We updated our system today with an OpenSim security fix and with support for automatically converting VarRegion OAR files into Kitely Advanced Megaregion worlds. We also started advertising Kitely Market on third-party websites, and have seen a sharp increase in marketplace activity as a result.
Security Fix
This release includes the security fix in OpenSim 0.8.0.4. See Justin Clark-Casey’s announcement here.
Importing VarRegion OAR Files
It’s now possible to load OAR files that were created on VarRegions outside of Kitely into Kitely worlds. The resulting worlds won’t be VarRegions, instead they will use Kitely’s Advanced Megaregions technology.
Regular OpenSim megaregions have some limitations which VarRegions help resolve. Our Advanced Megaregions have much of the same functionality as VarRegions, but while VarRegions are limited to using the BulletSim physics engine, our Advanced Megaregions support both the newer BulletSim physics engine and the more mature ODE physics engine.
Converting megaregions into VarRegions is a non-trivial process with regular OpenSim, but it is now done automatically when you upload VarRegions OAR files into large Kitely worlds. After you’ve created such a world you’ll be able to export it to a Megaregion OAR file. Alternatively, if you disable Advanced Megaregion mode for that world then you’ll be able to export it to a Multi-region OAR file.
Started Ad Campaign
We’ve started the Kitely Market ad campaign that highlights products that our merchants sell in Kitely Market. You can already see these ads on Hypergrid Business and SLUniverse, and we intend to advertise in additional websites over time.
The ad campaign resulted in an immediate increase in sales volume and in the number of items listed in Kitely Market. Kitely Market has now delivered purchased items to over 70 OpenSim grids! If you sell content to grids outside Second Life then there’s no better way to do it than to list your items in Kitely Market.
Added a Video to the Homepage
We added the Kitely Market video to our homepage. This video is also displayed to people who click on the ads in the ad campaign.
