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Do we have to start over in Cybertown NG? What
about our jobs, money and experience?
The idea with Cybertown NG is to allow the current residents of Cybertown
to retain their social status, money and experience points. In many
instances, citizens will be able to keep their existing jobs and in
case current existing jobs don't exist within the concept of Cybertown
NG, a special task force will be assigned the task of finding jobs with
similar salaries and responsibilities within the new city. The money
earned in Cybertown will be transferred to CybertownNG either as CityCash
or the equivalent in the CybertownNG currency (if it isn't CityCash).
I heard something about a subscription-based system,
is this true?
There are MANY ways Cybertown NG can make money. A subscription-based
system is one of the many, many revenue sources available for NG. At
this point, to speculate that NG will be a subscription-based system
is really just a speculation.
The first task is to actually secure enough funding to build Cybertown
NG, build the city (which would take a while) and from there the company
or investors behind the funding will have to work out the revenue sources
with the Cybertown team. That one of the revenue sources may be a subscription
fee, frankly we have no idea at this point and honestly we would rather
keep Cybertown NG free to users and make money with the many other revenue
sources. To a large degree, you are also part of this future. The best
way to avoid a subscription fee would be to participate in other existing
revenue sources, even in the present Cybertown (buying Cybertown merchandise
in the Cybertown store, clicking on banner ads, visiting affiliate pages,
etc...).
Right now we say that the assumption that Cybertown NG will be a subscription-based
system is presently just that - a speculation. If NG became a subscription
site (which would only be an option and not mandatory - there would
still be a fully free version), the existing Cybertown would still exist
and would still be free.
Cybertown NG will require a lot of experienced artists, programmers,
etc... All those people will need to be paid, the companies or investors
funding Cybertown NG will want to make some money (as an exchange for
putting their trust in and taking a chance with the project)...so yes,
Cybertown NG will have to make money but every citizen also has a responsibility
in this and the best way to avoid the possibility of a subscription-based
system, as we said above, is by participating in the other revenue sources
in the present Cybertown and Cybertown NG when it is released.
For example:
Do you need a computer pad? Why not buy it at the Cybertown Store?
Do you buy t-shirts from time to time? Why not buying a Cybertown
T-shirt or sweatshirt?
Do you check out what some of our advertisers are offering in the
banner ads?
If you purchase stuff online, did you ever check the Cybertown affiliate
stores?
Etc....
So you see, it is very much your city and what you do now will determine
the future, be it with revenue generation, social system, etc...
This goes both ways too, as part of Cybertown NG we are also looking
at finding ways for Cybertown residents to actually make real money
for things like community activities, the ability to sell your own stuff,
etc...
Can you get jobs in Cybertown NG?
Yes, you can get jobs in Cybertown NG and probably many more jobs will
be available.
Will I be able to walk through all the neighborhoods
and houses?
Not really...walking through endless neighborhoods is quite a boring
activity, even in real-life. If you want to try, just open the door
and walk for an hour through your actual neighborhood to go to a friend's
house. Do that every day and after a year, let us know if it is still
interesting. In virtual reality, it becomes even more boring as you
can not have each house being a different looking house (it would take
you weeks to download all the models). So you would end up seeing similar
houses over and over. For example, in the present Cybertown, we offer
something like 9 or 10 different models, imagine walking for hours always
looking at those 9 or 10 models all the time! Even if in Cybertown NG
we offer 10 more models, it will still become boring after a while.
Beaming from house to house or taking the subway or a cab is faster.
Of course you will be able to walk within your houses as you can currently.
Can we drive cars and stuff like that in Cybertown
NG?
Yes, that's the idea! But we're even more crazy than that...we are
even looking at the possibility of using some sort of aerial transport
:)
When will Cybertown NG be released?
Presently we have done all the preliminary steps such as design research,
technical specifications, etc... At this point, the continuation of
the project is determined by the existence of funding for it. This funding
can come from companies or individual investors but, if EVERY citizen
in Cybertown was actively participating in the present revenue generation
of Cybertown (Cybertown store, affiliates store, banner ads and others
to come), the issue of requiring funding may not be needed.
To give you an idea, a project like NG could easily require over 30
people, all extremely qualified and professional (game designers, programmers,
etc...) and those guys/gals are usually asking for a nice salary :)
So, the answer is: As soon as possible! and you can also help us by
participating in the current revenue generating activities in Cybertown.
On our side, we are actively presenting the project to many companies
and individuals.
Will we be able to place more objects in our houses?
Right now we have not placed a limit on the amount of objects people
can place in houses for Cybertown NG but it does not mean that we won't.
It's really not a personal choice on our part but more a decision made
taking into consideration the average user in Cybertown. For example,
if a user still uses a Pentium 200 and a 28.8 modem, he/she will have
a rough time with twenty objects in one house. When CybertownNG is released,
we will do a proper survey of users in the existing Cybertown and from
there we will be able to determine the limits (if any) for object placement
in a house.
How can I help speed up the production of Cybertown
NG?
As we said above, every citizen has a role to play in it. Obviously
a project the size of Cybertown NG will cost money and probably lots
of it! As soon as we can start hiring people for the project, we can
get the ball rolling. Not only that but if the existing Cybertown makes
some good money, it will also help attracting potential investors.
So to repeat again:
Do you need a computer pad? Why not buy it at the Cybertown Store?
Do you buy t-shirts from time to time? Why not buying a Cybertown
T-shirt or sweatshirt?
Do you check out what some of our advertisers are offering in the
banner ads?
If you purchase stuff online, did you ever check the Cybertown affiliate
stores?
Etc....
Why do we need a Cybertown NG? What good does it
do?
Take a look at DOOM in 1994 and take a look at QUAKE III in 2001...see
the difference? Take a look at role-playing in 1990 (books at the time!)
and take a look at Everquest...see the difference?
Enough said:)
Will there be a Mayor and City Council, Security,
etc... in Cybertown NG?
Yes, a lot of the social system and hierarchy is based on the existing
Cybertown.
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