Hello Pat:
Please include on the RA Agenda for Sunday, December 9, the following items:
* CDS Guided Tour Bill (sponsored by Alexikon Kurka - text andd talking points below);
* Discusson re: ban lines in Alpine Meadow; and
* Disussion re: sale of prim lots in Neufreistadt
CDS Guided Tour Bill
Whereas the RA desires to:
• promote in-world knowledge about the content, structure, politics and history of the CDS sims;
• provide a rich experience for residents and visitors; and
• promote the aims of CDS, widen its appeal and increase its development
Therefore the RA hereby authorizes:
• the introduction of a guided automated tour throughout the three CDS sims for a three-month, trial basis starting in January, 2008;
• the creation of a Tour Committee headed by _______________ to develop and implement such a Tour in the CDS, including the development of texts for each tour stage, welcome packages for visitors and thank you gifts upon departure.
• the allocation of $______ L for such purposes.
Information about the CDS Tours Project:
1. Options
There are a number of tour methods that have been observed in other sims.
Flying tour, involving some sort of vehicle/bird which takes the occupant on an arial tour of the sim flying between points of interest.
Rail/bus/car/taxi tour driving between points of interest
walking/horse riding tour traveling between points of interest
Teleport tours - TPing people to points of interest
With all these tours (and implied in the TP tour) is the option to break the tour at certain points to allow people to further examine the sim and receive/discover additional information in a place.
2. Method of information delivery
Text comentaries provided during the tour
Static displays of pictures and text (museum style).
Audio/visual commentaries provided.
3. Proposal
That the CDS sims set up an automated tour on an experimental basis for 3 months. This will allow a number of factors to be considered and tried out.
That this be both a walking/flying tour of public areas within the three sims. That the residential nature of the sim is explained and that no tour route passes through private land. It is noted that free flying is an action allowed currently in the CDS sims.
That the tour have distinct legs with end points where the participants can stop and investigate further then rejoin the tour.
That initially a text commentary be provided during the tour legs.
That information points be set up at tour leg end points. These can be accessed both by those on the tour or otherwise just passing. That notecard givers be setup to allow participants to request notecards.
That 'appropriate' gifts be provided as a thankyou for participating in the tour.
4. Issues
That the tour does not impose on the privacy of residents - CDS is an open sim and as such anyone can visit and look round. By directing those who wish to look round to appropriate areas, together with a gentle reminder of the nature of the sim and the need to respect the privacy of the residents, the tours could actually increase privacy. The tours themselves would only include public areas.
That lag is not unduly increased by the tours or visitors - Obviously increased visitor numbers may increase sim lag. However numbers visiting the sim is more dependant on external advertising rather than internal tours. However it is accepted that there is some risk here. Increased interest in the place and concept of the CDS sims could increase demand for further residential areas. We are reminded of Caladon where increased demand has led to a rapidly expanding and developed community. Those wishing to expand the reach of CDS principals should welcome this potential.
That lag is not unduly increased by the tours or visitors - The tour mechanism itself is likely to contribute in some measure to sim lag. That careful consideration of the technology (scripts) used together with the extent of the routes needs to be undertaken at the implementation stage to minimise the effects of lag.