011.05.06 - 10:47 pm
Let me set the scene for you: A guy gets down on one knee, takes out a small case and opens it. Inside is a shiny diamond ring.
The guy says “Pretty girl, will you marry me?”
The pretty girl says “Listen…I really do love you, but look at it this way
25% or so who say they are in love are definitely not. – this could lead to marrital problems if true love verification is not put in place not to mention if that happens 25% will not be happy.
25% of people who say they will stay will not – there goes more marriages down the drain
25% of people will either be to impatient and give up on their better half or only stay for their 1 month anniversary – more weddings wasted
I really do want to marry you but i dont want to leave you in a month just to have you shot down another month later. Its like if you give a dog a bone after it does a few tricks and decide you cant afford to give him the bone and take it away>.>.. .or something so listen I dont want this to be such a massive heartbreak and trust me i would love/ to marry you ..but its just not gonna cut the cake….sorry dude but its really not even worth trying.”
#80 by Austinbit on 2011.05.08 - 11:59 am
Now that was hilarious. Nice job 🙂
#81 by Joeydantonio on 2011.05.07 - 7:27 am
don’t be that guy who tries to sound educated………. and fails tremendously.
you literally just typed up statistics that you didn’t even calculate correctly, then typed a paragraph regarding the made up numbers JUST to say “or something so listen” at the end. No.
Just…. No.
#82 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.07 - 7:35 am
“Tries to sound educated…and fails”. Now where have I seen that before?
#83 by EvenStupider on 2011.05.07 - 8:16 am
The comments page on your first undergraduate paper, or the YowNow forums. Must be one of the two!
#84 by teri on 2011.05.07 - 2:20 pm
did you know you have to be 18 to sign up for a playstation network account? i haven’t heard of them having any legal issues over underage people, which there are A LOT of.
#85 by NathanAvis on 2011.05.07 - 4:07 pm
As someone who is in good communication with PSN moderators, I can tell you that children can have their own PSN accounts and it is up to the parent to monitor those accounts. Child or sub accounts will have PSN restrictions, whereas master accounts (requiring you be 16 or 18) will not. However, if you lie about your age and it is proven/reported, then that is counted as fraud and they will just ban the account. The same thing will happen here if There returns, no doubt.
#86 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.06 - 7:06 pm
My statement about investment was only part of my post and though everyone seems to have focused on that what about the other parts of my post involving the survey itself. I do hope MW that you took that as much to heart as my statement about investments and trust!
#87 by Corrupt on 2011.05.06 - 7:03 pm
MW, “I considered just banning them but i don’t want to steal someone else’s act” who are u referring to ? xD
#88 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.06 - 5:43 pm
Michael,
When you open There2.
Please note, I did not say “if”.
When There2 opens, we Zephyrians would like a promise from you, that you will show up in Zephyr, once in a while, pull out a paintball gun, turn off your FF and defend yourself.
You know you have to keep the rowdy crowd happy too 🙂
#89 by there_forever on 2011.05.06 - 6:41 pm
If you would consider that as payback for shutting down ‘There’ in the first place then I think its a good idea!!!!! LoL
#90 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.07 - 8:22 am
There_Forever,
Michael never stood a chance when he came into Zephyr but was always good natured about getting shot up. That should have been my first clue about his true nature but the light never came on until I started reading this blog.
#91 by MoondustMadness on 2011.05.07 - 3:55 am
There_Forever…..niiiiice! LOL!
#92 by SassyBeMe on 2011.05.06 - 5:39 pm
“I considered just banning them, but I don’t want to steal someone else’s act.”
So enjoyed that. Good to find the humor in things. 🙂
I so would like a little teaser. Since some one is possibly altering the avatars, is there still a thought to task driven, or growth of things?
I’m sure, yes, this is more money and such.. maybe a little.. mahhhh, could be. 🙂
If these small little dinks claim to fame is in the millions a year. How could you not do the same if not way above? Look, I’m paying real
money to turn a two different types of sheep into a one that is blue with orange pokie dots. And liking it… weird! I’m not alone, I do have a
support group feeding mine, and their own addictions. These dinks fix so little and rake in so much. At least with THERE I felt I could nag and maybe
If you felt like approving you would fix something. With the dinks they talk to you as if.. (are you sure you know your own name? I feel you
might be incorrect mam.) How can you nag that?
Not for nothing.. Nothing owned in any virtual world is really owned. I’ve gave up on worlds I’ve paid much more in. If they couldn’t provide me with a game that was not over run by cheaters I walked away from them and money spent. Some closed after working to high level, buffed out completely. Dude I spend and shine in 3D. I leave with no ill will towards any world I left or lost. You get laid off from a job do you picket the building cursing them for letting you go?? My gosh let go of the negative. Grab some milk duds, sit back and enjoy the movie. We’re just in intermission waiting for the flick to restart. 🙂
#93 by Christopher D on 2011.05.06 - 4:38 pm
I would definitely pay to get back in there.com again after spending years on your game I just cant throw it away there is even emotional attachment. I’m 18 years old now, and got a job now too so it’s even better. I’ve lurked your blog silently until now but I really hope you can make a successful business out of this game. (YN)
#94 by Jamestar on 2011.05.06 - 3:19 pm
Michael….I dont feel like that at all…I know it was a biz thing….
I also know I was very hurt and the next few months trying to find a “There replacement” was a nightmare. I refrained from calling names n stuff in my post and kept it real. Because if you all are for real about this you need to know alot of your previous heavy spenders will be reluctant to start throwing money your way until you prove yourselves stable. You are not just flipping a switch and getting us all back that easily and I know you have no delusions about that. So PLEASE, if you do this…have the capital to see a long range plan through.
We will be watching very closely. Second Life is not my first choice..but it does appear to be stable and has a clear future.
And the whole “investment” thing is where you went wrong the last time. If ppl have an EARNING opportunity you will attract ppl that will create amazing content for us to enjoy. Less staff you need to pay to give us something to do. User contribution is key.
AND Step away from Gmax……Allow ppl to experiment without having to PAY to see what it looks like. In other words….Sneak a little SL in THERE….Take your cut from actual sales…..in the long run you will have more ppl creating because they can mess aroound and actually get better without having to go to the Bank of America to finance thier mistakes. Thats why I never built in THERE. But where we are now we built EVERYTHING. And TMac created gin tables from scratch that are AMAZING. You might want to add an option to script some things by users so we could create functional items that do things other than sit there.
But….I really miss all the vehicles….they dont work well where we are now. So you have that….I loved being able to explore without teleporting…..you have you good points….sooo,,,Good luck….I’ll definatley pay $10….just to see it again. From there you’ll need to convince me your headed in the right direction. And if your going with a month to month membership fee..include a yearly rate at a decent discount…..decent…not like 5 bucks off. I could go on and on but we have a Gin Tournament starting soon, I hope you take this as it was meant…..because I would love to expand our league to THERE as well.
Jamestar
#95 by jimony on 2011.05.06 - 6:06 pm
There were people who considered the money they spent in There as investing; as in items to resell at a profit or in items they designed. But in any investment comes risk. In their case the risk they took was that There would close before they could recoup what they spent.
There was not meant to be a business for the users but it worked that way for some. It was meant purely as a social and entertainment industry. Any investments users made were at their own risk; There had no liability for any investments made by its users.
#96 by MoondustMadness on 2011.05.07 - 3:53 am
Jamestar…I wish I would have read down further before remarking on your last comment. I agree with your statement. There has a lot to offer a user and I have always thought that if they blended some of the SL offerings that it would blow SL away as well as the other VW’s. I love that There was a universe of it’s own. No teleporting needed…you had a choice of flying to a new destination or teleporting there. I cannot stand that about SL. To me SL is like going into one room and teleporting to another room. It does not feel like any type of world to me. Also as you mentioned….the vehicles were awesome! I miss my paper airplane hoverboard so much that I think my husband wants to commit me to the local crazy people hospital.
I understand your hesitation…even I have it, but I want to trust in Michael enough to believe that WE can do this. The money making potential is there…he just needs to find it. Hopefully some of the valid points posted in this blog will be taken into serious consideration.
🙂
#97 by NoThere on 2011.05.06 - 2:47 pm
You can suppress this if you want, long as you see it. I wouldn’t pay one red cent to be back in There.com. They closed because they were idiots, banned the adults who were spending one hundred plus USD in there each month, over stupid things that had absolutely nothng to do with the in world, wasn’t profane, wasn’t pornographic. So I went off and found a virtual world that makes There look liike the childs world it was. I hated there after being banned for nothing and I opened a bottle of champagne when it closed and celebrated. So There’s stupidity was the cause of it’s death, it was deserved. Stupid buinesses die. It’s the natural selection of the financial world. I hope there stays dead and if you try and ressurect it I hope it goes back under.
#98 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 2:50 pm
Very Nice. You have a good day now.
P.S. So, I take it, you maybe wouldn’t spend $30 / month for There? How about $10?
#99 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.06 - 3:35 pm
Michael,
Why do you bother answering these nut cases?
I thought your answer to the previous one worked just fine:
“Enjoy yourself in SL! Thanks for taking the survey (if you did).”
There are some really angry people out there. There2 will do just fine without them!
Besides, they probably suck at Paintball anyway 🙂
#100 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 3:37 pm
I considered just banning them, but I don’t want to steal someone else’s act.
#101 by Rebecca McArthur on 2011.05.08 - 1:30 am
These posts are fascinating… some folks are spending high amounts of energy, time, and thought into a place they hate and don’t care about… following a blog for a guy they don’t respect. Really interesting what the disinterested will spend their time doing, huh?
#102 by SalemScott on 2011.05.06 - 2:06 pm
I couldn’t believe the email that I received for the proposal of reviving There. Needless to say, I filled it out right away. I have been a member since..uh think it was 2004ish. Looking forward to the reopening if it happens. I’ll do what I can to help.
#103 by Jamestar on 2011.05.06 - 1:46 pm
I do not know if I could trust you guys with payment in advance. Oh, I’ll check it out…for sure..but I, like many others, were screwed out of thousands of dollars without warning. Thats a tough thing for you guys to overcome, the fact you bailed.
And judging by all the “happy your back” posts and lack of negative…you got the same guy censoring this blog that you had in forums and I do not expect to see this post. If that is the case you can expect to see me NEVER because its all BS with the same Narcistic Staff.
However….if I see it…..I’d give it a look-see. I miss THERE very much…yes…but Ive also found another home that turned out to be great.
Jamestar
Now- Jamestar_Greymoon in SL.
#104 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 1:54 pm
Just as a FYI, very few posts don’t make it here: I’ve had to suppress some of the under-18’s who believe posting 23,436 comments will cause us to change our mind , and a few folks who couldn’t resist attacking each other.
I think you need to read the other comments about the fact that the money spent in There wasn’t an investment, and I’m sorry you feel like Makena was some sort of Madoff-wanna-be when we closed (Because we couldn’t afford to stay open).
Enjoy yourself in SL! Thanks for taking the survey (if you did).
#105 by Amxscott on 2011.05.06 - 3:40 pm
I never really kept track of how much I spent in the 7 years I was in There but it was a bunch I know. However it was spent on entertainment, and I had a lot of fun over the years with what those dollars bought me. I never felt I was owed anything for those dollars spent just the ability to have fun and that I received.
James it is not like you loaned MW or There money expecting to get it paid back, I have loaned people money especially in There and never got paid back so I know what that feels like. There closing was not that.
He provided the There service as long as he could but it could not pay its way.
#106 by MoondustMadness on 2011.05.07 - 3:43 am
I also spent a lot of money in There. If anyone should be bent on how things ended is me and our fellow Thereian Nobion. We bought our first hood the day before There announced they would close. What a big kick in the gut that was. As upset as I was over it I also understood why There had to close. The years that I spent in there were very enjoyable and I feel that it was money worth spent because of it. As it has been said numerous times in this blog…There was NOT an investment. If you think of it as such then you are fooling yourself.
When there closed I was actually credited back around $300. Part of that was for the hood (which I expected to be credited for)…but the rest was for other things that I bought over a certain time period (with proof of purchase). They did not have to refund us any money, but they did. Even when they were losing money they still showed their users decency by doing that.
I miss There quite a bit and I sincerely hope that it can come alive again. I understand upfront that there are no guarantee’s that it will stay open…but I will enjoy it all the same as I did before. I too went to SL…but I do not belong there when my heart is still with There. I am glad that you have made it your new home and that you are happy with it. I on the other hand will use SL as a waiting station until IF and When There opens again.
#107 by franko on 2011.05.06 - 11:15 am
hey i just had a quick question like if we was a island guide in there.com will we still be one or will we have to resign up and go threw that proses again?
#108 by Orielle on 2011.05.06 - 3:29 pm
I believe he said there wouldn’t be Island Guides. I don’t think there would be anyone to monitor us anyway to make sure we didn’t just join for the title, star, and the uniform… I imagine those who liked helping others will continue to do so. I know I will continue to help any members who come up to me needing assistance.
#109 by mimi06 on 2011.05.06 - 4:35 pm
yes, he did ori.. pretty sure IF we got the chance.. even not as a guide what was instilled in us will be the same.. helping don’t need a star.. and we always have what ONCE WAS. 🙂
#110 by MoondustMadness on 2011.05.07 - 3:32 am
I agree MiMi…I never had a star and I always tried my best to help out new members where I could.
#111 by Xcal_urradio on 2011.05.06 - 10:52 am
Mr Wilson and respected members of the republic of there.com,
As most of you know I had to shut down my radio station for the same reasoning Mr Wilson shut down there.com ….He has explained very clear what he needs from us right now….take the survey………. Bitching about Money and how your broke …or asking crazy nut ball questions about like will i get fee paint ball. Fact is the average person spends 40 to 60 a month on entertainment. Even if you paid 20 a month you will save in the long run …how meny of you out of boredom got in the car and went to the store /Mall?…. How many of you went to the movies? OR to a real club and dropped 100 BUCKS!!!
I must confess I was one of them people lol.
With there.com you are living life viscerally though your avatar. With There.com you can Drink a Beer or make that girlie drink with a umbrella(IN RL) AND sit in your PJ’s and go to the hundreds of clubs ..cough couch (club WOW). So at the end of the day think about what you spend a month then ask yourself is it worth it……..I think you will be surprised even at 20 a month the math will add up!
PS Urradio.com is Back Baby!!!
#112 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.06 - 10:12 am
FYI Here’s the email that directs to the survey. Delivered into my gmail inbox lickedysplit! (first one days ago went into spam) Thanks for the efforts MW!
from There Survey survey@thereinc.com
to
date Thu, May 5, 2011 at 11:19 PM
subject There.com Survey
mailed-by sendgrid.me
signed-by sendgrid.me
hide details 11:19 PM (13 hours ago)
Dear Former Member of There.com,
We have never believed in spamming our members, however, in this case, we
hope you’ll agree we have good reason to send you this unsolicited email.
Since There.com was closed a year ago, we have been exploring cost-effective
ways to re-open There, as a sustainable business. With changes we’ve made to
our business model and new advances in technology, we MIGHT be able to
re-open There.com.
If you are interested in the possibility of re-opening There.com, you are
invited to to give us feedback in a simple survey. It’s only 4 questions, so
it will only take a moment. You can read more about the survey on Michael
Wilson’s blog https://theremichaelwilson.wordpress.com/ .
You can find the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/thereagain
Thanks very much for your time,
Everyone at Makena Technologies
(the home of There.com)
#113 by RKnight on 2011.05.06 - 7:26 am
This is AWSOME! bring it back, it’s the best on the web hands down. Mr Wilson I would like to run a few ideas by you about $ and running this again…..
What of us builders? model builders and such? I was also MountainKing, I know your looking at the income end of this but thats 2 accounts at a 6 month or 1 year membership.
Any thoughts on the over 21 island, with exclusive, paid for access?? That has other apps as well if can be figured out.. age group islands and so on…
Any thought on, cutting the overhead in main office and going to a lower cost support staff of onliners? If you had track of our loged in time then you realize some of us were on 16 plus hrs a day and doing things in world.. I know I’d step up for $10.00 an hr salary and still give more then 40hrs a week easy.. and at 44 years of age think my days of partying are over…lol
#114 by satarell on 2011.05.06 - 7:18 am
I love that there might be coming back. It seems like people want a reward for being loyal so do something like if you buy 3 months or 6 moths or a year worth of there service give them something special a shirt or flag or sign they can put out to show they support there. People like to show off things they believe in or are big fans of 🙂
#115 by majandithere on 2011.05.06 - 7:16 am
Got my second mail today.
Seems to work fine 🙂
#116 by formally Sissimaid on 2011.05.06 - 5:33 am
I was trying to point out a problem with the survery :”other” category. If you only have other choices unless you select one of the prewritten choices the survey does not let you send the survey to the culling service. One MUST select the forced choices for each topic in order to allow the other category to be sent along. Second there is a contradiction in the first statement about the new service in the letter accompanying the survey. First it makes the acception for the “beta” and then in the same paragraph say that no accounts will be free. So which would it be. The final problem I have is knowing whether once more I will invest in the service only to find it closing once more. Credibility with any company is a serious obsticle and I did not hear anything about that being addressed. I invested money the first go round and I am concerned about the security on a second go round for there2.
#117 by Phoenix on 2011.05.06 - 8:04 am
Good valid points.
What’s our loyalty worth and should we take that risk again? (and pay more for it)
I wish I could be more positive about it but proceeding with caution because of these doubts is to be expected, even encouraged.
Buyer beware I guess.
#118 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 8:39 am
Yes. It’s pretty clear (to me at least) that you have a lot of concerns about There2, and, given that, you probably shouldn’t take the risk.
The money you spent in There, as many other have pointed out, is, realistically not an investment. It was, as many have said, like what you’d pay for a movie, or any other amusement.
Of course we will do our best to keep There open (IF we open again), just as we did for SEVEN years the investors contributed to keep it open (remember, every month, the investors had to write a check, at least the size of all the income for the month, to meet expenses), but we can’t make any promises, and, this time, we’re only going to open and keep it open if it breaks even, or makes a profit.
Thanks for taking the time to take the survey (if you did).
#119 by there_forever on 2011.05.06 - 9:03 am
Phoenix, you have made your point clear so many times.
We understand that you don’t want to pay. Why do you keep repeating yourself?
We are humans not dogs so we understand things better than you think.
If you don’t like what MW has to say then why are you still hanging out here? Just go.
There are so many other virtual worlds that wont ask you to pay for a membership. Why don’t you go there?
If you want I can give you a list to choose from.
#120 by Phoenix on 2011.05.06 - 10:27 am
I don’t quite understand why people think I’m not willing to pay, if I don’t then that’s my choice and There will lose a loyal customer, it’s that simple. I’m not asking for a free service at all, just putting ideas out that may help both parties, especially in the initial stages. Offering to pay $100+ upfront isn’t what I’d call free. I’m also willing to give all my designs to There to try and help.
Just because I’m unhappy at monthly payments, mainly due to the low amount of time that I can spend in-world, and looking at ideas for alternatives while rewarding loyalty doesn’t mean I deserve all this misplaced angst (and misquoted).
It’s a decision making process for both MW and us, putting ideas in can’t be a bad thing surely? They’re only suggestions. If they’re bad then that’s fine, I accept that, I’m no expert. I’m just a potential customer.
I’m not trying to persuade anyone or trying to get anything for free and I haven’t belittled or patronized anyone in the process.
There are people who spent thousands of dollars on funzones and neighbourhoods who may have different concerns & feelings than the average There user.
#121 by SaltySilver on 2011.05.07 - 7:58 am
Phoenix,
Just like with any company you use. If you like the product your recieveing you will go back. If not, you can see if you can get it fixed ,what you dont like. If you don’t like the resalts, you go somewhere else. Easy as that. Isn’t great that we do have choices.
#122 by Wendy Stoll on 2011.05.06 - 8:38 am
Sissimaid! Great to see you! But again, I have to say, paying for entertainment is NOT INVESTMENT.
Can’t wait to play cards again ‘tu
Wendy50s
#123 by WikkedBliss on 2011.05.06 - 9:45 am
Phoenix? SL is waiting for you… let’s see how far you get on it or on WOW or pretty much anywhere else with paying a little something. I am so GLAD that we will paying a monthly fee, because that means I dont have to deal with a bunch of newbies bumming stuff off off everyone, I wont have to deal with griefers as much since you wont be able to get pissed off and become a secret, keyboard ninja and blast everyone you dont like. I will know that others that I am in game with really WANT to be There.
#124 by WikkedBliss on 2011.05.06 - 9:46 am
LOL Sorry wendy I meant that Comment for Phoenix right up above yours! And YAY playing cards!
#125 by Winston on 2011.05.06 - 9:28 am
Paying for There is no more an “investment” then buying a video game. If you are not willing to pay at least $10/month for a video game then don’t re-join. The only return I expect on my $10/month is entertainment. If it stops being entertaining then I’ll stop paying.
#126 by Drakez on 2011.05.06 - 5:22 am
Mr. Wilson. If There does in fact re-open, would you give me the opportunity to appeal my perminate ban with you personally via email or the like? I feel it was legitimately and genuinely unwarranted, I was simply exposing a gaping hole in the CC Metro sign up. I realize you have a lot to think about, but may I email you? If so where should I email you?
Eagerly awaiting your response.
#127 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 5:24 am
There’s a big difference between “Expose” and “Abuse”. Which was it?
#128 by Drakez on 2011.05.06 - 5:31 am
I agree completely, but I wasn’t abusing it actually. I simply did it for the sole purpose of making staff aware, and without giving me a chance to talk, I was banned, and that was the end of discussion. And given that There ws closing at that time, I don’t believe my case got proper attention.
#129 by Orielle on 2011.05.06 - 2:21 pm
As a beta tester over in the Sims Online back in 2002 we were told that if we discover a glitch that we benefited from the first time would be considered an accident, the 2nd time to make sure it is a glitch, and if we continued doing that glitch it would be considered exploiting it and we could be banned… When you discover a bad exploit you don’t continuously do it until staff discover it. You immediately report it to a staff member or maybe even send a private message in the forums to the big cheese himself 😛
#130 by Drakez on 2011.05.07 - 7:16 am
Well, I wont deny that maybe I had a little fun on the way to alert staff, and I don’t believe I was the only one exploiting it as everyone I encountered knew exactly what I was doing and how I did it. But the game was closing in a few days and was lead to believe There will be closed forever, no chance of re-opening whatsoever. You don’t blame the guy on the edge of the building with vicious criminals pointing guns at you to jump off himself, you know? So obviously I wont be an issue twice because the game isn’t closing, and the exploit will be non-existent. My point is, my intentions were good for the most part, and I believe everyone was pissed off at that point. So again, may I email you about this Mr. Wilson?
#131 by kumincir on 2011.05.06 - 3:52 am
I miss THERE! I pledge $100 for 1 year membership. I watch all the youtube videos and think that There will always have a special heart in their fans . Thank you Mr Wilson . My account was made 7 years ago, and i forgot which email i used. Please send to kuminciroye@gmail.com ..please? Thank you.
#132 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 5:12 am
$100 will get you 10 months at $10/month. 🙂
#133 by Luke on 2011.05.05 - 10:38 pm
In Champions Online, they offer gold membership which gives you 400 “C-tokens” (Their currency) to spend on whatever, but when you’re gold, basically everything is free except for certain things. Gold is like 15 bucks a month (Canadian) but they actually give people a 300 dollar lifetime option that a few players picked. There’s also a free to play option which restricts you from choosing certain options, but still gives you full gameplay. You just can’t get some of the benefits.
I think a monthly subscription would be good, a long with a tbux allowance. I don’t support a life time option. There.com people have to pay their bills too, just like you and I. 10 bucks a month, or even 15, to me, is inexpensive for all the fun stuff I would *hopefully* still get to do like from the old There.com. There.com just needs to get more popular. I know There might go in the direction of 18 and up, so I’m just wondering if they could have more “Official” interactions and stuff like officially marrying and having weddings. I also wish there were more “city” places where you could actually DO stuff.
I know many people wouldn’t wanna pay a monthly fee THEN pay rent on top of that for their house, so what if you just bought the initial lot size using TBUX and you would only be able to maintain that if you had “gold” membership (So if you were constantly subscribed). Silver Players could also have lots but they would have to pay a monthly rental fee because they’re silver. I just think certain content should be allowed to be bought by silver players that gold members would get for free OR that gold members could buy using their allowance. I wouldn’t expect the allowance to be a lot either. Maybe like 1,000 or 2,000 tbux!
That’s just my input. It might not be the best, but I think it’s pretty good to help revive There.com in a more appealing way. Because I’ve always felt that 10 dollars (or whatever) for LIFETIME was such a rip off for the people who made the game. Buying TBUX is a huge thing, but people can definitely afford 10-15 bucks a month for membership and then maybe another 10-20 bucks for tbucks, but then the market would have to reflect that as well. 🙂 Anyways, hope you guys liked my input … I really want There2!
#134 by NoBioN on 2011.05.05 - 9:30 pm
Just wanna confirm that i recieved the email in my inbox and not spam this time on hotmail. So works perfect 🙂
#135 by justagreatguy on 2011.05.05 - 9:13 pm
Mr Wilson, I loved playing there! I no longer know my password and I no longer have the email address I used for there. All I want is my justagreatguy name back, I don’t care about the stuff. Is there a way for the name to be open for me to re-apply for it or is there a way I can send a copy of my ID to somewhere to get the name back? I tried to ask there before it closed and I had no luck. I never logged in that name in like 1 year before it closed. I know you don’t want to hear this type of question I just don’t know where to go with it. I cant wait to play! PLEASE OPEN THERE! If anyone can answer this Question please do so.
justagreatguy no more 😦
#136 by Gabi on 2011.05.05 - 8:58 pm
I just got the email tonight (thanks!). I’m excited at the possibility of There returning. I always thought it was superior to SL and I still do. I was a lifetime beta member, and I would most definitely be willing to pay if it brings There back.
Gabi
#137 by there_forever on 2011.05.05 - 8:29 pm
My mail update: I recieved 2 emails this time. The one on yahoo and this time one on gmail. That one is my alt account email. Both were in my inbox and not in spam folders!!!!
I hope the same goes for everybody and that every mail sent reaches its destination!
#138 by Buddleia_Girl on 2011.05.05 - 7:20 pm
I wish the questions were worded a little differently….I would pay more per month if the “more” included a Tbux allowance and my rent. Just paying more per month for access and then still having to pay rent and buy game $$…well, I’d have to think about that.
The very thing that makes There so appealing is what makes is expensive to upkeep. The seamlessness of it. Seeing a thing on the horizon and being able to go to it, and watch it get larger as you approach. Being able to build something right out in the open, and not pass through a doorway into another server, where it’s just you and the object, it’s all right there where everyone can see it, it’s RIGHT THERE.
It’s costly to run that kind of world, which is why no one else does it quite like that.
#139 by Corycom12 on 2011.05.05 - 11:54 pm
Agree, like if there is an option for like 5 bucks a month more and u get t bucks. I sure hope the survey results come back good!
#140 by Corycom12 on 2011.05.05 - 6:13 pm
Ok I read some people complaining about 10 bucks. But let’s put this into perspective. Things 10 bucks could buy u..
1. Not even a quarter tank of gas
2. A meal at mcdonalds
3. Crappy old game from gamestop
4. A car wash
5. A shirt- if ur lucky
6. Like 7 songs on iTunes
7. Half of a DVD
8. Entrance into a movie
9. 2 drinks at a bar
10. 1/2 of an overdraft fee from your bank
IF there opens and it’s 10 bucks or even a little more isn’t that bad of a price. I would be more than willing to pay for a game I would play pretty much every day…
#141 by Machinegunner on 2011.05.05 - 8:24 pm
Thats 10 bucks in your country.. not in others..
#142 by Xcal_urradio on 2011.05.06 - 10:28 am
Holy cow I can buy two Drinks !!!!!
#143 by Austinbiy on 2011.05.06 - 11:07 am
10 United States Dollars are 10 United States Dollars. No matter where on earth you are…
#144 by freyja78 on 2011.05.06 - 7:01 pm
I think machinegunner is talking about the value of 10 dollars. In rich countries its just peanuts, while for some countries 10 dollars can already feed a family of 4 for a week. Nevertheless, 10 dollars is still worth just to be back in There.
#145 by jessy269 on 2011.05.05 - 5:08 pm
Mr Wilson,,, I too despise spam,,,, But i have awaited the email ,,,,, thanks for your second effort, and the out of pocket expense of mailing us,,, i already took the survey ….(one of the first) and don’t think it would be right to take it again,,,the email I received came to my Beta Account, and if it comes to all the rest of my avies addresses that would be fine too:),, If we were able to show enough support to make a go of THere.com once again, I will have a hard time deciding which of my avatars I will keep into the There world,something i have given quite a bit of thought too, I know for sure that Jessy would race again, Ava would have her Auctions, Zen Buhda would share his wisdom humour and peaceful mind about There, and maybe even SpLatttt !!! a few noobs or staff with a paintball or two, with a smile of course…. the spys are not so active anymore but are so fun to have around, and then there is the rascals, Ohhh what the the heck….. for the price of one less pack of smokes or a couple of drinks at the pub,per avie per month ,,, i will end up with them all……So be it,,, the hoods and the zones cost me plenty when i owned them, and i have no regrets, and to keep my favourite avies in world at 20.00 per month is worth every penny to me,,, so my small part in this would be some were between 100, and 200 a month,,as well some time for hosting and events,, maybe even a large bumpy race zone if one comes available…oks folks i here my buggies jumping,,, got to get busy waxing and tuning them up for the races,,,,,, )))))
Take care all…
VROOMM!! VROOM!!!
Jessy
#146 by Annamarie33 on 2011.05.05 - 4:27 pm
michael can you tell me what my avatar status is, i hade some problems before closing, im not sure what happend? can i have it back if there re-opens. something really strange happend
#147 by Jordan on 2011.05.05 - 4:22 pm
Just received my Email! I am using Googlemail and it appeared in the INBOX. Thought I’d note this for Michael 🙂
Thanks!
#148 by MikeLink on 2011.05.05 - 4:19 pm
You said in the original post that you would perhaps be reaching a decision or be in a clearer state to make a decision in 30 days which would make it 7th May (Saturday) will you be sticking to this plan?
#149 by SnakeHawks on 2011.05.05 - 3:55 pm
That is a lot of money. Recently I become a retirement. I won’t able to spent that much as before. 😦
#150 by David H on 2011.05.05 - 3:46 pm
Thanks for the mail Michael, I got it straight in my gmail inbox 🙂
#151 by xSnoopy on 2011.05.05 - 3:17 pm
Michael,
Don’t assume on my account, I will pay the $100.00.
There you go, your first $100.00 commitment, in writing 🙂
Only $199,900 to go. 🙂
#152 by Phoenix on 2011.05.05 - 2:46 pm
Nearly all your initial sign-ups will be previous There users so why not reward us by offering life memberships for say, $100 …. a kind of lifetime beta account, offered just for the first month.
It’ll be a nice cash influx to help get it all started and it’ll provide you with a quality user base foundation, all loyal Therians, all spending money still. They’ll probably be your biggest spenders and supporters anyway.
Let’s face it, we deserve it 🙂
It’s also a way to let us invest into it and help kick-start things.
oh, and some “There2-beta-supa-dupa bunnies” would be nice too 🙂
#153 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.05 - 2:55 pm
Let’s see.
Let’s say, conservatively, 2000 people sign up for a life membership at $100. That’s $200,000.00.
I’m not going to tell you what a top-notch engineer costs, but it’s not the same as, oh, a contract QA engineer who’s turned to coding (for example). Let’s, as a lark (and this is a VERY BIG LARK) say that’s $50K/year, plus medical, etc. You’ll need at least one of those.
And, you’ll need at least one very experienced system administrator to maintain the EC2 servers (software, etc) where There runs. Let’s pretend (again, VERY PRETEND) they’re $50K/year + medical etc.
And then you have server costs.
And then you have to pay for accounting, and a little support, and things like that.
So now, we’re creeping up on the $200,000 “bank” we got.
What happens after all that is gone?
#154 by Phoenix on 2011.05.05 - 3:00 pm
but you’ll still be getting income from monthly payers and tbux sales. My idea is that it’ll give you a higher initial cash burst while rewarding loyal customers who are willing to “invest” into it.
#155 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.05 - 3:02 pm
It’s a nice idea, but it’s assumptions like that that got us into trouble the first two times.
#156 by Phoenix on 2011.05.05 - 3:18 pm
Life membership might only be 10 months anyway as far as we know, so what have you lost?
Sorry that sounds pessimistic but is a possibility. If you’re thinking longer term (I hope so) then if you’re successful in getting new members in that first 10 months then I can’t see it being a problem. You’ll be in full control of the tbux market and that’s a major improvement in income from There1.
#157 by Joeydantonio on 2011.05.05 - 5:08 pm
i think it would be a cool idea to sell advertisement to more personal members than just ‘sponsors’. Or to at least smaller ‘businesses’ that want to advertise in one given area but don’t have enough cash to be all out sponsors.
For example, there was the one location in there.com ‘the marketplace’ and it was basically land owned by a member of the game and he rented out spots to some of the more well-known designers in game or realtors or what not….
Well, I think it would be a pretty cool idea [if there.com re-opens] to have a ‘neighborhood’ or island dedicated to basically one big laggy shopping mall. Make it a monthly subscription for developers/realtors/services/businesses/etc. and even sell spots to ‘own’ to outsiders that want to be in the game but not sign themselves as ‘sponsors’.
Because personally, I was on the marketplace waiting list for like a year…. and I was putting shops in hoods much like McDonalds trying to advertise… I always wanted to have like one big shopping mall in game… It would be really cool to just fully invest into one big store with more features and such that everyone knows to go to. Just a thought i guess. I was actually on my way to purchase this island in comet and turn it into one big shopping mall the night before there.com announced closing. Lol
#158 by Esky on 2011.05.05 - 6:07 pm
It couldn’t make any sense to charge such a small amount of money for a lifetime membership when a business is working out if it can stay afloat. Most “lifetime memberships” I’ve ever been offered have tended to equate to at least 5 years of monthly/annual fees. Less than one year of fees for a lifetime membership wouldn’t make any sense at all.
I can see that monthly only (with prepayment options) has to be the best way to go until it’s determined that this will work. Initially having no discounts or lifetime membership options is perfectly understandable. And if that ends up being the case for the long term as well, I’ll still understand it (and just be thrilled that it gets to “long term”).
And that’s if it even gets started… o.O
#159 by Rebecca McArthur on 2011.05.06 - 2:06 am
Wow… I thought you were in CA… who the hell can you hire for that little? I’m a hospital administrator (not for profit) in Ohio and couldn’t employ either of those positions for under 75k per year base alone. I think those numbers are seriously low.
#160 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.06 - 5:11 am
Yes, those numbers were very low. 2-3X in some cases. It was just an example.
#161 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.05 - 6:41 pm
In many posts MW has explained plainly the reasonable need for a level of revenue which will offset the expenses to run THERE. I wonder why ppl keep trying to find ways to reduce income to THERE. Honestly why would Makena want $100 for unlimited usage when at $10/month they could get $120 a year to pay their bills? Running THERE as a charity ended in its closure. To make sure that does not happen again, it seems we need suggestions on ways THERE can make more (not less) money.
#162 by Phoenix on 2011.05.06 - 5:29 am
I just think loyalty should be rewarded, especially as we’ve been burnt before.
With no developer program (as far as I can tell) to help pay the bills they’ll be making more profits, especially from big spenders as they’ll be in full control of tbux sales.
$200, $300 ? there must be a point where this idea is valid and provide a nice cash injection to help get it started. Considering the history, it’s still a risky investment for the [loyal] user.
I don’t think this will reduce income for THERE as people will be buying plenty of tbux during that time and will probably be the ones helping to promote THERE as well.
The idea is for a limited time offer for loyal Therians, I don’t think it will impact the long term finances, it will probably help it if it has a good, loyal population.
Reward loyalty, it’s been an idea in the commercial sector for a long time and has been proven to work.
#163 by Riot on 2011.05.07 - 8:26 pm
It’s not the developer program he’s ending to keep money in the system it’s the 3rd party tbux sellers. The developer program has potential to make a good amount of money as long as 3rd party sellers are out of the picture. That keeps the money within the game basically. Sure developers make a profit but in most cases more tbux are spent on fees and wholesale prices than taken out of the system. If run efficiently the program will help with profit boosting.
#164 by NathanAvis on 2011.05.06 - 3:46 am
Phoenix, stop trying to convince a CEO of a 6-7 figure business to let you in for a measly 10 bucks. Pay up, cheapskate :p
#165 by Phoenix on 2011.05.06 - 5:42 am
wow. There’s nothing wrong with throwing ideas out there especially as I’m thinking of the consumer as well as the main business. If you don’t like an idea, feel free to explain why or even expand on it, there’s no need for mis-informed name calling.
#166 by Wendy Stoll on 2011.05.06 - 8:35 am
Phoenix, I don’t think anyone means to be mean, but the point is, we weren’t burned. MW funded There for as long as he could. You are not seeming to get that he’s not trying to wring us dry, but to find a way to afford to open again.
#167 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.06 - 10:04 am
Is there a thumbs up key? Thx Nathan. Loyalty means precisely squat if that loyalty does not translate into a reasonable profit. This is the problem with rationalizing with kids… they don’t get it and you just get frustrated.
#168 by NathanAvis on 2011.05.07 - 3:52 pm
It’s not that I don’t like the idea. Who in this world that has played there wouldn’t be happy with only paying 10 bucks for lifetime premium? That’s not the point. The point is the big chief here has concluded and given explanation as to why we can no longer go back to paying just that 10 dollars, and just once. He’s not going to change his position on this until the world is back and if it does come back is fairly stable/profitable.
#169 by Flossy on 2011.05.06 - 8:07 am
I HAD a Life Membership of There – what happens to that? I expected LIFE to mean LIFE and don’t want to be paying again.
#170 by Winston on 2011.05.06 - 9:06 am
If it was a Beta Life I think that’s is honored. Otherwise then I guess we won’t be seeing you in There.
#171 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.06 - 10:22 am
To ppl that can’t hear the fact that “businesses can not run at a loss”: Do you want more to “pay nothing”, or more for THERE to open? Can’t have both and seems if you don’t care that Makena makes a reasonable profit, then don’t bother trying to convince them to lose money with the “I can’t afford $10” argument. Geesh And bout the “virtual life membership”: This is a different life… hopefully one where ppl are committed to helping Makena show a profit.
#172 by Austinbiy on 2011.05.06 - 10:54 am
The fallacy in your argument is the fact that you only have two choices: 1) there opens for a monthly fee, or 2) there stays closed.
So you paid for a lifetime membership? No. You paid a one time fee for a premium membership which went null and void when there closed. Get over it. That’s life.
#173 by Summers on 2011.05.06 - 12:03 pm
Things change, read the TOS. 🙂
#174 by jimony on 2011.05.06 - 1:21 pm
From a previous post:
Jimony wrote “As far as those people complaining that they paid for a lifetime account; that lifetime ended. We are hoping to start a new one now.
It’s like the lifetime TiVo service; it is only the lifetime of the TiVo box you purchased, not your lifetime. When your TiVo box dies you have to purchase a new box with a new service. There died and now we hope to buy a new one.”
The “Lifetime” was only good for the lifetime of the game. That game ended. Hopefully a new one with the same name and platform will be able to re-open on a different financial model that will support it.
Thank you, Michael, for rewarding those who have been “loyal” by holding onto our account information and allowing us to retain our previous names and holdings if you can restart There.
#175 by jimony on 2011.05.06 - 5:49 pm
As far as the lifetime account; that lifetime ended. We are hoping to start a new one now.
A lifetime account is like the lifetime TiVo service; it is only for the lifetime of the TiVo box you purchase, not your human lifetime. When your TiVo box dies you have to purchase a new box with a new service. There died and now we hope to buy a new one.
We all hoped There would live forever, but it didn’t. Hopefully MW can resurrect it with the possibility of sustaining its life with monthly memberships.
Thankfully, Michael Wilson is rewarding our loyalty (in the form of agreeing to a new account membership) by giving us our old avatars and virtual items back with these new accounts.
#176 by NoldorNumbwit on 2011.05.07 - 3:03 am
I have a Beta Lifetime account in There. I am willing to pay $100 for the first year and a normal subscription the following years. I’ve had my “There Cake” and enjoyed every morsel. Now it is time to provide some “icing” to show support and thanks.
I am doing the same thing in a recent game that went F2P. I have a Founder Lifetime subscription with free monthly points. But I help support future content production by buying more points.
There is like a club. If you are only in it for the free coffee and donuts, you lose in the end. You have to participate and support the club to reap the rewards. You only get what you give.
#177 by MoondustMadness on 2011.05.05 - 2:05 pm
In case you did not read what MIchael wrote above:
Please don’t indunate us with questions about that yet, but I wanted to let you know we were considering that.
You will all know in due time. Give the man a break.
#178 by Annamarie33 on 2011.05.05 - 1:42 pm
Wouldnt that Crash Some Servers if everyone logged in at the same place. like cosmo girl, how many people went down , While they were in there. wouldnt it bring it down if to many people spawn
#179 by mmmm22222222 on 2011.05.05 - 12:54 pm
Mr WIlson, I was just thinking, Its probably been answered and I am repeating someone elses question but, What if There opened again, What would happen to Island Guides (IG’s) ? Would they come back again? I thought it could possibly be a good idea to have something like that because of the age group being different it would be easier to communicate with adults rather than children. They understand more and you can have a more adult conversation than having to speak to someone like a child incase they were one.
#180 by Buddleia_Girl on 2011.05.05 - 7:29 pm
ROFL you’ve never worked in retail, have you. The concept of adults understanding more than children would be dashed from your innocent head in a matter of hours, otherwise.
“Why can’t I put this DVD in my VCR? There’s plenty of room!”
“Well, my computer came with a cable that was firewire on one and and USB on the other…I just lost it and need a replacement! Why won’t you sell me one?”
“I’m looking for that DVD that my wife likes. Do you have it?” what’s it called? “I don’t know – my wife likes it. Don’t YOU know?”
“What’s this little thing for in my camera? I need FILM young lady! I can take 32 pictures on a roll of film! How many pictures do you think I’m gonna get on this little bit of plastic!” about 2000, ma’am, and an hour of video. “You lying little twit, call your manager!”
#181 by Rick on 2011.05.05 - 8:30 am
Mr wilson is the survey ending in 3 days? i rememebr it started aroung april 8th just wondering and if so will we have an answer before june?
#182 by hugsalot on 2011.05.05 - 8:23 am
actually i hope you do not restore there exactly as you had left it Michael. My inventory has some “Hidden” items that i got as a level-up reward and couldn’t delete on my own. I requested it (quest kit) to be deleted when all they really did was just hide it in my inventory.
I’m hoping that avatar inventory is started clean and items are added slowly over time. And with this fresh start maybe the whole inventory system will be streamlined and not such a clusterF* with all your items redundantly accessible (yet useless) from a half dozen different areas of the UI.
Also there’s lot of land that was never used. So to save on “cloud usage” you may just want to open Caldera island first.
#183 by hugsalot on 2011.05.05 - 8:14 am
Any possibility of an annual fee of about $60? Xbox Live seems to do well with annual fees. QuakeLive for premium Pro membership is just under $50 a year. WoW is the only MMO that deals in a monthly fee but they have millions of users to offset that relatively low monthly fee. Hourly fee is ridiculous, might as well use my data plan on my cell phone to login to There.com.
#184 by Winston on 2011.05.05 - 1:33 pm
WoW is the only non-freemium MMORPG that charges monthly. SL, Habbo, Runescape, Entropia, IMVU and Club Penguin all have monthly subscriptions for the premium content. Quake LIVE is an online FPS game with millions of users and software sales to combine and WoW is the same model. Xbox Live not only has software sales but also console sales. It’s safe to say the subscription fees for both Quake and Xbox are the least amount of money coming in. You can’t compare There with those kind of games because they are two different animals. I don’t know how an annual fee might work. IF There were to reopen and 2000 users payed say $70 bucks for the entire year that would be about $6/month for the individual and $140k for Makena Tech. I’m not sure what numbers Michael is looking for. There is a fair drop off of people willing to pay in advance so 2k users is probably wishful thinking.
#185 by Skyefire on 2011.05.05 - 4:35 pm
There are any number of games out there that still charge monthly as your only option to play.
Many games have some sort of very limited trial, but plenty don’t. Frankly, I am willing to pay $10 for just about any game for one month of access if I am interested. What I won’t pay is $10+ a box fee to try a game.
#186 by WikkedBliss on 2011.05.05 - 8:00 am
Are we THERE yet? Giggles* OMG I’m Excited even if it is a “IF” or an “if” Michael you will have to make an appearance in Cosmo “WHEN” There re-opens, naybe the mobscene this time won’t be lead by avatars with torches. Grinz
#187 by Kaden on 2011.05.05 - 6:31 am
its funny how people are saying they want a e-mail when the e-mail is for people who have no idea about the survey stuff.
#188 by NathanAvis on 2011.05.05 - 4:58 am
We have to remember some of the userbase account for 2x 3x people rather than every account belonging to seperate individuals. My friend and I shuffled inventories between 3 accounts each. And a lot of hood owners and project runners I knew also did this. So while the survey numbers aren’t huge (say maybe 5500 genuine replies) those might be speaking for double that in terms of avatars.
#189 by Lexi w. AKA Macklinn on 2011.05.05 - 4:06 am
I can’t wait for there.com to reopen! But i also hate the fact everyone would haft to pay, I was always a there.com noob, My family cant afford to pay even if it is 1$ which- it probably wont be. Please reconcider there.com may be reopening, but allot of people can’t afford to pay. Times are tuff, but ecnomy is worse.
#190 by Wendy Stoll on 2011.05.05 - 12:48 pm
Yes, and so MW can’t afford to run There for free. That’s why it closed in the first place.
#191 by Lexi w. AKA Macklinn on 2011.05.06 - 3:24 am
I know… sad isent it?
#192 by Rick on 2011.05.04 - 11:30 pm
um so Mr wilson, will we have to pay right off when There IM becomes availble or wel we be able to log in for free onto thereIM?
#193 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.05 - 7:10 am
Well, if we can run ThereIM for Free, then you can log in for Free.
#194 by Kendra on 2011.05.04 - 8:27 pm
Soooo if you do restore everything the way we left it, does that mean our avatars will be in the same place, too? Because if so, many, many, people will fall into world at the ever-so-epic Avie Sacrifices.
Awesome.
#195 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.05 - 7:10 am
Yes. We believe so.
#196 by VoniLei on 2011.05.05 - 12:34 pm
Ah! If that’s the case, I’ll be spawning in Top of the World! First thing I’ll do is break out my board…oh wait…will there be a track set up? Prolly not, eh? 😦
#197 by ScorpioMann on 2011.05.05 - 9:02 am
If thats the case, I guess I’ll be falling back into There too! ‘rtr
#198 by MrWhales on 2011.05.05 - 4:16 pm
I still have the urge to use all the there commands in texts, but i know no-one i know will understand it really… but now i have hope to ‘yay again 😀
#199 by Winston on 2011.05.05 - 1:11 pm
I’ll be at Maidenflight on top of the tree house 🙂
#200 by egern on 2011.05.06 - 2:37 am
ill be home 😀 !!!!
#201 by Andre on 2011.05.07 - 7:46 am
so will i!!…
#202 by Taelos on 2011.05.04 - 7:32 pm
I did not get the email solicitation. ThereMail stopped working for my avatar years ago so I am not surprised. After a while I stopped asking support to look into it. Every once in a while I would get a slug of one or two year old messages delivered to me out of the blue. So a commercial service might work better for the broadcast mail. (that sounds so much better than spam now doesn’t it?)
#203 by Taelos on 2011.05.05 - 7:18 pm
Update! I got my email solicitation received today “Thu, May 5, 2011 8:43:09 PM There.com Survey”. Commercial email service.. success!
#204 by MmeOdileS AKA OdileS on 2011.05.04 - 5:14 pm
Thank you so much for trying MW..I promise if ‘There’ does not open, to be very understanding. I will be ok with your decision. Of course I would be very disappointed..But the fact you had weighed in on the possibility, would have shown how much you had wanted to really give ‘There’ a go… I also have high respect for you. I realize how much it must have taken from you, to tell us on March 9, 2010, that you had to close ‘There’…Again..thank you so so much for your effort… You rock!!!!!
#205 by SnakeHawks on 2011.05.04 - 4:04 pm
Please sent me two different email are snakehawks@ymail.com for Avatar SnakeHawks and eaross@ymail.com for EagleRocket. Thanks
#206 by kiki261982 on 2011.05.04 - 3:58 pm
I can’t wait for it to open IF it does open which i have huge faith that it will.
#207 by Demmetri on 2011.05.04 - 2:40 pm
Oh, Michael Wilson. I have a suggestion. You know how RuneScape makes big $$$ from their adVerts? I believe ya’ll could rake in some serious dough by letting companies advertise their sites like when logging in, on clothes (like Pepsi), billboards, events like it doesn’t have to be a “PARTNERSHIP” it could be just a ad for Taco-Bell or VeriZon or anything really it would be a quick cash making method and yeah and I just think that would be something serious to look into.
#208 by Demmetri on 2011.05.04 - 2:41 pm
Oh and P.S. I want an EMAIL!!! 🙂
#209 by Taylor on 2011.05.04 - 12:04 pm
THERE is only oneeeeeeeee Michael Wilson!
#210 by Corey on 2011.05.04 - 11:54 am
I realize this is pretty much as random as it can get, but there are 13 Michael Wilson’s on WIkipedia and not one of them are you. That makes me sad. 😛
#211 by There Lover on 2011.05.04 - 11:26 am
Great to hear Michael Wilson! Will ThereIM be avalible for Download again as soon as you put the severs back up? IF you do re-open.
#212 by NoBioN on 2011.05.04 - 12:50 pm
Hehe. Reminds me, i never uninstalled there.com and thereIM on my pc. My hope it’ll come alive again were too big to uninstall them. Besides they are memories in themself.
Not that easy to delete something you spent tons of time in. And had some great great times in. =)
Maybe, maybe they’ll get to work again. In a future not that far away =)
#213 by Malingo on 2011.05.05 - 6:48 am
Thats funny. I kept my There client installed too. Never removed that icon from the desktop either.
=)
#214 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.04 - 2:10 pm
Hey There Lover… MW last said “if” instead of “IF”. Am I reading too much in this subtle difference? … is he breaking down and subliminally moving toward “when” There opens? *hopes a little*
#215 by Mimi06 on 2011.05.04 - 5:01 pm
Joy, I swear back a ways I saw him say to someone “your avatar will not be fed to Rankor on opening day”…………I’ll hope with you.. rofl
#216 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.05 - 4:08 am
Yah Mimi! MW MW MW MW we love you and REALLY want to get you inworld to PB the *heck* outta ya! Mimi and I officially invite you to an Opening Ceremony where we push you out of a space station and all freefall to Earth (ahm THERE)! tada!
#217 by shezbanjo on 2011.05.04 - 11:26 am
appriciated also lol
#218 by shezbanjo on 2011.05.04 - 11:24 am
thankyou for trying so hard its apprieated by all therians
#219 by lovepotionNo9 on 2011.05.04 - 10:36 am
hmmm i have never gotten any emails but would sure like to get them i had spend hours on there.com maybe more then i should have.
#220 by NoBioN on 2011.05.04 - 10:06 am
“houses”. Does that meen rented property like fun zones / club houses / regular houses?. And “real estate” is portazones / hoods ?
Thx
=)
#221 by Michelle on 2011.05.05 - 7:45 am
He asked you not to throw such questions at him- yet.
My thoughts: only regular houses.
#222 by Majandi on 2011.05.04 - 9:09 am
Sound great 🙂
#223 by mmmm22222222 on 2011.05.04 - 8:54 am
I have allready received my email but dont mind AT ALL to receive another. Fire away 🙂 Make sure you dont click the “Send 100 copys to user” haha
#224 by freyja78 on 2011.05.05 - 1:09 am
lucky for me I got mine in my yahoo inbox
#225 by Celexi on 2011.05.04 - 8:44 am
In Gmail too it ended up in spam.
#226 by Ray on 2011.05.04 - 7:55 am
I took the survey and I never got my letter back from michael and i checked spam folder
#227 by Bumpin42 on 2011.05.04 - 11:25 am
Good Question Ray, Theres alot of us that would love be in world and hanging out with friends in Zephyr and other places like that , So do we have to wait for the There.com IM to open first? Plzz Mw bring back ower home vitual world, Iam going to be paying for 2 maybe 3 avi`s. : )
#228 by Skyefire on 2011.05.04 - 1:41 pm
There is no letter back. It was just an email linking to the survey for people that did not see it here or on Facebook. You’ve already taken it, you are here, so don’t worry about it.
#229 by there_forever on 2011.05.04 - 7:41 am
Great idea!
I might add that it would be a good idea to send to premium accounts only and maybe those who actually spend more than 7200sec online in those 2 years!!!
That way you might save money or even send to 2007 and 2008 accounts as well for the same cost.
One question about staged, IF you do that. You mentioned ThereIM first and then ‘Public Lands’. Does that mean that ThereIM opens before the actual virtual world?
#230 by CubanCarlos on 2011.05.04 - 10:25 am
I assume that is exactly what he meant. 🙂
#231 by Tomixcomics on 2011.05.05 - 2:09 pm
probably, it was the last feature lef tint here after it closed, and it was operational fo over a week after the world closed
#232 by pHluid13 on 2011.05.04 - 7:33 am
Would you be willing to take donations through paypal to help cover cost of emailing?
#233 by Winston on 2011.05.04 - 12:37 pm
I’ll donate if you do this.
#234 by Marianne (JoyofLife) on 2011.05.05 - 4:09 am
That’s really nice guys… what a sweet gesture!
#235 by pHluid13 on 2011.05.07 - 7:41 pm
Didn’t get a reply. Maybe not taking donations, Michael?
#236 by Michael Wilson on 2011.05.08 - 4:57 am
I think you’re all donating enough just by having patience with us. Thanks though!
#237 by Mimi06 on 2011.05.04 - 7:09 am
Mr Wilson, of course I’m asking a dumb qestion BECAUSE I want my prescious email rofl.. Can you take the emails from here? please?
#238 by There Lover on 2011.05.04 - 11:08 am
Well… hy would he need to? The point was that he could get more people to do the Survey lol!