Announcement Button: A new Kmart Instance. Please exit the store.

[sharp turtle]

A secret button for associates can press while in publics (or even group publics when a new update rolls out).

Just plays over the PA with a ding sound saying something similar to:

"Hello Kmart Shoppers! A new update has been added to Kmart, please exit the store. A portal has been open for your convenience."

Or

"Hello Kmart Shoppers! The official Kmart Instance has been open, please exit the store. A portal has been open for your convenience."

Would be a nice way to move things from publics to moderated group instances. Get people back into the group and have the group running so people can see Kmart is active in the Group instances tab for people who joined the shoppers group.

[thick kindle]

If it's implemented for regular associates, I feel like it could easily be abused.

[vapid pollen]

I like the new update idea though

[gentle tapir]

We actually had one in the past for when we updated worlds (might still be in the world but mostly unused... would have to double check.) we stopped using it as most people in world just ignored it... Probably would be the same for the official instance one.

I also personally dont like making people move from a regular public to a group public. Usually is annoying to the people in the instance and ive seen people generally have a negative reaction to it... The only time now that i personally do it is when the public has a small amount of people in it so its easy to move over or the group public is really becoming a spot that should be moderated...

[sharp turtle]

@gentle tapir What if public instances are one of the areas we should consider moderating more closely? Right now, associates often end up just blocking and moving on, which can feel discouraging and sometimes leads to people avoiding those spaces altogether or not wanting to be at Kmart at all.

We’ve had some really great people stop by—musicians, for example—who leave quickly because the atmosphere gets disrupted. Even when there’s security present, their ability to handle certain behaviors is limited, which makes it tough to keep the space welcoming.

Would it really be such a big ask for a button to ask workers and shoppers to occasionally hop into a group instance instead? It might actually help create a more positive experience, and I bring this up because I’ve noticed a recurring concern: associates mentioning that group instances rarely get opened anymore. Since one of your goals is to bring more visibility and activity to the group, this feels like something that could help both with member retention and with advertising the group in a positive light.