The Second Life Work Exchange (SLWX) In-World Terminal Design Contest was completed and winners announced on March 12. The contest is still being discussed by participants, some of whom are unhappy with the way things ended.

The SLWX is planned to be a system where jobs (such as building, scripting, etc.) can be listed along with the budget limitations for those jobs. Users can view the available positions and bid on a job. Employers will be able to view the freelancer’s profile, experience and job history in order to make a decision. Once the job and project are finished, the project and funds will go into escrow. SLWX management will take a percentage and release the project and funds.

The contest to design a terminal to house the SLWX scripting was announced on February 14. Initial rules were that the terminal must be unique, attractive and modern looking and have a minimal footprint. The initial first place prize announced was a free, lifetime listing on SLWX and L$1000. On February 15, it was announced that first place would receive L$25,000, a free directory listing on SLWX and DisQ’s Polygon Creator. Five runner up prizes would be given of L$1000, a free directory listing on SLWX and DisQ’s Polygon Creator. All who participated in the terminal design contest would receive a free lifetime listing on SLWX. On February 16, a post on the SLWX forum increased the first place monetary prize to L$26,000.

Additional prize donations were also acquired: L$15,000 from Myth Poker House and Casino and L$10,000 each from SL Playground, the International SL Technology Expo of 2007 hosted by V3 Group, Thai Racer from Thai Racer Group Land Sales, Aerolite Dance Club, Brautigan and Tuck Holdings and Mr. Lee’s Greater Hong Kong #942. A sum of L$5000 each was collected from Four Deuces, First Opinions Panel and Rogues Paradise. All of these money values were posted on the SLWX forum saying “to the winner of the contest.” Finally L$1000 each was donated by Montana’s Poker Room and Literature Alive. The DisQ’s Gadget store donated Polygon Creator to be given as a prize. This brought the total prize money collected to L$92,000.

The contest rules were later revised to limit the prim count on the terminal to 8 prims. Users could submit a terminal design that was over 8 prims, but would lose one vote for each prim over 8.

The contest was to have initial public judging, considered the popular vote. A closed panel of judges was to judge based on the categories of design flow, texturing, prim count, logo and ingenuity.

Approximately 50 people participated in the contest. Some users submitted multiple terminal designs, bringing the total to roughly 64 terminals for judging. All prospective SLWX terminals were displayed at the Diamond Park Casino in the Covenant sim.

Popular voting began on March 1 and continued until midnight March 7. At this point the participants heard that the organizer was having Internet troubles and the winner would be announced in a few days.

On March 12 a post on the SLWX forum listed the winners: First Place, Dylan Rickenbacker, Runners-Up: Candy Durant, Blank Cleanslate, Neroelite Braun, DigitalJack Blackhawk and Echo Altamura.

Rickenbacker had won prizes and cash of L$25,000, while each of the runners-up had won prizes and cash of L$1,000. Winners did not receive payment until March 21.