Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
In 2009 I embarked on my journey as a Second Life photographer. I like to share the richness of the creations from various sims, by trying to show all their aspects in my pictures. During my in world travels, I encounter numerous individuals from around the globe who share their backgrounds, passions, and interests with me, for which I am very grateful.
– Michiel Bechir
With these words, Michiel Bechir introduces himself – if such an introduction is even required, his work being well known with in the SL arts community as both a photographer-artist and as the owner of his own gallery where he promotes other artists – and his latest exhibition, which opens on January 6th, 2025 at the Hermit Gallery of Saint Elizabeth’s University.
As a fellow traveller across Second Life, Michiel has done much over the 15 years he’s been recording his travels to capture the beauty of many places across the grid, sometimes casting his photographic net wider to include avatar-centric photography. In that time – as do so many of SL’s talents – he has refined his technique and learned to use editing tools with a fine touch in order to enhance his images and imbue them with further sense of mood and/or genre / and uniqueness.
Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
Within Beyond Borders: A Visual Journey, he offers a selection of his work as both a demonstrations of his art and as a mini retrospective of his photography over the years. And when better than to hold a retrospective than, perhaps the beginning of a new year, thus offering a look back even whilst eyes might be set on the future?
Spread across the gallery’s three levels – with some also out on the roof terrace, the collection is focused on a given theme within each area of the gallery: Animals, History, Landscapes, and Flowers. While the collection is bracketed within the period 2009-2024, the majority of the images lean towards the latter years, being particularly focused on the period 2020-2024. Whilst this is far from a negative per se, I would have enjoyed perhaps seeing a wider spread of images in terms of years, so as to better appreciate Michiel’s evolving style; but this is a purely subjective comment.
Hermit Gallery, Saint Elizabeth’s University, January 2025: Michiel Bechir
As it is, what is presented is engaging and rich display of Second Life photographic art, the use of sub-themes split between the different galley levels allowing each to stand as a mini-exhibition in its own right, and I have no hesitation in recommending Beyond Borders for a visit.
Logos representative only and should not be seen as an endorsement / preference / recommendation
Updates from the week through to Sunday, January 5th, 2025
This summary is generally published every Monday, and is a list of SL viewer / client releases (official and TPV) made during the previous week. When reading it, please note:
It is based on my Current Viewer Releases Page, a list of all Second Life viewers and clients that are in popular use (and of which I am aware), and which are recognised as adhering to the TPV Policy. This page includes comprehensive links to download pages, blog notes, release notes, etc., as well as links to any / all reviews of specific viewers / clients made within this blog.
By its nature, this summary presented here will always be in arrears, please refer to the Current Viewer Release Page for more up-to-date information.
Note that for purposes of length, TPV test viewers, preview / beta viewers / nightly builds are generally not recorded in these summaries.
Official LL Viewers
Release viewer: version 7.1.11.12363455226. formerly the ExtraFPS RC, dated December 17, promoted December 19 – No change.
Luminara, January 2025 – click any image for full size
Luminara is a Full region lovingly designed by Sedona (Sedona Starchild) to offer the peace and tranquillity of a woodland setting, mixed with touches of whimsy, all of which offer might offer more than first appears to be the case, as the setting’s entry in the Destination Guide hints.
Luminara is a space created with care, where every detail holds a deeper meaning if you’re open to it. You’ll find mirrors, keys, and other interactive elements designed to spark reflection; alongside peaceful surroundings meant to calm the mind. Whether you uncover deeper insights or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, may your time here feel meaningful in its own way.
– Luminara’s Destination Guide description
Luminara, January 2025
However, this description barely scratches the depth of meaning one might find within the region, because this a a setting of a very personal nature. It is both a reflection of Sedona’s journey through life and a visualisation of the kind of questions many (all?) of us may ask when all the noise, bustle and distractions of everyday living fade into the background, and we have the time to contemplate is this all I am?
This isn’t just a virtual space; it’s a piece of my heart, filled with the thoughts and questions that have shaped me. Every detail, every message, holds something I’ve discovered along the way.
I want to be honest: part of me created this space to connect, to feel seen, and to share something meaningful with others. There’s a vulnerability in opening up my inner world, and I’ve come to accept that my motivations aren’t always selfless. But my deepest hope is that Luminara offers you something—a moment of reflection, a sense of peace, or even a little inspiration to take with you.
– Sedona Starchild
Luminara, January 2025
The Landing Point sits on the west side of the region. Close by is a general information board providing hints about exploring the setting, and also a Greeter which should offer you group membership together with a notecard from Sedona. If these are not offered then touch the mirror sitting alongside the tree above the noticeboard. Standing opposite the footpath is a deck with an over-the-water view and a tree of wisdom “sharing insights inspired by Naval Ravikant”.
The path here runs north-south, with another arm running inland. Which you take is entirely up to you: just be sure to keep an eye out for the mirrors and keys along whichever route you take – and other items and creatures offering themselves as advisors or presenting opportunities of reflection, introspection and / or affirmation.
Luminara, January 2025
Whilst contiguous in nature and presenting a naturally flowing landscape, the region is designed such various locations within it have a sense of privacy and seclusion such that they are both a part of the whole and also apart from it. This is achieved through the use of curtain walls of rock, bodies of water, screens of trees and bushes, and considered use of elevation. EEP settings are also used to offer environments in keeping with aspects of the region – so be sure to have Used Shared Environment checked.
The paths winding through the region will lead you to the majority of the locations to be found within it; however, I’m not going to describe everything the region offers here; a major part of Luminara is that of discovery both in terms of personal discovery through the aforementioned mirrors, keys and advisors, and in terms of the beauty of region itself.
Luminara, January 2025
That said, some of the more obvious areas to look out for include the Luminara swamp with its summer house; the open-air theatre, the music deck built over one of the bodies of water and which has sitting alongside it a modern lounge in the form of the Scarlet Creative Hoxton Loft, while the deck itself offers access to a more secret hideaway for those who can find it.
Elsewhere there are follies where couples and individuals might dance, a hilltop retreat, a terraced pool, and places to sit under trees, on the water, alongside the coastline, most of which will be found as one wanders the paths an trails, whilst the Tatra Dance circle holds a particular magic.
Luminara, January 2025
Throughout all of this are the touches of detail and whimsy which both bring a smile to the lips and perhaps offer further symbolism. The former might be found on the water, where racoons are enjoying themselves with a little skinny dipping (or is that furry dipping?) whilst taking a trip on a little rowing boat. Elsewhere unicorns add a sense of dream whilst deer, foxes, bear and rabbits might be found throughout the landscape.
The whimsy comes in many forms, some clearly intended to attract attention and stir the brain cells – such as the White Rabbit; others are more curious, such as the figure rising from the water near the music deck – it is simply seeking Seymour, or indicative of disquieting thoughts and reflections? You decide.
Luminara, January 2025
Finished with a subtle soundscape, Luminara presents an engaging, richly evocative and through-provoking setting with multiple opportunities for discovery and exploration. It is also a place given to evolution as well – and as much about what we put into it as find within it, as Sedona notes. So, ensure your curiosity is engaged with dropping in.
Just before Christmas 2024, Iris Okiddo (IrisSweet) invited me to visit the latest exhibition she and Jules Neveille (Jules Catlyn) are hosting at their Andante Gallery, entitled Hooray for Hollywood.
This is an ensemble exhibition organised by Iris and Jules, featuring piece by Alsatian Kidd, Angel Kavanagh, Awesome Fallen, Ben J, Carter Holloway, Daimaju Clowes, Inka Enkeli-Neville, Jazz Delenz, Jo Aquacade, Ludi Taurus, Mimi Soleil Firelight, Morgan Talbot, Orion Octane, Partee Mytili, Simone Landes, Sparklebottom Lasertits, Tamara Aristocrat, Tupper Moran,
Valeries Muircastle and Vexx Daines with a piece each form Iris and Jules.
Andante Gallery, January 2025: Hooray for Hollywood
Jules and myself have again asked several photographers to give us their interpretation of a theme. This time we asked the invited photographers to send us a picture that would pay tribute to movies and/or moviestars. This wonderful new exhibition is the result. We are very grateful to all the photographers who have agreed to take part.
– from the introduction to Hooray for Hollywood.
The result is a highly expressive – and in places humorous – largely avatar-centric series images celebrating some Hollywood’s most iconic films, movie stars and franchises, spread across the two halls of the gallery and the intervening courtyard. Some of the references are all too clear, others perhaps not so much, depending on your knowledge of films and actors.
Andante Gallery, January 2025: Hooray for Hollywood
To go through all of them would spoil the pleasure of seeing them first-hand, but I will say Jo Aquacade’s 188921977 is a beautifully-framed tribute, whilst Alsatian Kidd’s Iron Man is a very clever tribute to two modern blockbusters; once of which has a soundtrack that sits in my all-time top ten film soundtracks, and Iris Okiddo’s Another Fine Rezz definitely had me smiling.
Bur personal picks aside, all of the pieces are worth taking the time to view, and kudos to all of the participating artists involved – and my thanks to Iris for the personal invite.
Andante Gallery, January 2025: Hooray for Hollywood
On Monday, December 23rd, 2024, Linden Lab announced a special holiday gift for all Second Life users: six months access to the upcoming 2025 seasons 1 and 2 of MadPea Unlimited, which commences on January 1st, 2025. After allowing for the initial rush, I hopped over early on January 2nd, 2025 to take a peep at what is on offer.
To recap on the offer: Linden Lab is covering the cost of 6 months access to the MadPea Unlimited premium group, which gives subscribers early access to MadPea’s new games and experiences product releases, gifts, and hunts, as well as access to MadPea’s library of available in-world games and experiences. Subscriptions usually cost L$6,000 for three months – so the total value of this gift to users is $12,000 per person, and the offer runs through until the end of June 2025. An important note with the gift is that is does not require any sign-up or commitment to any on-going subscription; to participate, all residents need to do is hop along to the MadPea Unlimited region from January 1st, 2025 and join the fun.
Become Benoit Blanc (only hopefully without Daniel Craig’s accent!) and find out whodunnit in Merry Mayhem at Frostwood Manor – just make sure you don’t die in the process!
All activities and games are accessed via the Discovery hub. This provides access to all of the current in-world games and adventures, with the Weekly Drops and Monthly Collectables pick-up point lying beyond it (with the first drops of 2025 due on January 8th, 2025). One thing to note is that MadPea utilise SL Experiences, so you’ll have to accept the Experience in order for the games and adventures to work.
Each game / adventure is accessed via a dedicated portal. alongside of each portal is a kiosk offering details of the game / adventure, which includes a general rating for the activity – E for everyone (roughly equivalent to SL’s G rating), M for Mature (roughly equivalent to SL’s M rating) and M +17, indicating it contains themes such as death, murder, etc.). The kiosks also supply the dedicated HUD for a given activity, and provide information on things like the number of achievements / rewards which can be obtained. A HUD might be presented as a direct-wear / add item, or as a package giver that includes the HUD and other items. Note that while a SL Experience is utilised, this does not extend to HUD attachment – you should add them done manually.
MadPea Unlimited activity portals and information kiosks
For January 2025, the activities comprise:
Four Escape Room style challenges of varying levels of difficulty and length, comprising Ghostly Goal and Wizard’s Tower and Forsaken Funhouse (all rated E), and Deadly Dungeon (Rated M 17+).
Three adventure- style games comprising a horror story called Insidious Island (rated M) and The Kidnapping (rated E), and Jewel of the Nile (rated E)
Ascension, a puzzle challenge
Two murder mysteries – Merry Mayhem at Frostwood Manor (rated E) and The Naughty List Murders (rated M 17+), the latter forming the latest MadPea addition.
Try your hand at solving puzzles as your ascend the tower
Games are variable in length, the average being between 2 and 3 hours, with Forsaken Funhouse lasting up to around 8 hours. However, this time does not necessarily have to be done all at once, it is possible to leave, detach the HUD and leave, then wear it and return (with The Naughty Murders List, for example, you can add the HUD, open the Mad City map and click on the last location you visited and then resume).
I took a quick run-through of the two murder mysteries, and found the basics to be broadly similar: interacting with static characters who interact with you in both voice and text, as you move through a series of locations seeking clues, your progress and other information recorded on your game HUD. In this I found both a little formulaic – but that’s my fault for running through both mysteries back-to-back, rather than mixing two different game types.
One of the Game HUDs
That said, once involved, I did – as used to be the case when I was a regular at MadPea – become engrossed in working out who had done what (although in the case of The Naughty List Murders, I believed I’d figured the likely culprit roughly half-way through the game, based on a comment passed by one of the characters, and ended-up continuing to see if I was right – which again is half the fun with whodunits (and it turned out I was right, in part)).
A nice touch is the the majority of the games are geared towards group play, so people can work together on them. Check the information kiosks to conform whether group play is intended – just work in IM with friends. One thing I would say is that given these are still the early days of the gift being available (at least at the time of writing). As such, the games can get busy.
“One thing’s sure. Sebastian Blackwood is dead — murdered — and somebody’s responsible!” (with apologies to MadPea and Plan 9 From Outer Space 😀 )
When announced, the offer of MadPea Unlimited access gather some negative responses through various mediums. Personally, I don’t see the harm; MadPea have always provided engaging entertainment, and an arrangement like this is a nice way for LL to both encourage users to have a little fun and making many who many not be aware of MadPea or have never tried their Unlimited subscription to give them a try; and if that encourages some to support MadPea by taking out a subscription for membership after the gift period ends – that can’t be bad, can it?
The viewer-in-a-browsers website, showing increased time limit (as of January 9th, 2025)
On December 23rd, 2024, I was able to sit down with Linden Lab co-owner and Executive Chair, Brad Oberwager and the company’s founder and now CTO, Philip Rosedale, to talk about a project the Lab are working on, and what it may mean for many users either already engaged in SL or who are joining the platform.
The gist of it is, starting at the very beginning of January, we’re going to start making Second Life available through a browser. We’ve had a team on it for a couple of months now, and we’re going to make the first demonstrative use of it at the start of January.
In fact, we’re taking advantage of a mix of different changes in the market and technology; we’re going to tie a bunch of different components together, but at the core of the offering that we’re going to start testing at the beginning of January is a streaming version of Second Life which is pixel-perfect, 1080p, you can’t tell you’re not using a desktop client, there’s no way you can perceive that you’re using it … and so it’s just like logging-in to Second Life [on a desktop viewer].
– Philip Rosedale, in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
This ability to stream Second Life through a browser is now available for testing – and if you wish to do so, you can do so free of charge for the next few days – simply hop down to the notes on how to do so at the end of this article.
However, the streaming test is one part of a broader strategy the Lab is taking in an attempt to make Second Life more accessible to both existing and incoming new users, and I want to focus here on that, and what we are likely to be seeing during 2025.
Of course, this is not the first time an attempt has been made to stream SL to users; there have been two commercial attempts to do so in the past with both SL Go, provided by OnLive between March 2014 and April 20151, and then via Bright Canopy, provided through the Frame application delivery service (now Dizzion) between 2015 and 20202. However, those services were at a time when streaming complex content was still relatively in its infancy, and their providers were subject to business and marketplace forces which ultimately led to their respective demise.
Second Life streamed via Firefox
For the Lab, the move towards browser-based accessibility to Second Life is based on addressing a number of long-term pain points in using the platform:
The fact that it continues to require fairly high-end computer hardware to experience it at its very best – and roughly 50% of the existing user base do not have such hardware at their disposal.
The fact that it requires a dedicated viewer to be downloaded and installed by new users as a part of the sign-up process.
The fact that the viewer has a sprawling and complex UI which can be both hard to master by new users.
Offering a browser-based / streaming solution can overcome these issues – and that is the point of what is being called Project Zero: to allow those on low-spec systems experience SL as if they were using a gaming rig with a high-end GPU, whilst offering incoming new users direct access to coming in-world via a URL within the sign-up workflow.
We’re [also] going to start A/B testing by letting a good chunk of the people that come in new to Second Life go through this new streaming system, as opposed to downloading the desktop. So we’ll be able to start to test that and quickly see how they compare. Our expectation is, barring any unforeseen problems, it’s going to be the case that a lot more people are going to be able to get into Second Life because they don’t need a high-end GPU or have to go and install some software.
– Philip Rosedale in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Project Zero: Evolutionary and Revolutionary
The initial offering of the viewer through a browser is just that: a baseline service which allows someone to go to a URL and launch an instance of the viewer and access Second Life. As such, it has limitations (which I note below for reference). However, Linden Lab intend to start iterating on the capability pretty rapidly, utilising the experience they’ve gained through other projects, to build on the browser experience and improve it – particularly in regards to the UI.
We’re going to re-do the interface completely, in the same way that we did with the Mobile client. We’re going to start by streaming the existing interface, but then very quickly – probably sometime in January – you’ll see us turning off the UI layers that are in the [browser] client and switch them out into a modern HTML / React style web UI on top of the viewer which should look and feel a little bit like what we’ve done with Mobile, where we’ve only been implementing the features we absolutely need, and then implementing them cleaner than they were before and in a way anybody coming into Second Life today, no matter what their age so just look at it and go, “oh yeah, that looks like a sensible UI.”
– Philip Rosedale, in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
Once these core elements of using SL are working within an overlay-style of presentation, the plan is to move on to the more challenging aspects of the UI and using SL – such as avatar customisation. And here things start to get revolutionary, as the Lab will be looking for input and assistance from content creators.
We’ll move upstream in terms of difficulty level towards the kinds of things that people need to do to get acclimated inside Second Life. We view the dressing problem to get the avatar to look the way you want to be the penultimate challenge here; that is the thing we need to get both greatly improved in its usability, and then moved on to an entirely new UI approach.
We’re going to do that UI design in partnership with others; we’re going to do things like put different default avatars in there which we’re going to build in partnership with content creators; we’re going to sit down with content creators who have complex things like HUDs and say, “OK, if we started from scratch, how would we make your experience perfect accessible to a new user?”, and do that co-design with them and rapidly push that into the pipeline of the actual code-base of this new viewer
– Philip Rosedale, in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
Second Life streaming through Firefox
Does This Mean The Viewer is Going Away?
No. The intent with streaming Second Life / Project Zero might be summed up as being about:
Trying to try to ensure a new user first experiences Second Life to in as friction-free and as friendly a way as possible before eventually graduating to more advanced Viewer options.
To give those on lower-specifications a cost-effective means of experiencing Second Life at its fullest, should the wish to do so.
The familiar viewer – official and TPVs – is not going away, and the Lab emphasises that is is not in any way downshifting any development of, or support for, its own and third party viewers. In fact, LL are open to talking to TPVs and adding them to the streaming capability as it is developed and enhanced.
The best way to thing of streaming and the installable viewer is that they compliment one another – although it is possible that some of the refactor of the UI could be ported back to the installable viewer, if they are seen as particularly beneficial.
Of Costs and Philosophy
As noted, the ability to stream SL through your viewer is at this point in time, both a test and is being offered free of charge. However, the elephant in the room is that like it or not, streaming something as complex as Second Life does cost money. As such, the need to cover those costs has to be considered – and here again, the Lab is trying to be flexible.
What we’re trying to build long-term, is a browser-based interaction with Second Life. Right now, it has to be streamed. That’s the technology to do it NOW and do it FAST, and we’re going to learn a lot. Clearly, streaming is expensive; so we’re looking at this as an investment in a way to build down the road.
But, Second Life is big, and people spend a lot of time in-world, so if we get charged on an hourly basis, we can’t get into a situation where we’re spending $100,000 a day. So yes, we’re going to explore all different ways. Right now, it’s free; we’ll probably explore “what if we give it away to Premium Plus? What if we come up with a subscription fee? What if we do it per hour? Would you get a better deal if it is a completely new [Second Life] subscription?” We’ll test all of that to figure out what the residents want; but to be clear, we’re not looking to make money on it.
– Brad Oberwager in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
There is also something of a value proposition here for those using lower-specification systems which are more than adequate for everything else they want to do on a computer, but would like to experience a smooth, more immersive Second Life: is paying a fee / subscription for streaming SL more preferable that the up-front cost of buying a new high-end computer just to enjoy SL’s full graphic fidelity? This is something of an imponderable – but it is one the Lab is looking at.
We recognise that today, some of the most trivial pay-as-you-go set-ups are just too expensive to just let everybody in Second Life on; but hopefully, between Brad and myself and the overall technologies changes, we’ll be able to drive that price down. So it’s kind-of tricky, because we can’t put ourselves out of business in the short-term, but we also know that we’ll be able to get the price down quickly.
– Philip Rosedale in conversation with me, December 23rd, 2024
Exactly where that price-point lands remains to be seen. In the meantime, the streaming option is now available to test.
Trying SL in a Browser
The updated Second Life web login-in screen
To try out the streaming version of the viewer for yourself:
If you have not logged-in to Second Life via the web for some time (e.g. to your dashboard at secondlife.com), you will be asked to log-in via the updated web log-in page.
Read the notes on the Second Life in a Browser splash screen
Click the Play button.
The viewer should then launch through your browser (I tested on Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Edge with Windows, and all worked for me, Brave, Vivaldi and Gener8 did not).
Things to Note When Trying the Option
This is a free-to-try test, intended to offer LL a demonstration that they have the core capabilities working: the viewer is streamed smoothly, and overall performance (frame rates, etc.), is at least as good as seen when running Second Life on reasonably high specification computers.
As it is a test, there are limits on the number of users who can concurrently access the service – LL are hoping to support several thousand per day, but depending on demand, you may find you have to wait to try.
Individual sessions are limited to just one hour (as of January 9th, 2025), after which you will be disconnected.
There is no warning of any impending disconnection; you are simply logged-out of SL and pushed to the official viewer download page in your browser.
If you were testing something at the time of disconnect, you can start a new session. However, from my personal testing, I would recommend waiting a few minutes before doing so, rather than immediately trying to re-launch a viewer instance in your browser, as the log out process seems to lag behind redirecting you to the viewer download page.
In addition, whilst it is hoped that people will not repeatedly log-in to the service (so as to give as many as possible the opportunity to try it) please note:
The viewer is being streamed at a 1080p resolution. If your display does not support this, you may have to use you browser’s zoom and full screen options to display the viewer in its entirety, or use the browser scroll bars.
As the viewer is being streamed, there are limits on what can be done: personal preferences and settings are not saved; you cannot upload textures, etc., if you use MFA you will have to provide a token with each session. Further, Voice chat is not currently available.
However, all of the above will be changing as the service iterates.
Please do not create ALT accounts use multiple accounts when trying the streaming service, just keep it to one existing account when trying it.
Whilst it should be possible to access the streaming option on Tablet devices (subject to the notes above) it is not intended to be accessed via mobile devices like ‘phones, etc., with small screens: these remain the purview of SL Mobile.
If you do try the service out, please give feedback to help LL in the design process. For this first phase, we are most interested in finding any failure cases where you are unable to connect at all, and if so-minded, join the conversation in the designated forum post for this topic.
Personal Experience
I accessed Second Life via the browser option using a laptop with the following specifications: Intel Core i31.8 Ghz; Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics (up to 1.8 Gb shared memory); 8Gb DDR memory. Outside of the resolution issues referenced above (the screen was 1366×768 resolution). The experience was not too far off that of running a viewer on my primary PC (AMD 5800X 8-core processor with 16 Gb DDR4 and Nvidia RTX 3060 12Gb), and both PC and laptop using wired connections rather than wifi.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 