New Changes

It looks like the new Gummies betting function isn't the only thing Ameba has added to Pico.

Changing buttons
This is the most obvious change: the 'Travel' icon has been changed to 'Navi' - short for navigation, of course. I don't really see any benefit for changing this. What if the player doesn't know what the word "navi" stands for? There are other players than just English speakers in this game.



In my opinion, the 'Travel' was more suitable and easy to understand.

I don't even know why they did this. Well, dear me! I mist be going blind to not see the tabs at the top of the menu that say 'Travel', 'Park', 'Games' and 'Event'. Ameba decided to make them even bigger for us.

Get productive, Ameba!
These changes are really harmless. But they also don't benefit any of us either. Or, even more, they are a complete waste of time. Why can't they use the time that they put into these useless adjustments to create something productive? - like a trading system. Yes! A desperately needed trading system for all the doubles and triples in my 'Closet' from Gachas. They give me pain every time I look at them. (Of course, I am too money-loving to recycle any of them for as little as 10 Gummies.)

New language park
But don't get me wrong. Not all the changes are bad.

For example: Ameba added a new park area to World Community Parks - Vietnam Park - and I give them credit just for this one. There are more than just a few Vietnamese-speaking Picos here. I have actually seen quite a few myself. Creating Vietnamese Park is indeed a good idea.

Bugs in the system
Well, there are not only a little changes that have been made by Ameba, but an error has been going on for a very long time now. We can only wait for the day that Ameba notices this annoying little bug and fixes it.

Here's the error I'm talking about:



Oh, a ring error! Just fantastic! (Yes, I'm being sarcastic.)

With this error, whenever people ring you the "An unknown error has occurred" bubble pops up. This means the person who rang you won't show up on your 'Today's Rings' list ... unless you reload your browser.

Whew! Enough said. It is indeed a pain in the neck.

---

Scarlett has her own blog, Scarlett's Pico Life. Check it out!

Countdown to closing on March 23, 2011

Dear Readers,

I’d like to think that Picostyle was the first Pico blog, though I’m not sure if this fact is 100% true.

Back in March 2010, Picostyle was created as a fun way to journal my fun and outlandish explorations of Ameba Pico. I thought that this relatively new online social game would hold lots of humor and adventures … and I was right!

Since that first post, I dragged my good friend Peggy Hill into Pico and she began blogging on Picostyle with me as well. The blog grew as more writers came along - Gem Rock, sweet_mom, Ayuhime and Pinkerton - who provided us with really quality writing on subjects like fashion, events, new rooms, interiors. Most importantly you came along for the ride. Yes, all of you have given us lots of reasons to post about the wonderful and not-so-wonderful things that are (officially and unofficially) being done and said in Pico.

Over the many months, we’ve garnered many fans ... and some haters. And whether through praises or criticism, our readers have been the motivation to keep us sharing our stories, perspectives and opinions.

All good things must come to an end, my friends. And as of March 23, 2011 - exactly one year from the date that Picostyle started - the blog will produce it’s final post and power down.

Whether this will be the end or just an extremely long hiatus, I'm unsure at this point.

Until then, we will continue to give you the same quality of writing that you have come to expect from us.

Sincerely,
Catero
Picostyle Founder

News: Jean Royal starts his own blog

Back in December, reader Jean Royal sent us a Pico Cribs article that he had written and taken photographs for. Jean visited the rooms of onogina, Benry, and ¶PЯ-¶⋛⋋紫紗姫系⋌⋚™, whose rooms all had a Christmassy flair at that time.

Jean was very interested in writing about his experiences in Pico and he was encouraged to keep writing.

Since January, Jean has started his own blog, Pico Life Blog, where he captures the Pico Life of himself and his sister Eulalie.

The blog has funny commentaries by Jean, comic strips of his adventures in Pico and lots of other game-related goodness.

It looks as though Jean is also looking for writers for his blog. In a January 5, 2010 blog post he writes:

As you may know, I'm the editor of PicoLife; & I would be pleased to recruit some reporters. So if you want to apply, please send me your Pico name, Real name, age, as well as an article that you wrote at picolifers@gmail.com. I will then try to make a Pico appointment with you.

Take a look at Jean's blog and Follow with Google Friend Connect or Facebook to keep up-to-date on new posts.

Congratulations and good luck with your new blog, Jean.

• Visit Jean Royal's Pico Life Blog
• "Like" Pico Life Blog on Facebook

News: Clearing RhenJhennel's Name

This is a story of body snatching.

About 2 weeks ago we received an email open that blew the lid off of he whole "Haters" post. In a plot twist like none of us expected, it was a little like an M. Night Shaymalan movie (before he created The Village, Lady in the Water and all his films that have come after); everything we had been led to believe was simply untrue.

Several of us received hateful room posts from a Pico named RhenJhennel ... and Ayuhime was upset enough to post about it.

News got around pretty quickly and RhenJhennel* himself contacted us - not with the same hate-filled rants on the room posts with his name, as one would expect. Instead, he replied to the whole situation calmly:

January 1, 2011 – 7:43AM
rhenjhennel* said ... hello owner sorry for that happen im rhenjhennel original rhenjhennel* in pico i didnt remember isend bad message against your blogs can you check correct spelling of rhenjhennel* Many rhenjhennel in pico using my character. I show your blogs when i search my name. I apology let me investigate this person. thanks and more power. sincerly rhenjhennel* Proud to be Pinoy Hotel2 Ps. to all follower of this blogs sorry for what happen.

He has very similarly named Pico accounts - RhenJhennel and RhenJhennel* are just two of the many. RhenJhennel, who left many mean-spirited messages in rooms of Picostyle writers, is a shared Pico account that many other people use. Bad, bad, bad idea.

In the email we received, a person who had the login email and password to the RhenJhennel account confessed to logging into it, and leaving the messages in order to discredit the guy behind the Pico and have people dislike him. We'll call this person "The Confessor".

The Confessor knew that rooms of Picostyle blog writers probably get a lot of visitors who read and leave messages on their room boards and that these visitors would notice mean-spirited messages ... and likely get uspet. The Confessor did not expect the incident to be published on the blog, gain more attention, and get a little out of control. But ... who ever does when they get caught up in a trail of lies?

Let this be a cautionary tale of what can happen when you share your account information with another person. Not only your account and all its clothing, furniture, and Ameba Gold get stolen, but your reputation can be trashed as well.

Do not give the email address and password of your Pico account to anyone.

Now, The Confessor contacted the team by email to confess. As a team, we have decided to publish this information, not only to follow-up to the whole incident, but to clear the name of RhenJhennel*.

We will publish the email from and the parts of the chat conversation with The Confessor. We have gotten permission from The Confessor to do this.

The Confessor's name and parts that they mention their identity have been removed to protect their anonymity. This person has sincerely apologized - not only by email to the team, but in a Pico-to-Pico conversation with Peggy Hill and Catero as well. This person has also said they will confess directly to RhenJhennel*. It takes a lot of guts to own up to wrongdoing.

A case of content theft: cute_pauline

Sometimes wolves come in sheep's clothing. Young or old, age is not an excuse.

Very recently I became aware of posts from Pico Perfect and Picostyle that are being re-posted on cute_pauline's blog. Since credit has not been given to the original authors, cute_pauline is claiming the posts as her own - whether she realizes it or not. This is plagiarism.

In talking about the situation with sweet_mom, she asked that I write a post about intellectual property for those who read the Pico Perfect blog to make them aware of the issue (See: Ahoy, mateys. Beware of internet piracy.).

At this point I am posting my view of the situation because cute_pauline doesn't seem to take it seriously. I tried to talk to her in a civil way about it, so she would hopefully come to understand why it's not acceptable.

I was hoping she would change the posts she has re-published to include links to the original posts. cute_pauline chose to not listen. I even asked her to email us at picostylers@gmail.com so I could discuss it with her (her Pico profile did not allow me to send her a letter). cute_pauline said she would right away, but has chosen not to communicate (a week later ... I'm still waiting).

I have no patience for lies and theft since my bullsh*t tolerance level dropped, so, I'm calling her out on her theft of content from other blogs.

There's nothing "cute" about stealing other people's content.

As of last Friday I filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) against cute_pauline by clicking the Report Abuse button on the top bar of her Blogger.com blog. As part of the DMCA process, a copy of the DMCA claim was automatically forwarded to cute_pauline at the email address she registered her blog with. Since she probably chose to ignore it ... this is what happened:



This is what you'll see now if you visit her blog.

Posts that cute_pauline stole:
Better info menu and more Gachas

• Originally posted on Picostyle; January 13, 2011
• Excerpts posted on cute_pauline's Ameba Pico blog; January 15, 2011

How-to: Report Abuse in Ameba Pico (click to see image of stolen post)

• Originally posted on Pico Perfect; January 3, 2011
• Re-posted on cute_pauline's Ameba Pico blog; January 8, 2011

How-to: prevent your Pico from being hacked (click to see image of stolen post)

• Originally posted on Picostyle; December 7, 2010
• Re-posted on cute_pauline's Ameba Pico blog; December 8, 2010

How-to: Make Elevator Stairs (click to see image of stolen post)

• Originally posted on Picostyle; October 12, 2010
• Re-posted on cute_pauline's Ameba Pico blog; December 8, 2010

Conversation with cute_pauline:
On January 14, 2011, I left a room post in cute_pauline's room, since I am not able to send her a letter or contact her in any other way. Not long after, I received a notification that cute_pauline was in my room, so, I went there to talk to her. She seemed more concerned with getting my room guest (whose name hasbeen removed to protect anonymity) and I to follow her blog and drum up traffic.

--- You have moved to Catero | The C@ House
(19:05) cute_pauline: hi
(19:05) Catero: pauline
(19:05) Catero: hey
(19:05) Catero: we need to talk
(19:05) cute_pauline: plz follow my blo
(19:05) cute_pauline: blog*
(19:05) Catero: i do
(19:05) cute_pauline: w8
(19:05) cute_pauline: hayley's online
(19:05) Catero: ok
(19:06) Catero: hey [Another Pico (name removed)]
(19:06) Another Pico (name removed); : hey
(19:06) Catero: every time i see you, you look different
(19:06) cute_pauline: yes
(19:06) Another Pico (name removed); : i know
(19:06) Another Pico (name removed); : wait
(19:06) cute_pauline: 2 guys
(19:06) cute_pauline: plz follow my blog
(19:06) Catero: i do, pauline
(19:06) cute_pauline: k
(19:07) Catero: i need to talk to ou
(19:07) cute_pauline: [Another Pico (name removed)] follow my blog too
(19:07) Another Pico (name removed); : me too
(19:07) Catero: you
(19:07) Catero: about your blog
(19:07) Another Pico (name removed); : i did
(19:07) Catero: can you email picostylers@gmail.com, plz, pauline?
(19:07) Catero: can i can talk to you thru email
(19:08) cute_pauline: plz take a picture
(19:08) cute_pauline: and add my blog
(19:08) cute_pauline: to picostyle
(19:08) Catero: isn't it already added to picostyle?
(19:08) cute_pauline: take a pic
(19:09) Catero: do ... you say please often?
(19:09) cute_pauline: yes
(19:09) Catero: when you ask someone to do something you should say it with a please
(19:09) cute_pauline: u'll post the picture
(19:09) Catero: no
(19:09) cute_pauline: in the new post
(19:09) cute_pauline: [Another Pico (name removed)]?
(19:09) cute_pauline: gtg
(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : huh
(19:10) cute_pauline: bye!
(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : sorry afk
(19:10) Catero: pauline
(19:10) Catero: email us
(19:10) Catero: UGH

cute_pauline leaves my room.

(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : why?
(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : whats wrong?

Seconds later, cute_pauline comes back to my room, says for a couple of minutes, then leaves when I ask her about the posts on her blog.

(19:10) Catero: [Another Pico (name removed)], can you plz give me a minute
(19:10) Catero: to talk to pauline?
(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : k
(19:10) Catero: thx
(19:10) Another Pico (name removed); : i'll be afk
(19:10) Catero: lol ok
(19:11) Catero: pauline, do you have a few minutes to talk?
(19:11) cute_pauline: yes
(19:11) Catero: i noticed that on your blog ...
(19:11) Catero: there are some posts that you have taken from other blogs
(19:11) cute_pauline: changed the name
(19:11) Catero: like picostyle
(19:11) Catero: yes?
(19:11) cute_pauline: w8
(19:11) cute_pauline: bye!
(19:12) cute_pauline: gtg
(19:12) Catero: i am reporting you

Poof! cute_pauline was gone again.