Showing posts with label vamp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vamp. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Transylvania Celebrates Twelfth Anniversary



Friday August 12 was the twelfth anniversary of the Transylvania sim. Parties had been going on all week, but Friday was the big day, or rather the big night. Residents or all sorts came by, vampires, weres, and normal humans in both dark outfits and regular clothes. Hopefully the latter brought plenty of garlic.


There was a birthday cake in the own square, as well as a number of fang emblem balloons for the anniversary, or the "fangsgiving" as someone called it. While there were plenty of vampires, there were no sightings of vampire bats, this time. Not one tried to give this fox reporter a hickey.


Vampire fans have been a part of Second Life for most of it's history. They do have an iffy reputation among some due to the "Bloodlines" game, but the vampires themselves look down on those who abuse it, calling them "leeches." While Transylvania is not the only vamp area, it is the oldest and best known one.

The real Transylvania had no vampires of course, though it is noted for Gothic architecture. It should be noted that Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for the character Count Dracula, was not from Transylvania, but what is now southern Romania. Perhaps Transylvania sounded spookier than Wallachia. But the name of the place has become so linked to vampires, no one is trying to "suck" the fun from fans of the undead.

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Cartoon of the Day



Taken at Seagull Island Park, this vampire bat isn't going to find his next meal in a bottle soon.

by Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Cartoon of the Day



Taken at the Podex Exchange

By Bixyl Shuftan

Tales From Podex: Going Bats



By Bixyl Shuftan

It was a fairly easy day at the Podex Exchange. Things had long settled into a new routine since the move earlier in the year. Customers had found the place again and were coming back to trade various world currencies for Lindens. And the art gallery the new place had was continuing to draw visitors, not to mention a nice place for the tellers to relax when on break. Between customers, they chatted amongst themselves about goings on. This being October, there were many spooky happenings around from Areo Pines to London, to Betham Forest, and others. And of course people were buying up spooky costumes, which meant more business for them.

 It was one moment in the late afternoon while they were talking when a flapping noise was heard near the front door. They looked over, and saw a figure step though the doors. He was batlike, covered in a thin coat of black fur, with some occasional areas of dark red, with huge ears and folded wings on his back that seemed connected to his arms. His eyes were a shade of red, which gave some tellers a bit of a shiver when he looked their way.

"Um, can we help you?" One teller asked.

"Yes," the dark figure spoke in an accented voice, "I am in need of some Lindens. Vould you mind explaining how I get them here."

"Um, certainly Sir. Just fill out this short form, and we'l make the trade through Paypal, Ukash, direct bank transfer, Bitcoin Wallet, and a number of other means."

The figure raised an eyebrow, or seemed to as it was about as black as the rest of the fur, "Bitcoin Vallet?"

"Yes, Podex has recently began offering customers the choice of buying Lindens with Bitcoins. In case you don't know, they're an independent virtual currency not issued by a central authority."

"Yes, I know vhat a Bitcoin is. I have some. I just heard on the news that they vere at a record high, so I do vant to deal vith them before the price goes down."

"Certainly. Just press this button, and we'll be ready to begin."

"Um, vhy is it giving me a value in Euros?"

"Don't worry, your payment will be in Bitcoin. Just choose the amount of Lindens you want to buy."

It took only a few minutes to go through the form to make the transfer, and it was done in just a few minutes."

"There you are, Sir. Anything else you might need?"

"Vell," the dark figure doddered, "might you know of some dance clubs?"

"Oh certainly Sir. There's Cutlass and Club Zero Gravity and others. Looking for  music and friends?"

"Oh yes, and maybe a date." He grinned in a way that seemed very unnerving, "I understand some of the girls are into, necking." He chuckled in a wicked manner, as a number of the tellers shivered.

The dark figure then waved, and headed out the front door, taking flight and headed up into the sky already starting to darken from the setting sun.

The Podex Exchange is located at the Coda sim at (45, 218, 61), with a website at http://www.podex.info/. Jacek Shuftan is the CEO. Jacek recently began allowing the option to deal with Bitcions, wanting to support the independent currency.

Note: The preceding is a fictional story, written for the dual purpose of advertisement and entertainment.


Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Cartoon of the Day



Will she be losing a couple pounds, or a couple pints?

By Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Cartoon of the Day



Looks like the shopping bargins here really "suck."

By Bixyl Shuftan

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Welcome Screen With a Little Bite


For about a year and a half, we've seen those "Be a Vampire" banner ads for Second Life, advertising the Grid as a place for roleplaying the creatures of the night. Well, when going to the official website today, this is what greeted me.

Now the vamps in Second Life pretty much keep their fangs to themselves. But I can't help but wonder if some newbies might be scared off by the image, at least as is. Perhaps a collection of avatars, with vampires being one example.

On the other hand, a wag might joke this is Linden Lab's way of warning the Grid can sometimes "suck."

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Vampire "Resident Hosted Event" on the Forums

It seems Halloween wasn't the last we've seen of vampires in Second Life. This week when logging in, the screen mentioned a vampire discussion thread, plus a resident-hosted event from November 7 to the 8th which offered a chance for others to learn a little more about these creatures of the night on the Grid.

Curious about vampires? You can learn more about Second Life’s vampire community in a special Resident-hosted event, held Monday, Nov. 7 and Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific) in the official Vampire Forums.

Your event hosts for this special event are Second Life Residents with experience in vampire or dark-themed communities and/or blogs. Plus, check the Forums starting Nov. 2 to read interviews with these hosts as they answer questions and share their real feelings on a variety of topics, including their struggle with stereotypes and the sources for their creative inspirations. You might even read a bit about what some of the hosts really think about the “Twilight” series and the current rise in popularity of vampires in popular culture.

As Lilah Munster's picture shows, they're certainly not without a sense of humor.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cartoon of the Day


Sometimes friends can be such a pain in the neck.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Cartoon of the Day


Don't worry, he let her go after a couple pints.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Monday, August 15, 2011

Where Second Life Can Really Suck



The Transylvanian region celebrated seven years in Second Life last week, Saturday Aug. 13th being the anniversary. The Transylvania sim itself is not a true roleplay area, but a hangout for vamps. Except for the "Bloodlines" vamps, whom will be booted. If you ever feel like braving a little danger, or feel like being a "pain in the neck," check this place out for some spooky fun. Besides the gothic town you port in, there are a few other sims in the place to explore.

Transylvania is always naturally at Midnight, the pictures were set to dusk for effect.

Bixyl Shuftan

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Interview with Sarah Glenn

Netara Landar first met Sarah Glenn not in Second Life, but at an Authorfest in real life. Netera convinced her to come here, and her work can be seen at Book Island. Here, Sarah talks about her writing and her novel "All This and Family Too," which deals with vampires, "extraordinary people ... in very ordinary circumstances."

Read more in People.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Club Zero of Nocturna

A friend of mine told me about a gothic club that had recently celebrated one year in business, Club Zero of Nocturna. For those who prefer their clubs a little on the dark side, this is one to take a look at.

Read about the club in Places.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Postcard from Breezes



Stage ONe Productions
Featuring Voltaire at a Vampire club called
Asmodeus I had great time lots of fun and this is
aFabulous band made possible by Wickman
Gibbs and his partner Montana Ballard
Vampire (236, 100, 49)

Breezes Babi

Friday, October 29, 2010

Classic SLN Cartoon


I did this for Second Life Newspaper in early 2008. With Halloween approaching, time for more gags one can "sink their teeth into." ;-)

By Bixyl Shuftan

Thursday, July 1, 2010

A Second Life Ad With Bite?

Remember earlier this year when Linden Lab decided to take advantage of the popularity surrounding the hit movie "Avatar" by placing ads featuring blue humanoids with the caption, "Free Avatar" around the Internet? The ads did have the effect of raising numbers a little.

With this in mind, Linden Labs may be hoping the film being released about now, "Eclipse," which is the third "Twilight" movie around the romance between a young girl and a vampire, has enough attention pull to do similar. I found this Second Life "Be a Vampire" ad while on SL Profiles. The timing between this and the movie is certainly interesting to say the least.

It's also interesting that Linden Labs is trying to attract vampire fans to Second Life. A few years ago, the vamps in the Metaverse had a tainted reputation due to the behavior of some of those misusing the "Bloodlines" system to bite unwary residents, including newcomers. But with places enforcing "no Bloodlines" rules, as well as the vampires themselves discouraging this "leech" behavior, it became less and less of a problem. So perhaps this ad is a sign of their image rehabilitated.

Considering the "Twilight" series has been aimed at young teenage girls, though, will the Lindens have to deal with an influx of underage residents if their ad campaign succeeds?

Source: Second Life Newspaper

Bixyl Shuftan