By now, our
quiet release of
Zwinky All Stars and
Dorm Rooms has spread like wildfire throughout many parts of Zwinktopia. We?re a bit overwhelmed by the response, in fact. But certainly excited by all the enthusiasm. With so much interest ? and so many questions ? buzzing about, I thought it was time to provide more detail.
"What's a Zwinky All Star and how do I become one?"
The
Zwinky All Stars are a hand-picked group of users that we--the Zwinky product management team--rely on for the following primary purposes:
1) To serve as a sounding board to different ideas that we have with regard to the future of Zwinky and Zwinktopia,
2) To play with and test new features to help us identify issues or problems and make them super-easy to use before we release them to all users, and
3) To tell other users about all the fun and cool features we are planning in the coming weeks and months.
The obvious benefits of being an All Star are direct access to the product team and exclusive, sneak peek access to new features. But it's not all glitz and glamour. As All Stars, these users will be held to a higher standard of behavior.
For us to effectively work with this team and gather feedback, we need to keep the All Stars group small and manageable. As a result, we are not currently looking to add any new All Stars.
Now here?s the good news? beyond the
Zwinky All Stars, we also rely HEAVILY on feedback from others in the Zwinktopia community who provide us with insightful comments and suggestions on how to make Zwinky even better. In fact, that?s where we get many of our ideas and inspiration for new features, clothing assets, events and more. Our All Stars then help us refine and test those concepts, but the original thoughts come from Zwinksters like you. So keep sending us your ideas!
"What's a Dorm Room? And how do I get one?"
Ah yes,
Dorm Rooms--the first feature our
Zwinky All Stars are testing for us. Dorm rooms will soon be a great new addition to Zwinktopia. With enough Zbucks, you will be able to purchase your own room in Zwinktopia, furnish it however you like, and invite your friends over to hang out and chat. It?s going to be a great new feature. But right now, there?s still work to be done before we can offer them to everyone.
Here's a sample of the variety of ways some of my All Star contacts have customized their test dorm rooms:
Row 1: My room (left) and Miss Anastasia's room (right);
Row 2: 300926's room (left) and purpleprotector's room (right);
Row 3: amanda267's room (left) and camady's room (right);
Row 4: purple_u's room (left) and silent__party's room (right);
Row 5: philly9969's room (left) and isk84me's room (right)
As many of you have experienced, a dorm room is a highly coveted feature. We're not surprised. We love it and know it?s going to quickly become a huge feature. However, as I mentioned earlier, it's not 100%. There are still issues with the Room Editor, and until we resolve them, rooms just aren't ready for primetime.
Now here's the good news - you won't have to wait long. Our goal is to launch dorm rooms in early September. (What better ?back to school? item than your own virtual room?) Until then, I can offer you one piece of advice? keep earning those Zbucks. You?ll want to have enough to buy a room and cool furniture once dorm rooms launch.
Thanks for your understanding, and I look forward to announcing the launch of dorm rooms next month!
Take me, for example. Usually, I've got a little bedhead going and a prim but
funky outfit on. I'm ready for anything from ZSU art history class to a show at
