Gaming Goings-On: Rust, Star Trek Online, And Tree of Life

While the gaming world is currently abuzz with "Pokemon Go," those with little interest in the genre are no doubt wondering what else is available. There is of course Second Life, of which one of it's major events, the Relay Weekend, is in a couple days. But when not on Second Life, what else is there. For my gaming friends, they've found a couple the Newser has written about in the past, "Star Trek Online" and "Rust," have had recent updates. Star Trek Online now allows one to play the part of a Federation ship captain at the time of the Original Series. Rust now has the "Experience Point" system that's been talked about for months. There's also a new game out that's a little less edgy than some other popular survival MMOs: Tree of Life.

Read the review in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

April Fools Jokes by Linden Lab, And Others

The April Fool's article Second Life Newser did on Wednesday, about Luskwood's founder supposedly getting a job as a TV news anchorwoman, got some chatter on Facebook and in Second Life group chat (though none in the comment section of the article). Michi herself (who was in on the joke) reportedly was asked about it all day, so as usual we fooled a number of people who didn't bother clicking the link at the bottom.

But the Newser wasn't alone in pulling April Fools jokes. Linden Lab itself got into the act by saying there was a new retro 2-D viewer: "Introducing 2DSS."

There’s been a lot of excitement recently around our integration of the Oculus Rift with Second Life. The addition of HMD (head-mounted display) mode offers a new level of immersion for 3D experiences, but what about people who want less immersion? Today, we’re happy to announce a new way to explore the wide variety of community-created experiences in Second Life, without the complexity of the third dimension: 2D side-scrolling (2DSS) mode. Without the third dimension, you can enjoy Second Life just like your favorite 8-bit games from the past!

Note: while this new mode is compatible with HMD mode, we do not recommend trying both simultaneously. If you were to  turn your head 90 degrees while doing so, the world may simply disappear from view - causing a rather jarring experience that might make you feel a bit foolish. The new 2DSS mode is available as of April 1, 2015, and you can now download the Project Viewer to start enjoying some retro-future fun in Second Life!

And of course the link led to an "April Fool."

Among Second Life blogs, Jo Yardley told her readers, "A Linden Lab employee who wants to remain anonymous today send me this video that is top secret and shows what Second Life Next Generation will look like, it also seems to suggest it will be called ‘Digital World’. The video is apparently some sort of introduction video. I for one am very excited and think it looks stunning although I am a bit worried about the Sesamestreet-ish style." The link at the bottom led to the Wikipedia entry of April Fools Day.

Of other Second Life newsletters, the Enquirer didn't do an April Fool of their own, but did an article about pranks people had played on one another. New World Notes commented that with incidents such as people getting the help of a drag queen in trying to keep Facebook accounts in their avatar names, there was no need for "smartass April Fools posts."

Outside Second Life, various games had their own April Fools pranks and stunts. Blizzard announced a "Patch 6.1.4" that supposedly offered options such as a "T.I.N.D.R. Box" for matchmaking Garrison followers for romance, and changes in the rules such as "All Worgen characters must wear a collar and carry around little blue baggies." "Star Wars: The Old Republic" announced they were offering "stationary mounts" for characters, such as tree logs, "why go anywhere when you can go nowhere?" Star Trek Online announced they were starting the game over, "After over 5 years and countless updates, Holodeck is going to be retired. The old girl has had a good run, but she’s tired, and it’s time to begin again."

"World of Tanks" announced that those destroying ten enemy tanks on April 1st would get a special suitcase that allowed them reguardless of tank to go into artillery mode and send a rainbow beam that would beam down to smite their enemies.They also announced that inspired by the jokes about TOG II tanks being run aground boats, they were doing a new "Waterworld of Tanks" game. They also had an actual minigame: "Operation Undead."

"War Thunder's April Fool joke was actually a one day stunt with two temporary scenarios. One was "Unrealistic Battles," in which players fought in rubber tanks and pelted one another with potatoes and carrots. If a tank was clobbered, the X-Ray revealed men on bicycles. Then there was the "March to Victory" which allowed the players to enter a battlefield as a walking tank, the "ST-1." They went as far as to claim it was an actual experimental tank, "The first world war, which was also called “the trench war”, showed an inefficiency in the usual infantry breakthrough and required the creation of an absolutely new type of ground vehicle - something that could cross destroyed roads and ground torn apart from explosions. This is what the ST-1 was about - the first and the only model of a walking tank."

Playing "War Thunder" that day, the balloon tanks were a chuckle to fight in, with their rubbery cannons flopping around as they scooted. As for "March to Victory" the ST-1s were one of several vehicles one could take to the battle, though you had to choose one of two smaller tanks first and had to earn enough points to bring the walker onto the field once you were clobbered. But taking the 1940s equivalent of an Imperial Scoutwalker, I soon found why gamers prefer low profile tanks like the Hetzer. Those tall things were a bigger target and quicker to take down. Too bad, those things looked cool, but coolness doesn't always win on the battlefield, especially once the surprise wears off.

For more April Foolery, check the article on PC Gamer.

It was a fun April Fools.

Bixyl Shuftan

Star Trek Online Memorials

On Thursday March 5, The Star Trek Online MMO added some in-game memorials in response to the death of Leonard Nimoy about a week earlier. At the town square on planet Vulcan, the fountain had a statue of Spock placed with the words "Live long and prosper." There was another statue erected on New Romulus, with the words, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Also at New Romulus, and at the Earth Spacedocks and the Klingon homeworld of Qo'nos, there were black flags on the wall draped as a sign of respect for the fallen. There were also permanent memorial plaques at these locations in honor of Nimoy and others in real life associated with Star Trek.

Honoring Leonard Nimoy

On Friday February 27 came some sad news for science fiction fans. Leonard Nimoy, known for his role as "Spock" in Star Trek died of lung disease at the age of 83. It was both the loss of a great actor, and a reminder of how long ago the groundbreaking sci-fi show was, which first aired from 1966 to 1969. Although he took on a number of other acting roles, as well as taking a hand at directing, he was best known for his iconic unemotional and stoic character.

He was honored in large ways and small. There were many comments on Facebook about him. At a One Billion Rising event on Saturday, Stranger Nightfire made an appearance in a Spock avatar. The Furry Fashion club had scheduled a space-themed event that night. Over chat, people talked about Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek. No doubt this was the case over a few other Second Life clubx.

The Second Life Science Fiction Convention was going on when Nimoy passed on. Many exhibits had an "In Memorandum: Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015" sign. For Trek-themed exhibits, they often did more, putting up a larger picture, or more of them for the Original Series character.

Then there was the Star Trek Museum at New Eridani (133, 77, 35). There was one of the In Memorandum signs at the entrance, and another in the T'Karath Sanctuary cavern. Chatting with the curator Wabisabi Matahari, one of the group, Rev. Denes House, had written an eulogy for him.

 When Mr. Nimoy first appeared in 1966 as Lt. Cmdr. Spock, the character was brusque, logical, and clearly alien. With his sharply-upswept eyebrows, pointed ears, and slightly green complexion, studio executives were terrified that Bible Belt viewers would react negatively to his vaguely Satanic appearance. So it was a deep shock to find that, as Star Trek became a success, Mr. Nimoy received more than his share of fan mail, often from female fans smitten with his hot-blooded, cool-headed demeanor.

What was it that so drew Star Trek fans to Spock? Perhaps his insistence on logic and reason appealed to an era so riven by emotions. Perhaps through the character's tightly-controlled exterior, fans recognized a heart capable of genuine friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice. Perhaps they just enjoyed his verbal sparring with the irascible Dr. McCoy, played by DeForest Kelley. Whatever the case, by the time the show went off the air in 1969, Mr. Spock had become one of the most popular and most recognized characters in the history of television.

The eulogy in full can be read on https://www.facebook.com/STARTREKMUSEUM/posts/10153099779608485 .

Outside Second Life, Facebook had a great number of people expressing their sadness of Nimoy's passing. Then there was the Multiplayer Online Game Star Trek Online. Cryptic Studios, the owners of the game, made an official statement on the game's website. On the buliten board, there was a long list of posts on the thread about Nimoy.

Deciding to check out the planet Vulcan in the game, when I got there, getting to the town's fountain was a surprise, a few people dancing around, one stripped down to his underwear, with someone having brought out some rainbow light thingy. In the words of one guy, "Did I drop in on a gay club?" One lady Vulcan suggested heading over to the temple area, and several of us did. Once there, we stood there for some moments, reflecting on the man.

The company has reportedly announced plans to set up a permanent in-game memorial to Nimoy on March 5, 2015.

And so, people in Second Life and elsewhere found ways to honor the passing of a great sci-fi actor whom gave fans a character that will be remembered for decades, if not longer.

Bixyl Shuftan