LEA2 : The History of the Vehicle

By Gemma Cleanslate

I am so absolutely blown away by the exhibit that Sapphire Hotaling, Chief Exhibit Builder & Designer,  has put together in LEA2 . It is The History of the Vehicle in Second Life. According to Sapphire’s notecard, “Thank you for your interest in this 6-month long project; hoping you enjoy it and have as much fun as we all did in the build and creation of this exhibit.  Feel free to invite friends, and share the notecard through your groups.” At the entrance you will see the names of some of those involved in the project.

After taking the TP in the police box, I landed in front of the Museum building and found in there exhibits of the early forms of building vehicles , prim and texture and sculpts. Even then the vehicles were very impressive. Moving out into the parking lots you will be amazed at the cars, trucks and other forms of transportation. On one side of the museum building you will see the cute shopping cart and even Flintstones' roller car where I took a seat, and some other oddities. On the other side wonderful early trucks and cars. There is a sections of parts and shells. These are all from various companies in sl that are identified on signs near the builds. The racing section has some absolutely spectacular vehicles . The effort and work put into the cars is amazing . 

When I have gone to a race I have not really taken the time to examine and admire what I am seeing in the cars or whatever is racing. I am there for the race itself.  This exhibit is giving me time to really examine and appreciate them. The parts themselves are "wowing," (not sure that is a word but fits).  One whole section is for the Giant Snails with so many examples of the variety of the snails themselves . There are giant cutouts of all those involved in the snail racing fun. 

All along the way you will find notecards with information on what you are viewing. Go out into the grassy area too where you will find some more to see.  Those who are older in Second Life will have lots of nostalgia and laughs, and those who are new will really find so much to help understand about the background of building moving objects in sl from the early days to now. There are a few air vehicles around, but I think there might be another exhibit sometime for air and water moving objects. 

This exhibit will be open until the end of May . I will certainly be going back for several more looks. It takes time for so much to rezz . There will be events every weekend so pick up the schedule at the entrance. 

This is  the best set of history exhibits I have seen since Marianne Mccann’s build at the SL10B. Do not miss it!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA2/129/127/1501

Gemma Cleanslate

Viss Bunny Review

By FoxytheJamie

An avatar built different than others. This av is built in 10 parts, unlike the other full mesh avatars, which are made up, usually, of the head, and body. Not only that, but the legs are all one piece, literally, both legs are one entire piece. The hands are the same way.

The only thing that is similar between this av and others is the head and jaw. The head is all one piece, and the jaw is all one piece. You do need to wear them both, unless you lost your jaw in the war.

The hud is built differently as you have an eyelid hud, eyeball hud, eyeball color hud, eyebrow/blush hud, and jaw hud. Making it one of the most extensively editable avatars, without having to go into edit mode.

The avatar is a bit expensive at 1900L however it is a great buy, because of how high quality it looks, and how well it's made.

The avatar is a bit lacking in the clothing variety however. Mainly, people make texture shirts for this avatar, as it has a strange shape that's pretty difficult to make a mesh shirt for. However it's quite easy to find mesh pants for it. In fact you really shouldn't count this av out, due to the shirt problem.

All in all, this av is one of the best, and one of my favorites in all of second life. I would say, if you have the lindens, you can't go wrong with it.

Jamie

The Kemono Avatar

By FoxytheJamie

 The Kemono av is an anime based, furry avatar, with a bit of human mixed in. This avatar has become one of the more commonly owned avatars in Second Life, and is one of the best avatars on the grid.

Not only can a furry wear one and still be in a furry avatar. But a human can wear one, and they too will still be in their avatar choice, of human. It is literally the best of both worlds. From customizable skin, to hide-able body parts. Literally, you can hide individual parts, like the upper part of your right thigh, and so on.

Not only does the top hud allow you to customize expressions, it also allows you to customize individual eyes, your mouth movement, and even eyebrow movement.

The bottom hud is just as good or maybe better. It allows you to hide your neck, chest, arms, thighs, knees, lower legs, and ankles and feet. And that's just in basic mode. In advanced mode, you can hide a total of 40 individual pieces. As well as allowing you to change your hand position, skin, tail movement, leg type, and allowing you to turn on and off PG parts.

Not only that, but this avatar boasts at least 200 unique clothing articles, that can make, creating an outfit a breeze. All in all, this avatar is truly one of the best in Second Life.

Jamie

Bryn’s Lobby

By Gemma Cleanslate

 

Bryn Oh is one of the most prolific artists in Second Life. Her creations are well known across the grid for many years. Her latest, Lobby Cam, opened Sunday,  March 28. I had some difficulty getting there at first. That is okay with me because Bryn is limiting the visitors to a low number at one time so everyone will be able to appreciate the installation in its fullest. 

 

Admire the real-life art of Bryn Oh before you leave the lobby.  Pick up a HUD at the entrance for a pleasurable visit and I suggest you read the directions on the wall and floor to aid you.  Walking down the hallway,  I found a special picture on a wall ... I walked into to it as it opened, and found myself in a lush wheatfield with the golden grasses waving in the breeze.  A singing red winged blackbird sat on a fence post . I found a paper on the ground and clicked it, and it entered a page into my diary hud beginning the story.

 

I wandered across the wide field to find a large grain elevator with an outside patio.  I crossed the railway tracks to the  charming patio with umbrellas and chairs for relaxing. A delightful old fashioned bicycle caught my eye and I tried to sit on it, but found myself “goofing around” in a  crazy dance. I entered the doorway into a kitchen area and sat down for a few minutes for a shot of whiskey. If you don’t like whiskey there is a can of ginger ale in the ice box.  I climbed the stairs where I found a sleeping area and on up to an attic where a television was blaring. There were birds that had entered the room through holes in the walls chirping on the floor. All through the walls of the stairwell there are paintings from Bryn’s real life and on one floor under the attic you will find an easel where Bryn may paint. Be sure to click on the art  to get a good closeup view. 

 

Outside again, I went along the walkway next to the rails, passing a dropped book with loose pages. It looked like the diary so I clicked it. Out on the field I spied a truck and made my way there. All along the way I looked for more pages to click to add to my diary hud. It is important to watch for these where ever you go here . There is a story for you in your hud when you collect them all. 

 

I ran into Bryn who was watching over the field and greeting visitors, listening to their stories and helping out with questions. There is so much to see and visit. This installation is as amazing as her others that I have visited and will take more trips to locate all the secrets for the story. Be prepared with hud and the directions so you won’t miss the whole thing. But, as Bryn told me “  its open ended so you can go and do as you wish. Some will just like to see the sim. Others will want to find the story. And still others will do the secret bits.“
 

I had some trouble collecting pages at first, but they did appear in my hud diary . I need to find the secrets,one of which I do have with Bryn’s help. Wave if you see me in the field or on the hills walking , or in the kitchen with my whiskey. Join me. 

 

Here is a sneak peek:

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d0p44ng5rvM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0p44ng5rvM

and here is the lobby   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Immersiva/15/104/21  

 

It is a real adventure. 

 

Gemma Cleanslate

LM Gallery: A Gallery in the Sky

By Wesley Regenbogen

Although there are many art galleries in Second Life, I think this one might be a special one. Like most galleries, there are many paintings on the walls, organized very well. But what makes this gallery special is that there are moving paintings. They were created by Treacle Darlandes. He makes these moving 3D paintings, which are awesome to look at. You have the feeling the paining comes towards you.

The place was created by Lattita Capalini, the deceased best Second Life friend of Meredith Staheli, who originally created the LM Gallery. It was always Lattita Capalini’s dream to create a place where people could admire artworks and to enjoy creative inspirations. It originally opened in 2007, but it closed down in 2010. Lattita Capalini passed away in real life in late 2012, but Meredith Staheli kept the idea alive by recreating the art gallery again but this time high up in the sky. So, not only do they have 3D art paintings, but also they are high in the Second Life sky. This is an interesting concept, if you ask me.

The new art gallery was built and decorated by Meredith Staheli herself, creating the gallery high up in the sky. The art gallery evolved from the new ideas and contributions of the deceased Lattita Capalini. When she created the original gallery, Lattita Capalini invited various SL artists like Treacle Darlandes, Teal Freenote, and Feathers Boa. They use the Arts & Artist Network group notifications. Since 2013, Treacle Darlandes has helped Meredith Staheli with the group notices. “I am not very good in public relationship and promotions,” Meredith Staheli explained to me with a laugh. Readers can find more information at these channels: Galleries of SL Kiosk and Treacle Darlandes.

As far as the music that is played in the art gallery goes, Meredith told me the stream plays, “Jazz, the 80's, contemporary singer-songwriter, easy listening. We are still exploring different alternatives and ideas (smile). As a continuous respect to Lattita's vision, we would like to keep drawing new ideas and SL residents to art exhibition.”

Unfortunately there are no future events planned at this point, due to the real-life work Meredith is working on. But she welcomes new singers and new artists to perform or exhibit in the gallery. So, new talent gets a chance in SL as well.

Personally, I think is art gallery has a bright future ahead and it’s a nice art gallery.Although, I haven’t visited many art galleries in Second Life, I think this one deserves a mention.

Let us hope that Lattita Capalini’s dream keeps on living in the future and that her vision may inspire everyone to make her dream true.

To visit the LM Gallery, go to the following location :

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Triglav/205/26/2510

Wesley Regenbogen

Club Vraiment

By Wesley Regenbogen

Club VRAIMENT, literally translated "The Real Club,  first opened on February 25th ,2014 until October 1^st, 2014. But the club reopened on February 17^th, 2015. The owner and creator is Colonel Komarov. He also decorated the club.

The owner told me that the basic idea was to create a “real club,” which means a club with a dance floor, lights and things you find in an normal club in real life. He didn’t want to create another beach club or something similar with a shopping mall and stuff like that. Although, the club is rather small, it’s a cool club with the lights and stuff. It is totally dark with flashing lights and a small DJ booth. The normal features of a club. 

The Live DJs are also very cool. They mostly play electronic music ( EDM ), but they also play rock or retro, not top 40 mainstream pop or tropical zouk reggae. DJ Robina Ewing, one of my SL friends, plays there sometimes. She told me about this club.

They have a group in-world and also a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/vraiment.club/ ). They notify avatars through notifications from within the group. Since they are new, they don’t have a website yet, but I think that will follow soon.

Although it’s a small club, they need some attention too. Small clubs need love too, right? That’s what I thought as well. Personally, I think is small club is very nice, because of it’s minimalistic space and also it’s nice interior, which is also basic like in a normal club. This makes this club special and cool at the same time.

So, why not go to a “normal” club for once and go to VRAIMENT CLUB! Yet another club to add to my club list ( nah, I don’t have a list, just kidding ).

You can visit VRAIMENT CLUB at this location :

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20York%20NYC/176/15/3002

Wesley Regenbogen

JasX Games Part 4: Designing BARE

By Locke Esgal

Last time, we talked about Fright and J-fish, but that's not even his biggest game. Many of you have heard of BARE, the fighting card game that's played in quite a few clubs and sims across the grid. I asked Jasdac about his inspiration for the game. He answered, “Fright was also my first complete free to play game. Then a friend sent me to an early alpha of a game, Kemo Coliseum. At the time, I wanted to make a class based fighting game. I started working on it with the working name Domcom. This was summer 2013.”

Kemo Coliseum is a versus game similar to Bejeweled where two people fight in an attempt to strip the armor and lower the health of the enemy with gem combos and special abilities. “My friend sent me the first public alpha and I was pretty hooked, except I'm not a huge fan of Bejeweled. I knew I wanted something where you'd strip your opponent's armor piece by piece.”

At this point, all that was needed was the fine tuning of the idea. A inkling, a thought...anything that might kick start the game we know and love today.

“So I distinctly remember taking a walk around the neighborhood, this was after midnight. When I came back 15 min later. I had the first BARE combat system planned out.  And one day of scripting later, I had the first working version of BARE. Now keep in mind BARE at that time didn't have any abilities, no combat styles other than the default, and no website.I needed someone to test on, and realized I had an old bot that I used for mesh upload back when firestorm didn't have mesh upload features. Which meant I needed to run firestorm for building and regular viewer for uploading.”

This testing period proved fruitful, as now BARE is likely the most played game Jas has made! “BARE grew pretty exponentially and by the time I released it (roughly 3 months after inception) it had almost overtaken TiS. At this moment, BARE has 8.5k users. And the idea of having cosmetic sex-related things for sale (like animation packs) while releasing the game itself for free, seems to be the most profitable thing.”

For more about BARE, check out their page at http://jasx.org/lsl/BARE/ .

Next time, we'll have the last part where we learn a bit about Jas working with another game designer, Toonie, and learn more about Dungeons and Pandas!

Locke Esgal

Editor's Note: You might want to know your opponent some before getting into a BARE match. From what I was told, and saw in group chat, while a squeaky-clean PG-rated match takes no effort, some frisky players take advantage of the options. But there's no shortage of courteous players whom would rather not embarrass new fighters learning the game.