Crew Meeting

Last Saturday March 7, the Newser held it's monthly crew meeting. Attending were Gemma Cleanslate, Kiirya Huntress, DrFran Babcock, Locke Esgal, Wesley Regenbogen, and myself (Bixyl Shuftan). We also had with us someone who expressed interest in working for the paper, but it didn't quite work out.

We talked about a number of things, such as the trophy we'd gotten from Avi Choice (yay us!), and the Relay season opening this month. Talk turned to our sponsors at Nissan, and Fran and Kiirya sporting their own pony avatars (left and right respectively).

Stay tuned for a month of exciting stories.

Bixyl Shuftan

JasX Games Part 4: Designing BARE

Locke Esgal continues his series about JasX Games. Here, he takes a look at Jasdac Stockholm's most popular game: BARE. A fighting game in which a player's clothes act as their armor, and are knocked down as the match goes on, the object is to strip your opponent completely. Locke asked Jasdac how the game came about, and the designer gave his story.

Read Locke's article in Design.

JasX Games Part 3

Locke Esgal continues his review of JasX games. In Part three, he looks at two games that represent different levels of success: jFish and Fright. Jasdac Stockholm had a few comments as to why one of the games succeeded and the other fell flat.

Read Locke's story in Design.

JasX Games Part 2

Locke Esgal continues his review of JasX Games. Have you ever heard of a "Shovelnator?" Neither had Locke until he came across it in Jasdac Stockholm's games. Here, Locke explains where this weapon comes from, and some of the challenges Jasdac had to deal with.

Read Locke's article in Design. 

JasX Games

Some readers might have heard of BARE, the cheeky card-based fight game in which the loser ends up without their clothes. It's one of several games by JasX Games, by Jasdac Stockholm. Locke had a few words with the man behind the games. In the first part of the interview, Jasdac describes his start into gamemaking with "Fable of the Unknown."

Read Locke's article in Design.

Crew Meeting, And Remembering Charlie Hebdo

Sunday January 11 was the Newser's monthly crew meeting, discussing out successes for the past month, and what lay ahead in the next month or two. In the picture are DrFran Babcock, Locke Esgal, myself (Bixyl Shuftan), Gemma Cleanslate, and Nydia Tungsten.

Among the things brought up was the terrorist attack in Paris on the real life Charlie Hebdo magazine. Gemma, whom was among those who had written about the memorial to the fallen journalists (and cops) in the Paris area in Second Life, sported a "Je Suis Charlie" (I Am Charlie) T-Shirt.

The magazine would continue to make news with the release of a "Survivor's Edition" this week, in which a cartoon of the Muslim prophet Mohammad crying and holding an "I Am Charlie" sign, the captain reading "All Is Forgiven." The reaction of Muslims seems to be a mixed one, although there were those saying their views on blasphemy need to change, militants called the cartoon an insult that demanded further retaliation and bloodshed.

"To be continued"

Horror and Hope

A few days ago, innocent lives were cut short. There was an attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine building in which several people were killed. Police officers, writers, cartoonists...It's hard to wrap my head around. When I heard the attack, I couldn't quite believe it. It seemed so far away, involving people that I didn't know. Sure, it was tragic, but...well, I just couldn't quite understand. I didn't have the capability of doing so. It wasn't until today, at the time of this writing, that I was able to grasp what was going on.

People died. Good people, innocent people died.

Our editor took me to the Paris sim to see the memorial and ... well, seeing all these people, reading the prayers, the support from all over the world. It finally sunk in.

All over, as you read this, there are rallies being held in support of the families that have lost loved ones in this horrifying event. Millions are out in the streets, show us all that these acts of violence will not cull us. We will not be cowed. We will stand strong.

Even here, on the grid, people are standing united in support of Charlie Hebdo, of France. Even in this slower time of day, dozens still mourn the people killed, all with the same phrase, a phrase indicating our unity....Je Suis Charlie.

Locke Esgal

“What Is Christmas Really About?”

Locke Esgal posed a certain question for his latest article: "What is Christmas really about?" Is it the giving and receiving of presents? Is it going to church for the special Christmas services? Locke had his own opinion on the issue.

Read Locke's article in Extra.

Ravenlock's Xmas Zone

Reporter Locke Esgal is back with a Christmas story. This one is with a gaming twist. In his latest article, he writes about the Pokemon-themed Ravenlock sim's own holiday area. So just what does one catch when you mix Christmas with Pokeman?

Read Lock's story in Places.

"Man On The Street" Responses to the Furry Convention Gas Leak

Today the Newser welcomes a new writer, Locke Esgal. While thinking of a subject to write about, the attention of those he was talking to turned to a chlorine gas leak at the MidWest FurFest convention near Chicago in which the hotel had to be evacuated and a hazmat team sent in. Nineteen had to be treated at the hospital, although all but one were soon released. Police are treating the incident as a deliberate, criminal act. For a number of furry fans in Second Life, already irritated by how their genre is sometimes viewed and depicted by others, the event touched a raw nerve. Lock talked to a number of people on the streets of Second Life, and while most wanted to remain anonymous, he got a number of opinions.

Read more in Extra.