I took the time to clean out the board today and update so that should hopefully put an end to some of the spam we have been getting lately.

I know I have kind of been really really inactive lately, but there have been numerous reasons as to why things have come to a complete halt around here lately.

I suppose the main reason is the future of Messenger Plus! Live.

I have been a skinner now for nearly 5 years now and have been with the Messenger Plus! Live community for about 3 years. In the more recent months there has been a transition occurring to the new era of Messenger Plus! Live.

At first it looked like that things were still going to be the same, but with recent developments I am starting to have doubts about whether or not I should continue to skin.

For those who don't know, Messenger Plus Live has been transition from ownership from Patchou to a company called Yuna Software. From what I gathered I thought it was just Patchou making his own company so that it would make things more professional and it wouldn't come down to a person being the face of a product. But at the end of the day, Patchou would still be the man in charge.

But in recent weeks that seems to be less and less the case as more and more things start pointing to Patchou not being in full control of Plus! anymore and the decision making being done by several people.

At the moment things aren't really crystal clear so I can't really 100% judge the situation. But there have been recent developments (ones that I choose not to disclose) which have started to make me doubt that I will continue to skin in 2010.

To me, whether or not I continue skinning will ultimately depend on how things proceed with Messenger Plus! and the vast community that has been built over the years.

The ball is in your court guys.

Willz

Will be a big shame if you stop skinning Willz

Well damn,

We would really hate to lose you willz. You are the reason I downloaded MSN Plus and started to use skins. Yours are day and night above the rest of the skinners IMHO.

No matter what happens thank you so much for all your time and hard work you have put in. I will still use your skins untill they no longer work!

Best of luck with whatever you find yourself doing next =)

hope we don't lose you as wlm-skinner, you're my most favorite one.

So how would this affect us exactly? I mean, if this Yuna Software does something detrimental to Plus! (for example charging for the software, removing features, etc.), it would most certainly be a bad idea as so many people rely on it, and so they would probably acknowledge that. What would they be able to do to Plus! to make you stop skinning?

where is my mind

Like I've said in the post, at the moment things aren't 100% clear as to what is going on. Everyone is still in the dark as to what is happening.

The main concern is how they will decide to go with the community and the program itself. Messenger Plus! was driven by a community and at the moment there is a lack of communication where the community isn't being considered a part of the development of Messenger Plus!.

Granted this isn't the first time that we have been left in the dark, there have been many times where Patchou has disappeared and come back with something without telling anyone. But for such a major change in how Plus! is run one would have thought that the new company would have taken the time to approach the community which has made the program what it is today (which hasn't happened).

There are a few other factors at play for me thinking what I am thinking but if I was to list them I would probably stir trouble which I do not want. Not without knowing what is going to happen.

I'm still waiting and seeing if the people who have emailed this new company get replies. At this stage nobody has gotten any response or word of anything.

Having so many users, it is vital that I know what kind of company I am helping support since skins play a small roll in bringing more visits to their site and users. That is the key reason behind me stopping for now.

I don't think that DesignEvolved is the only place on hold. I know of plenty of people who feel the same way and are just holding off from making a public statement about it, but have discussed their feelings with me and others. People don't like the change, and until they do, lots of things have been put on hold.

Realize, people, that this does not necessarily mean the end. The future holds bright things in it's path, but only time will tell what they are and where they come from.

Messenger Stuff Forums

(01-12-2010 02:19 PM).Lou Wrote:  Realize, people, that this does not necessarily mean the end. The future holds bright things in it's path, but only time will tell what they are and where they come from.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

At this stage things look pretty bleak, but that doesn't mean that this is the end and it is the last you guys will ever hear of me on the world of the internet. I am still actively involved in a few other projects around the community so you guy's will definitely still see me around.

Just give it time, and we will see what happens.

Any progress on MSN Plus and your future Willz?

(01-27-2010 10:54 AM)Johno Wrote:  Any progress on MSN Plus and your future Willz?

Firstly, it's Messenger Plus! and not MSN Plus, as that's a whole different thing . Also, there is no progress on this at all, you'll know when and if there is.

Messenger Stuff Forums