SL Video: "Drivers of SL Grid Drive 2025-06-07b - Old Linden Homes Special"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Zada Bury on August 9, of the old Linden Home regions, a continuation of her tour of the pre-Bellisseria ones, before they would be closed down.

 

SL Video: "Zada's Visits - old Linden Homes: Cape Ekim, Secret Caves (Drive 25-06-07)"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Zada Bury on July 20. Here, she visits some of the old Linden Home regions, the pre-Bellisseria ones, before they would be closed down. She uncovers some hidden secrets.

 

Linden Lab Spotlight on Nature Collective

 

Last year, the Newser wrote about the Nature Collective, which promotes nature in real life and natural scenery in Second Life. Earlier this week, Linden Lab promoted them on their Second Life Spotlight.

I was inspired to create the Nature Collective after exploring so many beautiful places in my early days of SL. It was obvious that there were so many talented nature creators here and I wanted to find a way to help showcase these areas, make it easier for people to find these locations and get people out exploring them. I also wanted to inspire people to stop and look at the world around them, virtual and real, and maybe get inspired to help with local, national and international nature-related causes.

At its core, The Nature Collective is a group, or a collective if you will, of nature-based sims and locations in Second Life – but we are so much more than that. We encourage exploration of our member locations through our various group events. Many of our locations are focused on real environmental issues and are working to educate people and make an impact. Whether we are nature creators, nature explorers, or both, we care about nature in all its forms and are doing what we can to make a difference and help people connect with nature both in Second Life and in our day-to-day lives.

I feel like The Nature Collective has helped inspire people to create more nature spaces in SL. People get excited about creating and sharing their spaces. It’s also helped people connect. Our little community now has over 2100 members and is continually growing. TNC offers group events aimed at getting people out exploring in SL while meeting new people. We’ve seen friendships blossom over common interests in nature. It’s been truly heartwarming to see our little group into this beautiful community.

The blogpost in it's entirety can be read here. 

In The Hole

 

 

 Remember the video of the Alcatraz sim we showed a few days ago? Well, I decided to give the location a visit to see if it was still around. While the sim was still there, it was under a new owner. And TPing over sent me to a small corner, with ban lines keeping me from going elsewhere, plummeting down into a small hole. With flight disabled, the only way out was to tp away. So this exploring had come to a dead end. 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Press Release: Fantasy Faire 2022

 

* * Fantasy Faire 2022, April 21 – May 8* *
A Benefit for the American Cancer Society

Many Realms – One Vision.
Fantasy Faire 2022: Building a World Without Cancer

Since 2009, Fantasy Faire has been the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, role-players, and performers in the virtual world of Second Life®. It is also one of the most successful Relay For Life (RFL) fundraising teams worldwide. The 2021 Faire ranked 19th out of 5,000 RFL teams around the globe. Over its fourteen years, the Faire has raised close to $530,000 US Dollars, or over L$133,250,000 Linden Dollars.

For the past five years, the Faire has dedicated its fundraising efforts to the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) global service and support programs, including the recently launched project BEACON (Building Expertise, Advocacy, and Capacity for Oncology Navigation).

A partnership with nine health institutions and organizations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, BEACON builds on the success of similar ACS programs in the US and elsewhere. The project answers the call from healthcare professionals and cancer patients in those areas for life-saving information that can dramatically increase survival rates. “Fantasy Faire is one of the cornerstones of our vital work,” says Kristie McComb, Managing Director of Global Capacity Development and Patient Support at the ACS. “It’s an inspiring example of a global community working together to address a global challenge.”

The Faire has long been considered the premier annual shopping event for fantasy-themed merchandise in Second Life, showcasing fantasy avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets, and exclusive items by 250 of the grid’s top fantasy creators. In addition, Faire visitors enjoy dance and theater performances; attend auctions, art galleries, and a Literary and Film Festival; and share in an interactive quest and roleplaying events and classes.

Fantasy Faire Radio provides the soundtrack for visitors exploring the Fairelands, featuring music from blockbuster fantasy films along with a rich variety of world music traditions. A second radio station, “Live at the Fairechylde” features DJs spinning an upbeat, eclectic mix of tracks including classic rock, club music, jazz, blues, and pop hits. In 2021, more than 30,000 unique listeners tuned in from over 150 countries around the world.

It all comes to life again this year when the Fairelands return on April 21^st. “I’m always deeply moved that a realm made of ones and zeros has become home to a global community capable of affecting positive change for all humankind” says Elizabeth Tinsley, Executive Director of Fantasy Faire. “It doesn’t stop at the border between the virtual and the physical. In fact, that’s where the real magic truly starts.”

Fantasy Faire 2022 will be open to the public April 21 – May 8. The SLurl to the event will be found on the website on our opening day. We welcome you to come and join the story.

Fantasy Faire 2022 is made possible by the generous support of our Region and Event Sponsors, all of whom you can learn more about on the Faire’s website. For more information please contact one of the Faire coordinators: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/organizers/

Are you or a loved one battling cancer? Find out how many ways the American Cancer Society is there to help. Visit cancer.org or call (US) 800-227-2345.

Email: FantasyFaireRFL@gmail.com
Website: http://fantasyfaireSL.wordpress.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/FantasyFaireSL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFaireSL
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fantasyfairesl/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FantasyFaireSL
Discord: https://discord.gg/cxN5NEzBe5
RFL in SL: www.relayforlife.org/secondlife

American Cancer Society SLurl:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/127/103/21
 

Fantasy Faire Ends Tonight

After twenty fun-filled days, the Fantasy Faire is coming to a close. Starting on April 22, the Faire offered 21 sims with well-crafted scenery to explore and see, and numerous events.  But nothing lasts forever, and like so many of the flowers on the sims, the Faire blooms for a short time, then fades away. After Midnight tonight, the sims will close to all but the volunteer staff, and soon after will once again fade back into the virtual nether from whence they came.

So if you haven't before, come by and explore the sims. While the event might not be as publicized as much as the Second Life Birthday and Relay weekend, the beauty and design of the areas make it a should-see event. And there are fun interactive events, such as the Fairelands Quest, and a couple sims have some quests of their own.

Yours truly has been exploring them, which means a little less time to write. For now. Later I should have something more about the Faire.

For Relayers, there are many other events later this season, such as the Relaystock this weekend, and the Relay weekend next month. But the Fantasy Faire has gotten many fans over the years. So with the closing of the sims, there will be a few tears that it couldn't be longer, thanking of the designers for what they made this year, and looking forward to what the next Faire will bring in April next year.

Feel free to see the pictures others have taken on the Fantasy Faire Flickr page (or add a few of your own): https://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/pool/

Bixyl Shuftan
   

SL Video: "Fantasy Faire 2018 in Second Life an Epic Walk Round"

 (Click Here if the video fails to play)

From Pryda Parx on April 2018, "I took a walk through the whole of Fantasy Faire 2018, all 15 regions. I saw lots of wonderful places and a dragon, some unicorns, a dinosaur, a tigers giving a ride and had a mishap in a library and got quite cross! But it was all worth it.

"The timeline: 0:00:00​ - Falls of Hope, 0:03:01​ - Pools of Ethuil, 0:07:13​ - Astrid’s Nemeton, 0:11:39​ - The Bazaar Dungeon, 0:18:15​ - Sanoria, 0:21:34​ - Erstwhile, 0:26:08​ - Athenaeum Arcana, 0:34:27​ - The Story Well, 0:40:10​ - Severina, 0:43:42​ - The Halls of Story (got the caption wrong in the video, sorry) 0:46:41​ - The Willows of Nienna, 0:49:55​ - Tiny Town, 0:54:50​ - Aetherea, 1:02:14​ - Fairelands Junction, 1:06:36​ - Ardessa, 1:13:46​ - Falls of Hope"
   

Scenes From the Fantasy Faire

Among the sighs at FF Valhalla are a pair of huge statues at the mouth of the river there, well over a hundred feet high. They would dwarf most other avatars. But this giant lady stands tall over them.
 
The huge avatar was easily seen from all the way on the other side of the sim. I usually see giant avatars at least once at the Faire. A reminder it isn't just the landscape that's the attraction. Some of the other visitors' avatars can be too.

For more information about the Fantasy Faire, check out the blog: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/
  
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairelands%20Junction/61/101/34  

Bixyl Shuftan 

   

Scenes From the Fantasy Faire

 Been going about the Fantasy Fair sims a little. I've only been to a few sims so far, but have seen some interesting scenery.

Once again, the sim designers have gone all-out. 

And coming across some interesting things. What magic has this roving reporter come across? Explore the sims and find out.

For more information, check out the Fantasy Faire blog: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/
  
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairelands%20Junction/61/101/34  

Bixyl Shuftan 
   

Fantasy Faire Opens Tomorrow

 Tomorrow, one of the most popular yearly events in Second Life begins, the Fantasy Faire. This Relay for Life event is known for a number of things, the shopping, the discussions, the Literary Festival, the jail and bails (sometimes with Lindens and Moles), the Fairelands Quest, and many well-designed sims that offer a lot to see. 

This year, there are a total of twenty-one sims to go about. Each of them has a unique theme. The event will go on from Thursday April 22 to Sunday May 9. So there's a lot to see. But don't hesitate to go as the time will be over before you know it. People with older computers may want to wait until late hours as the event is a popular one. But some sims will be more crowded than others. 

Addition: the main entrance is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairelands%20Junction/61/101/34 .

Return to The Deathlands

 

Today, the Newser takes a look at the location of one of our sponsors, "The Deathlands." Run by Rebel Wolf, aka "The Baron," the place is "an isolated post-apocalyptic island community where a handful of hardy survivors desperately cling to what passes for life after the nuclear winter." I dropped by to check out it's shooting area, and ran into Rebel who showed me around. There was plenty to see.

Read the story in Places.

Underwater Area Maps

 

In Safe Waters Foundation chat, Celtic Infinity posted a link to a map showing some mainland, but also plenty of water sims, "The artist collective [ MD ] has been working on a comprehensive map for the Explorers among us. ... We hope it will raise awareness of how immense the undersea area is, and inspire to swim further and find new muses."

One can find a link to it on Flickr here: https://flic.kr/p/2kGaD5v

There is also a second one, "Sea of Fables," here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzsus/50993125817/in/photostream/

 

Rare Sight: Camping For Linden Dollars

 

 Now here's a sight I haven't seen in many years in Second Life. 

Zipping around the mainland while trying out a Cloud data detector (more about that later), my curiosity drew me high above a sim to the platform above full of stores and hangouts, and I happened to notice what looked like an avatar cleaning a window. I thought it was the building owner, or maybe his/her assistant. But getting closer, I noticed the following display at the ladder:

Camper: (name of avatar)
L$1 every 95 minutes
So far: $L0

It was a blast from the past, an actual camping spot!

When I first came to Second Life in 2006-2007, camping spots were very common. They were a means to boost traffic for a sim for just a few Lindens per avatar. Some sims had a lot of them, and they were in many different styles. In some, you just sat down. Others had you dancing in place. And some made it look like your avatar was performing some task such as sweeping or cleaning. There was even a website that listed camping spots and how much they paid. 

Like many other things in Second Life, camping had it's fans and it's detractors. Many called it "gaming the system" as high traffic numbers attracted more people. One friend of mine commented "if you must camp, do so in a sim that isn't heavily populated." Supposedly some people would be on for hours to get just a few Lindens, which got some people wondering if these campers were better off taking an SL job or buying Linden dollars.

To me, it was a way to get a few extra Lindens while checking my email and maybe a few websites (I didn't usually have too many IMs at this time), usually at a spot that paid me a few Lindens every 10-15 minutes. But once the emails were done, I'd soon be gone. Why didn't I buy Linden dollars? After a talk with family once I got on Second Life, I decided not to put any real money into the virtual world for a while. Once I got a job at SL Newspaper, I pretty much stopped using camping spots.

It's hard to say exactly when camping for Linden dollars went downhill. I think by 2009, they had become an uncommon sight. Second Life was starting to change as money wasn't as easy to come by as in the early days. Although camping would remain, it would be in the form of chairs that would allow you a free item, usually in stores, for sitting on them for a half hour or so. A much better deal if you were trying to get Lindens for new clothes. Camping for Lindens, aside from a few rare locations such as this, pretty much became history.

 Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From Fantasy Faire's Last Weekend

The Fantasy Faire is over. As always the Relay mega-event had much to see and do. There were DJs playing music. There were shops to find limited deals. There was the Fairelands Quest. And of course lots of well-designed sims to explore. Yours truly was there, and took a number of pictures.

See the pictures in Events.

SL Video: "Exploring Hangars Liquides, The World's Largest Cyberpunk City in Second Life"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Isabelle Cheren on April 19, "In today's vlog I am taking you exploring a sci fi cybernetic experience in Second Life. All details of the destination and what I am wearing from EQUAL10 in the blog post below. More information about this amazing place will be also found."

Some of her talk has little to do with Second Life, but the camera shots are great. 

New Linden Homes Continent Opens

The sims with the new Linden Homes are now open. On Monday April 15, Linden Lab announced on the official Second Life blog that the homes were now ready for residents to move in.

Let’s be honest - those Linden Homes from 2010 were long overdue for some updates and improvements. It was clear a fresh coat of paint and some new landscaping were just not going to make the amount of curb appeal we were shooting for. In fact, it was time to return to the drawing board and start a better-built Linden Home experience, from the ground up - literally.
The first of several planned Linden Home updates launches today - with the introduction of New Linden Homes - exclusive to Premium members. Your new home may be in the mountains, along the shore, or in a rolling landscape of low hills and river valleys, but you’ll also be part of a large community experience, with navigable waterways, a network of roads, and community areas to socialize and have fun.    
There are two new themed styles in this release - Traditional and Houseboats - and some are twice as big as previous Linden Home offerings.

While only Premium residents can claim a home, the land is open to all. People appeared on the new land, named Bellisseria by the Lab. Many quickly claimed some of the new homes. But not everyone was there for a new house, or houseboat. Some were just there to explore around. And the new land has much to see from rocky hill areas, to beaches and islands, trees, sandy areas with little grass, roads, including angles roads for people to drive uphill or down, bridges to cross, lighthouses, traffic circles, piers, and more.

Thanks to a string of water sims connecting it to the landmass to the south, known as Jeogeot, as well as the water sims that connect it to the one to the north, Sansara, It's now possible to travel from Glade of Sorrows in the south west end of Jeogeot to the Fillip sim on the north edge of Heterocera without teleporting. So there's been lots of people walking, flying, and boating around.

Someone did tell me they came across one new homeowner putting up a security orb, giving those flying about only a few seconds to leave or be teleported out. Fortunately for those who love to explore, this will soon be a thing of the past. In an announcement in the forums by Constantine Linden  yesterday, ban lines are not allowed here, and while security orbs are permitted for now, it's only for a few days.

... at 6am SLT on Wed April 17th, we are going to uncheck the box on the Linden Homes estate that allows parcel owners access restrictions to be more restrictive than the estate. Meaning: no ban lines. It's our belief that with a sense of community being a main goal of Linden Homes, ban lines send the wrong message. Parcel owners can still ban troublesome individuals by name on their parcel but they will not be able to put their land in virtual lock down by restricting access to group only.
 
... We want to allow Residents to fly, walk, drive, sail and explore freely across Bellisseria without compromising Residents privacy and security on their own parcels. To that end we are allowing the use of security orbs. However, since many orbs can be set in ways that preclude even the most innocent of straying across a parcel boundary or being sent home even though you are 500m in the sky we are forced to come up with a compromise. 

You may use your personal security orbs or devices in Linden Homes for now, but early next week: we are going to provide you with an approved device via the Linden Homes Content Packs. It will work just as aggressively in protecting your homes from unwanted intrusion, but still reasonably allow Residents to explore without fear of being ejected or teleported home without warning. Once those are added to the Linden Homes Content Packs, the use of other scripted security devices will not be allowed and this will be noted in an update to the Linden Homes covenant.

So finally a piece of Mainland free of those cursed ban lines and those security orbs that boot you out with little to no warning. Though with the "Good Neighbor Obelisks" being seen around, hopefully that will be less of a problem there too.

On a final note, between the opening of the new land and the reaction to the fire at Notre Dame, a few stories we planned to write about got put on the back burner. We'll get to those soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: Fantasy Faire 2019: April 18-May 5

Celebrating its eleventh year, Fantasy Faire 2019 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, role-players and performers in the virtual world. From Thursday, April 18 to Sunday May 5, treat yourself to shopping, dance and theater performances, DJ parties, auctions, questing, our Literary Festival, fantasy art, events and role-playing as thousands of Second Life residents and creators bring their own visions together to support the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world without cancer.

Fantasy Faire has always officially lasted eleven days, and in recent years we’ve been fortunate to have a few extra days added. This year we’re making it official: our formal programming will still conclude with our One Team dance party marathon on Monday, April 29th, but now we invite you to join us for an additional week of shopping, questing, and exploring as the Fairelands will be open through Sunday, May 5th. That’s a total of eighteen days of the Faire – and you never know when something unexpected might happen in that final week!

As always, you’ll find fantasy avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets and exclusive items available from almost 200 of Second Life’s top Fantasy Creators across ten stunning regions designed by some of the visionary artists behind many of the hottest spots on the Second Life destination guide.
In addition to the ten shopping regions there will also be six Faireland realms that take us beyond commerce, from a Memorial Garden to the Fairelands Quest, the Literary Festival, Performance Stages, from Art Galleries to the Worldling Collection. These bring the Fairelands count for 2019 to sixteen regions, just waiting for you to explore them.

Fantasy Faire 2019 will be open to the public April 18 – May 5. The SLurl to the event will, as always, be found on the website on our opening day. We welcome you to come and join the story.
Fantasy Faire 2019 is made possible by the generous support of our Region and Event Sponsors, all of whom you can learn more about on the Faire’s website. For more information please contact one of the Faire coordinators:

https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/organizers/

Are you or a loved one battling cancer? Find out how many ways the American Cancer Society is there to help. Visit cancer.org or call (US) 800-ACS-2345.

Email: FantasyFaireSL@gmail.com
Website: http://fantasyfaireSL.wordpress.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/FantasyFaireSL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFaireSL
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fantasyfairesl/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FantasyFaireSL
RFL in SL: www.relayforlife.org/secondlife

American Cancer Society SLurl:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/127/103/21

Reader Submitted: Game Review - No Man's Sky

About a year and a half ago, the computer game "No Man's Sky" made news. Initially getting attention for it's unbelievably huge universe of planets, it was found to have fallen so short of it's claims, it was under investigation for misleading advertising. But that wasn't the end of the game. Development continued, bugs were fixed (some of them), and the game improved. Former Newser writer Xymber Slade (known as Aegis Hyena on the Internet), got the game, and played it for a while. So what does he think?

Read Xymber's article in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games. 

SL Video: "Robotworld - Robi - Oh my Head!"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By Chantal Harvey in Aug 2015, "Robi, a little robot. In the year 3015, we see a happy little robot named Robi, playing and exploring on an empty planet. She was left behind, when the mother-ship teleported to the next planet without completing their count to 42. 1 little robot was overlooked, as she failed to make her way back on time, looking for her head.

"Making the best out of her situation, Robi wants us to know:

"I am not broken
"I lost my head
"I was left behind, forgotten
"I alone am Robi."

Latest Misadventures in Ark Survival Evolved

It's been a while since I've last written about "Ark Survival Evolved" as my friends who were playing it moved on to other frontiers. But they recently returned, and have found there have been many changes over time, and a few that just happened. These changes include some new dangers, including new deadly beasts. But with the dangers come new opportunities. And the Ark veterans along with some players new to the island are once again taking on the dinosaurs.

Read more in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.