Steven Spielberg is responsible for some of the most iconic films of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. I’m not going to list any of them here per se, as we all likely have our favourites. However, due to his films, Spielberg is indirectly responsible for a range of Second Life destinations which either seek to reproduce his work or use it as a leaping-off point for the imaginations of those responsible for them.
In this, perhaps his most popular film (and follow-on franchise) for SL settings might well be Jurassic Park, which has seen everything from direct reproductions of its most familiar locations through to adventure games built around its central story or mixing of humans and dinosaurs.
It is Jurassic Park which sprang to mind for me as I first broadly cammed around following my arrival at Leloo’s World: Age of Giants, a setting designed by LeLooUlf.
Now, to be fair, it wasn’t actually that film that came to mind when I first arrived; that honour went to George Taylor’s (aka Charlton Heston’s) famous outburst, “You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!” And if you need to understand why, just take a look at what forms the backdrop to the Landing Point – and if you’re still unsure, go ask Google 🙂 .
However, as I did cam out and around – particularly as I first tracked around the coast – it was a specific scene from Jurassic Park, together with the truly iconic theme by John Williams (which remains part of one of my all-time favourite film scores) that came to mind as a massive brachiosaur came into view, and I found myself immediately thinking of Sam Neill’s Alan Grant and Laura Dern’s Ellie Sattler and their reactions on first seeing such a marvellous beast strolling past their jeep.
Not, I hasten to add, because Age of Giants is in any way directly based on given settings or scenes from the original film or its sequels; the setting remains uniquely its own – but there are elements and motifs which inevitably bring the film to mind, be they in the mixing of Tyrannosaurus Rex with the Apatosaurus as velociraptors look on; or in the familiar gates of the park itself (in this case leading to Leloo’s little ranges of shops oft found in her designs) or the inclusion of the Gyrosphere seen in Jurassic World.
For the most part rugged to the point of mountainous, the setting has dinosaurs scattered around and gliding overhead in the form of pterosaurs, with signposts marking the way through for those on foot. As well as the Gyrospheres mentioned above (and which you drive yourself), it is also possible to take an aerial ride around the setting via a pterosaur.
Also, and if you are feeling brave, there is the opportunity to grab a large “bone swatter” and go full-on Fred Flintstone and calm any unruly dinos with a swift clout. If this fails (as it likely will), there is a pose opportunity for photos which has you running from a potentially irate T-rex!
I did find the Gyrospheres a little difficult to control when it came to driving around, and so would personally recommend sticking to your pedal extremities and following the paths and signs on foot. The latter are particularly handy for finding the photogenic spots.
The pterosaur tour is gentle enough, and at less than 5 minutes, it doesn’t get tiresome and will take you through and over the tree tops in a manner that will reveal the dinosaurs below and perhaps reveal a path or two you might otherwise miss. Also, if you do feel something might have slipped past without ypou noticing, keep an eye out for the teleporter stone(s).
As well as the walks, etc., there are numerous places to sitting waiting to be found, both within the main dinosaur area and “outside” of it. The setting is also rich in ambient sounds, so make sure you have local sounds available in your viewer and your speakers on / headphones at the ready.
Age of Giants is small and fun to visit, and comes complete with an odd little whimsy along the beach at and close by the Landing Point, part of which I mentioned back towards the top of the piece and the rest of which I’ll leave you to find.
Slurl Details
Leloo’s World: Age of Giants (Friends, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 