mmi

Most Metaversed readers will no doubt be aware of Robert Bloomfield's plan to form the Metaverse Market Index, a non-profit organization whose stated mission is to "provide a comprehensive source of reliable and meaningful information about virtual worlds, and a single location for discussion and collaboration about key issues, including data interpretation, shared terminology, interoperability, and a venue for educating the public about the uses and future of the metaverse. ".

As the MMI moves from idea, to organization, there are some things it needs, and some it does not. Firstly, the MMI needs some full or part time paid help to manage the business side of running a non-profit. It also needs the help and support of everybody interested such things as interoperability, and consistent reporting of subscriber data and all of the other things an organization such as the MMI might lobby virtual worlds vendors for (in the politest possible way of course. One thing Robert has been keen to stress is that the MMI is not about to bully anyone into submission :)

What the MMI doesn't need, is me. I'll be supporting the MMI, and lending help wherever I can. I think it's a worthy goal that could eventually benefit us all. I'm not the right person to run the business side of it though, which was my role until recently. I have a little too much on my plate already, and don't want "a job". (perish the thought, i've been avoiding the W word for 7yrs now...).

So with that in mind, I've urged Robert to seek someone for the role of business manager at the MMI, or possibly even 2 part timers as soon as possible. If the organization is to get moving, it needs people with the right kind of skillsets to push it forward.

Please contact Robert Bloomfield at rjb9@cornell.edu

Over the past week there has been some industry rumblings and general interest in Virtual World metrics, the way we measure all manner of data from basic subscriber figures, through economic indicators and technical specifications. As a result, the Metaverse Market Index has been proposed, and is busy appointing advisors and seeking funding for the Non-profit organizations phase 1 development.

Professor Robert Bloomfield of Cornell's Johnson School of management recently wrote about what the MMI is, and what is is not.

On the goals of the MMI, Bloomfield says:

The key goal of MMI is to create reliable, meaningful and consistent information about three aspects of virtual worlds: the size and engagement of its user base; the vibrancy of its economy; and the key aspects of its technology. The first two goals should help people who are making decisions to invest in virtual worlds in the absence of inter-operability; the third should help platform developers move toward inter-operability.

He also says that the MMI is seeking funding, lot's of funding, from stake holders in the Virtual Worlds space that do not develop worlds. The need to be independent from the various worlds platforms is an important part of the projects future success.

It's also important to note what the project is not. On that topic, he says:

We will also need to make sure people understand what we are not trying to do. We are not trying to impose our own definitions of what is and is not a virtual world. Raph Koster's post , along with its comments, make clear why doing so would be a mistake. Our plan is to view the metaverse very broadly-

Bloomfield will be attending the upcoming Virtual Worlds 2007 conference on behalf of the MMI and will be available to speak with companies, developers and interested members of the Virtual Worlds community next week.