**Update: Shoot, how could I forget! I deserve to be shot. ok, maybe not but lunch on me. (for Praise only, you pig!) Big big BIG thank you to Praise for doing such a wonderful job on organizing the event.

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For the last 2 weeks, we’ve been intensely rehearsing for a RL demo to Singapore’s IDM (Interactive Digital Media) Steering Committee. Present at the demo were 3 ministers including ex-Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tony Tan, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and Mr. Gan Kim Yong, and 10 other top-level government officials.

Thought I’d share some pictures with you guys (click on the picture for larger view.)

We had 3 HUGE ASS projector screens to play with. How cool is that? *drools* They were so huge I couldn’t even get them into the picture. (Note to self: time to buy new wide-angle camera)Thought we’d do something fun for the demo so we had both myself and Tyra wear the same outfit…

… unfortunately this also meant that I had to wear the same outfit for almost every rehearsal. People were coming up to me to ask me how come I didn’t change my clothes.
We got real cards printed for the guests. They absolutely loved it. (Oh no, now everyone’s gonna want one too! =x)
Poster for First Meta, courtesy of the nice folks at the IDM Program Office.Finally, play time after the demo was over. Half of the RL team (hey, where are all the guys?!)

From L to R: Joy (Joy Laperriere), Minky (Minky Mousehold), MJ (Munchkinnn Canning), Praise (Praise Sadofsky) and me (Tyra Fierrens).
Cute little MJ with RL neko ears! Unfortunately they don’t twitch like the ones in SL.Post-demo video: We were not able to get pictures of the ministers (busy working!) nor the other SL folks that came down (Limkopi Davis, Mutan Vestel and LoneWolf Switchblade). I’ll try to see if I can mooch pictures off the others later.Some articles if you’re interested to read more about the event (psst… FM was featured!)

• Over 90 digital media projects on show at Temasek Poly
• Virtual credit card moves into the real world
• Singapore To Build a Vibrant Interactive Digital Media Eco-System
• Research in digital media bears fruit
• Reality and fantasy unite in virtual world projects

~ Tyra

I kid you not. One of the guys found this on a website:

Linden Lab has posted a New Policy Regarding In-World “Banks” on their website at
http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/01/08/new-policy-regarding-in-world-banks/.

First Meta fully supports regulation of financial services activity in the virtual economy. We agree with the statement by Linden Lab that in-world “banks…offering unsustainably high interest rates…are in most cases doomed to collapse – leaving upset ‘depositors’ with nothing to show for their investments.” We believe that the removal of non-credible players from the financial services sector of Second Life’s economy will benefit all of its participants.

First Meta’s approach differs radically from the “banks” as described by Linden Lab. We offer a full range of financial services focusing on credit products, including MetaCard ^TM, backed by a robust real-world system, run by professionals with real-world financial expertise, and focusing on providing customers with transparency and accountability. We are a real-world company, registered in Singapore, one of the financial centers of the world. First Meta’s operations are supported by the Singapore government and we are funded by real-world private investors, not by our customer’s deposits.

We are in discussions with Linden Lab about our MetaSavings^TM accounts. Our MetaSavings^TM deposits are more than 100% funded, which means that no First Meta customer will lose any money as a result of the new policy.

Since our MetaCard^TM does not “offer interest or a rate of return on L$ invested or deposited”, it should not be affected by this new regulation.

As First Meta’s business is not dependent on savings accounts or other investment instruments which are addressed by the new policy, we believe that the new policy will not have any adverse effects on our company. Insofar as the new policy strengthens the virtual economy, we believe this will actually benefit First Meta. As the leading provider of financial services in virtual economies, First Meta will continue to provide a trusted partner for our customers.

Sincerely,
Douglas Abrams (JP Mougin)
Chief Executive Officer
First Meta Pte. Ltd.