Europa Wulfenback Still Going

 

 

On Friday, the Newser reported that Baron Klaus Wulfenbach had been missing from Second Life since the end of July. While he's still absent, his sim, Europa Wulfenbach, is still going. It's flags are still flying over town. The zeppelin is still flying over head. The clank (robot) is still in the office, and the "Devices of Doooooooooom" are still about. Talking to Cynthia Farshore, she mentioned that the local Concordant has still been having events, the last one being a few days ago. 

So how is the sim still going months after it's owner's last appearance? It certainly could have been paid for well in advance. But odds are someone, either the Baron or someone else involved with the sim, is keeping the place going.

Stay tuned for more information.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Europa%20Wulfenbach/53/55/55

Bixyl Shuftan

University of Western Australia Sims Saved, For Now

Last month, the manager of the University of Western Australia sims announced that four of their five sims would be retired following budget cuts at the real-life university that owns them. One, UWA Virlantis, would be handed to another owner. Three others, UWA, UWA Winthrop, and WASP Land, would be abandoned and allowed to vanish. Only the University of WA sim would remain after October 9.

Thankfully, the sims are still up. JayJay Zifanwe announced the sims have been given a reprieve, thanks in part to people writing to the university. None of the sims will be vanishing, although UWA Virlantis is still being handed to Dr Phylis Johnson (Sonicity Fitzroy).

Following a lot of work in the background at UWA in RL. The UWA presence in SL has been extended through 31st July 2017. Thank you to the many who have written in to UWA central providing support as well as the many who have worked to preserve a lot of the art and grounds in film. Thanks especially to the Desinging Worlds team with AviewTV and TreetTV for their incredible work on their tribute programme, and to Secret Rage (AKA Vee Marie) for her excellent videos documenting nearly everything on the 4 UWA sims. See links below. 4 of the 5 sims will remain part of the UWA cluster, and the 5th SIM (UWA Virtlantis) is being taken over by the University of San Jose & Sonicity Fitzroy, who have been occupying it for the last couple of years.

When sims are so often gone too soon, it's good news to hear about some given a new lease on life.

Mont Saint Michel Remains Up

In a year that's been marked by the closure of some popular areas, one place marked for the end has so far been spared by the Lindens, at least for now. In September, Moeka Kohime, the owner of Mont Saint Michael, a recreation of a Medieval structure that has been a popular spot for visitors on the Grid, announced she could no longer keep paying the tier. It was feared the place would vanish after the end of the month, but it continued to be up in October. In November, Inara Pey found the place was still up. And when I dropped by the place the weekend, the good news continued. Mont Saint Michel was still around.

So why hasn't Linden Lab drop-kicked the sim into the virtual nether like so many other places? Maybe we the residents, at least those of us whom like exploring around, have simply been extra lucky as they haven't gotten around to it all these months. Or maybe the reaction to the SS Galaxy going down has given the Lab pause. Could Moeka have come across more money and resumed tier payments? Or perhaps the Lab is taking with her behind the scenes about purchasing the place? She hasn't provided any new information on the matter.

Perhaps we should just simply consider the place still being around a Christmas present from Linden Lab, and enjoy this extra chance to drop by another time. 

Mont Saint Michel (125, 5, 22)

Steelhead and Mont Saint Michal Still Up, For Now

Last month, we reported about the Steelhead Estates and the Mont Saint Michal sim set to close after September 30. But in a stroke of luck, it seems these picturesque locations haven't gone away yet.

Stopping by both locations, Mont Saint Michael was completely untouched, with several residents taking advantage of the extra time to explore around. Similar story with the Steelhead Estates. Steelhead, Steelhead Harborside, Steelhead Boomtown, and Steelhead St Hellens were still around. Only Nevermoor wasn't there, having been renamed to Ravenwood and moved after ownership was transferred to Willow Leafstorm.

As to why the sims are still up, perhaps Linden Lab simply haven't gotten around to taken them down. Or maybe the Lab really is listening this time, postponing the day of reckoning for something to be worked out somehow. In any event, the sims are still around for people to walk about in and enjoy, at least for now. How much longer is anyone's guess, except possibly Linden Lab's.

Bixyl Shuftan