Commentary: Three Sims That Deserve Being Brought Back

By Kain Scalia (Maus Merryjest)

As the ashes of yet another year crumble to dust, we can take a moment to reflect on everything that has passed us by and derive both wisdom and pleasure from the last 365 days. This is a tradition of mine, where I will sit down in a comfy chair with a little wine and a little music and look back in an attempt to derive a useful maxim for the future based upon these fading experiences. After giving it some thought and not a little consideration, I offer my maxim for 2016:

Let us not do that again.

Now with that particular hurdle out of the way, we can take stock of all the possibilities that the New Year ahead might bring- and as far as Second Life is included, that means the possibility of seeing some flashes from the past.

Now, of course, at this time we don't know if there is much momentum behind the preservation and restoration of historical sims, but surely most of you can name at least one location of your past that you would like to see returned to its former primmy glory. Therefore, to salute the beginning of a new year, I would like to propose my top three picks for my wish list:

Linden light, linden bright

First Linden that rezzed tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Relive this sim I envision tonight...

3.- Prados Azules

This stunning sim was around in 2010, and setting foot on its shores was like getting a technicolor pie to the face, thrown by the Cheshire Cat.

I admit I never really knew much about this enchanting place, making it one of my go-to places to relax and visit the 1980s- for surely this was where the decade retired. Wherever you looked you would find evidence of your childhood (if you grew up in the 80s, that is) bridges made of legos, the towering shapes of Mazinger Z and Pacman staring at you, Atari monitors, giant synthesizer keyboards (alas, no keytars) and the ever-present palette of the era raging between neon brights and the cobalt/cerulean combination that was ubiquitous during the era.

After the passing of a year that seemed obsessed with taking away a large chunk of icons from the ‘80s, maybe we could get some of it back in digital format.

2.- 109 Prim Circus

Perhaps one of the most beautiful places in Second Life when it was around, this sidereal carousel rewarded visitors with a cosmic vista the likes of which one was likely to see in dreams only.

While it had merchandise for sale, it was tastefully presented in such a way as to not shatter the atmosphere of the delicate plateau suspended in the inky, starry void.

 The main attraction consisted of a chariot ride that was exquisitely planned through a literal ‘field’ of stars and constellation dolphins. Finally, if you needed a break from the phosphrescent spectacle, you could stroll and dance on stardust with your partner.

1.- DePaul University

Roughly seven years ago, you could throw a stone and have a fifty percent change of hitting a university sim in Second Life. A large number of institutions great and small felt their interests piqued over our little virtual experiment and decided to run their own experiments: extending their curriculum online.

One of the more adventurous sims belonged to DePaul University’s School of Computing and Digital Media. Managed by second life denized Andres Kleene, whose secret identity was that of a professor of Game Development for te University, the sim giddily embraced most of the Second Life culture. Professor Kleene saw an explosion in the number of tinies visiting the sim, and he obligingly made them a whole village on the west side of the sim’s mountain. The Silly Goose and the Cup Of Goodness were intricately-detailed gathering spots where one could often find students or other curious visitors with whom to converse.

Professor Kleene was very interested in the possibilities of Second Life as an educational tool, but he was also very conscious of the obstacles such places faced. In a conversation back in 2010, he said to me:

“The real stumbling block is the learning curve (...) A professor in English literature studies doesn't think twice about posting a lecture on the web or giving web references, that's because he/she knows that those are accepted technologies: people are comfortable with that. Until 3D worlds are as natural to people as opening a PowerPoint presentation, we won't have the liberty to really explore this tool. We're still trailblazers, I'm afraid.”

Back in 2010, Professor Kleene felt that the dean of the college was fully behind the university’s experiment and felt no pressure from funding. Sadly, the experiment came to an end, and all that is left of the University’s sim is this user’s flythrough ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2upjzcCrrA ), which does a good job of recording the cozy and charming atmosphere cultivated by its builder.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2upjzcCrrA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Of course, of the sims in my list, it is unlikely that the Lindens might resurrect this one- after all, it was created and belonged to an existing institution... but for its sheer atmosphere, hospitality, and spirit of experimentation, the DePaul sim will always be number one on my list.

 Kain Scalia

Railway Stopover at Jopsy's

As I was tooting along the GSLR railway I saw a familiar sight in the distance. A hot air balloon I visited probably about 4 years ago. I decided to go back to renew my acquaintance with Jopsy's Pendragon's delightful particle places. There is a chair placed before a choice of TPs that will take you off into the sky in the balloon.

I took the ride, first, to the Cloud Chateau in the sky. After debarking I sat and enjoyed a spectacular particle display. This is listed as one of the oldest particle shows in Second Life. You are offered ”peace and welcome to all,” and can enjoy the music while you watch the show. It is a kalidiscope of exploding motion and ever changing color as it evolves before your eyes. It looks even better than I remembered. I think it is a relaxing place even though it is vibrant.

On my next balloon ride I took off to visit the Particle Lab in the sky. The last time I wast here I had no clue of what was going on . Now, I could never use the information but I at least understand now that Jopsy has made a “university” for those who want to major in particles . I can see that all the information here guides those who are fascinated with making particles and using them properly. There is a sandbox for practicing also. Green arrows will direct you on your way around the lab. I made my way back to the hot air balloon after my walk around.

My next flight brought me to the Vehicle Lab. A sign there told me that it is ”unfinished and opening soon," but that I was welcome to visit. It is another section of the university I see, with information for building all sorts of vehicles for a variety of movement around Second Life. I might be able to try building one of these from following the processes laid out here. After looking at the dates on the notecards, I wonder if this part of the university will ever be finished. But there is plenty here to keep one busy learning. The building is massive.

My next destination took me to “The Whale.” As I entered I was invited to join the Cycle of Life experience and enter into the grotto of lost souls. It is an introspective experience that I enjoyed. The next part of my voyage I had to work. I was handed an oar at the entrance of the caverns and had to guide myself through the maze while admiring the sights. It was a more extensive and interesting trip than I thought! As I took any easy way out by mistake I found myself in Jopsy's secret sandbox where there is work going on. There I found a lovely map of the entire balloon rides. There are many.

Again, this is a place that I will have to leave before I finish the tour or you may never read about it! I think you will enjoy a visit to Jopsy's place. If you like some of the articles you see don't miss the store you can shop for them before you leave. Jopsy describes himself as "a mix of Puck, Pan, Puff, Kringle, Elric, & Giger. He lives to tinker, create, teach, and flirt." I have to agree, though I have never met him. I recommend starting here to catch the hot air balloon and then you can choose your own route to adventure. It is right next to the railway in Slate (20, 183, 41)

This is not my last stop! Off on the rails to future fun!

Gemma Cleanslate

Alamo Exhibit Opens in UT Arlington

On Tuesday May 4, the University of Texas officially opened its Alamo exhibit in Second Life. The unveiling began with a Grand Opening event on the exhibit grounds, with live music and some dancing. Following that, the creator of the build, Lora Chadborne, offered tours.

The exhibit was open at 2:30 PM SL time. Getting there, it took a little time for everything and everyone to rezz. And there was an unusual “bounce” effect on the avatars, feel sinking into the ground for a split second then being shoved hack up. Group chatter had a few reports of glitches elsewhere, so it seemed a few of the gremlins showed up at the opening event as well. At about 3 PM, a patio with a piano appeared in front of the Alamo. A musician, Brookston Holiday then sat down and began playing and singing. Most people just listened, but some were dancing.

At 4 PM, the music was over. And Brookston wished everyone well and left. But Lora Chadborne stepped by the entrance and offered tours of the Alamo. Lora was the woman whom had built the Alamo exhibit. She had recreated historical settings in Second Life before, notably the Mayflower and Plymouth and the Apollo 11 moon landing area.

Near the entrance was a sign that explained the shortage of pictures from inside the real Alamo: they were prohibited. But Lora told be she had no problem: the sign was there because the real-life Alamo had one.

The inside had the same fine detail as the outside, or as Rocket Sellers put it, “this Alamo is unforgettable. Touching parts of the exhibit often gave you a notecard explaining the event. The baptistery and confessional near the entrance converted to powder magazines. The main room had photos of the real Alamo through history, portraits of Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William Travis, a plaque of Travis’ last letter to Sam Houston, as well as a number of flags. Others included one with a flintlock on display, the Sacristy where the women and children hid during the final siege, which had a painting of Santa Anna ordering the bodies of the defenders burned in a mass funeral pyre.

In the back of the main hall was an 18 pounder cannon, the largest of those the Alamo had, a case with a newspaper account of the battle written 18 days later, and another comparing the fight to the Battle of Thermopylae of Ancient Greece. Nearby was the “Pop Culture” corner, with a movie poster and a kid’s toy Alamo set, “from the Davy Crockett craze of the 1950s.”

Nearby, Lora showed a recreation of the Alamo's well. In a nearby building, there was an art gallery, including photographic pictures of the actors playing the roles of David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and others. The building also had a gift shop. Lora gave me a coonskin cap for free as a souvenir.

A notecard gave this brief history of the “Mission San Antonio de Valero: Erected in 1718 by Franciscan missionaries bringing the Christian faith to Tejas (Texas), this mission served for decades before being abandoned and secularized. In 1803, the decaying site was used as barracks by the Spanish army, who renamed it 'the Alamo' after the Spanish word for 'cottonwood tree.' When the merciless Santa Anna discarded the Mexican Constitution of 1824 and became a dictator, American (and Mexican) settlers in Texas rebelled. Those of the nearby town of San Antonio de Bexar moved into the Alamo fortress, where they stood against the advancing army of Santa Anna -- outnumbered twenty to one.”

After 13 days, the 189 defenders, Texans and Mexicans opposed to Santa Anna, were overrun and all killed but the women and children, whom were let go.

More info on the Alamo exhibit can be found on it’s webpage: http://www.uta.edu/secondlife/alamo/


The Alamo exhibit is at UTArlington III (161, 113, 22).

Bixyl Shuftan