RFL Announcement: Royal Ascot

 

 Among the last events in the Relay Season is the Royal Ascot, a Victorian-themed horseracing event. 

This year is a bit different as it's taking place on the Relay track itself, on a couple sims in the southwest corner.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Screening/130/117/24 

 

Miniature Horse Avatar

 

When going about Second Life, you often see avatars that get your attention. But going about getting pet food, yours truly saw one I haven't seen before, a tiny horse avatar.

 

Messaging the little filly, she was appreciative for the attention, "Breeders Choice gifted them to the first handful of people that bought their brand new mesh horse avatar (back when mesh horses were brand new) so you probably won't see them around really at all. I think they had them in a lucky chair after that for a VERY short period of time. ... This is my favorite avatar to wear to Amaretto auctions."

 

The filly mentioned Amaretto Horses would be having their fifteenth anniversary event on September first and planned to be there. So if you want to see a tiny horse check out there and then. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Cartoon of The Day: Robo Rider

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. At one point, I saw a small robot on horseback. I imagine the player thought it was simply fun. But what a real robot be thinking?

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Commentary: ABC Downfall Leaves Many Unhappy Customers, May Cloud Future of Breedables

 

 Breedables have been a fun and interesting part of Second Life's history. The pets bring activity to someone's otherwise static parcel. People can come up with interesting coat patterns when breeding them. And then there's the events with some such as auctions and with horses racing. 

But trouble seems to follow them. With the first breedable to make it big, the Sion chicken, if they ever got returned to your inventory, they could up and die. Ozimals would sue Amereto, claiming the horse breedables company copied some of their code. People with any breedable could occasionally be harassed by neighbors who claimed the scripts caused lag. 

And there was the chance that the company could up and close. Most notably was when Ozimals did in 2017. And there was also Biobreeds in 2022. But when both companies closed, there were efforts to preserve the virtual critters they made and sold over the years. 

 

But in the latest controversy, at Awesome Breed Creations, the horse owners have been left high and dry with broken critters. 

Why?

Malkavyn Eldritch and Ozzie Drucker and their teammates could have just walked away. But they didn't. They had a love of what they created, which they shared with their customers, and made an effort to make sure their creations would live on. As of the writing of this article, there has been no such effort from ABC's owner Stephanie Merrienboer, or so much as a word. And from what I've heard, this person hasn't either paid or spoken to her team as well. 

This leads to a couple bad possibilities, either something happened to the owner so she's unable to do anything, or she "took the money and ran."

Of the scriptor Sentire Bravin, there was one notable detail. In his farewell message, he mentioned "I am actively working toward establishing my own company to continue delivering the quality and reliability you have come to expect from me and my team within the breedable horse community." But breaking the products on your way out the door of the place you used to work at isn't exactly the best way to endear yourself to one's most likely future customers. 

If nothing gets done at all, this will likely have repercussions down the road. Before, the previous two closings gave the impression that if the worst happened, your pets might not be able to breed any more but they'd still be functional. The shutting down of ABC is giving the impression of "let the buyer beware." People inclined to get breedables would get fewer, that is if they were inclined at all. I have heard of people passing up breedable pets to get lasting ones at companies such as Teegle. While they don't reproduce, they don't get hungry or get sick, or glitch out if something happens to the company. These businesses will likely benefit from the ABC mess. 

What is known is there are many, perhaps many hundreds of ABC horse owners, frustrated, saddened, and likely some heartbroken as all the time and effort they've invested and in the end ending up with broken pets with no prospect for a fix.

Bixyl Shuftan.

SL Video: "Royal Ascot of Second Life for Relay For Life "

 

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

By Loz Weymann on November 4, "Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps RFL of SL Team presents the annual Royal Ascot Week and Races...10 years running strong! Join us June 17-23rd 2024 for another glorious week of shops, entertainment, and of course...races! Join Team ACTS on Discord for more information and how to join us inworld!"

New Genisis Bay Riding Sim

 

There are a number of racetracks around Second Life, including some three-dimensional ones that would hardly be possible in real life, twisting up and down. Some are fairly long and take a little time to go from start to finish. But at the Kinder der Nacht sim, I saw a track that is REALLY long. It bills itself as 25 segments high, and needing an hour to finish. And having lost track of time and distance when trying it out, it measures up to it's claims. And it's not just the length that distinguishes it, but the variety of scenery from urban to countryside to something out of the imagination. So just what was the experience like?

Read more in Places.

 

Interview With Kitacelia on Raising Horses

 

Penny Shuftan String (Deaflegacy) took a break from her hiatus to write an article about a subject in Second Life that interested her: raising breedable horses. So she interviewed someone who breeds them: Kἶէმƈεlἶმ Lմἶղƈօɾἶმlօէε Kεlνმɾl (Kitacelia). Kitacelia had plenty to say about the subject. 

 

Read Penny's article in People. 

Cartoon of The Day

 

 

 Taken at the SL Living Expo. Thanks to some horse rezzers, a number of people there were going about on horseback. This led to my mind coming up with a certain pun.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Cartoon of The Day: Bat Rider

 

 

 So why would an anthro bat be riding a horse? Well, since bats and people (and horses) are social critters, maybe he didn't like traveling alone. Or maybe there's other reasons.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: "Second Life Christmas 2017"

 

(Click here if the video does not play)

From InWorld Films on Dec 2017, "filmed in Lakeside and Erebor with awful snow lag and a bento horse that a few problems in the snow ! and a camera man frozen stiff ! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM INWORLD FILMS"
 

Cartoon of the Day: Horse Sense

 

Taken at the Confederation of Democratic Simulators. This horse was available for anyone to ride. But in a place where besides humans there are furries, one wonders what the horses would think.
 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Announcement: Equuis Avatar Release Party at Montecito Bay

 

Coming April 5th, we got an epic release party for the all new Equuis avatar from RUF. The avatar is compatible with most SL mesh bodies, includes it's own bento head, has the BOM stuff, as well as it's own feet. There are SEVERAL colors to choose from as well.

The event will be at Montecito Bay on Monday April 5 from 6 to 8 SL time, music provided by DJ Moni.
 

Press Release: The Dickens Project 2020

 
**The Dickens Project presents the New
and the Familiar, beginning December 4**

Second Life – The Seanchai Library is proud to announce the opening of The Dickens Project 2020 Edition. The Project began as a special seasonal presentation of Seanchai Library in 2008.  It transformed into an interactive environment in 2012, then to a full region experience in 2017. This year's two regions are inspired by the Victorian world of A Christmas Carol and other beloved tales, offering a broad spectrum of opportunities to explore, discover, and participate.

The Dickens Project presented over 80 hours of events during the month of December 2019, and this year's schedule is just as ambitious. Information is available on Seanchai's website in addition to other information that will be released during opening week. This year's two-region creation opens to the Second Life community on Friday, December 4th and will remain open through Sunday, January 3rd.
 
http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html

"Every year The Dickens Project intentionally blends the familiar features of previous years with new things waiting to be discovered," said Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai Library. "It helps our loyal visitors feel like they are coming home, gets them excited about what's new, and encourages them to share the experience with their friends. That's our goal. Each year the Dickens Project is just a little different. This year, with a second region, there is a lot that is fresh and new."  
 
The Dickens Project is also about a community of Second Life individuals and organizations that come together for this month long celebration. That community will again include Radio Riel, and Innsmouth SL. The Community Virtual Library will feature aspects of Victorian life from clothing, workers conditions, Dickens in Spanish, to The London Exhibition in a dedicated information district. Idle Rogue Productions will return with a new edition of their "Midnight Dinner" show, and Misfit Dance & Performance Art returns with "A Very Misfit Christmas" filled with seasonal joy. These are in addition to the live story reading programs which are Seanchai Library's hallmark.  
 
Virtuoso Performing Arts joins the community this year, presenting their new "Tales of Beatrix Potter" show New Year's weekend; and the SL Hawks Aerobatic Team will present their "Ghost Flights of Christmas" air show in performances in the skies above Dickens Harbour. That's right: an air show based on A Christmas Carol.
 
For inquiring minds, there is "The Horse in Victorian London", and "The Mine" interactive experiences. The later experience includes a ride through a mine with Sultan the pit pony and his coal carts. "Sultan" is a tribute to the name of one of the last pit ponies in Wales. Like their predecessor, the Urchin Experience (on hiatus this year), these experiences seek to balance the view of Dickens' world. "It's not all plum puddings and prize turkeys," says Skytower, "not for children, the working poor, women, or for animals."
 
The popular "Carol Week" returns with a section of Dickens' novella presented live each day in a "Story Tour" to the sites on the region inspired by the story. Saturday, December 19th features Fezziwig's Ball in the Opera House. The week culminates in The Big Read on Sunday, December 20th at Noon in Dickens Square. The Big Read is a relay-style presentation involving 9-12 voices in a continuous reading of "A Christmas Carol" from the beginning to the end of it.

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg," added Skytower, "We have art shows this year for the first time, and wearable horses and carriages that you can drive around on each region, and so much more. It's not a cliche'. It's really impossible to concisely summarize everything you can do, see, or experience at this year's Project. You just have to come and check it out for yourself."
 
Seanchai Library offers its thanks to Linden Labs and Patch Linden, our 2020 Region Sponsors.


About the Seanchai Library
Seanchai Library (pronounced Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish Gaelic.) was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. The program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life and other virtual worlds."  http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/


All times listed are SLT/ Pacific.

Cartoon of the Day: A Head of Himself

Taken at the Happy Vixen's Haunted Carnival. Someone was going around in just a head and tail. Considering his equine appearance, that made people think of a certain scene in "The Godfather."

By Bixyl Shuftan

Kitacelia and Raising Horses

Before automobiles, people got around either on foot or by horse. Even today when many people go weeks or months without seeing one, horses are still a big part of our culture such as engines measured in "horsepower," expressions such as "never look a gift horse in the mouth," and of course our stories such as cowboys always being near their horses. So it was probably inevitable people would bring horses to Second Life. Several years ago, breedable pet horses came about. And it became possible to raise them here. Deaflegacy, who owns a few horses, recently interviewed one horse breeder, Kitacelia. She had a few questions about raising horses here in the virtual world.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

Montecito Bay Update

Since my last look at Montecito Bay's damaged corner a week and a half ago, work has continued on the cleanups and repairs. The severely damaged buildings have been torn down. Although some of the area remains fenced off, a road and sidewalk now goes through what used to be rubble. While much remains to be done, much progress has been made.

But Montecito Bay being Montecito Bay, it didn't long for me to find some kind of weirdness. I noticed what looked like a severed horse's head in a burning bonfire. Was some mafia don wannabe trying to make an offer the town couldn't refuse? Or perhaps someone got the place confused with Nags head North Carolina? Since I didn't see who put it there, or who lit the fire, no idea, at least for now.

Running into Moff (MoffettMephit Resident), he did tell me there was an update on the "UFO crash site." "The Galleria site is cleaned up," he told me, "and the authorities are about to remove that thing." They still won't let the townsfolk what it is, "officially, we don't know what's going on at that site. But thankfully they seem to be finishing up and, we are hoping we'll have that part of our town back soon." As for their reaction to press coverage, "They did rough up Lem, tho, trying to figure out how the press got in (grin). Cuz, ya know, he's also the Mayor." He then backtracked a bit, "I'm sure it was just a thorough questioning with an order to never discuss what was said."

Stay tuned for more when additional information is available.

Note: The sim wasn't really griefed, or were any authorities for real involved. Just the people behind the sim having a little fun.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen's Trotsdale Tribute

By Bixyl Shuftan

My Horses on Second Life

Besides her writing, Deaflegacy has a love of horses. Besides her pony avatar, lately she's been getting some pet horses for her place in Cape Heron. So what is it like having a small herd of horses in Second Life? She writes some about her experiences.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Extra.

Team Firestorm's Eighth Anniversary Party

Today, Sunday September 23, is when Team Firestorm, the people behind the most popular Second Life viewer, celebrates their eighth anniversary. Their anniversary was actually on September 3rd, but better late than never.

Holy smokes! Can you believe it? It’s been EIGHT years now since we began this project. Over eight, really, since our actual anniversary date was September 3rd. In those eight years we have accomplished a lot, and we look forward to much more in the years ahead.

But to celebrate the past eight, our events coordinator, Jolie Serendipity, has put together an awesome lineup of performances and a wonderful gift from Kajaera. We are celebrating our accomplishments, yes … but we’re also celebrating YOU—our users—because we couldn’t have lasted a month without the ongoing support from our community, much less eight whole years!

The event starts at 3PM SL time, and goes on to 6PM. The event will have three live performances. at 3PM, the performer is Noma Falta. At 4PM, it's DJ Trick Rembratnt. At 5PM, there's a performance by the Changhigh Sisters Fireshow, "a magical show of Light, Life and Love."

There's also a gift available for Firestorm fans. A free rideable pet horse."WILD KAJAERA has generously created and is donating a unique, beautiful, FIERY, Forever Pet, Mustang Horse for all Second Life residents to enjoy. WHAT A GIFT! It’s so magical that it needs no food to keep it healthy and happy. PLUS, if you want, you can convert it to a breedable (imagine the offspring). Thank you SO much for this gorgeous gift, Kajaera!" The pet will be available at the location for several days after the anniversary party.

The three SURLs given out for the event are:

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Dow%20Forest/224/232/3902
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Ghost%20Town/19/247/3903
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Aerodrome/251/21/3903

For more information check out the Firestorm blog.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Glance At Two Starter "Bento Enabled" Avatars

After the new starter avatars were announced a few days ago, I'd heard a few complaints about them, and finally someone asked me if I'd given them a try. Not seeing them available in my viewer, I went ahead and created an alt and started out with one, the male "angel."

In my up to date Firestorm viewer, which is designed to see Bento avatars and attachments for, the avatar looked pretty detailed, and the wings gently flapped. But there was one small flaw, at least in my opinion. The avatar was shown sword in hand. It would have probably be better for the sword to have been in a scabbard on his belt as presumably it would be mostly in social situations chatting with others, and a newcomer would take a while to learn how to remove it.

Two of the avatars, a female and a male (shown here), were horseback riders. Not only did the avatar come with a horse, when switching over to it the rider was on the horse. The horse was quite detailed, and moved around a little at rest, and when walking or running, the animation kept up. It would be good for someone heading straight to a horseback riding sim or a fantasy roleplaying area that was mostly forest land. That is, if the newcomer knew where to get to such places. The problem with the newcomer arriving on horseback is he's not going to know how to remove his horse for a while, which may make interaction with others indoors a little awkward at times.

Gentle Heron mentioned one other complication with the horseback riding starting avatars, one that in my opinion Linden Lab couldn't be blamed for not anticipating. It seems at least one resident was staying clear of these avatars due to a phobia caused by a traumatic experience with one of these huge animals with powerful legs. And since a newcomer couldn't be expected to know how to remove the critter, he wouldn't know how to remove the source of fear of someone with a similar phobia.

As many weapons in Second Life are designed to be sheathed or drawn with either a code word, or a gesture that can be made with the press of a button, perhaps something similar could be done in the case of the weapon and the horse. But how to make it simple for newcomers, and getting this information to them?

And of course if a newcomer in  Bento avatar comes across people in older viewers, the features that were improved on new viewers are going to come out a mess. Since you don't know what viewers others have, when arriving at an event in a shinny new Bento avatar, you may need to ask everyone of they can see it okay.

After playing around for a while, I sent the alt to Curious to get the freebie furry Felis avatar there before calling it a night.

Addition:  here's a more cheerful review by Alicia Chenaux.

Bixyl Shuftan