Here are reprinted forum posts and newspaper articles of note that were originally featured in the Virtual Planet newspaper and are being reprinted here in their original form wherever possible.

1999

July

10th

Consumable Items, an Invitation to Brainstorming! - July 10, 1999 by Michael (World Manager)

Taken from: https://web.archive.org/web/20020425001820/http://www.vplanet.org/

Dear Members,
Several of you have mentioned that they believe we need more "consumable" items. I agree with you, and we are now starting to work on strategies in this sense. And this is where we need your input and your ideas!

Let me explain what "consumable" items are. There are, in theory, two different kinds:

1) Items with charges: These items can be used x times, then they run out of charges and can be pawned for a small amount of tokens. Spraycans fall into this category. You can use them 3-5 times, then they are used up and worthless. Other items of this kind could be: magic wands that teleport you to a locale of high interest (Elevator, V-Mart, a certain city (in NRW), etc.); expensive magic wands that let you engrave an item, fireworks that can be used 10 times, full bottles of whiskey that turn into empty bottles after you sipped three times (with a nice gulping sound), etc.

2) Items with a lifespan: Currently we have no items of this category, and the technology doesn't support it at this time. However, such items would last a certain period of time. For example: Vases with flowers that turn into empty vases after a week or two, snowballs that melt after an hour (and vanish), single roses that disappear after a week, food items that can be eaten (might or might not enchant your avatar and provide special abilities for a short period of time, could also be random), candles that burn out after 12 hours (and vanish), cigarettes that disappear after a while, etc.

Excited? Okay, now: Be creative! Think of items that would fall into one of these two categories. Only rule: Other avatars cannot be manipulated with these items. So no wands that mute someone else for 10 minutes, or eggs that can be placed in someone else's turf and after a week the turf becomes unusable <g>, etc. Also think about how these items would affect the economy and the community, and the product as whole. Would it open new possibilities? Are some of them of commercial value? (Can they be marketed, and if so, how?)

Put on your thinking caps, and tell us your ideas. Be Utopian, think in new dimensions, and think BIG! We have a good chance to expand the technology, and make the product even better, and more exciting. Let's work on the things we have always dreamed of. Now is the chance, and each of you is invited to help.

Michael
World Manager
Avaterra.com Inc.

September

20th

Michael And Delilah Announce New Pricing Plan - Golden Knight Joscelin - September 20, 1999

Taken from: https://web.archive.org/web/20030209032331/http://www.vplanet.org/

Just before 9:00 PM WAT on Sunday night World Managers Michael and Delilah made an appearance in front of the Temple Street Terrace turf. A system broadcast message send out just after 8:00 PM WAT had notified avatars inworld that there was to be an announcement when the turfs reopened.

The call went out in both Dreamscape and Virtual Zones about this announcement, many avatars reached out even into their ICQ lists to bring people in to hear the news and in reply avatars flocked to the proposed site. Some, who were locked in their turfs because of the maintenance were rescued by kind Acolytes who teleported them to the streets so they could be in attendance.

Michael and Delilah, resplendent in their robes greeted the the crowd. Thanks went out to the community for patience and activism in the last few weeks to help put the Dream back into perspective, as far as getting people out of turfs and onto the streets. It was requested that we give thanks to the Techs who got us back up and running after the unexpected outage on Saturday (and if you think WE had it bad, Virtual Zones (Formerly NRW) was down for more than 10 hours).

Then the announcement we had been waiting for. The subject: Dreamscape Pricing. Michael took the floor and announced that effective October 1, 1999 Avaterra will be billing a mere $9.95 per month for Dreamscape Accounts. We still retain both of our avatars (remember that in Virtual Zones, the account only has ONE avatar). The only concession is that you MUST be billed by Avaterra, so if you have been putting off the inevitable, get the hence and convert to Avaterra before the end of the month. Delilah told us that management was taking notice of all of the activity in the Dreamscape, and thanked us for being visual and controversial.

Here is an edited text of what Michael and Delilah had to say.

Michael (World Manager): we understand that the past days and weeks have been emotionally stressful ... and we do appreciate your patience in times when it was hard to keep a positive attitude and not to give up.

Delilah (World Events Manager): It's hard when you don't know everything that's going on. It's difficult on us as well. We have been overwhelmed by the support of the community. Our management has been excited to see the changes. It was a challenge for you, for us, controversy can be a good thing but you hung in there as did we <g>

Michael (World Manager): Please keep in mind that this is the beginning of, so we hope, a new era, and it something that YOU, you as community, achieved. Starting October 1, we will lower the monthly Dreamscape membership fee from $19.95 to $9.95/month. For accounts with 2 avatars.

Michael (World Manager): That is a price change of 50% ... and equals to $4.95/month per avatar.

Delilah (World Events Manager): for those of you who believed and kept going, no matter the nay-sayers pat yourselves on the back and each other.

Acolyte Jal: Have to switch to Avaterra

Delilah (World Events Manager): Yes, you have to convert to Avaterra billing in order to take advantage of the new pricing.

Michael (World Manager): There is now a message in the forum .. with details and the official announcement in written form. <grin>

Michael (World Manager): So ..and now ...many of you thought we'd just repaint the lobby. WRONG!: <grin>

Delilah (World Events Manager): thank yourselves, you all did it

Michael (World Manager): Please use the forum to post questions and comments, we'll answer there. <grin> (regarding the new pricing plan <grin>)

So my friends, we have been given a breath of fresh air.  We have been screaming and we have been heard. I join Michael and Delilah in thanking everyone who dug their heels in and made changes in the Dream.  Never give up on a dream.

2000

Coming soon!

2001

Coming soon!