Wagner James Au
@slhamlet.bsky.social
Writing about/helping create virtual world culture since 2006.
Join my New World Notes blog / Patreon for free: https://patreon.com/user?u=4843285
Latest book, "Making a Metaverse That Matters": https://amzn.to/3BvRepp
Los Angeles/Kailua
Join my New World Notes blog / Patreon for free: https://patreon.com/user?u=4843285
Latest book, "Making a Metaverse That Matters": https://amzn.to/3BvRepp
Los Angeles/Kailua
Pinned
Wagner James Au
@slhamlet.bsky.social
· Sep 16
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
is reporting on Second Life, VRChat, and the Metaverse at large
patreon.com
New World Notes is moving to my Patreon! The original Typepad-based blog shuts down October 1, but I'll keep covering the Metaverse ecosystem news/culture, related topics & OG metaverse Second Life there.
Join free below, please consider subscribing for special benefits:👇
patreon.com/u4843285
Join free below, please consider subscribing for special benefits:👇
patreon.com/u4843285
Reposted by Wagner James Au
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
My Top Eighteen Favorite New World Notes Posts of 2025! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
My Top Eighteen Favorite New World Notes Posts of 2025! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
New Year's Eve gift: My top 18 favorite New Word Notes stories of 2025, including how Second Life avatars wound up on a NYC Times Square billboard, and Linden Lab's secret island of avatar dating bedrooms.
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Join my Patreon for free to read! 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/my-top...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Please enjoy my top 10 free browser games of 2025:
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
Type Help by William Rous
The Unsolvable Mystery
william-rous.itch.io
December 12, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Please enjoy my top 10 free browser games of 2025:
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
1. Type Help william-rous.itch.io/type-help
2. Dragonsweeper danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper/
3. Clues by Sam cluesbysam.com
4. Stimulation Clicker neal.fun/stimulation-...
5. The Collector split82.itch.io/the-collector
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Just to be clear. It’s the John F Kennedy center legally.
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Just like it’s still the department of defense
December 18, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Just to be clear. It’s the John F Kennedy center legally.
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Just like it’s still the department of defense
Reposted by Wagner James Au
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Basis Breaks New Concurrency Record -- But Can the Virtual World Framework Bring in Enough Funds to Break 1000 CCU? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Basis Breaks New Concurrency Record -- But Can the Virtual World Framework Bring in Enough Funds to Break 1000 CCU? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New: I look @basisvr.org, an open source virtual world framework for VR/PC that just hit *679* local concurrent users in a stress test. (VRChat/SL can only do 250 max.)
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
I talk w/lead dev @dooly123.bsky.social on what's next. Now free for all members of my Patreon: 👇
www.patreon.com/posts/146015...
Fun factoid from my interview w/ Linden Lab head Brad Oberwager:
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
BREAKING: Linden Lab Making Major Executive Hire to Hugely Grow Second Life Starting in 2026 -- Company Head Brad Oberwager Explains Why | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Fun factoid from my interview w/ Linden Lab head Brad Oberwager:
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Linden Dollars in @secondlife.bsky.social are transacted about 1.5 MILLION times per day. 👇🏼
That's 3X the average number of daily Bitcoin transactions.
Tell your tech bro pals: L$ is used far more than BTC to buy goods & sevices.😜
Reposted by Wagner James Au
a16z gave a million dollars to a phone farm that's flooding TikTok with AI-generated influencers. A hacker contacted 404 Media to reveal what these accounts are and what products they're promoting www.404media.co/hack-reveals...
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
www.404media.co
December 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
a16z gave a million dollars to a phone farm that's flooding TikTok with AI-generated influencers. A hacker contacted 404 Media to reveal what these accounts are and what products they're promoting www.404media.co/hack-reveals...
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
BREAKING: Linden Lab Making Major Executive Hire to Hugely Grow Second Life Starting in 2026 -- Company Head Brad Oberwager Explains Why | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Got the inside word on the future of Second Life from Linden Lab's Brad Oberwager. He tells me why the company is making the most major team hire since Philip Rosedale rejoined as CTO & shares new milestones.
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Join my New World Notes Patreon to read it all here!
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/145551...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
This entire weekend
December 15, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This entire weekend
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
December 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
My latest round-up of news/trends I’m following across the wider metaverse ecosystem is up! 👇 Featuring a look at Basis from @dooly123.bsky.social, a virtual world framework that already has higher local concurrency than SL and VRChat, and aims to hit 600 this wkd.
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
New World Newsfeed Featuring: New Podcast Appearance, Basis Load Test, and a Second Life in Congress Flashback | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
My latest round-up of news/trends I’m following across the wider metaverse ecosystem is up! 👇 Featuring a look at Basis from @dooly123.bsky.social, a virtual world framework that already has higher local concurrency than SL and VRChat, and aims to hit 600 this wkd.
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
www.patreon.com/posts/new-wo...
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
December 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Wow, just visited Monument in @vrchat.com and the Babel tower is still being built!
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
But how tall is it now?
It took me a good 5 minutes at a non-stop run to reach the top. For comparison, the world record for climbing to the top of the Empire State Building by stairs is under 10 min.
New podcast appearance! I talk with Player Driven about why the Metaverse matters even more now that Meta's quit the field. Around 22 minutes we get into the miraculous staying power of OG metaverse platform @SecondLife. 👂👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
Making a Metaverse That Matters with James Au
YouTube video by Player Driven
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
New podcast appearance! I talk with Player Driven about why the Metaverse matters even more now that Meta's quit the field. Around 22 minutes we get into the miraculous staying power of OG metaverse platform @SecondLife. 👂👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL9r...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
NEW: I talk with @legend50210.bsky.social about how he & his collaborators shoot amazing machinima fight scenes in @vrchat.com even when performers are located around the world. All in-world, in-camera practical effects.
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
WATCH: You Won't Believe How They Shot the Bar Fight Scenes in This VRChat Machinima! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
NEW: I talk with @legend50210.bsky.social about how he & his collaborators shoot amazing machinima fight scenes in @vrchat.com even when performers are located around the world. All in-world, in-camera practical effects.
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
Reposted by Wagner James Au
NEW: I talk with @legend50210.bsky.social about how he & his collaborators shoot amazing machinima fight scenes in @vrchat.com even when performers are located around the world. All in-world, in-camera practical effects.
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
WATCH: You Won't Believe How They Shot the Bar Fight Scenes in This VRChat Machinima! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
NEW: I talk with @legend50210.bsky.social about how he & his collaborators shoot amazing machinima fight scenes in @vrchat.com even when performers are located around the world. All in-world, in-camera practical effects.
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
You know, like Chris Nolan, but furry.
👇
www.patreon.com/posts/watch-...
We saw this with NFTs/crypto and we saw it with "the Metaverse" (at least the bastardized version pushed by Zuckerberg et. al.), and now we're seeing it with Gen AI slop: Gamers, YouTubers, and other tech savvy online denizens are the ones leading an effective backlash against it.
It's truly wild to me that this just keeps happening. Coca-Cola runs an AI ad and people overwhelmingly react with disgust. They do it again, and people are disgusted again. Now McDonald's makes an AI ad that's so bad that so many people are furious about it they pull it down.
People hate AI slop!
People hate AI slop!
McDonald's Pulls Down AI-Generated Holiday Ad After Deluge of Mockery
McDonald's Netherlands is catching flak for a stupefying AI-generated video, which was roundly condemned on social media.
futurism.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
We saw this with NFTs/crypto and we saw it with "the Metaverse" (at least the bastardized version pushed by Zuckerberg et. al.), and now we're seeing it with Gen AI slop: Gamers, YouTubers, and other tech savvy online denizens are the ones leading an effective backlash against it.
Reposted by Wagner James Au
NEW: Here's my seven personal favorite destinations from the Editor's Picks of the @secondlife.bsky.social Destination Guide for 2025, and why I love them. Read about them on my New World Notes Patreon 👇, then click the links visit them yourself!
www.patreon.com/posts/145091...
www.patreon.com/posts/145091...
Seven Favorite New Second Life Destination Guide Picks for 2025 -- And Why I Love Them! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Get more from Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
NEW: Here's my seven personal favorite destinations from the Editor's Picks of the @secondlife.bsky.social Destination Guide for 2025, and why I love them. Read about them on my New World Notes Patreon 👇, then click the links visit them yourself!
www.patreon.com/posts/145091...
www.patreon.com/posts/145091...
Consider giving the gift of virtual world journalism and analysis with a subscription to my Patreon! Plus special benefits for subscribers including exclusive content, shout-outs, even consulting! 👇
www.patreon.com/c/u4843285
www.patreon.com/c/u4843285
December 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Consider giving the gift of virtual world journalism and analysis with a subscription to my Patreon! Plus special benefits for subscribers including exclusive content, shout-outs, even consulting! 👇
www.patreon.com/c/u4843285
www.patreon.com/c/u4843285
Stare in awe of my near-perfect fail
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December 2, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Stare in awe of my near-perfect fail
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Wordle 1,626 5/6
Reposted by Wagner James Au
Cyber Monday gift guide that's also highly calm 👇
Calm Tech Institute is now a year old! We're excited to announce the products that won certification this year.
The Complete Calm Tech Certified™ Product List for 2025!
A Guide to Products That Are a Joy to Use!
www.calmtech.institute/post/the-com...
#calmtech #calmtechinstitute
The Complete Calm Tech Certified™ Product List for 2025!
A Guide to Products That Are a Joy to Use!
www.calmtech.institute/post/the-com...
#calmtech #calmtechinstitute
The Complete Calm Tech Certified™ Product List for 2025
In 2025, our list of certified products include Alarm Clocks, Digital Signage, Picture Frames, Notebooks/Productivity, Mobile Phones and Home Audio
www.calmtech.institute
December 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Cyber Monday gift guide that's also highly calm 👇
Reposted by Wagner James Au
“Even I have trepidations about what kind of future my son will grow up in as A.I. progresses. And I am far from alone,” writes Soulaiman Itani.
Opinion | How to Prepare Your Kids for the A.I. Revolution
I help to build A.I. systems, and even I know there are real reasons to be concerned about how A.I. affects our children.
nyti.ms
December 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
“Even I have trepidations about what kind of future my son will grow up in as A.I. progresses. And I am far from alone,” writes Soulaiman Itani.