Press Release: Fantasy Faire 2022

 

* * Fantasy Faire 2022, April 21 – May 8* *
A Benefit for the American Cancer Society

Many Realms – One Vision.
Fantasy Faire 2022: Building a World Without Cancer

Since 2009, Fantasy Faire has been the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, role-players, and performers in the virtual world of Second Life®. It is also one of the most successful Relay For Life (RFL) fundraising teams worldwide. The 2021 Faire ranked 19th out of 5,000 RFL teams around the globe. Over its fourteen years, the Faire has raised close to $530,000 US Dollars, or over L$133,250,000 Linden Dollars.

For the past five years, the Faire has dedicated its fundraising efforts to the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) global service and support programs, including the recently launched project BEACON (Building Expertise, Advocacy, and Capacity for Oncology Navigation).

A partnership with nine health institutions and organizations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, BEACON builds on the success of similar ACS programs in the US and elsewhere. The project answers the call from healthcare professionals and cancer patients in those areas for life-saving information that can dramatically increase survival rates. “Fantasy Faire is one of the cornerstones of our vital work,” says Kristie McComb, Managing Director of Global Capacity Development and Patient Support at the ACS. “It’s an inspiring example of a global community working together to address a global challenge.”

The Faire has long been considered the premier annual shopping event for fantasy-themed merchandise in Second Life, showcasing fantasy avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets, and exclusive items by 250 of the grid’s top fantasy creators. In addition, Faire visitors enjoy dance and theater performances; attend auctions, art galleries, and a Literary and Film Festival; and share in an interactive quest and roleplaying events and classes.

Fantasy Faire Radio provides the soundtrack for visitors exploring the Fairelands, featuring music from blockbuster fantasy films along with a rich variety of world music traditions. A second radio station, “Live at the Fairechylde” features DJs spinning an upbeat, eclectic mix of tracks including classic rock, club music, jazz, blues, and pop hits. In 2021, more than 30,000 unique listeners tuned in from over 150 countries around the world.

It all comes to life again this year when the Fairelands return on April 21^st. “I’m always deeply moved that a realm made of ones and zeros has become home to a global community capable of affecting positive change for all humankind” says Elizabeth Tinsley, Executive Director of Fantasy Faire. “It doesn’t stop at the border between the virtual and the physical. In fact, that’s where the real magic truly starts.”

Fantasy Faire 2022 will be open to the public April 21 – May 8. The SLurl to the event will be found on the website on our opening day. We welcome you to come and join the story.

Fantasy Faire 2022 is made possible by the generous support of our Region and Event Sponsors, all of whom you can learn more about on the Faire’s website. For more information please contact one of the Faire coordinators: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/organizers/

Are you or a loved one battling cancer? Find out how many ways the American Cancer Society is there to help. Visit cancer.org or call (US) 800-227-2345.

Email: FantasyFaireRFL@gmail.com
Website: http://fantasyfaireSL.wordpress.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/FantasyFaireSL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFaireSL
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fantasyfairesl/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FantasyFaireSL
Discord: https://discord.gg/cxN5NEzBe5
RFL in SL: www.relayforlife.org/secondlife

American Cancer Society SLurl:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/127/103/21
 

Going About Gen Con

The Gen Con is in Second Life, or at least part of it. Described as "the largest tabletop-game convention in North America," it was canceled this year in real life due to the Pandemic. So the con went online. Part of it was here in Second Life. There was plenty to see. But as this was a gaming con, there were games to be done as well.

Read more in Events.

Various Relay Events in February

For most of Second Life history, the Relay for Life's fundraising season has started in March. This year, it started a month early in mid-February. The big event was the Kickoff. After that, there were numerous other events from special club parties to fantasy roleplaying to DJing on stage to show and tell,and more.

Read the story in Events.

SL Video: "Second Life Destinations - Medieval Roleplaying"

Xiola Linden's post for Second Life Destinations on July 3 was of "Medieval Roleplaying," the video filmed in the area of Mystvale.

Have you ever thought about writing your own Medieval novel? What if you could live through your very own battle of the throne without any of the very bloody and finite endings you’ve seen on television? Hold court, joust, ride forth into battle on the back of your trusted steed, or simply embrace the photogenic romance of living in an era long passed - it’s all possible in SL.
 

That’s where communities like MYSTVALE and other role-playing communities within Second Life come in. Tailored to immerse you in an experience that blends history and fantasy together, and allows you to begin making your own history through creative story-telling. Talk about choosing your own adventure!

Put on your favorite medieval outfit, grab your preferred party of adventurers, and cross the virtual veil into MYSTVALE.  

For the blog post in it's entirety, Click Here. 

Sansar Preview Video: Maxwell Graf

(Click here if the video fails to play)

This Sansar preview video came just after the "Ria" one on July 6. Done by Linden Lab with help from Draxtor Despress on July 12, "Opening to the public in 2017, Sansar is the best way to create, share, and sell your own social VR experiences. You can apply to join our creator preview community now at Sansar.com. 3D content and environmental artist Maxwell Graf shares his thoughts creating 'Neptune's Revenge' and other roleplaying experiences with Sansar."

The video shows Maxwell creating two scenes meant for roleplaying, "Rustica" and "Neptune's Revenge." He talks about how useful a platform could be for roleplaying, saying the area is "4096 square meters, it is pushed all the way up to the maximum size limit in Sansar. The really interesting thing about something on that scale is it does not have to be confined to a small village anymore. You can exist on each side of the mountains, and never even  see each other because it takes like three hours to walk across." With some flak from Second Life users about reports of Sansar's sims being separate rather than the ability to connect to one another, that places in Sansar can be this size is likely to be positive news. He also talks some about the possibilities of builders in Sansar marketing their content.

Hamlet Au and Inara Pey would also write about the video. Inara's article is the more positive of the two, she admitting she's known Maxwell for some time. The Newser did write about him in July 2010, when he deleted a sim to protest content theft in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Trip to the Amazon: Day One

A few years ago, Linden Lab came up with it's "Amazonian Adventure." While liked overall, some residents thought there was room for improvement. Recently the Newser found out about a newer Amazon area, one which has adventure, but also some dangers. Bixyl Shuftan took a trip over, likely to be the first of a few.

Read more in Places.

Press Release: Roleplay for Life

The Roleplay for Life team consists of multiple roleplay sim communities representing many genres.  Roleplayers as a whole are very "COMMUNITY" focused and are a natural fit for raising money for this worthy cause.

In 2014, I decided we needed our own team for Relay For Life to focus our charitable efforts in virtual worlds where we all spend a lot of time.  We all joined to form the Roleplay for Life group for many of the typical reasons groups join Relay for Life: it's a great, noble cause; because we know someone who has been affected by cancer; and to affect positive change in our community.

We also hoped to use our unique connection with roleplayers, who often tend to be a "fringe category" of player, to raise mutual awareness between the various charities and the roleplaying community within InWorldz. We felt our involvement in Relay for Life benefits not only a wonderful cause, but also benefits those who may feel removed from the mainstream, but wish to become more involved in such events.

We raised over $285,000 Iz's during the 2014 RFL season to help raise money and awareness for cancer and its cure. Our goal in the 2015 season is to exceed that total through the hard work of our team members and the generosity of the InWorldz residents.

Bim Rasmuson, Captain
Roleplay For Life
RFL InWorldz 2015 Campaign

Insilico: Roleplaying on Mars of the Future

The Newser has a new writer: Ozymandius (0zymandi). In his first article, he looks at Insilico, a futuristic roleplay area with a history that stretches back several years. Taking a look with the help of a guide, he found quite a lot, the sim needing multiple tiers of land to hold it all.

Read Ozymandius' article in Extra.

Roleplaying Basics

There are a number of roleplaying sims across Second Life. Some, such as Steelhead, involve a light amount of it, as while it's not required it is encouraged. For those in the Grid new to RPing, as it's sometimes called for short, they may not know where to begin. Theonlyjohnny Resident offers a few basics in this article which can be applied in and out of virtual reality.

Read Theonlyjohnny's story in People.

Cedar Creek

Most active Second Life Residents have a place they call home, or at least a favorite place to hang out. For Theonlyjohnny Resident, it's a sim called Cedar Creek. So what attracted him to the place and what got him to stay? Here, he gives his description of the place.

Read Theonlyjohnny's article in Places.

Play Knight - Medieval RP in SL

Becky Shamen's explorations took a slight detour after she bought a suit of armor at one place as a souvenir. Wearing it made her feel like going Medieval, so she did a search for a few places in Second Life where one could be a knight in shining armor. So what did she find?

Read Becky's article in Places.

"Fallout Equestria" The MLP/Fallout Crossover Roleplaying Game

Have you ever heard of combining "My Little Pony" with "Fallout," the post-apocalyptic computer game? Neither had we at the Newser. Then Grease Coakes heard about a roleplay game that did. Called "Fallout Equestria," he decided to take a closer look at the crossover, including getting into the game himself. So how did Grease do? Well, see for yourself.

Read more in Design.

Press Release: Relay For Life Fantasy Faire 2013

Celebrating its fifth year, Fantasy Faire 2013 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. From Saturday April 20 to Sunday April 28, treat yourself to nine days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts and roleplaying as thousands of Second Life residents and creators come together to support the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world without cancer.

Read more about the event at http://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/ . 

New Bastogne: WW2 in Second Life

It's been about a couple years since Bixyl Shuftan wrote on the WW2 Combat Roleplay. Two years later, the sims have gone through triumphs and troubles, but are still around. Recently, Grease Coakes took a look at the place to give his own observations.

Read Grease's story in Places.