The Summer Slowdown: OpenSim Usage Trends and Insights
As the summer sun beckons people outdoors, the virtual world of OpenSim experiences a familiar lull. This seasonal trend is not unique to OpenSim; many virtual environments see a decline in user activity as individuals take vacations, engage in outdoor activities, and educational projects pause for the summer break. This article delves into the latest statistics and trends within the OpenSim community, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise during this period.
User Activity Decline
Recent reports indicate a significant drop in active users within the OpenSim ecosystem, with the total number of active users decreasing by over 3,700, bringing the count down to 43,001. Notably, DigiWorldz experienced a loss of 1,220 active users this month, along with a reduction of 21 regions. This decline is reflective of the broader trend where many grids report lower engagement during the summer months.
Several grids, including the German Grid and German World Grid, did not report statistics this month, adding to the uncertainty surrounding user engagement. The German Grid had 235 active users last month, while the German World Grid previously reported 623. The absence of these statistics highlights the challenges of maintaining consistent reporting during the summer.
Land Area Growth Amidst User Decline
Interestingly, while user activity has waned, the total land area of OpenSim’s public grids has seen an increase of nearly 1,494 region equivalents this month. Additionally, OpenSim grids registered a total of 1,545 new users. This paradox of declining user numbers alongside expanding land area suggests that while fewer users are actively engaging, the infrastructure and opportunities for new users continue to grow.
Currently, OpenSim is tracking a total of 2,675 public grids, with 311 being active and 244 publishing their statistics this month. If you manage a grid and wish to ensure your statistics are included in future reports, you can reach out to the editor at [email protected].
Leading Grids: A Snapshot
In terms of land area, OSgrid remains the largest grid, boasting 33,203 standard region equivalents. Meanwhile, Wolf Territories Grid has emerged as the most active grid, recording 6,733 unique logins over the past 30 days. This distinction highlights the diverse nature of engagement within the OpenSim community, where some grids thrive despite overall declines in user activity.
It’s important to note that the statistics reported do not include most grids running on DreamGrid, a free and user-friendly version of OpenSim, as these are typically private grids.
OpenSim: A Versatile Virtual World Platform
OpenSim is a free, open-source virtual world platform akin to Second Life, enabling users with minimal technical skills to create and explore virtual environments. For those with technical expertise, OpenSim can be hosted on personal servers using various distributions, including DreamGrid or the official OpenSim installer. Commercial hosting options are also available, starting at less than $5 per region.
For those interested in exploring OpenSim, a list of OpenSim hosting providers is available, along with resources for downloading the recommended Firestorm viewer and sourcing content for virtual worlds.
Monthly Insights and Trends
As part of our commitment to keeping the community informed, we are launching a monthly newsletter that will summarize all OpenSim news from the previous month. This newsletter will be available on the 15th of each month, right after the statistics report is released. You can subscribe here to stay updated.
Top 25 Grids by Active Users
The following grids have emerged as the most popular this month, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of the OpenSim community:
- Wolf Territories Grid: 6,733 active users
- OSgrid: 4,844 active users
- GBG World: 2,295 active users
- Vida Dupla: 1,987 active users
- Alternate Metaverse: 1,885 active users
- Darkheart’s Playground: 1,723 active users
- WaterSplash: 1,447 active users
- AviWorlds: 1,068 active users
- AviVerse AlterEgo: 1,002 active users
- DigiWorldz: 943 active users
- Trianon World: 937 active users
- Neverworld: 897 active users
- Littlefield: 822 active users
- Party Destination Grid: 796 active users
- Moonrose: 774 active users
- Astralia: 763 active users
- Craft World: 723 active users
- AvatarLife: 717 active users
- Herederos Grid: 578 active users
- Groovy Verse: 547 active users
- Virtual Vista Metaverse: 494 active users
- ZetaWorlds: 476 active users
- Kitely: 460 active users
- Gentle Fire Grid: 448 active users
- DreamNation: 342 active users
The addition of Virtual Vista Metaverse to this list marks a significant development, indicating a strong launch and potential for future growth.
Online Marketplaces for OpenSim Content
The Kitely Market continues to be a vital resource for OpenSim users, boasting 20,965 product listings with 41,073 product variations. Notably, 35,835 of these products are exportable, highlighting the market’s commitment to providing versatile content for users across different grids. Kitely Market has successfully delivered orders to 628 OpenSim grids, showcasing its expansive reach.
Kitely has recently upgraded its version of OpenSim, enhancing start-up times and improving compatibility with scripts imported from Second Life. Additionally, Kitely is currently offering a promotion on Mega Worlds for $90 per month, making it an attractive option for users looking to expand their virtual presence.
New and Suspended Grids
This month saw no new grids added to the database. However, 11 grids were marked as suspended, including Butschiland, Destiny Grid, and Fire and Ice Grid. If these grids do not reappear soon, they will be classified as closed in future reports. Grid administrators are encouraged to update their login URIs or website addresses to ensure accurate tracking.
Conclusion
As summer draws to a close, the OpenSim community faces both challenges and opportunities. While user activity may dip during the warmer months, the growth in land area and the introduction of new users signal a resilient and evolving virtual landscape. By staying informed and engaged, users can navigate this dynamic environment and continue to explore the vast possibilities that OpenSim offers.
For more detailed statistics and insights, you can access the raw data for this month’s report and explore the historical OpenSim statistics dating back to 2009. If you have any updates or new grids to share, please reach out to [email protected].
Stay connected, stay engaged, and let’s continue to build the future of OpenSim together!