Year: 2016

SL project updates 16 28/2: TPVD meeting

Posted on by Inara Pey
Holly Kai Park: Art Hill - blog post
Holly Kai Park: Art Hill – blog post

The majority of the notes in this update are taken from the TPV Developer meeting held on Friday, July 15th. The video of that meeting is embedded at the end of this update, and references to it are indicated through the use of time stamps in the paragraphs below (note that there were some extended pauses in the meeting where there was no discussion, hence some of the time gaps evident between time stamps, where given). My thanks as always to North for recording and providing it.

Server Deployment – Recap

There was no deployment to the Main (SLS) channel on Tuesday, July 12th.

Wednesday July 13th saw a new server maintenance package deployed to all three RC channels comprising “minor internal changes”. One of these sees worn scripts capped at a count of 2500. Attempts to add attachments which take an avatar over this limit should result in the attachments failing to wear.

There is unlikely to be an RC deployment in week 29 (week commencing Monday, July 18th), although the current RC update should be deployed to the Main (SLS) channel.

SL Viewer

[01:04] The Bento project viewer updated to version 5.0.0.317597 on Thursday, July 14th. This viewer incorporates the changes to the head bones and sliders from the test viewer, and also includes an update for some inconsistencies in avatar height as viewed by self versus others. This is most likely the last iteration of this viewer, prior to it moving to release candidate status.

[00:34] The VLC Media Plugin viewer, version 4.0.6.316258 at the time of writing, should be promoted to release candidate status  “shortly”, pending the fix of a rendering bug.  This viewer had also had fixes for some of the media sound issues which were being experienced.

[02:03] The Visual Outfits Browser viewer, version 4.0.6.316422 dated July 1st at the time of writing, is also awaiting a final bug fix prior to being promoted to RC status.

64-bit Viewers

[02:44 and 18:33] A project version for the 64-bit versions of the official viewer should be appearing “pretty soon”. When these do arrive, the Lab plan to offer Windows in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours going forward, and Mac as 64-bit only, pretty much as TPVs support 64-bit already do. IF there is a Linux build, then this will also be 64-bit only. The 64-bit versions will also include 64-bit updates to the Havoc sub-libraries as well.

Linux Support

[10:15] As a part of the discussion on SL Voice (see below), Oz re-interated that the Lab will not be directly supporting Linux, but remains willing to accept contributions from TPVs which do support that platform in order to keep the official Linux viewer up-to-date. This is essentially because the effort involved in maintaining a Linux flavour of the viewer when compared to the very small number of Linux users who actually make use of the Lab’s own viewer (overall, Linux users are thought to account for around 1% of the total active user base, many of whom use TPVs).

SL Voice

Voice on Linux

[03:50] Vivox has, for some time, focused updates for the SL Voice package on Windows and Mac, and have ignored Linux. Unfortunately, a recent update from Vivox changed how random handle values in the protocol between the SL Voice package and the viewer are generated, a change which effectively stopped Voice working on Linux (see BUG-20174).

Unfortunately, Vivox have no plans to update their support for Linux, so this is unlikely to be fixed. Some TPVs have therefore been reverting the SL Voice package for their Linux offerings to an early version. Commenting on this, Oz requested that they do not do this for other flavours of their viewers, and noted that even with Linux is not ideal, as the fix actually helps prevent “people subverting the security of your system in really unpleasant ways.” Rather, the suggested approach is for users to run the Windows viewer or the Windows SL Voice package on Linux using Wine.

Voice Support Updates

[07:12 and 13:05] The Lab is engaged in a programme with Vivox to update much of the Voice support. This will involve a new version of SL Voice “pretty soon”. This initial update should be backward compatible on Mac and Windows, allowing TPVs to adopt it, and will include a new codec which should improve the quality of voice for those using the update.

However, further down the road, this programme will include further improvements to Voice security and prevent it being abused, fixing a number of long-standing vulnerabilities. This programme will involve changes to SL Voice package, the viewer, the simulator and the Vivox servers, and due to their nature, they will not be backwards compatible, and viewers not incorporating them – including Linux flavours – will not be able to use Voice(again, running the Windows viewer / Windows SL Voice package under Wine is the suggested route forward for Linux users).

Because of this, the changes will be phased in over a period of time, starting with the viewer changes, and the announcement at the TPV meeting is essentially to put TPVs on notice of what will be happening over the next couple of quarters. Once the viewer  / SL Voice package updates have been adopted by TPVs, the necessary changes to the simulator software and to Vivox’s own servers will be introduced.

Voice Connection Issues

[23:19] BUG-20075 notes an uptick in voice connection failures. These have been noted by the Lab as well, and they are thought to be in part the result of a number of attacks directed at Vivox, which the company has been responding to. The hope is that new monitoring tools within the latest version of SL Voice may help identity further problem areas.

RFL 2016: are you ready for the Weekend?

Posted on by Inara Pey
The RFL Weekend: looking out over the activities regions
The RFL Weekend 2016: looking out over the activities regions

The RFL of Second Life Relay Weekend for 2016 is upon us, and will feature everything one would expect from the event – walks, celebrations, remembrances, the luminaria ceremony, interviews, music, dance, and more, all in aid of the American Cancer Society in its efforts to eradicate cancer.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of sneak peeks around the regions that make up this year’s walk, together with the activities regions, and they really are quite extraordinary this year, featuring some stunning builds and themes which are truly eye-catching.

Activities will kick off at 10:00 SLT on Saturday, July 16th and will feature 24 hours of themed laps, activities and entertainment. The weekend will wrap up with a party at 13:00 SLT Sunday, July 17th.

The Relay Weekend Regions
The Relay Weekend Regions

Event Highlights

Listed below are some of the main events scheduled for the weekend – but remember that there are relay laps, entertainment and more going on across the entire weekend, so please refer to the event schedule for full details. Information can also be found at the 2016 RFL Welcome Centre space station. All times are, as usual, SLT.

Saturday, July 16th 2016

  • 10:00 SLT Opening Ceremony:  The fun-filled weekend begins! Note you can access the ceremonies stage via two landing points: RFL Activities 1 and RFL Activities 3 
  • 11:00 SLT Celebrate: The first lap of Relay weekend begins with the celebrate ceremony.  A Survivor/Caregiver honour walk
  • 21:00 SLT Remember – The Luminaria Ceremony:  a solemn reflection with readings and inspirational music as the regions are darkened in remembrance of those and their loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer or are still battling it; all are invited to participate.  Please walk the track in silence

Sunday, July 17th 2016:

  • 06:00 SLT Fight Back: Collect your Fight Back Kits and Fight Back Flags available at the Relay Information Stations along the track, and pledge to save a life: your own, a friends, a family member, or someone you don’t even know yet
  • 10:00 SLT Closing Ceremony:  a closing tribute to al that RFL of SL has accomplished.
The Relay Weekend Welcome Centre
The Relay Weekend Welcome Centre

Useful Landmarks

The following landmarks will also carry you directly to locations of particular interest in the RFL regions:

Mega Events

The RFL mega events are also represented along the RFL track:

Be sure to stop by there and find out more about them as well.

The Fantasy Faire location seen under night-time lighting
Part of the Fantasy Faire location seen under night-time lighting

Where To Start

If you’re new to RFL of SL weekends, probably the best place to start is the space station Welcome Area, mentioned above, or the American Cancer Society region or the RFL Information Centre. All three provide a range of information to help you get started.

So, are you ready to Relay?

Related Links

 

The Drax Files 39: of games and freedom in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Sergio Delacruz. Image courtesy of Draxtor Despres / Sergio Delacruz
Sergio Delacruz. Image courtesy of Draxtor Despres / Sergio Delacruz

There’s an argument about Second Life which is as old as the platform itself: is it or isn’t it a game? The majority of  active Second Life users most likely fall on the side of the line which says it is not a “game”, and I’d be among them for many and varied reasons. However, one thing that Second Life can be, is a platform for a wide range of games.

This is demonstrated in segment #39 of The Drax Files World Makers,  which explores the work of content creator and designer of in-world games, Sergio Delacruz. However, in typical Draxtor style, there’s a hidden depth to this piece which makes it yet another fascinating exploration of the potentials and opportunities which are open to anyone engaging in Second Life.

Sergio runs Delacruz Technologies, where he builds a range of items, such as his familiar Ferris wheel and bumper cars, and where he hosts Susan's Diary
Sergio runs Delacruz Technologies and Delacruz Park, where he builds a range of items, such as his familiar Ferris wheel and bumper cars, and where he hosts Susan’s Diary

When it comes to games, Sergio is the man behind Drone Wars (which I can remember playing back in 2009/10), a first-person shooter pitting players in combat against armed drones whilst attempting to locate and disarm a nuclear device. More recently, he has created Susan’s Diary, an immersive horror / mystery story players have to solve.

Like so many of us, he was drawn to Second Life out of curiosity, and was struck by the huge scope for creativity offered by the platform. “I was like a child with Lego,” he says of his early, sandbox-based days. However, and again like many of us, he quickly realised the potential of the platform for both creative expression and for learning new skills. Starting with a pair of primy sneakers, he progressed through teaching himself to script in LSL and onward into game design.

With the latter, he also recognised what is perhaps one of the more unique aspects in designing games within the platform: if the creator desires, they can be built so that people can play them using the avatar with which they are most comfortable with using, without the need to adopt a specific character and / or look, as is the way with console and computer games.

One of the darker aspects of Susan's Diary, an immersive horror / mystery game
One of the darker aspects of Susan’s Diary, an immersive horror / mystery game

This is actually an important point. Because we can engage in games within Second Life using our avatarian familial, rather than being forced into the identity of a pre-defined character, it is possible to have a far more personal connection with the game – it becomes far more our adventure.

Second life also allows for a more open approach to games design and game play; designers can present games which are not necessarily constrained by a linear narrative, but become more of an exploration and discovery by the players, whether playing individually, or with a group of friends (something which further makes games in SL far more of a genuine social experience than those of other mediums can allow, again due to the limitations imposed by pre-determined characters, etc.).

The concept of “freedom” is perhaps where a good portion of the heart of this piece lies. At its core, Second Life is about giving anyone who uses it personal freedom and in a huge number of ways, be it through the creativity of actually making things, or through using the things other make to create an environment others can appreciate and enjoy, or through which we can find new ways and means to express ourselves through art, or through learning new skills. And of course, there is the freedom it gives us to express our personalities through our avatars and to socialise with others from all of the world in a huge variety of ways.

Sergio designing his physical world home in SL - from the comfort of his physical world home, inset). Image courtesy of Draxtor Despres / Sergio Delacruz
Sergio designing his physical world home in SL – from the comfort of his physical world home, inset). Image courtesy of Draxtor Despres / Sergio Delacruz

Of course, there’s a wide range of opportunities sitting around and between these examples, both within and beyond the platform. Nor are any of them mutually exclusive; most of us embrace two or more through our time in-world.

In Sergio’s case, this freedom has given him the ability to develop skills and interests which have application beyond Second Life. From LSL he’s moved to more recognised programming languages such as JavaScript and C#, which in turn have encouraged him to experiment in other mediums, and also to get a potential leg-up into the world of “consumer VR”. Most recently it has offered him the opportunity to dip a toe into real-world design, reproducing his own home inside Second Life.

“In Second Life you are free,” Sergio says at the end of the piece. “Free without limits.”  And that is perhaps the platform’s greatest gift to each of us.

Bridgewood Barrow: a cosy corner of Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Bridgewood Barrow; Inara Pey, July 2016, on Flickr Bridgewood Barrow – click any image for full size

I’ve said in the past that it is not always necessary to have an entire region in order to create something worthwhile, either as your home or as a place for others to visit. Such is the case with Bridgewood Barrow, a 8192 sq m parcel offered as a place to visit and spend time within by Aby (Abysinnia – also known as Harper Quinne), with a little help from Darthenian (DarthHill) and Marcus Keown.

Located in the south-east corner of its home region (Aurore), Bridgewood Barrow offers visitors a cosy corner of Second Life in which to relax or wander – without having to worry about breaking out the walking boots in the case of the latter!

Bridgewood Barrow; Inara Pey, July 2016, on Flickr Bridgewood Barrow

The landing point is a small pier located over a little beach. Here visitors can collect a note card about the parcel, and update themselves with the latest news.  Facing this and a very short walk away is a brick-built house offering a place to dance, a little café and, up on the roof (reached via the fire escape ladders at the side of the house), Greedy, Greedy and cuddle loungers are available.

A small lawned garden sits behind and to one side of the house, a tree-lined track pointing the way east from it. Following this will as it passes above a small lake will lead visitors to a dirt track switch-backing down to a second building sits partially nestled among trees, the bedroom looking out over the lake.  A footpath runs around the back of this, pointing the way to a short climb to a bridge crossing the entrance to the lake, and so back to the beach and the pier.

Bridgewood Barrow; Inara Pey, July 2016, on Flickr Bridgewood Barrow

Within this deceptively simple layout, there is a lot to enjoy, both indoors and out, with plenty of places to sit and cuddle, and views to be found. There is a Flickr group available for the latter, although it was looking a little forlorn when I visited; which is a shame, as couple with the right windlight settings, Bridgewood Barrow offers a picturesque setting for photography.

The parcel notes make it clear that Bridgewood Barrow will remain as it is through until the end of August, after which Aby will be working on a new project, which I gather will also be open to the public. So, if you fancy spending a little time in charming surroundings, either on your own or with a close friend, one without the need to explore an entire region, Bridgewood Barrow could be just the ticket.

Bridgewood Barrow; Inara Pey, July 2016, on Flickr Bridgewood Barrow

SLurl Details

BURN2 Town Hall and “Burniversity” lessons

Posted on by Inara Pey

logoBURN2 have announced a Town Hall meeting for all Burners and interested parties on Sunday, July 17th, which will take place in the Burning Man Playa. The aim of the meeting is to pass on all the latest news and information on activities and events, including the upcoming Octoburn.

In addition, there’s also news on “Burniversity” courses on using textures as avatar skins like those seen at this year’s Skin Burn Fashion show.

The press release on the Town Hall meeting reads in full:

July 17, 2016 9:00am SLT, 6:00pm SLT
SLURL: http://tinyurl.com/zzd86e6

“Welcome Home!” we say to Burners, calling out across the grid, welcome Home to the Playa! You’re invited to a Town Hall meeting where we bring you news of the year just past and announcements of the upcoming Big Burn and all the good stuff that comes with it.

Catch up on what we’ve done since the last Town Hall meeting…Get the news about OCTOBURN theme, plans, preparations. Think about your camp, about getting involved! Bring your creative selves and be a part of our best and Burningest event of the year!

We will meet twice, 9am SLT and 6pm SLT, to accommodate as many time zones as possible the content will be the same both times. Then watch for the notices they will be sent out to the BurningMan 2.0 group in-world. If you’re not already in the group, join it (it’s FREE!) to make sure you don’t miss out on the latest news!

Learn to use textures as skins in Daark Gothly's fun lesson
Learn to use textures as skins in Daark Gothly’s fun lesson (image via BURN2)

Ahead of the meeting, on Saturday, July 16th, Daark Gothly will be hosting “Burniversity”, a fun and easy instructional class on making texture skins like those seen in the Skin Burn shows. No specialist texture programs are needed nor skin templates required – so anyone can join and have fun.

The class  will be held on the 16th, 10:00 SLT and again at 21:00 SLT, again to suit people in different physical world time zones. There is no sign-up required, people are invited to simply show-up at The Playa and join in the fun.

In addition, Daark is willing to schedule further classes if there is interest. So if you can’t make either time on Saturday, 16th, IM her  in-world.

Related Links

Giovanna’s Last Harbour in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Last Harbour: Self control and Eve
The Last Harbour: Self control and Eve

“I had been thinking for some time about having a place,” Giovanna Cerise said as we stood at the landing point of her new exhibition space, The Lost Harbour, which officially opens on Thursday, July 14th. “Some time ago I had a gallery, and many people have asked me if I would have a regular place where they could see my work and so I decided to make one.”

If I’m totally honest, Giovanna having a space in she can freely display her art once more is well overdue. Whether it takes one of her large-scale immersive pieces such as Tristan und Isolde or The Eternal Suspense (to name but two), or her smaller pieces, as seen in her recent Retrospective , her work is beautifully exquisite and quite marvellous to see. I was therefore excited to learn about The Lost Harbour, and delighted to spend time visiting with her ahead of the opening.

The Last Harbour
The Last Harbour

Occupying the north-east corner of a region, The Last Harbour is a fabulous setting for Giovanna’s work, beautifully laid out and presented to visitors. From the landing point, a series of platforms sit on the waters of the parcel, connected by transparent and translucent tiles from the aforementioned Tristan und Isolde. These form both a display space and a walkway passing across the parcel.

On the seaward side of the parcel sit four pieces which those familiar with Giovanna’s work may recognise as being from some of her past installations. On the landward side, against the boundary wall, are more pieces, notably her black pen line images and forms mindful of installations like Line, together 3D pieces, such as Breeze, a piece best appreciated by camming around and through it, rather than simply regarding it whilst stood still.

The Last Harbour
The Last Harbour

Between these two sides is a stepped platform on which are displayed four new studies, comprising single and paired figures. “I wanted to do some new work,” Giovanna told me as we studied them. “In recent times I have worked mostly for large installations. I wanted to focus my ideas and my inspiration on smaller works.”

She continued, “Each of them expresses an idea; a thought emotion. Pandora, Eve, Self Control, Stranger, The Unbearable Lightness of Being … symbolic names.” Symbolic they may be, but they are also deeply intimate; one doesn’t so much observe each of these figures; one becomes a part of each of their stories, a confidante in their expression, if you will.

The Last Harbour: the beach
The Last Harbour: the beach

This is a place where wandering, sitting and contemplation are welcomed. “I imagined a place to walk among the works of art and even then relax by the sea,” Giovanna said, indicating the arched wall along one side of the exhibition space. Passing through this will indeed bring you to a little beach, beautifully landscapes and with seats in which visitors can relax, as well as little beach house, while hovering over the sandy tide are the sirens from Il Folle Volo (The Mad Flight).

The Last Harbour formally opens at 13:00 SLT on Thursday, July 14th at 13.00 SLT. My congratulations to Giovanna in establishing the space, and my thanks to her as well, for allowing me to pop over and spend time with her discussing it.

SLurl Details