Monday, May 30, 2011

Those Magical Meeroos

Meeroos are the latest breedable “animal” to hit SL, but don’t be concerned that you’re never heard or seen one in RL. A Meeroo is the unique creation of Malevay Studios, whose official website can be found at www.worldofmeeroos.com. Malevay Studios has gone a step beyond the usual breedable SL animal with the Meeroo by incorporating social interaction, breeding limitations, and an appealing “legend” and mythology. Their goal is obvious. They want Meeroos to appeal to everyone: entrepreneurs, pet lovers, and gamers. So far they appear to be succeeding.

Meeroos became available in SL on May 21, but they were previously available to some in Beta. Wizard Muldoon and Lady Elysa were two of the lucky residents who had beta Meeroos. Both of them were enthusiastic about the new animals. Muldoon, who has raised both horses and cats, likes Meeroos because they will have personality and interact with their owners.

When I met Lady Elysa, she was sitting in a lovely, surrounded by Meeroos. She and her Meeroos are located at Elegance by Elysa, Oasis of Qaf, Rare Jewel (167, 132, 25). The Meeroos were very cute, and Lady Elysa was friendly and helpful. Not only did she spend time talking with me, she has created notecards about Meeroo breeding, eye colors, and other useful information.

Describing the appeal of Meeroos, Lady Elysa said, “The creators gave us a little creature that recognizes us. They wake up when we come into the area. They come to us. They respond when they are petted, and they beg to be picked up and snuggled.” When Meeroos are petted, they glow.

Meeroos come in different sizes, from tiny tea cup to giant, and in a variety of fur and eye colors, including dusty or clear eyes. As with the other SL breedables, some colors and types are rare and thus more expensive. What makes Meeroos most unique, however, are their personality traits, which include shy, friendly, mischievous, lazy, and aggressive. (Aggressive ones are more talkative and interactive, not mean.)

While Lady Elysa and I were talking, Mary Meeroo came up. In my chat window appeared, “Mary Meeroo whispers: Elysa Swansong will you please pick me up and snuggle me?” I was amazed! I have many animals that I talk to, but none of them has ever initiated a conversation with me. Lady Elysa explained that this happens all the time, although some Meeroos are chattier than others.

The prices for Meeroos vary. Ones with clear eyes, which are more rare, cost more. Also the tea cup and giants, being the smallest and largest, cost more than the in-between sizes. I found an auction where the current bids were $8000L each for three tea cups, two females and a male. I don’t know if that was the final price, however.

Entrepreneurs are hopeful that some of the safeguards included by Malevay Studios will help Meeroos hold their value. Unlike rabbits and some other breedable animals, Meeroos will not mass reproduce. Only specific Meeroos will breed with other specific Meeroos. It is hoped that this will keep the market from being over saturated.

Malevay Studios has also added a feature called Regard points that owners can earn. Whenever the owners pet Meeroos, they gain points, although it was not immediately clear what the points do. Owners can socialize with other owners and their Meeroos to earn points that way, too.

Meeroos are busy little creatures, constantly digging and exploring. They dig up buried treasures like broken pipes, old coins, and rotted fruit. Gold exists, too, but is rare. However, if an owner clicks on any treasure, Regard points are awarded.

So far lots of residents appear to be interested in Meeroos. At one site, seven people were looking when I stopped by. The seller, Lanier Matova, said he had sold 6 already, and it was only the second day after their release. At another site, residents BlueJeanSparx Melody and Bryan (greg1990) were hoping Meeroos were cheaper to keep than horses. Bryan told me his horses ate so much that he was paying as much for food as he did for his land rent. A typical Meeroo will eat one bowl of wild Berries a week, which will cost $63L.

For residents that aren’t interested in breeding and selling, there is an option that turns the Meeroos into an easy to care for pet. For a one-time payment of $1500L, the Meeroo can be transformed into a pet that does not require food and can be kept forever. Also, Lady Elysa emphasized that petting and interaction is optional. She said, “There's no need for anyone to stress, thinking that they will be a lot of work, because it's all totally optional.”


Grey Lupindo

Monday, May 23, 2011

Remembrance: An Artistic Homage to AM Radio


Friday I attended the opening of an art exhibit at Rohaus Art Collection that is an homage to AM Radio, whom you know is closing his sims. Most of us who are in Second Life for a while have visited his builds and loved each of them. Four wonderful artist decided to do an exhibit in his honor.

Raven Haalan, one of he artists said “It was a pleasure to be invited to participate in this exhibition. I confess to being humbled by the efforts of my fellows, Stephen Venkman, PJ Trenton and Rowan Derryth... and the grand challenge of this undertaking, that of representing the soon to be lost scattered artistry of AM Radio.”


The pieces chosen for the exhibit are truly lovely and were put together I believe, in the past month. Rowen commented ,”I hope they do some small justice to the work of my friend and inspiration, AM Radio.”

I hope you will go and visit the exhibit. Each piece is shows a project that AM Radio has created in Second Life. It will be open until the end of June.

The exhibit is at Magna Carta (156, 177, 30)


Gemma Cleanslate

Friday, May 6, 2011

Assassins Everywhere!

Did you know that as you move around the SL sims, or just rest quietly on your own sim, or attend parties that there are Assassins all about you? They are traveling around the SL sims taking control of land by force. There are small battles taking place you did not even know!

I looked out my window one day and saw three avatars shooting at each other as they hid behind trees and rocks and trying to move into better position with stealth. I called Caliba Sassower, whom I heard talking about Assassins. Yes, they were assassins and she knew them, but she had already taken control of the sim where I live (little did I know!).

It seems that once you get a territory you must be ready to defend it. Caliba told me, “Yes you do or someone can siege it, you need a fort to fortify it, a tower lets you know when someone is bombing it, turrets fire on anyone trying to kill your land, and you have Arc Reactor & Bunkers to replenish the fort & tower when you are attacked. I am the leader of the sieged lands. I have over 1200 lands killed and my title is Destruction Goddess.”

The website warns “Conquer. Gather. Rebuild. Destroy. Object of the game is actually 'finding the object of the game by exploration'. If you like exploring different new regions, this is the game for you. Make it count! While you can conquer and claim any available land and gain more power and ranks to brag to your friends about, you also have to defend yours.

Akaesha Revnik, was feeling bored and wanted to have something entirely different to do in SL. I knew about Tiny Kingdoms but this was new to me. The website tells you everything about it so You can read more here, http://www.assassinsgrid.com/. Check out the FAQS and Back story. I watched a short battle for land during a fishing contest. My friends , Caliba and Tolsen Decycla were on one side and some avatar killed them both and got the land, I assume. But fortunately they came back to life. Then they began a battle which I think was just in fun but gave me an idea of how this game went.

I bought the hud to see what it was about. It is on sale for 0L on the Marketplace. One also gets a folder of beginner essentials. knives, guns... typical starter folder LOL . You are then invited to register. I have not done that yet . I do not think I will , but who knows!! Just watch out, your lands or you may be next!


Gemma Cleanslate