Category: Second Life

Name Changes: $40 per change(?), some thoughts and a poll

Posted on by Inara Pey

Name Changes  – the ability for Premium members to change their first and last names, with the first name being free-form, and the last being selected from a list – is due to be launched around January / February 2020.

As has been previously announced, Name Changes will be offered for a US dollars fee, and there has been some speculation over the last couple of months as to the the size of that fee (one prominent rumour surfaced at some User Group meetings has claimed the fee will be US $20.00, for example – see here).

However, with the announcement of the Name Changes contest (see Name Changes Contest is Upon Us! from Linden Lab and my own blog post Linden Lab launches SL Name Changes contest), we now have a prominent indicator as to what the fee will likely be, and it comes to us via the contest rules:

5. PRIZE.

A. Description of Prizes. One free Last Names change (estimated value at US$39.99 plus $11.99 to represent the value of a month of Premium Membership) on an account of Winner’s choice.

B. Estimated Total Prize package value: US$51.98. Exact value dependent on account status.

(Emphasis mine.)

Of course, the fee still has yet to be finally confirmed, but it’s fairly safe to assume that it is likely to be the  $39.99¹ mentioned in the contest rules. This raises some interesting thoughts about the capability and its potential uptake.

On the one hand, a fee is to be expected, if for no other reason that that re-introduction of names changes has required extensive changes to many of the back-end systems and services that support Second Life (hence the time taken for the capability to be introduced). Also, given the impact of making a name change will have an extensive impact on those systems, the Lab needs to limit how frequently such changes might be made to avoid unintended impact.

There’s also the the fact that in order to meet demands from users for the Lab to reduce land tier (which they’ve tried to address over the last few years through the likes of the 2016 buy-down offer and the reductions to mainland (March 2018) and private region (June 2018) tier), there need to be ways in which the revenue can be made up (see Thoughts on Second Life fees, tier and revenue ) and Name Changes is one more option by which this might – in time – be achieved.

BUT … the potential for revenue generation needs to be balanced against the level of the fee: if it is set too high (and leaving aside the inevitable shouts about “gouging”, etc., from some quarters), then it could be self-defeating. Simply put: if users feel the fee is too high, they’re not going to run with it, particularly given Display Names will remain available. As such, there is something of a risk that Name Changes may take a good deal of time to recoup the costs of implementation – if it can.

There’s also the overall level of interest in the capability: while a lot of noise was made following the removal of last names in favour of “Resident”, the fact is that those who have been around long enough to have a last name (like myself) may well be so attached to it, so changing it may hold little interest. Even those partnering or with the “Resident” last name might prefer to stay with using Display Names rather than forking out for a Name Change.

Time will tell on both of these latter points – and there will likely be much debate on the fee as well as the capability in general. As such, I thought I’d try a straw poll of feedback on the subject from readers – make sure you vote in each box; once for interest, the other for the fee.

Update, December 28th: this poll is now closed.

Related Articles

  1. Note that Linden Lab has indicated the fee will be lower for Premium Plus once it has been launched. However, Premium Plus pricing has yet to be confirmed, and the option will not be launched until some time after the release of Name Changes.

Out of Mind – Inner Galaxy in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Out of Mind – Inner Galaxy

Open now through until December 29th is an ensemble exhibition organised by ViktorSavior. Entitled Out of Mind – Inner Galaxy, it features the work of a dozen Second Life artists.

The art is offered alongside the poetry of Alena Witt, who is also one of the artists, alongside of ViktorSavior. The remaining ten artists are: Amethystreignn, AngelinkaNega, jessamine2108, OrpheusofDarkness, RichardGrataineSuoh, Sleksanas, TaraAers, Ava Jhamin, Lanka Milligan and Vita Theas.

Out of Mind – Inner Galaxy

The setting is somewhat ethereal: a temple-like structure with columns of which hold aloft a sky of blinking star-like lights over which clouds pass, mirroring the mist the issues from the base of the columns and above a marble floor, two sides of which are limned with tear drops of light.

The art is set between the columns, alternating on each of the “walls” with poems by Alena. The latter are presented in Russian, but touch a poem to receive a note card with the poem in both Russian and English. The art – up to three pieces per artist, is displayed vertically – again, touch a picture for a note card on the artist responsible.

Out of Mind – Inner Galaxy

With the images focused on avatar studies, the exhibition offers an interesting insight into different styles and approaches to avatar art, with fantasy perhaps taking centre stage among the majority of the images presented. The theme stands as a excellent companion to the idea of expression of how we perceive ourselves and projection that inner self outwards and create a world around us we project through this virtual realm.

Small, rich with colour and presentation, this is an interesting and expressive exhibition.

SLurl Details

Second Life: Name Changes contest launched

Posted on by Inara Pey
via and © Linden Lab

After reading this article, please also check: Name Changes: $40 per change(?), some thoughts and a poll.

As promised in a November 21st, 2019 blog post from the Lab (see: The Return of Last Names and Changes to Marketplace, Events & Premium), Linden Lab has launched a competition for users to suggest the first batch of Last Names for when the new service is launched in 2020. 

Once available, Names Changes means Premium members can change their First Name, Last Name, or both.

  • There will be a one-time fee applied per Name Change.
  • First names are entirely free-form, while Last Names will be selectable from a list (“old” Last Names will not be eligible for re-use).

It is in this last regard that the contest is being run, as noted, with the Lab commenting:

We want your help coming up with the first batch of Last Names! 

Three submissions per entry … From all of the suggestions, we’ll pick five (5), and those five lucky Residents will be able to change their names completely free of charge (or designate another account for the name change).

Again, previously-available Last Names (e.g. Pay, Voyager, Sideways, Starr, Young, Silverweb, and so on), cannot be suggested and will not form a part of the new Name Changes service. A complete list of previously last names is available here.

Please refer to Name Changes Contest is Upon Us! for further information, and note that entries must be made via the official contest form, and must be submitted before 15:00 SLT on January 6th, 2020. Full rules for the contest can be found here. These appear to suggest the cost of a name change will be US $40.00 – see section 5 Prize, of the rules.

You can also catch up on my coverage of Last Names here:

2019 viewer release summaries week #50

Posted on by Inara Pey
Logos representative only and should not be seen as an endorsement / preference / recommendation

Updates for the week ending Sunday, December 15th

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

  • Current Release version 6.3.5.533275, formerly the Wassail RC viewer, dated November 5th, – NEW.
  • Release channel cohorts:
    • No updates.
  • Project viewers:
    • Copy / Paste viewer updated to version 6.3.5.533365 on December 9th.

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V6-style

  • Kokua updated to versions 6.3.5.46555 (RLV / FRLV) and 6.3.5.46556 (No RLV) on December 15th (release notes).

V1-style

Mobile / Other Clients

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links

Reesla and Moki Yuitza at Club LA and Gallery

Posted on by Inara Pey
Club LA and Gallery: Reesla Chau and Moki Yuitza

Now open at Club LA and Gallery, curated by Wintergeist are two very contrasting exhibitions of art; the first in 2D and the other in 3D. Both will remain open through into the new year, and make for an interesting demonstration of art and creativity in Second Life.

The 2D art is presented by Reesla Chau, a Second Life photographer from Japan, who offers a portfolio of 16 avatar portraits focused on her own avatar in various locations around the grid. It’s a fascinating series of images richly showcasing Reesla’s eye for creating a scene and her use of angle and soft focus / depth of field.

Club LA and Gallery: Reesla Chau

In terms of the latter, I’d particularly draw attention to Summer Visit, on the wall immediately to the left on entering her exhibition space. But for one or two giveaways around the trees and leaves. it could so easily have been taken in a park in the physical world. Way Back is similarly engrossing due the the sheer realism folded within it.

Others in the series offer a digital take on classical portraiture-as-paintings – notably Windmill, The Moonlit Night and Country Road During Summer Vacation, the latter two of which again demonstrate Reesla’s marvellous use of depth of field. However, what is most engaging about Reesla’s work is her ability to tell a story with her photographs; every one of the 16 here whispers and entire story to those who stand before them.

Club LA and Gallery: Reesla Chau

The 3D art is presented by Moki Yuitza is entitled Rainbow Flakes. It’s a piece best seen with the viewer set to midday, rather than the region’s default time, and with local sounds enabled in order to hear the specially composed music by Daddio Dow.

Describing this piece isn’t easy; perhaps the best means of doing so is to refer to it as a coloured mobile of geometric forms set within a rainbow grid and turning slowly, it’s motion seemingly driven by the the gentle tones and vibrations of the music.

Club LA and Gallery: Moki Yuitza

It’s a fascinating piece, potentially hypnotic in form, colour and tone, and should be seen equally from both inside and outside of the surrounding grid in order to be full appreciated. However, fully quantifying it is something that’s very much an individual task. If not a mobile, I’d personally view Rainbow Flakes as a living kaleidoscope, free to change form and colour at will.

Two excellent exhibitions, both not to be missed.

Club LA and Gallery: Moki Yuitza

SLurl Details

Tonarino: an oriental curio in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Tonarino, December 2019 – click any image for full size

Shawn dropped a landmark for Tonarino, a Full region with a distinctly Japanese look and feel. A group design, the region is split into five major parts – not all of which are open to the public. To the south is a square block of a flat island, topped by scrub grass and what appears to be a café, while off to the west are three more fairly regularly shaped islands in a north-to-south line.

The majority of the region, however is given over to a large landmass the rises from east to west, and is home to a small semi-urban setting that sits at the end of a single line of railway track. A wooden bridge connects the little town with southern islands, and on crossing it, I found no evidence that the island and it’s café are not open to the public.

Tonarino, December 2019

However, given that the westward islands are separated from the main landmass both physically and by the fact the lay of the land largely hides them from view, they would seem to be collectively for private use. Certainly, the middle of the three islands – and the only one that offers a landing point for those making use of the pedal boats available from the western shore of the town –  is restricted to Group access only. Given that the north and south islands either side of it are only connected to it and are without any obvious at which to come ashore for those using the pedal boats, there is the suggestion that they are also private. Either way, I opted not to risk trespass.

The eastern side of the main landmass offers a mix of buildings from cement blockhouses with shops on the lower floor to little apartments on the floor above to stores and eateries modelled along more “traditional” lines all split into little groups by a small grid of roads and by the railway line. Sitting among them is space to grow vegetables an fruit although part of this ground is apparently lying fallow under the snow. To the west, between the hills, the ubiquitous school blockhouse that is often found within regions with a modern Japanese theme, squats as it overlooks the pedal boat moorings mentioned above.

Tonarino, December 2019

The railway line terminates with a station that’s little more than a waiting room with a bus stop neighbouring. On the other side of the track the land that is being cleared for building. A stream tumbles from the hill to the south-west to run parallel with the train line as it emerges from a tunnel under the hill before it eventually turns inland to cross the stream via a trestle bridge. Stone steps also climb the hill to overlook the waterfall and to provide access to a small cemetery.

To the north-east another craggy hill rises, stone steps cut into its face. It is home to the solid presence of an old temple sitting within a small garden, a little refreshment stand lurking just outside the gardens for those feeling hungry after a climb up the steps or a time of prayer in the temple. A (large) step down from this on an out-thrust shoulder of rock is an traditional Japanese walled house. Reached via separate steps, this appears to be linked to the spaces for growing fruit and vegetables, suggesting they may be owned or managed by whoever lives within the house.

Tonarino, December 2019

Looking careworn and a little tired under its light covering of snow, the setting at Tonarino has a very lived-in feel that offers scope for photographers looking for backdrops for avatar studies or who enjoy landscapes that feature buildings and urban / suburban settings. Places to sit may be few and parts of the region off-limits to most, but these don’t detract from any appreciation of the Tonarino.

SLurl Details