Update: The Carneval finally closed its doors on May 31st, 2013.
It opened at midnight, SLT on Halloween, and is described thus:
Full of frights and cloaked in shadows, the Carneval stands still, frozen in time. There are whispers and scaretales of its frightening adventures, haunted rides and unparalleled mysteries. Those who seek adventure are encouraged to step right up and prepare for an experience that will leave you begging for more.
Carneval is the latest offering from MeaPea Games who have, over the last four years, gained a well-deserved reputation for developing imaginative (and breathtaking games) and immersive storytelling events. Located on MeaPea Base, Carneval takes you on a ride – in every sense of the word – into the dusty, dim world of a town caught in time, falling into ruin thanks to the ever-present force of a carnival where “scare you to death” isn’t so much a figure of speech as it is an actual goal…
Right from your arrival, you know you are in for something very different. The region windlight setting settled around you, filling the air with a dusty, fog-bound atmosphere through which things slowly appear. Even the entrance warns you that what lies beyond will be very, very, different.
Carneval offers a feast of rides and sideshows and things to see; so much so that it is not a place to visit in a hurry; you need time to both see and experience everything on offer here, both down in the Carneval itself, and up in the local town.
It is also a testament to the skills of the MeaPea Games team. The region is packed with so much – yet the lag is very minimal even with 39 people in it (as there was in my first visit (and I’ve yet to see less than 30 people there over four separate visits), and the rides all tend to run smoothly and without too many bumps and jumps (although the rollercoaster car does sometimes bounce as it moves from (what I think is) mesh section to mesh section).
It is worthwhile following the paths and roads through the build – they’ll lead you up and down and to sights you might otherwise easily miss. Down on the coast are clear signs that while things may appear frozen in time, time itself is perhaps slowly creeping forward as the ferris wheel, long abandoned and canted to one side, appears to be slowly falling apart as the pier beneath it slowly rots away…
Wander into the centre of the Carneval and you’ll find just why it is so …malevolent .. as you come face-to-face with the tentacled Master of Ceremonies.
This is an installation which has all the hallmarks of Madpea products: imagination, flare, passion, joy with the medium of Second Life and, as ever, a delightfully twisted sense of humour. It’s an absolute must-see, and once you do, you’ll be dying to go see it again.
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Madness. You’re in for one hell of a ride.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 