Facebook/Meta's Horizons Planned to Shut Down VR Option, Then Changed

 

Some Second Life users may remember Horizons, the virtual world created by Meta, the company behind Facebook. Announced in 2021 as the effort of Mark Zuckerberg's company to "build the Metaverse." But there was skepticism from the start as it's avatars had nothing below the waist, which was fodder for a number of jokes, including a few from Linden Lab and others in Second Life. As time went on, it became clear it was not attracting many people, and Meta netted only a fraction of the money it put in. Among the signs things weren't right, unlike Second Life, the people who worked on it did not spend time in the virtual world when off the clock. 

 

Earlier this month on March 17, it was announced that the software to use Horizons on VR headsets would no longer be available at the end of the month, and in June it would be taken offline. “We are separating the two platforms so each can grow with greater focus, and the Horizon Worlds platform will become a mobile-only experience,” the company stated on a community blog. The move came just weeks after Meta laid of a thousand workers from Reality Labs in January, the part of the company that works on it's virtual world. Besides VR, the virtual world can be accessed through a mobile app, which was remaining up. 

But a few days later, Meta backtracked, it's CEO announcing, “We have decided, just today in fact, that we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR for existing games to support the fans who’ve reached out.” But, VR won't be the main focus, "Most of our energy is going towards mobile and the Meta Horizon Engine there."

Commentary: In Second Life, and Discord channels with SL users, yours truly heard several residents bring up Meta's decision to close Horizon's VR option, and react with smugness. The feeling was a multi-billion dollar company had gone up against the much smaller Linden Lab and the people behind VR Chat, and it couldn't even begin to compete with them, the company Mark Zuckerberg created losing big. Second Life, for all of it's Linden blunders over time, remains the champion virtual world. And a startup like Resonite can do more with a few people, a few dollars, and a little elbow grease and imagination, than a billion dollar megacorp that is all dollars and no brains and bare-bones effort. 

 

Image from Techcrunch 

 

Sources: Wired, Meta, PC Gamer, CNBC 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Zooby Prim "Legacy" Babies Get Continued Support

 

In August, Zooby announced it would soon be ending support for Legacy babies, aka "prim babies," and pre-mesh pets. December was supposed to be the last month, with support ending in January. But this will not be happening. Zooby made the decision to continue support.

 

On November 19, Zooby announced news.  

 

We have migrated the ZOOBY LEGACY BABIES!!! This means you can KEEP YOUR LEGACY BABIES FOR AS LONG AS ZOOBY EXISTS! They will remain alive!!! WE DID THIS FOR YOU! 

There is NOTHING YOU HAVE TO DO! We are just letting the community know we did the work on our backend! It just means you can keep you Legacy Babies for as long as Zooby exists! You don't have to do anything!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!

If you need old Legacy supplies they are located here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shedao/185/113/34

The Curious Cats, Curious Canines and Trainapets have also been migrated! We just have the Breedable Lemurs left and then we are done!

We HOPE this month the Animesh Cats will be updated and out with new cat breeds and new cat toys!
We love the community and are doing all we can!! 

 

So for those with older Legacy babies, and pre-mesh pets, they now have a new lease on (virtual) life.

 

Hat tip: Kitacelia

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Arcade Gacha, Gacha Guild, To Continue Despite Gacha Ban

 
Linden Lab's announcement on Monday that they would be banning gacha machines from Second Life at the start of next month had people asking what would happen to the various merchants and events that depend on these sales for their business. Of the events, two of the largest are the Arcade Gacha and the Gacha Guild. So no doubt a number were wondering what would happen to them. Would they fold, or try to change and stay?

According to announcements from them, both plan to continue.

On Facebook, Arcade Gacha would post that while their next event would be called off due to lack of time to prepare, their plans were "to re-imagine the event and return strong."

Just like you, we've been rocked by Linden Lab's recent decision to ban gacha. For the past 9 years, gacha's been the backbone of Arcade's events, and we're truly sad to see it go. Due to LL's change and short notice to comply, we've decided to cancel September's upcoming round. This pause provides our team the much-needed time to re-imagine the event and return strong. We'll be in touch soon and look forward to seeing you when The (ALL NEW) Arcade re-opens!

The Gacha Guild had both announcements that they would be continuing, by their director Nams (Nama Gearz) with an announcement in the inworld group.

Gachas may be going away but we are not! Though a lot of changes will have to be made in the coming days and we are prepared to do what it takes to keep the event rolling. .Gacha Guild. will now be called simply .The Guild. going forward as well.

That's our tldr, but the full letter to everyone goes more in depth with how we're going to proceed. Please have a look and we'll see you in October!  

"The letter" was an open letter on the Gacha Guild website. It stated for October, it would just sell items the ordinary way "it’ll just be straightforward, regular sales" rather than include any new systems designed to get around the gacha ban. "It’s likely such systems are already being developed by many SL residents as we speak. Time will tell if those systems will be 100% approved by Linden Labs, and until then, they will not be allowed for use in the event."

"The amazing work designers make will not be diminished because they’re not in gacha form and will be every bit as spectacular as they always have been."

So for the two largest gacha events in Second Life, the ban does not mean the end, but change.

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager, Matoazma Kazyanenko

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Fairelands Quest Part Two Open

When the Fairlands Quest was finally available to play last Saturday, only part of it was available to play. On Thursday May 2, the second part was finally available. Presumably, one can find it in all of the locations the first part was placed.

For those who already have the quest, the second part is free. Just touch the sign to get the package, then add and click. You'll be using the huds and attachments in the folder for the quest from here on. Even if you haven't finished the first part, the huds from the Part One package no longer work.

Officially, the Fantasy Faire will last until tomorrow, Sunday May 5. But it's a safe bet the sims will remain open for a few more days, and therefore the quest still playable.

 And of course besides the quest, there's a lot of great scenery to see. I've heard some people wish the places would be on for much longer, if not permanent.

So don't forget to check out the Fantasy Faire, or return if you've already been there.

Bixyl Shuftan