Cartoon of The Day: Knuckles' Speaks

 

 

 Taken at Montecito Bay. When VRChat first started getting attention, among the details that propelled it was the "Uganda Knuckles" meme, featuring images of a deformed avatar of the "Sonic" character in this virtual world. It didn't seem that funny, so maybe as it involved African accents those forwarding it thought they were messing with the "forbidden." The deformed avatar I don't think ever made it to Second Life. As for what Knuckles would think, probably something like this.

By Bixyl Shuftan

China To Restrict Children and Teens' Video Game Time to Three Hours A Week

 

On August 31, it was reported that by order of the national government, Chinese game players under 18 would be limited to playing video games to three hours a week. This time is limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, at one hour each day. This law replaces an earlier one that limited game time for minors to 90 minutes a weekday.

The reasons given for this action by the Chinese Communist government depend on who one asks. State media has reported concerns about videogames being "spiritual opium" harmful to the young. But it's widely believed the law is not so much about protecting the young but controlling what they see and hear, as the Chinese government is increasingly concerned about Western influences on children.

In the recent past, some in the gaming industry have gone through great lengths to appease the Communist government, such as when Activision-Blizzard was quick to ban a Hong Kong gamer who made a brief statement in support of protestors.

Sources: BBC News, foreignpolicy.com, Washington Post, 

Image credit: Kotaku

Bixyl Shuftan
 

The Firecracker Arcade Updates It's Games

 

Earlier, the Newser reported on a fun spot where one can play dozens of video games, the Firecracker Arcade in southwest Montecito Bay. One problem was most of the games ran on Flash when the program was due to lose support after New Year's Eve. But Mateo Firecaster went to work to update the games so they didn't need it. There's a list of what games you can now play without worry now, as well as directions on how to play them.

Read more in Design.

Firecracker Arcade Update

Remember Montecito Bay's Firecracker Arcade? I was recently informed some of the games were recently given an update, and no longer need Flash to play, which will be going inactive after December 31st. They are: Killer Instinct, Puzzle Bobble, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Splatterhouse 2, Street Fighter II Turbo, Super Ghouls'n Ghosts, Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World 2, Yoshi's Island, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - The Manhattan Project, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV - Turtles in Time

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montecito%20Bay/39/29/23

 

Montecito Bay's Firecracker Arcade

Montecito Bay's gone through a lot of changes since the Newser last talked about the sim. Talking to the management, they weren't quite ready to go into much detail about them. Not yet anyway. But they did point out one thing they wanted some mention: the Firecracker Arcade in the southwest part of the sim. The games are from Mateo Firecaster, with Moff (MoffettMephit Resident) having contributed the arcade building.

The arcade has three floors, the top two accessible by a stairway on the side of the building (or flying up). The first two have a huge number of arcade games. 

Some are games those whom frequented arcades in the 80s and 90s would recognize. Some never saw the arcade, found only in console or app gaming. Some had dark screens and unplayable. Others were playable only for those with Flash on their computer, and even for some whom do there may be problems.

The third floor has various inworld games, such as Zombie Meltdown and Fist of Discomfort. Unlike the ones directly below, flash is not required to play them. Lag may be a slight problem, though. The bottom also had a few novelty games, such as "How Sexy Are You." Behind the arcade is a small playable bowling alley game.

Most everything else about the place was decorative. There was a change machine, but it accepts donations. I saw a pizza delivery drone and a fruit n drink delivery one, each when touched offering a snack or drink. There's a hoverscooter, but it can't be ridden.

As for the sim's new look, which is obvious when looking at the area around the arcade, well, that's for another article.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montecito%20Bay/39/29/23

Addition:  I was later informed the following games at the Arcade no longer require Flash to play: Killer Instinct, Puzzle Bobble, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Splatterhouse 2, Street Fighter II Turbo, Super Ghouls'n Ghosts, Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World 2, Yoshi's Island, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - The Manhattan Project, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV - Turtles in Time

Bixyl Shuftan

Commentary: Top Ten Videogame Music Tunes

A number of elements go into video games, the graphics, the plot, the action. But what about the music? A great tune of the right kind can certainly help set the mood to a scene. And the opening music will be part of a player's first impressions of a game. Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich) decided to write a commentary on what he thought were the ten best video game tunes. Some of the games were well known. Others, including his favorite, not everyone would know about.

Read Cyfir's story in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

Video Game Collecting: Part Two - How To Cheaply Start Collecting Video Games

Besides going about on Second Life, Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich) plays his share of computer and console games. Having a lifelong love of gaming that goes back to the 1980s and the days of Atari and Nintendo, Cyfir has gone about collecting older games. But where to get them? In his second article on the subject, he talks about where to go for a good buy.

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

Video Game Collecting : Part One - Why I Collect Physical Games

Probably just about everyone in Second Life plays games of some kind, either on the computer or video console games, or both. Available in stores since the 1970s, many of the older residents of the virtual world have fond memories of spending hours as kids on games from Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Playstation, and others years before coming here. While some residents have left these games behind, to others there's just something about holding the actual game in your hand, or they want to collect older games. Among these video game collectors is Cyfir. In the first of two stories on the subject, he talks a little about why.

Read Cyfir's article in Other Grids MMOs and Games.

2020 Relay For Life Season Theme Announced

In the Relay for Life Volunteers group, there was a brief but noteable announcement, one concerning the theme for next year's fundraising season.

With 70% of the vote (166 votes), our 2020 Relay For Life of Second Life theme will be:

GAME ON, CANCER!
The Cure Starts Here!

Stay tuned for details on the season's Kickoff and Relay Weekend dates.

The Rinaede

Our newest writer, Marijke Biziou, makes her debut article with a look at a unique club: the Rinaede. The venue has a mainly furry crowd, but the owner stresses the club is open to all. Designed with a videogame look, the club has a nearby shopping area, and is near a future RP area.

Read Marijke's article in SL Clubbin'..