On Thursday, June 18th, Linden Lab announced that the SL12B velociraptor avatar, initially made available to Premium members, is now generally available to all.
The avatar, which will be available through until the end of July can now be claimed at the in-world kiosk at Hairy Hippo Fun Land, Weston, Bay City, or via the Marketplace – although I wouldn’t be surprised if vendors also appear within the SL12B Community Celebration regions as well in the upcoming week.
As is usual with the release of birthday avatars, the Lab is also running a photo contest with L$19,000 available in prizes (broken down into a L$10,000 grand prize, L$5,000, 1st prize, L$3,000 2nd prize, or a L$1,000 3rd prize).
The official blog post announcing the availability of the avatar to all, and the competition, described the latter thus:
The SL12B raptor avatar: subject of the latest photo contest
Now that you’ve got your raptor – it’s time to take ‘em for a test drive. Share snapshots of your raptor avatar celebrating SL12B to the Second Life 12th Anniversary Snapshot Contest from now until July 20th … Be creative! This limited-edition raptor has the entirety of the grid to seek out a picture-perfect spot to take a winning snapshot – but a good place to start is the SL12B Destination Guide category.
The closing date for submissions is 10:00 SLT on Monday, July 20th, 2015. Winners will be decided via popular vote against all submitted entries on the competition pages, with voting opening at 10:00 SLT on July 20th, 2015 and running though until 10:00 SLT August 3rd, 2015.
Just as an aside, The last photo contest was held in February in the form of a photo booth contest. This was judged by a panel (of which I was a member), but the final results got a little lost due to various reasons.
So, in order to (hopefully) help clear the air, the grand and first prize winners in that competition were LadyPants07 and Kye Zelin respectively – belated congratulations to them. However, the 2nd and 3rd prize winners, did not submit the necessary documentation to claim their prizes pursuant to the competition rules, and so the Lab are unable to share their names.
The SL12BCC Dreamitarium – venue for some great talks throughout the celebrations
The SL12B Community Celebrations commence on Sunday, June 21st, when the gates officially open at midday for a week-long series of events to mark the platform’s 12th anniversary, spread across 15 regions.
As usual, this year includes some amazing builds – the main stages are all visually stunning once again, and promise to wow visitors touring the celebrations. The auditorium is also another phenomenal build this year – and one I find particularly attractive, given it is modelled on the theme of a planetarium 🙂 .
The auditorium – or Dreamitarium, as it’s being called this year to fit with the theme of the celebrations – in SL12 B Astound, will be the focal point for one of the main series of events through the week of SL12B: the talks and presentations, including a series of talks and panels once again sponsored by Prim Perfect.
The Dreamitarium lobby area
Saffia Widdershins contacted me with news of the talks, which are just a part of the overall series of events and activities occurring at the Dreamitarium, and I’m happy to provide insight to them here.
There will be five streams of talks presented by Prim Perfect and their partners this year, which are each scheduled for the same time each day, as follows.
Meet the Non-profit – daily at 09:00 SLT
A chance to learn about some of the great work being done by non-profit organisations active in Second Life Grid. Organised by Rhiannon Chatnoir of Non-profit Commons who also co-sponsor the talks.
Monday 22 June
Virtual Ability Inc. with Gentle Heron
Tuesday 23 June
Health non-profits with Coughran Mayo and Brena Benoir
Wednesday 24 June
Arts non-profits with Zinnia Zauber
Thursday 25 June
Create a Community Dream Lissena Wisdomseeker and Whole Brain Health
Friday 26 June
Non-profit Commons in SL Community Panel with Buffy Beale, Coughran Mayo, Glitteractica Cookie, Rhiannon Chatnoir and Zinnia Zauber
Saturday 27 June
Relay for Life with Gem Sunkiller
Sunday 28 June
A Wisdomseeker’s Dream with Lissena (Wisdomeseeker)
Meet the Lindens – Monday – Friday, 13:00 SLT
A chance to meet with some of the people who keep Second Life working, who bring us new tools and capabilities, and provide support to the community:
Monday 22 June
Oz Linden, Engineering Director, Second Life
Tuesday 23 June
Patch Linden, Senior Manager, Product Operations, and Dee Linden, Land Product Specialist
Wednesday 24, June
Xiola Linden, Lead Community Manager, and Pete Linden, Senior Director, Global Communications at Linden Lab
Come and hear designers in a wide range of fields discussing their work, inspirations and aspiration to Saffia Widdershins.
Sunday 21 June
Fantasy Faire Designers: Alia; Sharni; Kayle
Monday 22 June
Nardya Rousselot – Nardcotix, Victoria Grau – VG Shoes, Eboni Khan -House of Hucci
Tuesday 23 June
TBA
Wednesday 24, June
Kaerri Rae
Thursday 25 June
Reven Rosca
Friday 26 June
Ladies of Mesh: Shai, Nardya Rousselot (The Loft), Colleen (The Loft) pending
Saturday 27 June
La Vian
Sunday 28 June
Men of Mesh : Loz Hyde, Maxwell Graf, Cain Maven
The Dreamitarium main auditorium
Meet the Artist – daily at 16:00 SLT
A chance to hear from artists who are using Second Life in a variety of ways for artistic expression in conversation with Taralyn Gravois.
Sunday 21 June
TBA
Monday 22 June
IanLee Patton
Tuesday 23 June
Moya Patrick
Wednesday 24, June
Haveit Neox
Thursday 25 June
Krystalli Rabeni
Friday 26 June
Wildstar Beaumont
Saturday 27 June
TBA
Sunday 28 June
TBA
Meet the Community – daily at 17:00
Communities are the bedrock of Second Life – how are they forged? How are they sustained? And can they be transposed elsewhere? Saffia Widdershins finds out!
Sunday 21 June
Sanctuary
Monday 22 June
Angel Manor
Tuesday 23 June
Milkwood (Writers’ Community)
Wednesday 24, June
Al Raqis
Thursday 25 June
The Power of Virtual Education
Friday 26 June
Performance Arts – Aelva
Saturday 27 June
New Babbage
Sunday 28 June
Raglanshire
So, get ready for some great presentations, talks and conversations sponsored by Prim Perfect! And don’t forget there is a lot more going on at the auditorium and the two forum meeting rooms at the Dreamitarium through the week of S12BCC activities, so be sure to check-out the official auditorium’s schedule daily!
The train now arriving (or is that leaving…?) platform ? …
The clock is counting down to the start of the SL12B Community Celebration. On Sunday, June 21st, the gates will be thrown wide, for a week of events and and attractions, after which they’ll remain open for a further week so people can tour and enjoy without the celebratory events and activities.
With the count ticking down the hours and minutes, the remaining schedule in the lead-up to the start of celebrations reads like this:
Wednesday June 17th (noon SLT) at noon SLT – Thursday, June 18th: Sims closed for walk-through
Friday, June 19th and Saturday, June 20th: Extra time for adjustments
Saturday, June 20th: Press day
Sunday, June 21st (noon SLT): Sims open!
And, of course, Tuesday, June 23rd marks the actual day of Second Life’s 12th anniversary!
If you’ve applied to be a part of the Press Day on Saturday, June 20th, you should hear about things soon, with an invite to join the press group. In the meantime, a final sneak peek video from me, also available on the SL12B website.
Preparations for the 12th Second Life Birthday Community Celebration are continuing. With just over a week left until the regions close for walk-through and stress testing, exhibitors and stage creators are hard at work building wonders to woo and wow visitors when the gates are thrown wide to the public on Sunday, June 21st.
I’ve been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to slip into the regions and see what is going on; and I have to say that there is a lot of fantastic effort going into things, with people really focusing on the idea of dreams and what may come, and where they might lead.
SL12BCC: the stages take shape…
The main reason for my early access is to put together sneak peek videos of the regions on behalf of the SL12BCC organising team. This is an interesting exercise for me, as trying to piece together very short video and without giving too much away this early-on is taking me into new territory with my video making!
Nevertheless, it’s proving fun, so, with that said, here’s another video peek at the regions, which can also be found on the official SL12BCC website. Enjoy!
We’re approaching the start of June, and with the run-up to this year’s Second Life Birthday Community Celebrations. As noted in the banner above, the event will take place between June 21st and 28th, and will feature fifteen regions packed with builds, performance areas, stages, works of art and more, all celebrating the rich creative diversity within Second Life. On Monday, June 1st, eager exhibitors will gain access to the regions, ready to start construction!
As a part of the build-up to the main event, there will once again be a special Press Day – Saturday, June 20th, 2015 – when the fifteen regions will be open for bloggers, photographers, machinima makers, and so on to tour them and preview all that awaits residents in this year’s celebrations.
If you would like to participate in the Press Day for SL12BCC, please make sure you complete and submit the SL12B press application form.
The SL12B Time Capsule
The Time Capsule is a traditional part of the SL Birthday celebrations. It is used to contain items donated by SL residents, which are placed on display at future SLB celebrations. This year is no exception, and the SL12BCC organisers have issued an invitation to residents to submit designs for a time capsule that represents a significant technical enhancement for the year, or which is inspired by the year’s celebratory theme, which this year is “what dreams may come?”.
To give some examples of past time capsules, the SL4B capsule had flexible prims which that of SL5B featured glow – which were technical developments in SL in their respective years, while the SL6B time capsule was a meteorite chunk, in keeping with that year’s space theme.
I have the honour to be invited by the SL12B CC coordinator, Doc Gascoigne, to produce a series of short “preview” videos marking how things are developing on the celebration regions as building commences – and obviously without giving too much away!
As work starts in earnest for most exhibitors on Monday, June 1st, 2015, we thought we’d start the previews with… a preview! Enjoy!
While the traditional Second Life Birthday celebrations are now pretty much coordinated and run by the community – hence the title Second Life Birthday Community Celebrations, the Lab has a track record of sharing in the celebratory mood around the time of SL’s anniversary through various promotions, gifts, and so on, often as an overall part of the community celebrations
Xiola Linden brings word that this year, the Lab is trying something a little different – a music festival; and they’re inviting musicians from across SL to participate.
Second Life is turning 12 this June, and we’re planning a few extra special ways to help commemorate a dozen amazing years with our Residents! You’ll have to stay tuned to this blog and our social media pages for all the exciting things as they roll out, but today we’re announcing auditions for … (drum roll, please) … the Second Life Music Fest – sponsored by Linden Lab – a two day music-extravaganza inworld to celebrate!
Second Life is full of talented musicians, and we’re hoping to draw out all you guitarists, bassists, drummers, singers, tambourine shakers and other music makers to come audition for the festival. All genres are welcome!
The Second Life Music Fest is an opportunity to perform at one of the biggest celebrations in Second Life, and it’s a paid gig!
Those interested in taking part are invite to complete the audition application form – and to do so no later than Wednesday, May 20th. The blog post notes that completion of the application never signifies a commitment on the part of the artist to take part, nor a guarantee they’ll be called upon to audition before a panel of judges comprising Lab personnel and residents.
Musicians who are selected to audition will receive word directly from the Lab via e-mail. Those successful in their audition will be invited to perform a 30-minute set at the Second Life Music Fest, and (subject to the Lab’s terms and conditions) receive payment for doing so.
The auditions themselves will be open to the public, and will take place at Feed A Smile’s Lavender Fields on the following dates and times:
Friday, May 22nd 12:00 noon to 14:00 SLT
Saturday, May 23rd 18:00 to 20:00 SLT
So, if this sounds like it might be your kind of gig as a musician – follow the links and apply.
On Thursday, June 18th, Linden Lab announced that the SL12B velociraptor avatar, initially made available to Premium members, is now generally available to all.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 