Cica’s A – Maze in Second Life

For August, Cica Ghost presents A – Maze, an interactive setting offering a little fun and turning a quote from author John Green somewhat on its head.

As the name might suggest, the core theme of A -Maze is just that – a maze. Formed by capped brick walls, it covers most of the region. Unlike most mazes, however, this one doesn’t have a centre or destination / goal, nor is it a unicursal; neither is it precisely a branching tour-puzzle (although it does have a form of branching). Rather, it is a means to offer assorted routes of exploration around the setting, with assorted points of exit and re-entry.

While it can be travelled on foot, the maze is can also be explored via the vehicles Cica presents to visitors alongside the Landing Point. As is typical with Cica, there are no ordinary vehicles; instead they add to the region’s whimsy by taking the form of four animals carved from wood – a duck, horse, elephant and giraffe – all set on wooden chassis. Two sizes of vehicle are supplied, the smaller set of four lined up to one side of the Landing Point and potentially offered for Tinies.

By default, the vehicles move at a pedestrian speed. But if you are feeling daring then tap the Page Up key to apply the second gear and and little more speed (Page Down to slow down again). In this respect, the smaller vehicles are possibly more fun, as they are small enough to zip around the maze in comfort.

The maze is not the only feature of the setting. Towards the middle of the region is a little village raised on the back of a steep-sided plateau, with bottle houses and a windmill. It is slightly overgrown by great vines, some with seed-like seats hanging from them. Elsewhere thumb-like hills are topped by trees or have ladders climbing them to individual bottle houses. Also waiting to be found are some of Cica’s little critters, while some of the walls of the maze are painted with more of Cica’s creations, brightening their brickwork.

The quote accompanying the build is from Looking for Alaska, John Gren’s 2005 novel for young adults:

At some point we all look up and realize we are lost in a maze.

In its original form the quote references the central themes of the novel – that of coming of age, the meaning of life and grief. As such, it can be seen as slightly dark in tone and meaning. Here, Cica turns it on its head, offering an underscoring to the idea that mazes can offer journeys into the unknown (as is life itself, really), filled with unexpected delights. In this, if one wanted to be totally analytical, A – Maze echoes the ultimate message from the book, that of hope.

Not that any analysis of quote and setting is required; A – Maze is enjoyable in and of itself.

SLurl Details

• A – Maze (Mysterious Isle, rated Moderate)