EOTB: "SL Video Creators Group’s Best of 2025 Nominees"

 

 In the Linden Blog, there's been two updates in the past few days. On Wednesday January 14 was an announcement for video fans. For the rest of January, there will be special showings of highlights from videos nominated for The SL Video Creators Group Best of 2025 Award at the Cinema at the WelcomeHub area. This will be followed by an awards show at the Cinema on February 7.

 

Calling all machinima fans! The SL Video Creators Group is kicking off the new year at the Second Life Cinema with a special showcase celebrating the Best of 2025 Award nominees.

Founded by Jordan Rizzo in 2020, the SL Video Creators Group brings together Second Life filmmakers to share resources, collaborate, and highlight outstanding machinima. Each year, their awards recognize exceptional work across multiple categories, including short form, long form, vlog, music video, and short film.

Throughout January, the Second Life Cinema will feature a nominees reel, giving you the chance to watch highlights from this year’s nominated videos in a shared, inworld theater experience. It is a great way to discover new creators, revisit standout moments from 2025, and start forming your predictions ahead of the awards show. 

 

The awards show at the Cinema will take place February 7 at Noon SL time, and for those who can't make it inworld, it will be streamed live on Youtube.  

 

For the list of nominies, check the SL Creators Group website.  

 

For the blog post in full, Click Here.  

 

EOTB: Community Exhibition Update

 

 Earlier this week, Linden Lab announced there had been an expansion in the number of communities listed at the Community Exhibition at the WelcomeHub sim. Ten more have been added, doubling the number featured.

On May 1st we expanded the SLCE with the addition of 10 new exhibits, bringing more diversity and creativity to the showcase. This second phase not only enriches our current offerings but also introduces five larger parcels, designed to provide more space and opportunities for immersive experiences.

The new communities, and groups, are Baunatal German Community, Islands of New England, The Nature Collective, FOCUS Art Magazine and Gallerie, The Teegle Equestrian Communit, Leeward Cruising Club, Premier Wrestling, The Lighthouse: Support & Meeting, Virtual Worlds Education Consortium, and American Cancer Societ. 

 

The Community Exhibition was added in January 30 as a way for different communities in Second Life to describe themselves to newcomers at the WelcomeHub sim, and possibly get them to join.

 

For the blog post in full, Click Here. 

 

Gemma's Explorations

 

Gemma Cleanslate has been to a few areas here in Second Life, ones "compact and familiar." She went to the WelcomeHub, and among the builds representing places found one about Burn2. Burn2 was also represented at the Firestorm Art Gallery, where one of the Rangers has become Artist of The Month. She also stopped by another gallery at the Confederation of Democratic Simulators.

 

Read Gemma's story in Places. 

 

Community Exhibition In The WelcomeHub Sim

 

 

On January 30, something new was introduced to the WelcomeHub sim. Linden Lab wasn't just touting Bellisseria to the residents. They were offering other communities in Second Life to tout themselves to newcomers and others visiting the region. The location was called the Community Exhibition.

 

As part of our effort to better connect virtual world newcomers with some of the best and most active inworld communities, we’re excited to debut an all-new expansion to the Hub – the Second Life Community Exhibition (SLCE).

SLCE aims to bring more visibility and exposure to a diverse range of Second Life communities during the earliest moments of the new Resident journey via primely-positioned exhibition space in one of our most active and popular starting points for all newly-registered Residents.  

Dropping by there, there were exhibits from the first eleven communities that had signed up to be on display. Some were more familiar than others. Among those that most seasoned residents would most likely recognize included Bay City, Virtual Ability. Burn2, Non-Profit Commons, and Caledon.

 

There was also a special Lab Gab episode, streamed live on the day of the announcement, featuring Strawberry and Patch Linden. Besides the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, they talked to several individuals representing their communities, such as Marianne McCann of Bay City. 

The Lab plans to expand the Community Center, and is inviting more communities to sign up. Community leaders, or officers who can represent their communities, are invited to fill out the application form (here). Those taking part need to be open to new residents, "priority consideration" will be given to those with a history of having newcomer-friendly events, they need to have been active for at least one year, while communities don't have to be G-rated their exhibits at the Center need to be, and more.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/WelcomeHub/93/164/25

 

Source: Linden blog

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

Christmas Movie Aired In Newser To Appear at Linden-Run Cinema

 

Readers will likely recall the Newser has been showing parts of  "Scrooge: A Second Life Christmas Carol" by AVTV. Well, we can be forgiven if Linden Lab saw what we were doing and got an idea. They recently announced the movie, in full, will be shown at the WelcomeHub Cinema.

Calling all Second Life machinima enthusiasts! Embrace the spirit of the season and join us for a special screening of "Scrooge - A Second Life Christmas Carol" directed by the talented Caligula Aquila on Wednesday, December 13th, at 12pm PT at the Second Life Cinema.

Immerse yourself in the timeless tale of Scrooge as reimagined within the immersive world of Second Life. Caligula’s unique vision brings Dickens' classic to life, blending the magic of virtual cinema with the charm of a holiday favorite. 

 As mentioned the movie will be shown next Wednesday, December 13, at Noon SL time.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/WelcomeHubCinema/52/128/23?

WelcomeHub Cinema Shows Fantasy Faire Inspired Show by Saffia Widdershins

 

 

Last week on Thursday November 15 at Noon SL time, there was a premier film short screening at the Cinema in the WelcomeHub area. The featured show was the Episode One of "Harland Quinn and the Omega Hex." The machinima takes place in the Fairelands of the yearly Fantasy Faire event. and was directed by Saffia Widdershins. It was mentioned in the Fantasy Faire and Linden blogs.

Calling all Second Life film buffs and machinima mavens! Get ready to be enthralled by the cinematic magic of "Harland Quinn and the Omega Hex Ep 1," directed by the talented Saffia Widdershins. 

Join us on Wednesday, November 15th, at 12pm PT at the Second Life Cinema for this exciting movie screening. Immerse yourself in the world of Harland Quinn, where fantasy and adventure intertwine, leaving you at the edge of your seat. The screening concludes with an exclusive promotional commentary on the Fantasy Faire in Second Life, offering a glimpse into another spectacular event within our virtual world.

I dropped in a little late, but the video started from the start for those just walking in. Saffia was there, as well as Strawberry Linden. It started off with a reporter asking one of the Fairelands officials about a supposed major threat called the Omega Hex, and the official playing down the threat as overblown. The scene then changes to a man going about a town in a desert in native garb who "ended up here because of a good run of bad choices" as he says to himself in his narration, and instead of magic would rather rely on his pistol. While going about, he's approached by an old adversary who offers a certain proposal.

The audience applauded at the film's end, "Bravo!" "That was amazing!" "It was a wonderful episode, congratulations to the entire team!" "This is so well done." And there was thanks for the theater, "Huge thanks to Linden Lab for letting us open this spectacular venue." Saffia was appreciative, "Thank you so much for watching!" She would also announce, "and in a few minutes ... there a PARTY!"

 

The party itself was in a skybox high above in the Garden of Dreams sim.  Over two dozen went there, and danced to the music.

Saffia would mention several people who helped with the film, "Terra Volitant created the special effects. Bain Finch did those fantastic tracking shots. Aisling Sinclair created the avatars. Ketsui was the assistant director. And Julala and Lil Cinnamon organized the fantastic market in the desert!"

Episode One, "With Friends Like These," is still showing at the WelcomeHub Cinema until the end of the month. Episodes Two and Three can be seen on the Fairelands media website.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/WelcomeHubCinema/52/128/23

Bixyl Shuftan

EOTB: Motown Trivia Party Today

 

 

 In featured news in the official blog, there was an announcement about an event in the Motown sim at the WelcomeHub area, a Triva Party.

Get ready to groove and test your music knowledge at our Motown Trivia Party! Join us on Saturday, September 2nd from 12pm to 2pm PT at Motown for trivia, dancing, laughter, and legendary tunes.  

Whether you're a music aficionado or just looking for a good time, this event is for you. Brush up on your Motown history and get ready to boogie. 

And for those who love to groove to new beats, keep an ear out for the new Styngs including some of Motown’s classic songs! Styng animated music emotes feature animated movements synched to song snippets from officially licensed Motown classic and contemporary artists. Express yourself in a whole new way with a Motown Styng. 

See you on the dance floor at Motown and watch out for more events coming soon!

 

 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Motown/128/127/23?

 

The WelcomeHub Bridge

 

 

When the WelcomeHub area opened in June, the area was connected to Bellisseria by sims, but traversable only by water or flying. Not long after, someone messaged me there was a bridge connecting them. So I recently went back to take a look. 

The bridge, put in place by a few different Moles, isn't a traffic one for cars, but a railroad bridge. It connects to WelcomeHub in the Rubber Ducky sim, passes over All Tuna, and connects to Bellisseria in the Three Sheets sim, where the tracks connect to the rail system. 

No new updates on the Ranch sims, yet. But there should be more news about them or somewhere else on Bellisseria. Stay tune for more updates.

Bixyl Shuftan

Linden Lab Touts Motown Area in Second Life, Holds Big Opening Party

 

 

 While the Lab has made something of a deal over a new place in Second Life, it was doing moreso than usual yesterday, Tuesday June 20. Not only did they announce it in the Linden blog, but also did a press release, and the news was posted in four news sites online.

The legendary music label Motown has officially opened its doors with an all-new presence in Second Life – and we are ready to celebrate!

Please join us inworld at Motown today between noon-3 pm PT to meet and interact with Lindens, Moles, and other members of the Second Life community in this soulful music experience, launched in partnership with Capitol Music Group and STYNGR.

This is your chance to hear some great music, hang out, and dance during the opening day at Motown, which features multi-station radio streams of classic and contemporary Motown songs, animated gestures, and much more! You can learn more about Motown in Second Life at second.life/motown.

Besides the preceding on the official SL blog, the Lindens would also do a press release, post it on their website (image at top), and have the news in four other places online: Billboard, Blockbuster, Music Business World, and Yahoo Finance. 

The Motown sim was part of a nine sim area, one that includes the Social Casino that first appeared last month in the southeast. They were a short distance north of central Bellisseria. The one in the middle was "WelcomeHub." Sending an alt there, there were a number of Mentors around there, Linden Lab bringing back the program earlier this month. There were a number of blue signs around pointing out different areas. Going north, there was one pointing out Motown. 

 

 

The place had over a hundred avatars in the sim, someone was saying 131 at one point. This included a number of Moles and Lindens, including Patch Linden. I happened to see one lady greet him, " You know I have been in Second Life since 2006 and this is the first time I think we have met. Definitely on this avatar, I think. But I just wanted to say that to me Second Life is still the best MMO. Looking forward to SL20B as well." Patch responded warmly, "Awe thank you!   It's a big year for us at 20.... we're almost full adults now  (21)!" "On this avi I will be forever 21!"

 

The party would last for a while. I didn't stay the whole time, but the place was crowded for some hours. There wasn't time to look at everywhere in the area either. That will be for another time.

There was a thread in the official forums about Motown's opening. Response was overall positive.

Was the opening of Motown at this particular date to attract attention to Second Life's Twentieth Anniversary? Probably. But for residents already anxious for a big party, it was very much a welcome event.

Bixyl Shuftan