The grand Change

[Tom Ford]

Change needs to happen to keep this game running

[Nothing Nowhere]

Please, do not support this idea. Turning SV into and NFT based digital property will strip this game of the Nostalgia. We will see an influx of greedy online businessmen. They will take control of the value of in game items. Then real players who come to enjoy this game will suffer. Lets keep this game for the actual players. Turning it into a cash cow would ruin the reason people come to play this game and put their hard earned money into it. He also wants to incentivise it by saying everyone would have a say in the development, as if we dont already? I think theres a good reason this game isnt a democracy. If it was nothing would ever get done.

Im glad that SV staff doesnt pay too much mind to stuff like this and continues to move the business model they know will work. The ideas Johny has presented would ruin the spirit of SV. The game would no longer be for the players who loved SW, but now it would be for business mogels to come and make a quick profit off of peoples joy. Not something im interested in at all.

Not to mention the legal blocks Johny clearly doesnt understand. This game is private server, and a big reason we're allowed to keep releasing and developing is because we play under a private server. In order to covert this game into a blockchain format we would need full legal ownership of all intellectual property, which is not a reasonable expectation for this game.

I'm not sure why Johny isn'y happy with the state of the game, however I can vouch for most of the everyday players over the last year. We love this game the way it is, don't stray from the business model you had originally planned for SV. Staff has done a good job keeping the spirit alive, and i don't think they will let this silly, poorly thought out forum post change their mind.

I agree with you and Ligeia, Smallverse is not about money and this proposition is unrealistic, money and work is being put into running the server, updates, new items, offers and packages. It already is a lot of work, without introducing Cryptocurrency and the rest, it is not needed either, it will kill the game.

[Johny Caddy]

Cricket listen to this song Scorpions-wind of change

[Johny Caddy]

676efff5ab67a41edd4d405d Cricket, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Capital.

I strongly suggest you take a moment to do a quick Google search on the current landscape of Web3 gaming.
Read up on how many projects generate millions of dollars in budgets while still in pre-launch or early-access phases.
The numbers are out there, and they are undeniable.
Why does this matter?
Because maintaining and evolving a legacy server isn't free.
Any meaningful improvement requires money. As a game evolves, operational costs skyrocket.
We are talking about server stability, better hardware, security against DDoS, and justifying the thousands of coding hours the staff puts in.
Let’s bust the myth right now:
The chance of a random player becoming a millionaire from playing this game is infinitesimal. That is not the goal, and frankly, it’s a naive way to look at it.
The real opportunity lies in the Project Treasury.
Imagine if the value generated by the economy was directed back into development.
Instead of scraping by, the staff would have a war chest to actually modernize the infrastructure and secure the game's future for another decade.
We need to stop thinking like consumers and start thinking like builders.
This isn't about greed. It's about giving the developers the fuel they need to keep the engine running.

[Ligeia Tepes]

The think is johny, most of us came here because we were happy to get this game back, the old game we loved. Changing it is not what made people come, other people have tried to remake sw and changed it too much and didn't do well. sv is doing well by bringing us exactly what we missed. This whole cypto thing would be a huge thorn in the side of the art community , and the art community is a big reason people buy gold and what got many of us to come back, we missed the art. Not to mention who is going to do all this? Do you understand the huge changes needed to make this happen? Ones that would cost the developers money and then what? What if people leave? That's a huge gamble when this game is doing fine right now. I'm all for change but i came to this game to experience the exact thing I missed not a futuristic version of this game lol We come here to escape reality. You want to turn this into some huge corporate mess. And tbh most if not all of the ones agreeing with you have nothing to say but "I agree" they have no reasoning for why they are agreeing. Group think, or whatever is going on this will never happen , and I'm glad it won't

[Eric Venture]

I am also a long time playing smallworlds player 2010 i agree that this time around we cant wait for the end to come like last time we need to secure a plan to keep the game going. Games like Wizard 101 and war or warcraft are games from our childhood and there still here and i fear this is smallworlds/smallverse last try of keeping the old game going. i fear were running out of time!!

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae Ligeia, let’s take a deep breath and lower the pitchforks.
First, I need to address something important.
Dismissing the people who agree with me as victims of "group think" or implying they lack reasoning is not just unfair-it’s inaccurate.
I am surrounded by engineers, economists, and long-time passionate players. These are honest, intelligent people who simply see the writing on the wall before others do. They aren't following blindly; they are looking at the horizon.
And I’ll tell you exactly where this vision comes from. It wasn’t born in a corporate boardroom.
It was born right here, in this game.

It started late one night, deep in conversation with a close friend I met in this virtual world. I won’t reveal her name just yet-let’s keep a little mystery-but we share a vision that goes far beyond what you see on the screen today.
We didn't just talk about quests. We mapped out a blueprint for the future... including a Virtual Reality integration.
Imagine actually stepping inside the world we love, walking through the cities we built, not just clicking on them. It was a moment of pure connection, realizing this game has the potential to be a pioneer again, not just a museum. That real friendship and that shared dream are why I am fighting so hard. I don’t want the world where I met her to disappear because we were too afraid to adapt.

Now, let's talk about the reality of "keeping things exactly the same."
Stagnation is not preservation. It is a slow death.
You mentioned cost. Let me explain the brutal economics of server management. As the game evolves, as we add more items, more players, and more data... the "rent" goes up.

More space requires better hardware. Better security. More bandwidth.

Nostalgia does not pay the electricity bill.

My proposal is about creating a sustainable economy that funds these costs indefinitely, so we don't wake up one day to a "Server Shutdown" notice. Again.

But here is where you surprise me, Ligeia.

You speak for the Art Community. Yet, you are opposing the one technology designed to protect it.
We are living in an era of Artificial Intelligence, where art is stolen and replicated in seconds. The model I am fighting for is the only one that can mathematically prove that you created a statue, a story, or a mission.
Imagine if your in-game statues weren't just "items" stuck on a private server, but verified digital assets.
Imagine if your creations could be admired-and traded-by a market of millions, not just the few hundred of us here.
Imagine if your legacy as an artist was coded into the blockchain, safe from wipes, safe from theft, and safe from AI replication.
I am not fighting to turn this game into a "corporate mess." I am fighting to bring this game into legality by distinguishing our assets through technical nuances and pixel-perfect uniqueness.

I made a promise to myself when I logged back in: I will not let this game die a second time!

Those who attack this vision with "fishy" accusations or fear-mongering are missing the point. We don't need a fundamental rewrite of the game. We need a structural reinforcement.

I want your art to last for 100 years, Ligeia. I want your stories to inspire generations.

I am on your side of the barricade. I’m just holding a different shield.

[Ligeia Tepes]

I would not think that if they actually had more to say then "I agree" with absolutely no input as to why, What else is to be thought in that scenario? Also you do realize this game is made by fans not by the same people? This is a recreation. Im also wondering why you chose to go public with this instead of approaching the developers with this idea. At the end of the day that is their choice to decide. No matter how many people say they like this idea, if the developers dont see the game as in trouble and dont want to change things thats up to them. Considering we just got out of beta I doubt they are hardly looking to revamp the game. Did you propose this idea to the other remakes or just this one? I just dont get why you think this is needed at this time. They have repeatedly said they are doing fine. Reality is this game will one day die, no game is going to go on forever. But case in point yoville is still going and they have not done what you are suggesting there, so how are they still going strong? What your suggesting sounds like SL and I hate that game . If I wanted to play a game set up like that i'd go there.

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae
Ligeia, if you scroll up and actually read through the comments, you will see something very different from what you describe.

You claim people are just blindly agreeing, yet I see detailed paragraphs, nuanced arguments about economy, and players sharing their own independent desires for ownership.
To dismiss their intellectual contribution just because it aligns with my vision is, frankly, disrespectful to them. These are smart people who want more than just "status quo."

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: "Why go public?"

Because great ideas die in private inboxes.
Democracy starts with transparency. If I had messaged the developers privately, it would have been just one voice. But by bringing it here, I am showing them that there is a pulse, a demand, and a segment of the community that is hungry for evolution.

And regarding the "future" you are so afraid of:
You seem to think VR means changing the game into something unrecognizable. That is a misunderstanding.
It is all about freedom of choice.
Just like you would be able to choose whether to hold $VERSE or simply play for free, you would be able to toggle effortlessly between Third Person, First Person, or full VR.
Why is this important? Because SmallVerse isn't just about clicking pixels. It’s about immersion.
I didn't choose the other remakes. I chose this one because SmallVerse captures the social soul better than anyone else. But imagine taking that soul one step further.
Imagine actually standing at the edge of a pool, looking at the water ripple. Imagine sitting by a campfire, feeling like you are truly sitting next to your friends, holding hands, or watching a movie on Netflix together in a virtual living room.
That is the magic I am talking about. Not cold technology, but warmer connections.
You say, "Reality is this game will one day die."

I reject that reality.

That is the difference between a consumer and a visionary. You accept the inevitable end; I am looking for the cure.
Why compare us to Yoville? That is merely "surviving." I am talking about thriving.
We don't want to be Second Life. We want the longevity of SL, but with the unique charm and art of SV.
You ask why I think this is needed "at this time" when the game is "fine."
Because the best time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining, not when the storm hits. Waiting until the game is "in trouble" to innovate is too late.
I’m not here to convince you to like the idea, Ligeia. I’m here to make sure the developers see that there is a path to immortality for this game, if they are brave enough to take it.

[Ligeia Tepes]

If you are suggesting using crypto then the "soul" has been drained. Crypto wastes tons of electricity and is simply a ponzi scheme that is bad for the environment. That is not something I care to have as part of a game I come to just to have fun and create.

[Johny Caddy]

Ligeia, you are fighting a ghost from the past.
When you talk about "wasting electricity" and environmental damage, you are referring to outdated technology (Proof of Work), like old Bitcoin mining.
The technology used in modern gaming (Proof of Stake) consumes less energy than the Google search you used to find this forum. That is a fact. So please, let’s put the environmental scarecrow to rest.
Now, let’s look at the alternatives logically. How do we secure the future?
If we reject a sustainable player-owned economy, what options are left to fund the massive costs of keeping this game alive and evolving?
Option A: Corporate Partnership or Buyout.
Do we want a big company to step in? That sounds safe until they completely change the interface, ruin the "soul" you love so much, and turn it into a generic cash-grab like FIFA. Once you sell shares to a corporation, the players lose their voice entirely.
Option B: The "Good Samaritan".
Are we just sitting here waiting for a millionaire to randomly donate a fortune to save us? That is a fantasy, not a business model.
Option C: The Current Model (VIPs & Monthly Packs).
This is what we have now. It works... barely. It’s living paycheck to paycheck.
If the player count fluctuates,which happens to every game,the revenue drops, and development stalls. It creates a state of constant insecurity. You cannot build a future when you are worried about next month's server rent.
Confidence.
Right now, with the "Wings Pack" costing around $60, I hesitate. Why? Because I know that if the server goes down, that money is burned.
But if this game implemented a verified ownership model(gradually and carefully) my psychology changes.
Instead of spending $60 with fear, I would feel safe investing $600 or more, knowing that those assets are truly mine and hold value outside the server’s database.
Multiply that mindset by 1,000 players.
That is the difference between "keeping the lights on" and having the budget to build the VR features, the new worlds, and the legacy we dream of.
I’m not suggesting we flip a switch overnight. This needs to be implemented slowly, side-by-side with the current game, so nobody feels forced.
But refusing to look at the only financial model that empowers the player instead of the corporation... that is the real risk to the "soul" of this game.

[Ligeia Tepes]

Here's the thing you say you love this version best out of the remakes ( I agree this one is far superior) then propose a great change but love this version cause its most like the original. That would mean you love it because there is less change/ Changing it would run off players , OG players . The ones who truly love and appreciate the game. Sure maybe for awhile it would bring in new people, mostly those looking to make a buck and who don't care about the game itself. But that would completely kill off the whole reason we came here in the first place. I didn't come her for change I came here to play the same game I already loved and missed, As for crypto I will never be on board with that period , This game is not made by a corporation btw lol But what your suggesting will whole heartedly bring in corporations looking to make a buck. This whole thing screams of a business proposal they never asked for or said they needed

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae Ligeia, let’s put aside the "business" talk for a second and look at security and survival. You say you want things to stay exactly as they are. But do you remember what happened in the original SmallWorlds?
Do you remember those 2-3 days when random amounts of Gold just "appeared" in players' accounts out of nowhere? People spent it, the economy crashed, and then the staff had to do mass corrections. Players ended up with negative balances or got banned.
Why did that happen?
Because in the current system, "Gold" is just a number in a database. It can be hacked, glitched, or exploited by "farmers" creating thousands of fake accounts. This inflation destroys the game's economy silently.
Here is the practical solution I am proposing:
In the system I envision, every single Coin, every Table, every Rare Item has a unique registration code on the blockchain.
It cannot be duplicated. It cannot be hacked. We would know exactly how much currency exists. No more exploits.
Now, regarding the "Corporation" fear:
We don't need a corporation. We need a structure.
Let me give you a rough example of how a transparent Tokenomics model works (simplified):

Imagine we issue 1 Billion $VERSE.
50% held by the Game Treasury: This funds the servers, the engineers (who are expensive!), and development.
40% available on the Market: For players to buy and trade.
10% for External Investors: To give the initial boost.
The Cycle is natural:
You buy $VERSE to get VIP or a specific item -> That value goes to the Treasury -> The Developers use it to pay for better servers -> The value flows back into the game.
When you sell your "Snowfox" or rare item, you don't sell it back to the company. You sell it to another player. You keep the value.
And please understand this:
Just like buying Gold right now is optional, using $VERSE would be optional.
You can still play, chat, and exist without spending a dime. But for those who want to support the game, it offers a secure way to do it.
Finally, look around this forum.
It is full of complaints about Lag, Disconnects, and Loading errors.
Why? Because every new wig, every new flower, and every new account adds load to the server. The cost increases daily.
Moving to a Web3 infrastructure allows for better data handling, mobile access, and a lag-free experience because the load is distributed.
This system would naturally attract talented painters and creators who want their hobby to be safe and their identity verified; because ultimately, whether you are a moderator, a technician, a house designer, or a dedicated shop owner, quality work deserves to be valued and protected, not just expected for free

We are all "OG" players here. But if we don't fix the foundation (the funding and the tech), the house will eventually collapse. I am just trying to reinforce the concrete.

[Ligeia Tepes]

They are not going to move this game , if they wanted it that way they would have done it before it came out of beta. What your asking of them to do is simply impossible and would cost alot of time , money and legalities which would possibly end this game.

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae We keep inventing "scarecrows"-pollution, scams, greed, and now "impossibility"-only to be afraid of them.
Let me clarify who you are talking to, so we can drop the "greedy businessman" narrative.

I am a Dermatologist.

In the real world, I run a successful private practice in a highly competitive market. My life involves precision, patience, and caring for people.
I am not here to "make a buck" off a game. I am already successful. I am here because I love this world, and just like in my profession, I want to apply the best treatment to ensure its longevity.

You say it’s "impossible" to change the game now. I offer you the Paradox of the Ship of Theseus.

If you have a wooden ship and you replace one plank every day... eventually, you have replaced every single part. Is it a new ship? Or is it the same ship that has simply evolved to stay afloat?

That is what I am proposing.

Not a sudden, destructive switch. But a gradual replacement of the "planks" (the backend technology).

Regarding the Legalities and Art:

You mentioned that changing things creates legal risks. Ironically, moving to Web3 could solve them.

By slightly modifying the graphical details and shifting the mechanics from Web2 to Web3, we actually create a stronger distinction from the original IP. We make it unique.

And who benefits most? The Artists.

We have an incredible, tight-knit community here. Look at the masterpieces at Enchanted or the Sin and Seraphin Art Auctions.

Those artists deserve to have their work immortalized, not just hosted on a server that could vanish. Now is the perfect time to do this, while we are small and united enough to pivot.

Let’s lighten up for a second.

Does anyone remember Kent Kronkite?

I can’t help but wonder what he would be writing in the SmallWorlds Chronicle right now about this debate. He would probably have a field day with the "Future vs. Tradition" headline! )

Look, this discussion might seem complicated, but it comes down to a simple desire we both share: Survival.

Let’s wait for an official response from the Developer Team.

Until then, know that my proposals come from a place of care, strategy, and a desire to see us all playing this game 20 years from now.