1890s Creede, Colorado

 

Netera Landar recently checked out a roleplay community, one with a Wild West theme: 1890s Creede, Colorado. It's been only a few years since the territory was officially made a state, and in Creed County, the discovery of silver has led to an influx of people, including some entertainers from Denver as the city has been cracking down on gambling and prostitution. The roleplay has been around for over ten years, has a few SL business in addition to those strictly for the roleplay, and has some lively characters. 

 

Read Netera's article in People. 

 

EOTB: Linden Lab to Introduce "Onboarding Experiences Built by Second Life Creators"

 

One problem Second Life has had to contend with over it's history is retaining newcomers, only a small fraction of those who log in for the first time keep coming back after the first few visits, many not even after the first. This virtual world has a steep learning curve, as well as it can be a challenge to find out where to go and what to do, and newcomers unless they have friends to guide them or extremely persistent, grow frustrated and lose interest in sticking around. 

 

Linden Lab has been trying various things over the years to try to keep new residents coming back, and encouraging other residents to help out.  On Monday March 30, Linden Lab announced on their blog "new onboarding experiences ... built by talented community creators." 

 

As part of our ongoing experimentation with improving the new user experience, we’ve recently launched a new set of onboarding destinations in Second Life designed to make Residents’ first moments more social, interactive, and fun.

Each experience has been independently built by a group of talented community creators and are currently among the first locations newly-registered community members will experience for a limited time as we continue to assess what types of experiences and locations retain and engage our newcomers.  

 

The blog entry would go on to say the work, "was part of a pilot New User Experience Working Group (NUXWG)," and it had finished up a week earlier, calling it, "an outgrowth of our ongoing Creator Partnership Program, where we work directly with the community for select partnerships across a variety of initiatives." The Lab stated the same group was behind "several new mobile-specific landing locations" in 2025. 

 

Over the next few weeks, we will be testing these and other starter locations as we continue our ongoing efforts to experiment, learn, and evolve the new user experience - with ongoing consideration for our Community Gateway partners and other collaborations. 

We invite the community to check these locations out for yourself and support these creators who put lots of love and labor into this project.  

 

Currently, there are six of these Onboarding Experiences:  

 

Madpea Scardey Cats,  in which the player rescues kittens from a playfully spooky funhouse.

 

Driving Dirty , described as "where you can play different games, grab free prizes, meet new people, and hang out with others."  

 

Rush Week, which looks like a college-themed dating area.

 

Brazil Tour, a place in the theme of the country Brazil where one can play a few games or interact with others, some of whom may be from the country.

 

Club Midnight Pulse, a newbie-oriented nightclub where besides dancing to the music, you can play a few quests and meet others.

 

The Learning Center,  a space-stationed theme place described as "an interactive destination designed to teach the basics through gameplay. Explore obstacle courses, collect hidden stars, and learn core skills while progressing through challenges."

 

To read the blogpost in full, Click Here.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Some More April Foolery In, And Out, of Second Life

 

Wednesday was April Fools Day, and the posting of a yearly Newser tradition, the April Fool article. But it wasn't the only April Fool going around. Linden Lab would play one, and there were a couple others inworld I caught wind of. And there were a few in computer gaming as well.

 

Read the story in Extra.  

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 Saturday April 4

 

    ~*~

 

At 10 AM PST  

 

Functional Morphology and Eye Evolution in The Trilobite

 

By Dr. William F. Schmachtenberg

 

Exact location in sim unknown

 

    ~*~

 

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝  

 

Cartoon of The Day: Mouse Approved

Taken at Bay City's Food Truck Festival. Among the trucks there was one with wheels of cheese. While real mice prefer grain over cheese, no doubt this much would get a furry mouse's day rolling.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

Fantasy Faire Opens In Three Weeks

 

For those who can't wait for the Fantasy Fair, just hold on a little longer. It will be opening three weeks from today, Thursday April 23. 

 

The Fantasy Faire is one of the major events of the Relay for Life fundraising season in Second Life, with many highly skilled performers and builders behind it, offering shopping, music events, roleplaying, story reading, the Fairelands Quest game, and lots of gorgeous scenery to explore across many sims. 

 

For more information, check the blog here: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/ 

Breaking News 2: Linden Lab Announces HOA For Bellisseria

 

 * * Update - Linden Lab April Fool's * * 

 

For residents with Linden Homes who dislike Home Owners Associations, or HOAs, a little bad news. Today, Linden Lab announced it was establishing one for Bellisseria, and looking for volunteers to report violations. 

 

We are looking for a few good residents interested in running for positions in the new Home Owners Association (HOA). 

Members of the HOA help the Lindens and Moles keep Second Life safe and beautiful by identifying and reporting violations of the Linden Homes Covenant. To be considered, applicants must be homeowners. A demonstrated record of vigilance and a willingness to help your fellow residents is preferred, but trainee positions are also open. Conflict resolution experience is a plus. Members are not paid, but do have influence through the HOA Policies & Planning Committee, which recommends covenant enhancements to the LDPW.

Assist residents in understanding and following the rules to maintain peace and tranquility.  Be part of the HOA’s long-range vision for grid-wide stability!

 

Linden Lab would have a short video with the announcement, with Magellan Linden and "Punky." Apparently some avatars in violation of the rules are subject to taser shocks and "purple nurples."

 

There's a short thread in the forums about the new HOA already. 

 

Stay tuned for more information about this development, and be sure to watch the video to the end.  

 

 

BREAKING NEWS: Second Life Hacked, Iranian "Cyberwarriors" Claim Responsibility

 

 ** Update : April Fool's! **

 

If you had trouble staying online yesterday, or couldn't access the website, you were not alone. The website was down for a short time, and for some time afterwards hard to access. People were also crashing more often and having trouble getting back online. 

 

But that wasn't the only trouble. Whole sims were hacked and covered with Iranian flags. There were also signs with pictures of hot dogs & ham and pictures of dogs, with the international "not allowed" sign over them. 

 

*Addition*: There are stories of a few women whom when knocked offline and finally able to log back in found themselves wearing a burka and found themselves unable to remove it until they relogged using another viewer. 

 

A group of self-proclaimed Iranian "cyberwarriors" took responsibility, saying this was part of their fight against America. 

 

There has been no official comment from Linden Lab, though there were some comments from individual Lindens. To read them, head to the forum thread here.  

 

 

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: MTV Night, Wings, TBA

Happy Vixen: DJ Scratch, TBA, TBA, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: Snowy - Bunnies, Cats, and Foxes

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Easter

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: Th 8-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: TBA, TBA, Bunnies

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Juana, DJ Charlee, DJ Whiskey, DJ Vantox

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

 

RFL Purple Tears Steam Key Raffles

 

For anyone looking for a game at a discount, Team Purple Tears is doing a Steam key raffle fundraiser. Currently there are six games up to get tickets for, three of which today is their last day. 

 

Just a reminder that the March Purple Tears Steam Key Raffles are ending! Only 1 has any chances sold. Great odds to win!

Tickets are set at 1/10th the value of the game. Buy 4 chances and get a 5th one free!

Come on down to the Purple Tears HQ, raffles are in the back. 

 

 

The three games of which the raffle ends today are, Simulacra and Simulacra2, Hotel Renovator, and Settlement Survival. Three others, Resident Evil: Village, Bus Simulator 21, and Call of Duty: WW2, are available to buy tickets for until the end of April. 

 

Head to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Choa%20Nu/184/171/37

 

Top Ten Relay Teams In Fundraising

 

 

The various teams for the Relay for Life in Second Life have been busy raising money from events to casual donations. And here's the top ten list for this morning (which is very much subject to change).

 

At number 10, the Free Spirit Hippie Brigade at 625,000 Linden dollars and Jade level.
Number 9 was the Debauche Dance Group with 748,000 Linden dollars, also at Jade level, but 2K shy of leveling.
For number 8, the Sunbeamers at 879,000 Linden dollars and Sapphire level.
At number 7, Team ACTS (Aether Chononauts Tiny Steps) with 898,000 Linden dollars, also at Sapphire level.
Number 6 was Camping For A Cure having raised 936,000 Linden dollars, at Sapphire level.
For number five, Alpha Hope Force at 938,000 Linden dollars, at Sapphire level.
Harmony for Hope was number four with 1,094,000 Linden dollars, and Emerald level.
Number three was Seekers of Hope having raised 1,227,000 Linden dollars or over $4,900 USD at Emerald level.
The number two team was Quest For A Cure at 1,503,000 Linden dollars or over $6,000 USD at Topaz level.
And number one team was The Sugar Skols at 2,776,000 Linden dollars or #11,100 USD at Crimson level.

 

Some well-known teams are further down the list, such as the Cure Chasers at 404,000 L, Roos With A Dream at 278,000 L, Purple Tears at 179,000 L, Ponies For Life at 135,000 L, SLCS at 98,000 L, Giant Snail Racers at 78,000 L, Meli's Maniacs at 68,000 and others. 

And as time goes on, the numbers and levels will continue to go up for the teams. Stay tuned for news about upcoming events such as the Relaystock and Fantasy Faire, and others.
 

To read the complete list: https://sasun.info/rfl_teams?s=total_desc 

 

Go Relay! 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Weekend in Brief

 

 

There were a number of happenings this week. This included several Relay for Life fundraising ones. Among them was the seven hours of four DJs playing music at Woodland Groves Theme Park on Saturday March 28, including DJ Cynthia for Team Sunbeamers. The first two DJs raised a total of 44,000 Linden dollars, with the amount the second two raised pending. Sadly the sim the event took place on, Woodland Waves Adventure, may be closing soon.

 

 

Among the events on Sunday March 29 was the Bay City Food Truck Festival (which took me by surprise as I never got a press release or saw a mention of it in the Bay City Discord, and only found out when one of the city's gryphon friends told me). For two hours, there was music by DJ GoSpeed Racer while people danced the conga, played with the foam machine, sampled the foods, and voted for the best food truck, the prize going to TJ Hooker's "Adam's Ribs." The trucks stay up to April 15, that is those whose owners aren't worried about "Ever's Night."

 

More on these events later.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Sunken Dance

 

 

 Taken at Club Balance. When one steps on things in SL, your avatar's height usually adjusts, but not always, resulting in feet that look like they're sunken in holes or soft ground. But with this guy having a lady friend on his shoulders, it looked less like a glitch and more like his feet really sunk in.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

SL Video: "Forever"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Kazzdude1 on Jan 2010, "so i got bored again... decided to make a lil music video and test out the stuff on second life. song is breaking benjamin- forever. If u didnt notice, i cut the song to make it easier to edit.(didnt have enough footage). so yea Enjoy"