Category: Linden Lab

Rod Humble reveals more on LL’s upcoming new products

Posted on by Inara Pey

Talking to Giant Bomb, Rod Humble has revealed more about the Lab’s upcoming new products, all of which appear set for launch in October.

We already know about Patterns, which is already available in its Genesis Release, and which has had something of a positive response among those in the gaming community who have tried it.

Patterns: generally positive reception to initial Genesis Release

We also know that Creatorverse will also be appearing shortly, and will initially be aimed at the iPad (but is currently still awaiting Apple’s approval), although it appears it will eventually be available for the PC and Mac as well going by comments in the article. The description of a demonstration of Creatorverse given by Humble is somewhat amusing:

Humble loaded up the app, which starts with a white screen. First, he drew a box, colored it in and tried to convince me it was a car. He made a better argument when two circles were underneath it, but when he clicked “play,” everything fell apart. By tapping the left side of the screen and pulling up his toolbox, Humble added joints that merged the “wheels” with the “car,” and gave the wheels a movement ability. Finally, he added a squiggly green line beneath everything, and clicked play again. The car roared to life…and then quickly fell off, tumbling into oblivion.

Probably not the intended result, but it does raise a smile. However, the really interesting part of the news about Creatorverse is in the paragraph which follows:

Each creation can be uploaded into the cloud, and both played and edited by anybody. The goal is to bring some Second Life sensibilities to Creatorverse eventually, too, such as giving users the ability to charge for them. (That can’t happen on iOS, though.) One of the more ambitious toys created by pre-release users was a pinball machine.

So not only would shared creative spaces appear to be a concept being carried forward from SL into their new endeavours by LL, but also the opportunity for users to monetize their creations…

Creatorverse: shared creative space and monetization? (copyright Linden Lab)

Of the remaining two products up for launch, one is Dio, which has been known about in essence, if not in content for a while. It is described as a “room creator, in which players can do everything from construct a choose-your-own adventure to develop an interactive wedding album.” This had been thought to be a product arising from the acquisition of Little Text People earlier this year. However, the fruits of that collaboration would appear to be in the fourth product in the lie-up.

Dio: to appear in October as well

This fourth product is to be called Versu, and is described as a storytelling toolset, in which players assign characters a set of motivations. The characters react to the actions of the player based on these motivations, and the story is procedurally generated. The first release is aimed at murder mystery and romance stories.

The timing of the launches so close to one another is intentional, with Humble hoping that the close proximity of the launches to one another will change people’s perception of Linden Lab, and encourage those who wrote it off as “just the Second Life company” to come back and have another look.

Hopefully, if successful, this may encourage people to take a look at Second Life as well…

With thanks to Laetizia Coronet

Making Patterns

Posted on by Inara Pey

Patterns became the first of Linden Lab’s new products to be made available to the public with an initial debut on Thursday October 4th in what the Lab calls the “Genesis Release”. This has been (and remains) available at a discount price of $9.95 on the Patterns website. The “full” release of the product will apparently not be until “late” 2013 – presumably to give both users and Linden Lab plenty of time to add to the Patterns universe and make it something truly unique – and at a price of $19.95.

As I pre-ordered my copy back in September, I was quite keen to find out what Patterns is like – and provide some initial feedback.

Downloading and Installing

Patterns is being made available through Steam, so you’ll need to sign-up there if you’re planning to try the Genesis Release for yourself. To download the software, you’ll need an activation code, which will be e-mailed to you. Use this with the Product Activation process within the Steam client to initiate download and installation – full instructions accompany the activation key. Installation is an automated process, leaving you with the option of starting Patterns from your Steam Library, your desktop, via shortcut, your start menu, and so on. No fuss, no bother, as with all Steam installations (or all (three) that I’ve seen). In this lies a hint as to how Second Life will arrive on people’s computers once the SL / Steam link-up is completed.

Start-up and First Looks

Launching Patterns is somewhat similar to the first use of SL: the first thing you’re asked to do is to agree to a very familiar Terms of Service (although it has some notable and obvious exceptions, the term “boilerplate” sprang to mind reading it – but then, why should LL reinvent their legal wheel?). Confirming your acceptance of the ToS brings up the Patterns splash screen in full.

Clicking PLAY presents you with the options to RESUME, or start a NEW session. HELP displays  some basic instructions for using Patterns (how to move, how to collect materials, how to build, etc.), while OPTIONS displays those setting you can tweak. The look of both these latter screens is perhaps best termed “retro”.

NEW gives you three options: 1, 2, 3. These refer to the number of individual game sessions you can create and save – so it is possible to have up to three sessions of Patterns ongoing, although you can only ever use one of them at a time.Start and save three sessions, however, and you’ll have to overwrite one of them the next time you select NEW.

Once you’ve started a session and the game has loaded, you’re inside a large pyramid, and need to break out. This is done by pressing and holding the right mouse button and “busting” some of the material comprising the pyramid’s walls. This breaks the material (“substance”, in Patterns parlance, which left me wondering if I was guilty of substance abuse when smashing up walls and objects…) into its component triangles, which you can then collect as you “fire” at them – they are added to the requisite substance counter at the top of the screen. You can then use any substances you have acquired (up to the total number collected) to build objects of your own.

Starting out

Note that not all materials appear to be “bustable”; some may collapse as you fire at them, some may not (such as the “bedrock” supporting each of the floating platforms). Also note that “busting” objects and walls, etc., is range limited, with out-of-range objects being outlined in yellow, and those you can break-up in green.

Once outside, you’re in a platform-like world, where you can continue use the right mouse button to assist you in collecting a range substances you may wish to use for building later, differentiated by look and texture, each with differing properties to be discovered as you gain familiarity with the game.

In order to build, you must first start collecting shapes. This involves finding special “starene” objects in-world and then busting them. Building is done using the left mouse button to select a shape from your shape tray (or use the number keys), then selecting the preferred substance from the menu of substances at the top right of the screen (you can only use the substances you have collected). There are a couple of basic rules for building, which are square faces will only snap to square faces and triangles to other triangles. suitable surfaces are outlined in green. It’s here that the different properties of the substances come into their own: some are better suited to certain tasks / situation than others.

A “starene” object which contains a building shape

There is also the small matter of physics as well, which can make itself felt whatever you’re doing (try bridging a gap between platforms with the wrong materials, and you’ll see what I mean). Be wary of trying to jump between platforms, or stepping off the edge of the one you’re on. If you fall a decent distance, you’ll come to the shattering conclusion it may have been a mistake. Be careful of anything overhead as well, when building upwards.

Shapes can also be rotated using the R key. Shape placement is a matter of determining what you want to do, and manoeuvring the camera to a position where you can actually do it – and, use the green outline of shape faces as a guide. Here is where Patterns again follows the Second Life model: camera placement leaves a lot to be desired. You can toggle between views using TAB, and move the camera up/down, left/right by moving the cursor around the screen, but it is still something of a PITA – moreso if you’re an SL user, as the temptation is to tap ESC to try to reset the camera is strong; however, in Patterns, all it will do is display the main menu.

Woot! My first bridge Continue reading “Making Patterns” →

Patterns launched

Posted on by Inara Pey

Linden Lab has officially launched Patterns, the first of their new products. In a Press Release on October 4th, 2012, Linden Lab state that the Genesis Release of the game is now available at a “50% discount” to those who pre-ordered, putting the retail price at $19.90 for the full release, when this is made available.

The Press Release on the launch reads in full:

Linden Lab Introduces a New Digital Universe for Creativity: Patterns

2012-10-04

Discounted Genesis Release Available Now for Founding Users

SAN FRANCISCO – October 4, 2012 – LindenLab®, the makers of SecondLife® and other shared creative spaces, today announced the ‘genesis release’ of a new product called PatternsTM.

Patterns is a new 3D digital universe to explore and shape with your creativity. Beginning on an archipelago floating in space, you explore and discover the shapes and patterns that form this world. As you collect materials of varying strength and durability, you can use them to build anything from large-scale structures that reach the sky to bridges that traverse chasms and much more – all while the pull of gravity challenges your construction techniques.

Today, the earliest version of Patterns – the ‘genesis release’ – is available at a 50% discount for adventurous early adopters, who will be the game’s founding users. Updates to the product will be offered on a recurring basis leading up to the launch of Patterns 1.0 late next year. In addition to receiving early access to Patterns, genesis release users will help to shape the final product with their feedback, will be entitled to have their names in the credits, and will receive all updates up to and including version 1.0 at no additional cost.

“At Linden Lab, we believe that creativity is within all people and that it empowers them like nothing else,” said Rod Humble, CEO of Linden Lab. “We make digital spaces where people can have fun while exploring and sharing their creativity with others. Millions of people around the world have enjoyed that in Second Life, and we look forward to inspiring even more creativity with Patterns, Creatorverse™, and the other new products we’ll be releasing this year. Today is just the first step for Patterns.”

For more information, including a video trailer and product screenshots, and to purchase an access key to download the Patterns genesis release, please visit BuildPatterns.com.

About Linden Lab

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Francisco, LindenLab makes shared creative spaces that inspire and empower users to explore and share their creativity with others.

In 2003, the company released SecondLife, the pioneering virtual world filled by the unique creations of its users, who can build anything they can imagine, socialize with others from around the world, and share or sell their creations in a thriving real-money marketplace.

In 2012, Linden Lab is expanding its portfolio to include four new digital entertainment products, including Patterns, a new 3D universe for users to shape, and Creatorverse, an iPad game that allows users to set their creativity in motion.

For more about Linden Lab, its products, and career opportunities please visit LindenLab.com.

—-

Contact:
Peter Gray
presscontact@lindenlab.com
415-547-7367

LL’s new CFO

Posted on by Inara Pey

Bob Komin’s departure from Linden Lab at the start of August was widely reported, With Tateru Nino first confirming he had in fact left after a couple of months of speculation he was set to depart.

Mr. Komin’s replacement as LL’s CFO is Malcolm Dunne, who joined the company in August, so this is something of a belated “welcome” to him :).

His official bio from the management  / board page of the new corporate website reads

Malcolm Dunne is the Chief Financial Officer of Linden Lab and is a chartered accountant with 15 years of experience in the interactive entertainment industry. Dunne joined Linden Lab from Trion Worlds Inc, where he was CFO and a board member. He was instrumental in growing the organization to 450 headcount, $100m+ revenues within a 12 month period and closing debt and equity funding exceeding $100 million during his 3 1/2 year tenure. Prior to Trion, he was Interim CFO at SCi plc (the former parent company of Eidos), where he was instrumental in raising £60 million to recapitalize the business. Malcolm has also held positions at Capcom and Electronic Arts.

Interestingly, Mr. Dunne’s LinkedIn profile notes a five-month stint at Clickatell between his time at Trion Worlds and joining LL. That Mr. Dunne also worked at EA Games might raise eyebrows among some, so it should be pointed out that there is no apparent direct EA link” between him and Rod Humble, as Mr. Dunne departed EA prior to Rod Humble’s arrival.

Welcome, Malcolm!

 

Patterns now available to pre-order

Posted on by Inara Pey

Update, October 9th, 2014: Linden Lab announced that development work on Patterns has been discontinued.

Update, 24th Sept: Linden Lab are now e-mailing those who have signed-up to the new product beta programme with news that Patterns is available to pre-order. Received my e-mail this evening!

Linden Research has announced the pre-release “Genesis” version of Patterns is now available to pre-order, and will ship “on or prior to” October 5th. The cost for the initial release is $9.95 (£6.32), and payment can be made via PayPal or credit card.

Pattens: Pre-order now (image courtesy of Linden Research Inc.)

The Genesis release is available for Windows and Mac OS, and has the following specifications:

Windows:

  • XP SP2 or later
  • 2GB of memory
  • 250MB free disk space
  • Any 3D graphics card with minimum 128 Video RAM and pixel shader 3.0 support

Mac:

  • Mac OS X: Intel CPU & “Snow Leopard” 10.6 or later
  • Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (2 CPUs)
  • 2GB of memory
  • 250MB free disk space
  • Any 3D graphics card with minimum 128 Video RAM and pixel shader 3.0 support

The specification page notes that: “Patterns is a 3D intensive experience. By adjusting the quality settings we provide some flexibility to accommodate the performance experience based on your needs.”

Version 0.0.1 feature list – Genesis

  • Build with over 20 Unique geometric shapes.
  • A hand crafted world of substances and shapes.
  • Explore, discover and bust apart a world in a pure sandbox environment.
  • Shaping Stone workbench that enables you to craft and discover shapes.
  • 8 collectible substances.
    • Clay
    • Bonestone
    • Starene
    • Nak
    • Limewood
    • Coralwood
    • Jasper
    • Gypsum
  • Emergent objects that explode or roll.
  • Simulated physics, gravity and tensile strength that plays upon substances and your creations.
  • 3 Save slots.
  • Building tools that include shape repeating and shape rotation.
  • Two camera modes for building and exploring.
  • A controllable character with Run, Jump and Walk capabilities.
  • 3 different quality settings to accommodate a variety of system specs.
  • Full screen and windowed mode support.
  • Windows and Mac version.
  • Public access to bug reporting.

Those purchasing the Genesis version, “Are entitled to have your name featured in the credits of the game in version 1.0.”

 

Patterns: “Minecraft with triangles and a physics engine”

Posted on by Inara Pey

Update, October 9th, 2014: Linden Lab announced that development work on Patterns has been discontinued.

On Wednesday 19th September, LL issued the trailer for “Patterns”, one of the two new products announced this week that are completely separate from SL and which represent the company’s first steps in diversification.

Watching the video, again narrated by LL’s CEO, Rod Humble, it is clear that Patterns (apparently the product of a partnership with Free Range Games) is a much more involved product than Creatorverse – and one that is perhaps even more built on LL’s experience in developing world-building tools.

When the new first broke, Lomoco Binder, speaking at an in-world User Group, referred to it as “Minecraft with triangles and physics” – which should not be taken negatively. He was perhaps the first outside of LL to draw the line connecting Patterns with Minecraft in terms of similarity of approach, although it is something that was clearly not lost on LL. The Minecraft parallel is mentioned pretty much front-and-centre by Rod Humble himself in an interview with IGN: “The notion was you take a very simple 3D creation tool, you take that lovely elegance of the resources that’s in Minecraft, and then make the whole thing have physics right from the ground up,” Humble said in describing Patterns.

The core aspect of the game is that of “shared creativity”; people working individually or collectively, developing their own work, sharing it with the world at large so that others can enhance or modify creations and everyone learn from one another. Two additional aspects of the gameplay in Patterns are an element of discovery and the use of a physics engine from the ground-up.

The discovery element is designed to lead people naturally from the basic triangle through to creating more and more complex shapes, using a variety of materials, including wheels and the like. Creations can then be manipulated using the physics engine and can also be naturally affected by the physics engine. For example, build upwards without providing the proper foundations or bracing, and your tower (or whatever) could collapse as a result of the ground giving way beneath it, or simply as a result of its own mass. Similarly, build outward (such as with a bridge) without the proper support, and your structure may collapse before you complete it. Even the materials you chose to build with have different properties and react differently with the physics engine.

Pattens

While it is going to be a while yet for Patterns to make a formal debut to the world at large, it will shortly be open in what Linden lab is calling a “Genesis Release” program – effectively a pre-alpha release – available to early adopters (Founders) for $10. This is aimed, according to the video, at helping to develop enhanced features within Patterns which can in turn be a part of the launch product and form the basis of on-going collaboration both between users and between users and the company to enhance and develop the product over time. Founders will apparently get all future updates to the game in return for their input.

Patterns

Details on the Genesis Release have yet to be fully release (although IGN state it is happening this week) and neither the video nor the IGN interview hint at the platforms on which Patterns can be used. However, given the pricing of the Genesis Release (which is described as being “low” by OGN, suggesting the released version will cost more), it would appear the game is perhaps not initially aimed towards mobile devices. In the meantime, those interested in gaining further news can try their hand signing-up to the Beta  Release form on the Lab’s website.

Patterns also appears as if it will be getting its own dedicated website in the future – buildpatterns.com. At the moment, this resolves back to the Linden Research promo webpage for the product, but it’ll be interesting to see if this remains the case once Patterns is launched and is being used creatively and collaboratively.

Patterns

Video and images courtesy of Linden Research Inc.