Category: Reviews

‘Twas off back to Luane’s World at Le Monde Perdu for me at the start of December, and a visit to LuaneMeo’s always-engaging public region.

As one might expect given it’s the end of the year, the region has been redressed for a northern hemisphere winter, with Luane working with Gorba McMahon to bring visitors a lot to see and do within and snow-covered landscape.

A white winter blanket has settled over Luane’s World, a Nordic-inspired haven with charming red houses by a frozen lake. Explore the illuminated Christmas market in the village, then take a chairlift to a cosy mountain bar. Ski or sledge through snowy forests and down to the rocky shore to uncover a stunning ice cave with a museum of ice statues. On the island’s other side, visit a quaint fishing hamlet with a rugged, captivating atmosphere. Wonders await—so wander, explore, and enjoy!

– Luane’s World – Le Monde Perdu Winter 2024 description

For this iteration of the region, the land forms and inverted U around a cold water bay, watched over from the south by two mountainous off-region islands. The landing point is located on the western headland, where stands a little Nordic-style village with something of a carnival atmosphere about it. A Ferris wheel offers rides, the houses are cosy and warm, and a little skating rink has been set-up, complete with little stalls selling refreshments and goodies to keep people warm, with plenty of seating scattered around.

Low-lying, the headland and village overlook the semi-frozen waters of the bay, with the second headland away to the east also marked by buildings, these built right against the shoreline. To reach them, people can either make their way around the region on foot (or using one of the forms of land transport dotted around!), or they can cross the bay directly using either an inflatable boat or – in quite a novel option – by taking a bumper car over the ice!

When crossing the water, I’d advise saying clear of the polar bears out on the larger ice floes; they might look cuts and cuddly, but my experience (such as it is) is that you can never be sure that if one mentions “lunch” to you, it is and invitation or a recognition that you’re edible 😀 .

The buildings on the far side of the bay form a little fishing locale; it appears to be largely closed for the season in terms of actual fishing, but the cabins are warm and the puffins are hopeful you might have a treat for them!

A well-defined track runs between the village and the fishing shacks, following the curve of the bay as it does so. Along the way, the path passes a chai lift climbing up the local peak. At the top, a bar awaits as Santa flies past outside, and people can catch a drink or head out skiing or sledding. Two routes for the latter ware available: either back downslope or a little backcountry skiing / sledding along the northern ridgeline of cliffs.

Another trail zig-zags down the eastern extent of the ridge, linking once more with the lowland trails and paths. Little cottages sit in the lee of the cliffs,  each one offering a warm welcome – and one with a slightly lewd snowman outside! The last of these cottages forms a literal log house. It sits across the lane from a tall A-frame cabin, complete with a red and white jacket, pants and hat are drying on the line, suggesting that prior to taking to the air in his sleigh once more, Santa may have stopped off for a change of clothes!

Throughout all of this, the landscaping is simply perfect, the snow falls gently and the wildlife obligingly poses for photographs. As well as  all the activities available, the setting offers opportunities to simply sit and pass the time, either indoors or outdoors, with some nicely tucked away for those wanting a little privacy.

Luane notes that PBR materials are used within the region, and the note suggests these may not have Blinn-Phong fallbacks; so if you are on a non-PBR viewer, you may see “missing textures”.

It’s always a pleasure to visit Luane’s world at Le Monde Pedu, so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a winter destination for your travels. While visiting, keep your eyes open for the little touches of humour scattered around – the aforementioned snowman, for example, together with the little birds dressed for the festive season; but most of all – enjoy!

SLurl Details

• Luane’s World – Le Monde Perdu (rated Moderate)

Gingerbread and the Woodies is the title Alpha Auer has given to her 2024 seasonal design for her Alphatribe Island. Alpha describes it as a “sort of” continuation of her Ragville – but if you didn’t see (or don’t recall) that work, have no fear: Gingerbread and the Woodies stands on its own two feet as a delightful place to visit.

Alpha notes that the installation is made possible through the support of Olympes Rhode – so to her also go thanks for making the setting possible. Alpha goes on to note that the setting is best seen using the supplied Shared Environment, Draw Distance set to 256 metres and that shadows are enabled in the viewer.

While I’d certainly agree that shadows and the Shared Environment are a must, I’d very politely disagree over the need to set Draw Distance to 256 metres; while the region has clearly been optimised to help boost performance, should you have a system that might get a little grumpy with things like frame rates at so high a setting, I’d suggest going for whatever your system can comfortably manage, rather than feeling you cannot visit on account of that setting.

Given Gingerbread and the Woodies is a seasonal setting, it should come as no surprise that it is a snowy location; possibly somewhere in the far north, or at least where the temperature is such that the trees have their trunks coated in frost, and the waters seem particularly cold.

The Woodies of the title are the local inhabitants of the land; they live in gingerbread and cookie homes – some of which are quite grand – and share the landscape with the local wildlife. They appear to be a hardy folk; despite the cold look of the sea, some have just returned from a voyage to collect more seasonal things to put out around their houses or perhaps with which to dress their gingerbread trees.

If any of the goods on the boat are to be sold, then the local market is likely where they’ll be headed; here to join all the pastries, cakes, wreaths and other goodies. And should you feel particularly taken by some of the offerings within the market – you can buy them as well; even Alpha’s raccoons, bears, squirrels and owls are available to be purchased and taken home!

The houses and Woodies are scattered through the setting so exploring is a must in order to see everything. Alpha suggests leaving the Sun as is within the environment settings, but I confess that for some photos here and when filming, I did move it a little.

There are some good opportunities for photography with the Woodies  (they’re very friendly in this regard!), with Santa and a couple of his little helpers ready to pose with you. Rezzing is open for those wishing to use props – but while Auto Return is set (60 minutes), please remember to pick up after, rather then leaving them to be returned.

But really, this is a setting not so much for describing, but enjoying.  As noted, the region is nicely optimised, so hopefully most folk can follow Alpha’s recommendations for viewing the setting when visiting. However, and as I also hinted at above, I did take the liberty of doing some filming whilst visiting – more of an entirely unofficial “teaser”, if you will.; I hope it encourages you to pay Gingerbread and the Woodies a visit!

Enjoy!

SLurl Details

• Gingerbread and the Woodies (Alphatribe Island, rated Moderate)

Sweet  Surrender is a Full region held and designed by  Giulliana Dallaʂ (Giulliana Palen) and Fotis Dallas. It offers a multi-faceted location, rich with opportunities for exploration and photography, making full use of the available space to offer a little something for everyone. Whether you like tropical beaches, ancient ruins, brightly flowered gardens, hidden coves, underwater playgrounds, romantic spots, opportunities to dance or simply having somewhere to sit and talk or cuddle, then you’ll enjoy Sweet Surrender.

Sweet Surrender is a dreamy, romantic haven where love fills the air. It’s a place designed for intimate moments and magical connections. Soft lanterns cast a warm glow over cozy nooks perfect for cuddling, while a charming dance floor invites couples to sway under a canopy of twinkling stars. The gentle melodies of live acoustic music float through the night, creating an enchanting atmosphere where every glance, touch, and step feels like poetry in motion. Sweet Surrender is where hearts meet, and memories linger forever.

– Sweet Surrender About Land

The Landing Point sits within the north-west quarter of the region, just outside the Café de Paris. After being greeted by the local bird as he sings from a Tsukbai just outside the café, The basin looking to be employed as a means for patrons to rinse their hands after eating. From here, gravel paths offer several routes of exploration – which you take is entirely up to you.

You could for example, set out westwards to where the local lighthouse serves as a little store for Giulliana’s products whilst offering a lookout point over the sea and the sailing ship passing by, and to the headlands sitting to the north and the south.  Between the lighthouse and each are, respectively, a shingle cove and the region’s tropical beach. However, the beach cove is only one of two to be found to the south; the second, and smaller of the two home to one of the region’s romantic / cosy locations.

The beach is accessible from the path running to the lighthouse and from a second path as it runs south to loop around a rocky hill topped by some of the ruins scattered throughout the setting. From here it is possible to reach the smaller cove mentioned above and also climb up along the top of the southern headland to reach another retreat, this one with a shine alongside it.

This loop of path also give access to another elevated lookout point, this with a southern beach below it. In forming its loop, the path also passes by one of the setting’s inland bodies of water. Another such body sits at the northern end of the region the broadest point of a spine of rock rising to run north from just behind the Café de Paris. This second body of water, fed by waterfalls, offers a place to dance or to sit on the deck of an overlook, a little camp site below.

A stream cuts the region in two from north to south, two bridges spanning it, one towards the middle of the region, the other crossing the gorge formed by the upland in part occupied by the dance area and waterfalls, and a large cabin presenting another retreat. A path runs running down the east side of this plateau to another shingle beach.

Is is on this eastern side of the setting that the region’s third inland body of water can be found, imaginatively formed by water piped through an old grand piano. Gravel paths wander over the grass and flowers and under the trees here, as with the western side of the region; and like that side of the setting, they lead visitors to the many attractions to be found here.

I’m not going to describe all that lies here – better for visitors to discover; What I will say that within this part of the region is an event space which – I think – will be the venue for music events within the region, starting on Friday, November 29th, and thereafter on the second Friday of each month; those who don’t feel like walking can take a horse if they wish. I’ll also say that the underwater element to the setting can be found to the north as well – look for the the arch under the stone and Poseidon standing guard.

With greenhouses covering dance floor, grottos hiding places to pass the time or dance, many places to sit with friends or a loved one, the aforementioned ancient ruins to explore, Sweet Surrender offers much for romantics and explorers alike – and with winter drawing in for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it offers and engaging summertime visit.

SLurl Details

• Sweet Surrender (Forest Knolls, rated Moderate)