The grand Change

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae Ligeia, you are legally entitled to your opinion, but you are factually incorrect about how the art world functions.

1. "Art does not cost money."

This is a dangerous myth.
Go into an art supply store and try to walk out with canvases, high-quality paints, brushes, and varnish for free. Tell the cashier "I do this for love." They will call the police.

Art requires Capital (materials) and Time (labor).

When you say "art is free," you are devaluing the labor of every artist on this platform. You are confusing a Hobby (which costs you money) with a Profession (which makes you money).

2. The Banksy Argument (You are proving my point):

You keep bringing up Banksy to prove that "nothing lasts" and "names don't matter."

Here is the reality check:

Banksy established an organization called "Pest Control" specifically to authenticate his works.

Why? Because without that proof of origin, his art would be worthless fakes.

He literally created a centralized version of what I am proposing with Blockchain. He protects his "nickname" fiercely because that nickname is a Brand worth over $50 Million.

3. "Government Name" vs. Brand:

In the economy, nobody cares about your government name; they care about your Reputation (Brand).

Coca-Cola is a "nickname." Nike is a "nickname." Banksy is a "nickname."

They are all Assets worth billions because they are trusted and verified.

You are arguing that artists should be content with memories and anonymity.

I am arguing that artists deserve the same tools Banksy uses: Authentication, Value, and Protection.
If you want to create art for free and have it wash away, that is your choice.
But stop telling professional artists that they shouldn't want to get paid or protected just because you prefer a hobbyist mindset.

[Kuriixxa Worthington]

nah W johny listen to him

[Tokyo Xio]

If they wanted to, they would. YOU HEAR THE MAN SMALLVERSE!

[Johny Caddy]

676ef037ab67a41edd4d3f33 Exactly. The blueprint to fix the lag, stop the scams, and secure the economy is right here on the table. It is no longer a question of how to fix the game; it is simply a question of if the developers have the courage to actually do it.
Appreciate the support. Let's see if leadership is listening. 🚀

[Orin Shillen]

676ef037ab67a41edd4d3f33 Exactly. The blueprint to fix the lag, stop the scams, and secure the economy is right here on the table. It is no longer a question of how to fix the game; it is simply a question of if the developers have the courage to actually do it.
Appreciate the support. Let's see if leadership is listening. 🚀

you are talking about lag... maybe something that is on the players side - I never have lag or problems, never poof nor connection problems, so might also be just a internet problem on your side - and I really don't want real money involved in a game like that... sorry

[Lost Sinner]

Someone ban this guy from ChatGPT lmfao.

[Johny Caddy]

68e372362063274ca0d4e911 69614d47f367440507c902fe @Orin Shillen I’m honestly glad your game runs smoothly, but the server lag is a massive, community-wide issue. It’s an infrastructure problem, not just bad Wi-Fi.
As for the "real money" part... I hate to break it to you, but real money is the only reason this game is online. Players buy gold packs daily to keep the lights on, and unfortunately, players are also losing IRL cash to scammers in the shadows (just look at the Dillon Duff news).
Yes, you can make some gold right now through basic trading, but let’s be brutally honest about the state of the game: it’s getting stale. We are basically the same 300 active players passing the same items back and forth in empty rooms. If you aren't a dedicated artist or playing pool all day, the progression hits a massive wall.
We are playing in a stagnant sandbox that doesn't have a bright future if things stay exactly like this. My proposal is about breaking that ceiling. A secure, blockchain-backed economy brings in actual new players, creates a true "rags to riches" trading ecosystem, and gives the developers the funding they need to make the game incredible. We shouldn't settle for a dying virtual mall just because we're afraid of change.
@Lost Sinner If basic logic, formatting, and a structured argument look like "ChatGPT" to you, I really can't help you. It’s a classic forum move: when someone doesn't have a valid counter-argument to the actual data, they attack how the post is written. Whenever you want to actually debate the economy and the future of the game, I'm right here.
Let's focus on solutions, everyone. The game needs to evolve.

[Orin Shillen]

so why does it then never lag for me... seems that I have a nice internet connection , so i really think it is a problem that is on the players side (mainly) I agree there are some issues but they are trying to fix it and so far it is ok for me... and yes of course we all spend real money on it ... without it won't work I am aware of that - but what you want is just not something that I want, as an artist on the game you were talking about things I just can't imagine and I don't want, I don't want my art beeing sold for real money or did I get that wrong? And for the copyright... nah, most of the players use references they might have a copyright on it too so? It is an idea that just doesn't work...

[Johny Caddy]

68e372362063274ca0d4e911 @Orin Shillen Regarding the lag - I live in Romania, a country globally known for having some of the fastest and most stable gigabit internet speeds in the world (standard 1 Gbps+). Yet, despite my flawless connection, I still randomly "poof", have to manually refresh the page, get "connection closed inexplicably" errors, or constantly see "reconnecting with tunneling." It is mathematically a server-side infrastructure issue, not a player-side Wi-Fi problem.
But let’s do a quick imagination exercise. The original SmallWorlds was booming with thousands of real, growing players by its first years. SmallVerse, as a remake trying to revive that magic, has unfortunately hit a hard ceiling of around 300 active players. Yes, it’s an indie game and we love the foundation, but let's be honest: the systems are getting boring and outdated. Think about it like FIFA - you can love the classic vibe, but you can't run FIFA 1998 mechanics in the modern era and expect to attract millions of new gamers. We have to adapt.
We are currently bleeding players. I personally know 4 highly valuable, veteran players who recently quit or barely log in anymore. Why? Because the environment doesn’t feel secure or rewarding enough. If we all sit down and calculate our invested time and money... the gold packs are not cheap. I’ve invested around $500 in just two months. Just the realization of how much money you can sink into this game with absolutely ZERO real reward is exactly why players wake up and abandon it. When people calculate that they might have invested thousands of dollars just to fund a "beautiful dream" with nothing tangible to show for it, reality hits hard. I don't mind spending to support the devs, but players will inevitably leave if they feel investing in a 300-player game isn't safe or rewarding.
The original game had thousands of players and still eventually shut down. If just 100 players decide to quit SmallVerse right now... it's curtains closed. The servers shut down, and we all lose everything.
Finally, regarding your art and copyright. No one is telling you to stop using references or forcing you to mint casual sketches. If you want to keep selling your art for the classic in-game gold, the old tokens, or even just give it away for free, you can absolutely do that. It is 100% your decision. But let's drop the hypocrisy about not wanting real money. What if you create an absolute, original masterpiece? Under a Web3 system, you have the option to sell that piece for $500 or $600 in $VERSE tokens. The person who buys it gets to truly own a piece of your legacy for the rest of their life - maybe that piece holds deep personal meaning to them - and you get fairly compensated for your incredible talent.
It doesn't hurt your current gameplay at all; it just gives you the power to actually own what you create. Why wouldn't you want the choice to build a true, lasting legacy here, rather than painting for a server that might vanish if player numbers drop any further? Let's save the game first. 🚀

[Lost Sinner]

69614d47f367440507c902fe
@Lost Sinner If basic logic, formatting, and a structured argument look like "ChatGPT" to you, I really can't help you. It’s a classic forum move: when someone doesn't have a valid counter-argument to the actual data, they attack how the post is written. Whenever you want to actually debate the economy and the future of the game, I'm right here.
Let's focus on solutions, everyone. The game needs to evolve.

Average delusional SV player.

[Soggy Frogs]

I would encourage anyone who disagrees with this post to voice your opinion, however no reason to keep commenting after that, to be honest. Johny has proven throughout the course of this thread that he is unwilling to accept alternative opinions, and will dismiss and demean you in any effort to make his point seem valid. I've also seen him instructing players in-world to come here and comment in support; ever notice how everyone that 'supports' this idea really doesn't have much to say about it? Things that make you go 'hm'.

As we used to say on the old internet, "don't feed the troll!"

[Lost Sinner]

I would encourage anyone who disagrees with this post to voice your opinion, however no reason to keep commenting after that, to be honest. Johny has proven throughout the course of this thread that he is unwilling to accept alternative opinions, and will dismiss and demean you in any effort to make his point seem valid. I've also seen him instructing players in-world to come here and comment in support; ever notice how everyone that 'supports' this idea really doesn't have much to say about it? Things that make you go 'hm'.

As we used to say on the old internet, "don't feed the troll!"

Kind of what happens when a dermatologist uses AI to sound smart online. Wouldn't be surprised if any Staff or Devs reading his suggestion would be laughing. Anyway.

[Johny Caddy]

6962706df367440507c914ee and 69614d47f367440507c902fe It is genuinely fascinating watching you abandon a debate about saving a dying game just to stalk my real-life career.
@Soggy Frogs, you demand I accept "alternative opinions," yet your only plan is waiting for the servers to magically fix themselves for free. That’s a freeloader's delusion, not a strategy. You claim the people agreeing with me have nothing to say, which only proves you deliberately ignore the detailed technical insights they actually wrote. But I shouldn't be surprised by your logic, considering you literally just told the collectors who spend their hard-earned money on your art that their support is "never needed". Biting the hand of the people funding this platform while pretending to care about its survival is peak irony.
@Lost Sinner, I brought up my medical career because I build things in the real world and don't have time to stand in empty virtual rooms arguing in circles. If typing in structured paragraphs makes you scream "AI," I sincerely apologize for writing above your reading level. If you think Developers are laughing at a blueprint designed to fund their servers and fix the lag, you have zero clue how a business actually survives.
Let me know when you decide to actually build a foundation, instead of just throwing stones from a sinking ship.

[Ligeia Tepes]

This game is new it's not dying lol I can't believe you are still going on about this silly idea that the devs have given no reply to. And see even they notice the people in favor have little to nothing to say but to say "listen to Johny" As for the internet , It has to be a you issue, sometimes it lags if they add new stuff ,or if there is a ridiculous amount of people in one space at once. If that is the issue for you then I guess the game isn't dying if the space is so full you are lagging. Other reasons could be lots of sculptures in a space, or you have too much in your inventory. All in all I rarely lag and I never have poofed rarely as well. They few times it has happened the devs addressed and fixed the issue right away.

[Johny Caddy]

683588266a17025b6251fbae It is truly remarkable how you managed to prove my entire point while trying to argue against it.
@Ligeia Tepes, you confidently claim the lag is just a "me issue," but in the exact same breath, you admit the game struggles when there are "too many people," "lots of sculptures," or when a player has "too much in their inventory." That is the literal definition of a failing, outdated server infrastructure. A virtual world shouldn't punish its players with lag simply for collecting items, building art, or gathering in a room. You are describing the exact backend limitations my proposal is designed to fix.

Echoing the false claim that supporters haven't written detailed technical feedback just proves you are reading this thread with your eyes closed. As for the Developers' silence, executive teams do not blindly rush to reply to massive financial and structural overhauls on a public forum. Real business decisions take time and analysis.

I’ll let your own contradictions speak for themselves. I rest my case. ☕