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The High Cost of Living The passage of time is kind of like waking from sleep: you know things happened between last night and this morning, but you weren't aware of it. It's been a long time since my last update. Gaia's been busier than ever (scary thought!) and it's impossible nowadays for me to keep track of what's going on -- especially with my own projects underway. There's a lot of push-and-pull over here. Gaia needs to grow to stay alive, and as we get bigger, it becomes harder to keep track of everything that's going on, and to see resources being dumped into projects that maybe weren't planned as well as they could have been. One project that I felt grew too big for its britches was "Label My Friends". This was a good idea that I believe, unfortunately, got out of control and lost focus of what it was trying to do. There are a lot of reasons this can happen to a project - I would have just preferred that when we do something that clearly doesn't work, we stop having the mentality of "Let's release it anyway, we've already put work into it." I personally think it hurts the Gaia brand and user perceptions of what we're trying to do when we release features that send messages pretty contrary to what we've been saying up until this point. I'm with a lot of users on the idea that Gaia has certain strengths and we should be catering to those strengths rather than trying things outside of the realm of what's made this site so great to date. Some examples of features and concepts I could have done without: Cinemas 2.0, VJ, Find Friends, Enemies, OMG. I feel as though many of these features had enough issues early on and weren't brainstormed well enough, that we should have taken more time to evaluate what it was we were really trying to do with them, and whether or not our approach actually succeeded at getting those results. What bums me out too is that we sometimes rush these out the door with problems and then, because we always have more work than developers, we never update them or fix the problems that made them dubious release candidates in the first place. Of course, this isn't to say that we haven't done great things, things I really like. Cars, the Gaia Toolbar, Cash Shop, Evolving Items, Pinball (and other upcoming games), and a slew of improvements to existing features have been great additions to the site. We have some awesome infrastructure improvements and fixes to old, integral features of the site. I'm really, really excited to see those come about. Gaia has always had growing pains, and it's always a push-and-pull between what new things Gaia needs to do to grow, and what it needs to do to improve existing functionality. I don't agree with everything that goes on here - but to some extent I never have. It's up to me and to all Gaians who love this site to keep enjoying the good things about it, and to push against the things you don't. The site's only going to get more fun, because it has to smile

Posted by: Fleep Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:10pm

Gaia Isn't Being Money Hungry

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Sgt.PepperHat
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:22pm


	-steal- Well. This certainly is nice to be posting a comment in one of your journals again. I've definitely missed them. D; And of course Gaia is just going to get better. But along with getting better is having the little setbacks where maybe a new feature really should have just been killed from the start. The good thing about creating features that might not be the best is at least the Staffers are figuring out how to make Gaia one of the best websites around while expanding resources at the same time. I think every good thing needs just a touch of bad to make the good all the more worthwhile. ; DD Keep up the good work, Fleep, and relax a bit! Don't make me worry too much. >O

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:24pm


	While there might be a lot of problems with Gaia, my thought while reading your entry was "But pinball is so supremely awesome that it makes up for all that other stuff."

armadillodreamer
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The anti-social cookie
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:27pm


	i hate to say this but i agree with you fleep. but gaia is great and will only grow greater

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:27pm


	Helloo, Fleep! It's nice to hear from you again! I agree with you about Labelmaker. I am sad that most of the labels are very pejorative and none of them have that sense of anime-inspired fun that I associate with Gaia. Also, I don't like having those lecherous men watch my female avatar change clothes. redface If this feature sticks around, would it be possible to move it off the Dress Up page? I'd also like to see positive labels replace the current selection (again, if this feature has to stay). I also agree with you about the Gaia Toolbar. I love it! heart Great job! I love seeing which friends are online, and it makes navigation easy and profitable. The evolving items and Pinball are very enjoyable, too. Keep having great ideas to bring to life on Gaia! I hope we can also get some more NPC quests added in the future. Liam's Quest was awesome! domokun

Chocobo Princess
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ladywolf
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:32pm


	Fleep you are totally spot on about everything.I had more intelligent comments to add,but alas,my sinus headache insists I go lay down,and thank almighty Fleepster for prying himself away from the grindstone for 2 minutes. blaugh xx

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 08:36pm


	Well said, Fleep. Especially since it really has been a long time since your last update. I remember when you said there be new updates almost every Friday. Oh, the good ol' days. rofl Fight for what you believe in!

Cid High-Wind
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Slanzer
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 09:16pm


	Aside from the original version of the OMG (the only thing I hated about that was how using on other sites was the only way to obtain GO Items), I totally agree with everything you just said. razz I look forward to all the games, events and quests you're currently working on. I also appreciate all the hard work you've been putting in. Random Question: Fishing's in the midst of being fixed/yadda from botters. Once this is done, are there any plans to (immediately or eventually) have an Angelic Rod Quest?

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 09:47pm


	yeA SLANZER!!! Angelic Rod QUEST sounds AWWWWWSM! cries I've been on Gaia for a year & 3 mos. now & just started Fishing this JANUARY..I heart IT now!!!& just started to get good at Durem & Gambino... & & CAN'T WAIT!! for it's return!!!!!

SpaceAce23
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Dreda
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 09:54pm


	o hai there, the Fleep meister ~ Long time-no-read-your-journal-and-comment-on ! I have to agree with all the features you said we could do without. The only one that I sort of like was the OMG because of the cute items we got. Then the only one I have to disagree with you on in the ones you love are the Cars, because it has great potential but you guys aren't taking it as far as it could go. Other then that, with all the growing I haven't experience one big "Sushi error!" or "Site is down haha you suck" sorta errors in a long time. Which I'm excited about because when I first joined the site did that like once a week for me o_o; Just for a bit was all "Not working right now" D: has no point to this rambling

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 10:48pm


	Oh God! It's been so long since I've seen you on my top list of Developer Journals. It's good to know you're still alive. Did you hear that the ESRB gave Earthbound an E rating for the Wii system? POSSIBLE VIRTUAL CONSOLE.

Edible Substance
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Arrowchan
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Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 11:48pm


	I really love that you're so honest and can say these things. It means a lot that Gaia has staff like you who communicate with the users and (I think) really understand what a lot of us are saying and why. heart I feel like Gaia has a good heart, and even though it makes mistakes and gets yelled at, it will always be a place I can call my internet home. </sentimentality>

Commented on: Tue Jun 24, 2008 @ 11:48pm


	Dear Fleep, You are my hero. I think you're awesome. Keep doing what you're doing, the good far outweighs the bad. Love, Elle

Elliandra McTiernen
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Miles To Go
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 12:43am


	I like the cash shop and evolving items alot, but I dislike the approach they take towards it. Upping the price if it has multiple poses, or is supposedly going to be really good, is too boring. They should up the anti and make prices random. Like some cheepo evolving item turns out to be amazing, like the current "10$ evos". Basically what I'm saying is it lacks variety, and variety would make them even more awesome. Just a little suggestion. ^_____^'

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 12:49am


	I never got why "Friends & Enemies" was such a bad thing.. >_>; I agree with everything else, though. Update more! =D

Pokariii
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MrsrachaelSnape
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 01:07am


	The site's only going to get more fun, because it has to- Very true 3nodding You guys may not always get everything right but I notice you learn from your (talking about gaia ) mistakes most of the time. I hate it when people only remember the mistakes gaia did but don't talk much as they should when gaia does it right.Can't wait to see your own projects ^_^.There have been more great features then unnecessary ones like Find Friends.Glad you had an update been a really really long time.

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 01:15am


	Gaia will prevail. ^^ There's bound to be a few setbacks but it doesn't mean Gaia's going to be in trouble. I do hope that future features will be better received than the Label feature.

Lyca_Watyre
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JeeszyCreezy
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 01:45am


	This is more of an opinion piece then you have written in a while (though you haven't written in a while so what's the point) Gaia, as a company is at a weird stage of growth. As many workers have said before there are reasons why gaia won't go corp. on you but your having some growing pains. A lot of businesses are like this, throwing out what they have and not what they feel is the best image of the company. I think the best way to solve this is slowing down (ha like you could) that or organizing a bit more. I think a lot of gaia users are like this and we are content with getting it but long term I understand the issues that you speak of. A lot of the stuff gaia is putting out I can't use since my connection speed it too slow. I know that as a company you try to put that to mind but it seems like everything has some fancy flash that tries to dazzle my screen but how can it when I don't see it ^^; I hope the group finds a happy place were the rate of growth equals the amount of positive creativity. And really when all else fails test the stuff your putting out! I really like that kind of thing!

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 03:20am


	It makes me feel good to hear you say those things. I'm somewhat relieved to know that someone there acknowledges that some of the things Gaia tries to do aren't being done in the best possible way, and that there are problems. It's also good to know that these things are the way they are simply because they were not developed well, and not because the Gaia staff has lost sense of what Gaia is all about.

KaylaGalela
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Kiyoske Dante
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 03:25am


	Good to hear from you again Fleep. It's been a while, hasn't it? No offense to you, but I have no problems with OMG (1st rev and 2nd rev). I think it is nice that you have a spot as a very popular widget on FB and Bebo. I've actually had a couple friends join because they saw how Gaia wasn't just a "place for cybering" and saw that there were things you could win for doing practically nothing (them loving the "instant gratification" effect ) and also for some of the more practical reasons ( "site 'x' doesn't have a world you can actually run around on! holy crap!" or "wait, you mean that I can just start a thread and staff can see it and respond to me? They actually interact with the community? That's pretty cool!" wink . Of course, Cars needs at least a track update, or maybe motorbikes. Gaia Toolbar ate the dust when Firefox 3 was released last Tuesday (You may have heard Panagrammics squeal of joy over the release). It was a pretty good addon, even though some of us from C+T:TT were a bit miffed with its heavy searchbar manipulation and its obsession with Yahoo! and such. Both the Cash Shop and Pinball I agree on heavily with you. Ones a good source of money float for Gaia to stay out of redline while releasing heavily wanted or otherwise awesome items to the public and at the same time making it possible for those without paypal to order off of gaia, and the other is fun for all. I've had my little brother ask to play pinball, even though he dislikes computer games. That's got to say something about Pinball. Well, that's all from me for now. Enjoy your week, and hope to see back from you soon.

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 03:39am


	All I can say is Amen. Really, you sum up pretty much everything I think about the recent releases. And, alas, I think this is how things happen in nearly every big company that deals with software development. Software engineering is a tricky beast like that.

AlexDitto
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Malee
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 04:04am


	I would have just preferred that when we do something that clearly doesn't work, we stop having the mentality of "Let's release it anyway, we've already put work into it." Make this your motto Fleep! Put it in big bold letters and put it in your cubicle and make EVERYONE read it!!!

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 05:22am


	Fleep, when you say "push against the things you don't [enjoy]" what do you mean by that and how do you suggest going about this? Thank you for writing another journal entry. It is really appreciated and it is always great to hear from you, Fleep.

Blaze-kun
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thepinkythepink
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 07:34am


	Label Maker wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't all so negative. ._. Even if it was in good fun, it still hurt my feelings.

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 07:46am


	Wow it's been forever Fleep! It's nice to hear from you again.. I agree with what everyone else is saying. Gaia is in a weird growing pain at the moment. I'm starting to dislike some of the things that happen on this website but I know in the future there will be better things. I think it's cool Gaia is reaching out to a new demographic.. don't get me wrong. I love how Gaia updates almost everyday (I remember a time when there was only major updates every few MONTHS). I love how there's more to do here. Unfortunately I feel like Gaia is creating more features for "newer" users (aside from Pinball! I love the old storyline references in it). Gaia is forgetting to cater to the older generations of Gaia... and we're the ones who helped Gaia in the beginning. Man I feel old when I say that. lol I'm sure things will be even better after Battle System is released. Hopefully there will be less pressure on everyone at Gaia. gonk

Arli
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Spriteless Girl
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 04:48pm


	Hoo, yeah, label maker wasn't the best way to spend manpower, but now that it is out, it would be nice to have nice labels. "Sweetheart,""Nice," "PWNS," "Badass," or even "Sarcastic Comment" if you want something funny to make up for calling someone a skank. Erm, but I digress. If the old Gaia is never to return, at least there are people who care about it keeping it from devolving into geocities (or neopets). I trust you guys. The site's in good hands.

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 04:54pm


	D: do you think the labelmaker will go away?? Say yes!! heart

Violue
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pure dark star
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Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 08:32pm


	Well, even if I'm not always happy with what Gaia is doing, I still love you Gaia! whee

Commented on: Wed Jun 25, 2008 @ 10:25pm


	<~I'm not familiar with the workings of a website, but can't you just get rid of the features that do not improve? And I'm glad that developers are recognizing the effects, I frankly would rather see what you want to see,(minus rally's I'm part of the GAGC (pronounced gag-see Gaians Against Grombie Cruelty and yes I just made that up and yes it is a joke)) : D I love your journals too by the way, it makes me believe Gaia is personal like it used to be.~>

Noxious Weed
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The Sexy G
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Commented on: Thu Jun 26, 2008 @ 12:02am


	I love VJ, I get to watch movies I would have never been able to find on youtube without it! Cinemas... THAT would've been cool if we didn't get shitty movies and shows, which... I know, I know... Gaia isn't THAT big where it can get those really huge movies, but then why release that feature? =/ Some features were just planned at the wrong times. domokun I don't know. Gaia has released some features I'm OKAY that they released, but don't really have any use. Signature Maker, Label My Friends, Friends List v2.0, Mochi games, Mischief Makers, etc. Sponsor Features such as Cars and MTV world are fine with me, but will probably only get used by a 'certain' type of gaian. Where as... pinball could be played by really ANYONE.

Commented on: Thu Jun 26, 2008 @ 05:24am


	Hiya Fleep I have to say I agree with your opinion on the labelmaker and some of the stuff I read in this entry. I have to say I enjoy all the neat games and stuff gaia has to offer but it's the little things like that sometimes that make me sad for gaia. Besides that I can't wait to see what gaia has planned next, I know whatever it is it'll be awsome. I take any and all unwanted items

Myria_Angelus
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Kobal Bauer
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Commented on: Thu Jun 26, 2008 @ 07:20am


	Good luck, my friend !!! We love Gaia and we support you !!! 3nodding I am a proud zETA!

Commented on: Fri Jun 27, 2008 @ 01:20pm


	I am oka with every thing. I like 3/4 of everything that happens on gaia. it is a lot of fun!

Lord Burandon
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Tsukabu Nosoratori
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Commented on: Sat Jun 28, 2008 @ 12:58am


	Pinball has been my favorite game add-on this year so far, but I think the 'flaunt it' and 'label me' features should have the option of being turned off. I'm not fond of those features at all.

Commented on: Tue Jul 01, 2008 @ 11:26am


	Thank you for your perceptive bluntness and refusal to sugarcoat. The improvements to existing features are usually what excite me, too. I hope we see a further shift towards Gaia's core features and fewer, but better thought-out, extensions. These would definitely be worth the slowdown in expansion.

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Jocylyn
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Commented on: Sat Jul 19, 2008 @ 05:57am


	Quote: I'm with a lot of users on the idea that Gaia has certain strengths and we should be catering to those strengths rather than trying things outside of the realm of what's made this site so great to date. Thank you. D: But...honestly, I've been gone since March. I suppose that was all I could really manage of "I hate Gaia nao" in the four years total that I've been around. I just.....can't ****** do it. gonk I love this place, I can't help myself. crying Sure, Gaia has its faults, but...I think you guys really are trying. ^^ And it will only get more fun, because that's just how we roll. cool** Thanks for the update Fleep. Long time since I've read and commented one of your journals. I remember when updates were every Friday. Ah, the good ol' days. :'D -pats Fleep's shoulder-

Commented on: Mon Jul 21, 2008 @ 11:42pm


	Fleep I totally agree with you and you are one of my favorite people on gaia because you truelly care! And if you had anything to do with the event (Bet you do) I love it

Toxic love bunny
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Camila Espia
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Commented on: Wed Jul 23, 2008 @ 06:24am


	I heard about the skin ruckus, and I have to say I love you for trying to pull that off the Cash shop :3 And thanks, I spend a lot of time in this site because it is so well taken care of 3nodding it is not perfect adn we all have suggestions but it's great to know people like you that doesn't fel like a semi deity just for being part of the team. Thanks heart

Commented on: Sun Dec 07, 2008 @ 07:54am


	And here I always thought the high cost of living is death. =O

Sven Fenrir
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