Today, I learned that the Metaplace service (but, as the staff is quick to point out, not Metaplace the company) is being shut down as of January 1, 2010. They have not generated a critical mass of users to make it a feasible business proposition.
I was first introduced to Metaplace a couple of years ago, and quickly started posting on the discussion boards and was eventually invited into the alpha test. The potential within Metaplace is amazing, and the people that I was privileged to meet when I was invited to their offices are very smart, dedicated, passionate people. They live and breathe this, and as hard as it is for us as the users, it’s much harder still for the staff centered around the community that Metaplace is. I hope to keep in touch with everyone I’ve come to know there (Twitter and Facebook updates help).
Watching the conversations go on in Metaplace and the shock that was generated left me feeling like Obi-Wan when Alderaan was destroyed: a million voices cried out, and then were silenced. The last part of that quote – “and were silenced” can only apply to the worlds, never the people.
I’m looking forward to what Metaplace becomes; as sad as this day is, it is time to look forward, even as we hold our connections to the past.
