No HFOT Concert At Veterans Isle This Month

 

Frets Nirvana informed the Newser due to complications, there will sadly be no benefit concert for Homes For Our Troops this April. Things should be back on track for May, though. 

Newser Party Postponed

 

Due to real-life, the Newser anniversary party originally scheduled for today has been postponed until next Saturday. Sorry about the trouble. 

 

Second Community Roundtable Postponed

 

 On Monday July 1, the Second Community Roundtable was supposed to have taken place at the Aquatorium at the SL21B, featuring Oberwolf and Patch Linden. The Newser was not able to be there, but hoped to get a video. As it turns out, the event did not take place. 

POSTPONED: The scheduled SL21B Community Roundtable event has been postponed. Stay tuned for an announcement on the new time and date. In the meantime, we've extended the deadline to submit questions in advance at https://second.life/sl21b061024 

Stay tuned for more information. 

Gemma's Internet Connection Down

 

For those wondering why SL Newser reporter Gemma Cleanslate hasn't had anything in the paper for a little while, her Internet connection is down, having to rely on a friend to send email. It should be taken care of soon, and her articles resuming.

Sci-Fi Expo Team Announces "Indefinite Postponement"

 

After several years of fundraising, one annual Relay for Life happening will be doing no more, at least for now. Yesterday on Wednesday March 1, the Sci-Fi Expo team announced the "indefinite postponement" of future events.

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the indefinite postponement of the SciFi Expo due to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond our control that are affecting members of our team. We are extremely thankful for the incredible support we have received since opening in 2017, allowing us to raise a remarkable total of US$24,620.86 for the American Cancer Society through both their Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising campaigns. This phenomenal contribution has enabled the American Cancer Society to provide invaluable resources for cancer research, treatments, and support programs, improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease.

The success of the SciFi Expo was only possible through the hard work and dedication of our team and with the support of our amazing community. We thank all of you who attended and supported the event, and apologize for any disappointment this announcement may have caused.

We strongly urge everyone to participate in the various other events the American Cancer Society of Second Life hosts throughout the year (see the links listed below). These events are great opportunities to show your support, have fun, and contribute to an important cause. Your participation and donations to these events can make a tremendous difference in the fight against cancer.

We understand the difficulty of the current situation and we thank you for your understanding and support. We hope to be able to celebrate this wonderful event with our community once again in the future. In the meantime, we wish you safety and health and remind you that we are all in this fight together, for a world without cancer.

The Sci-fi Expo took place every fall, alongside Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. It typically had music and dance events, discussions about science fiction, booths for various sci-fi groups such as roleplaying ones, plenty of shops, numerous exhibits, in it's last couple years a quest, and more.  The Newser took a closer look at the one in 2021.

As far as the Newser is aware, this announcement does not affect the schedule of the SL Fandom Con in May this year.  

*Correction* Earlier the title was "Sci-Fi Con," which has been corrected (hasn't been the first time we mixed up the two names.

Fairelands Quest Delayed A Day

 
One of the features of the Fantasy Faire is the Farelands Quest. This year, the first part of the quest was scheduled to be ready to play on Monday April 25. But one of the designers behind the interactive story had fallen ill. So it was announced that the Quest would be delayed a day.

So sorry to have to tell you that we've had to push release of the Fairelands Quest back a day due to illness on the team. It's not serious but has been enough to slow us down -- we hope you understand, and we're continuing to work. I'll make an announcement here when I start setting out the vendors, so check notices in this group for the latest. ♥

The Faire's fans took the news in stride, though some figured there was always "that guy" who wouldn't take no for an answer. So a certain little limmerick urging patience was being passed around.

You keep asking about this thing called a quest
which really is fine, except the scripters are stressed.
So please be patient
or they'll be complacent
in putting a sword in your chest!

Stay tuned for more information.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Development on SL Mobile Viewer Reportedly Paused

 

Since at least January 2019, if not earlier, Linden Lab has been working on a mobile app for Second Life. In July, one that was basically a chat app was approved by Apple, though the Lab was waiting to improve some things before sending it to the store.

But according to an article in New World Notes, it seems work on the app has been postponed, possibly indefinately. Hamlet Au stated "A veteran Second Life insider" had send him a message, saying it was sent to him as one of the mobile app test group.

    After reviewing the current state of the SL Mobile Viewer and the helpful feedback from residents, we have decided to pause development on this branch. The team is actively working on a new direction to take from here. We should have some news on that soon.

    We’d like to thank you all for your time and feedback. It was very valuable to us! We will be closing TestFlight and the mobile regions on October 29th, 2021. Again, thank you for participation! Linden Lab

The source would also say of the development of the app, "It had been stagnant for months."

Hamlet messaged the Lab about the decision and is waiting for a response.

Stat tuned for more details

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Announcement: No RFL Castle Home and Garden This Year, Postponed to 2019

Dear Relayers and CHGers,

We have faced a lot in the last four years. We have raised so much money, that every drop of sweat spent on the Castle Home and Garden contest was 110% worth it. Your builds, your designs and your support has been amazing.

We face several challenges this season, including Henrietta’s passing and Rowena being computer-less and hospital bound for a good amount of time. We are also without a website as Hilshire was owner of it and it poofed (Hilshire passed away as well). 

We have been told we can “scale down” the contest a bit along with other suggestions, but we are not going to scale down anything. With that being said, in order for the CHG to be as successful as it deserves to be, the Castle Home and Garden contest will be postponed to the 2019 season. The current sign ups and builds will remain as they are- if you are building, please don’t be discouraged- see this as just more time to perfect your build. 

2019 will bring us the 5th annual CHG... bigger and better than ever. Henrietta would kill us if we canceled so it is just a postponement for a little while longer.

Please excuse Rowena’s absence this year. He will be back better than ever ready to go for the Christmas Expo and, of course; the 2019 Relay season- which will bring us the 5th Annual CHG. 

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

-Sidonie and Rowena, CHG Chairs

Sansar Opening Delayed Until Later in 2017

In September, Linden Lab announced that Sansar would be fully open to the public in January 2017. But earlier this month, in an interview Ebbe Linden basically stated that their next virtual world wouldn't be ready until at least March. But in a recent interview with "Road To VR," Linden Lab had pushed back the date of the opening to sometime in "the first half of 2017." This means it could be as late as June when it is finally online.

Hat Tip:  Daniel Voyager, Modem World

Newser Beach Party This July

About twice a year, sometimes more, the Newser crew holds a beach party, to both have a little fun and get to know our readers. Usually we have one close to our anniversary on June 6. But this time, there have been a lot of things going on. Second Life is a busy time anyway in June with the Second Life Birthday celebrations, of which the Newser has been a participant as well as covering it, and the Relay events, which include our neighbors the Sunweavers / Sunbeamer Team. And lately there's been some other things going on, including in real life for some of the staff. So we will be postponing the party until a weekend between the SLB and the Relay Weekend, which means sometime in July. No one event caused this decision. We've simply had to deal with a lot on top of what we usually do, and something had to give.

Sorry to those whom were looking for a little fun in the sun with us. If anyone wants to invite the team to their own beach party, by all means those of us who can make it will drop by. In the meantime, keep the sunscreen and swimwear handy for next month.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Skill Gaming" Deadline Postponed One Month, One Game Maker Reacts

On July 9, Linden Lab announced they were updating their policy on "Skill Games," games that offer a prize of Lindens and require a number of Lindens to play but are not technically considered gambling by Linden Lab. Originally, the new rules were going to go in effect on August 1st. On July 29, the Lab stated they were extending the deadline for the makers and owners of the games to comply with the new regulations by a month.

... we are changing the date that the changes described in our previous blog post go into effect. Instead of starting on August 1, the updated Skill Gaming Policy will go into effect on September 1, 2014. The original blog post and the FAQs will also be updated to reflect this new deadline.

The Lab stated they had "recieved many applications" from people wanting to be approved to build and set up the games. But one "Skill Game" manufacturer and owner, Foxyfurman Kumaki, the avatar behind PI Games, had a statement given out by notecard at his Fishbowl Games gaming hall that informed people he would not yet be ready.

In accordance with Linden Lab’s new Skill Gaming Policy and its accompanying new TOS regarding skill games in Second Life, PI Games will not be an Approved Creator of games by the maker Foxyfurman Kumaki and consequently will not be issuing public Reasoned Legal Opinions in reference to games by the maker Foxyfurman Kumaki.

We want to be clear that as of September 1st 2014, games made by Foxyfurman Kumaki will NOT be compliant and therefore not allowed in Second Life due to Linden Lab’s new Skill Gaming Policy and its accompanying new TOS regarding skill games in Second Life, and accordingly, we cannot support or endorse the continued operation of these games in any form.

To be very clear if the object OR the scripts have Foxyfurman Kumaki as the Creator, the item is NOT compliant and cannot be allowed to run as of 9/01/2014.

Pi Games LLC, is in the process of considering and developing a free to update solution to the solo owned games currently on the grid that will meet the requirements of Linden Lab’s new Skill Gaming Policy and its accompanying new TOS regarding skill games in Second Life, including the requirement and necessity of pro-actively complying with all applicable Federal and State law, and anticipates having a release to the general population within 120 days.

Contacting him via IM, Foxyfurman Kunami stated he knew at least one other game maker whom also would stop operations of it's games. He stated he would inform the Newser if and when his games received approval by Linden Lab.

And so, Linden Lab's new policy on "Skill Games" is already resulting in people in the industry suspending operations, at least for a time.

Bixyl Shuftan

Chamonix City Winter Games Delayed until December

In February, The East River Community Blog announced that Chamonix City would be hosting a "Winter Games" event, lasting from March 15 to the 22nd. And soon a series of areanas and tracks were constructed in the area for the event. Unfortunetly, as those who stopped by found out, there would be no games. First they were postponed a week, then it was announced they wouldn't be happening until next winter, in December.

As much as it pains me to have to say, the Winter Games are being postponed until December of this year. Initially, they had been postponed one week, due to some extenuating circumstances, but after much deliberation, they’ve been moved back to December. To be completely honest, I might have been too ambitious, with my initial date of mid-March. This being my first major event, I might have tried to rush things a bit. But I must say, people have really rallied around this concept, and we have got some really special things to show you for the Games.

So the event is a no-go, at least for now. In the meantime, there's a number of areas and courses for people to drop by and give a try, such as the snowboarding course.

Image Credit: Drewski

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager

Bixyl Shuftan