Day: June 20, 2014

Restrained Love 2.9: scripted camera controls

Posted on by Inara Pey

On June 16th, Marine Kelley recently updated her Restrained Love viewer to version 2.9. It introduces a new series of camera control options, offering a range of potential opportunities for those wishing to create puzzles, mazes, immersive quests, etc., as well as being applicable to the general use of RLV!

Marine provides the details on the updates, but here in brief is a summary of the key additions, together with an  image I’ve borrowed from her blog:

  • @camdistmin and @camdistmax force the camera to stay within a range (0= Mouselook any value above 0 actively prevents Mouselook being engaged)
  • @camdrawmin and @camdrawmax simulate fog / blindfolds by obscuring the world around the avatar (not around the camera, as with the windlight settings)
  • @camdrawalphamin and @camdrawalphamax indicate the closest and farthest opacities of fog defined by @camdrawmin and @camdrawmax
  • @camdrawcolor sets the color of the fog defined by the above (black is the default)
  • @camunlock prevents the camera from being panned, orbited, etc. away from the avatar – so can prevent someone from peer through walls, etc.
  • @camavdist specifies the maximum distance beyond which avatars look like shadows (think ssing people in a mist or heavy fog)
  • @camtextures renders the world grey, other than avatars and Linden water. Marine notes that bump mapping and shininess remain untouched, as even someone blindfolded or in heavy fog can still feel their way around
  • @shownametags hides the radar, name tags, and prevents doing things to an avatar through the context – useful for games involving trying to find someone without them being betrayed by their name tag.

There are three additional camera presets added as well (left, right, top), to allow some additional camera options when @camunlock is active. There is also a new debug setting, RestrainedLoveCamDistNbGradients, to go with the camera options, as well.

RLV 2.9 adds some interested scripted controls for the camera which could have a range of uses, such as locking the camera to the avatar and controlling how far the user can see, a
RLV 2.9 adds some interesting scripted controls for the camera which could have a range of uses, such as locking the camera to the avatar and controlling how far the user can see (image: Marine Kelley)

Again, please refer to the RLV 2.9 release notes for full details of these, and the other updates with this release.

The new camera options, as noted, could have a range of potential uses, and demonstrate (once again) that RLV isn’t just about “teh bondages”  – it’s an extremely flexible extension to her viewer (note that they are only applicable to her RLV viewer at this time). Those wishing to find out more about it and who may not have taken a look at it previously, can find more information both on Marine’s blog and on the RLV API wiki page.

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Going Somewhere

Posted on by Inara Pey

Another Somewhere, Hamoa Island; Inara Pey, June 2014, on FlickrAnother Somewhere, Hamoa Island (Flickr) – click any image for full-size

Another Somewhere is a half homestead region of delight. Created by Azriel Xue, it is another reminder that it doesn’t necessarily require a 15,000 prim land capacity to create something eye-catching and memorable (or even 3,750 for that matter).

Wilderness is the theme here; rugged cliffs, perhaps leading up to mountains tall and cold, stand over a stretch of coastline hugged by blue waters which surround three nearby islands. These can be reached by boat, and are in turn watched over by larger islands further out to sea (off-sim).

Another Somewhere, Hamoa Island; Inara Pey, June 2014, on FlickrAnother Somewhere, Hamoa Island (Flickr)

Footpaths follow the shoreline, winding their way around the base of the cliffs and overlooking the water, before branching to climb steps worn into the rock and then branching again. Little red huts stand over the waters, precariously balanced on wooden piers out-thrust from the sheer rocky faces.

Part of the water passage between coast ansd islands has been dammed, squared-off stone bricks allowing a path to reach the largest of the islands. Here sits a rustic cabin, offering home comforts and fresh water from deep well. An improvised jetty of old railway sleepers offers a place where you can grab a motorboat and make your way to the other islands (although I confess, the rezzer didn’t want to work for me 😦 ).

Another Somewhere, Hamoa Island; Inara Pey, June 2014, on FlickrAnother Somewhere, Hamoa Island (Flickr)

The outermost of the remaining two islands offers a place to sit out with friends under leafy shade, enjoying a cup of coffee or a bowl of what looks to be chowder, both simmering over an open fit pit. A gazebo offers a warm fire and place to sit sheltered from any wind, for those who prefer.

Across a narrow stretch of water, a wooden pergola sits atop a grassy upthrust of rock, a solid pier again offering a place to rez boats, stout wooden steps leading up to the pergola as it sits amidst a small copse on the island. Another well is also to be found on this island, so the water is fresh for those wanting a cup of tea or mug of coffee. Here is another place where friends can meet and relax – although for the adventurous, a zip slide links it to the gazebo’s little island. Just mind the tree at the end of the line! I had a bit of a George of the Jungle moment sliding down…

Another Somewhere, Hamoa Island; Inara Pey, June 2014, on FlickrAnother Somewhere, Hamoa Island (Flickr)

Across the water, you can follow the paths upwards, where there is more to discover: one leads to a look-out point, another gives access to an old mountain shelter, now perhaps serving as a hunting lodge. Follow a follow a third, and it will take you into the foothills and to a high wooden footbridge spanning the gorge between the cliffs and the rocky outcrop sheltering the  cabin.

For SL photographers and those seeking new places in SL to enjoy, Another Somewhere presernts itself as an excellent place to visit. I also have to admit to liking Azriel’s outlook on life, summed up in a quote from Lauren Myracle: I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here. I know that feeling ony too well!

Another Somewhere, Hamoa Island; Inara Pey, June 2014, on FlickrAnother Somewhere, Hamoa Island (Flickr)

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