Category: Reviews

I’m a space nut, both science-fiction and science fact; regulars to this blog will recognise this is the case simply via my Space Sunday column, and via the occasional sci-fi reference. So, when Kinn (Kinnaird) covers a planetarium in SL I’ve missed, it is somewhere I have to hop over to and see.

Space – a Planetarium, designed by Hazelee Haller, is located on Heterocera, not that far from the Unknown Theme Park in fact, which Caitlyn and I explored back at the start of July. It’s an interesting little place, offering what might be described as a more stylised approach to visualising the solar system. This is due in no small part to the planetarium occupying just 512 square metres of land – which is itself a remarkable achievement.

This stylised approach can be seen on the ground level, where mighty Jupiter sits within what can only be described as Saturn’s ring system (Jupiter’s own rings being far thinner and less well-defined). A teleport sphere located in one corner of the building will take you up to the planetarium proper.

Presided over by a huge Venus and Mars, the planetarium ins divided into two levels. On the lower are static displays of the major planets of the solar system together with their principal moons – although Phobos and Deimos are absent from Mars, possibly due to their tiny size. The planets and moons aren’t offered to scale relative to one another, but click on any one of them (other than the Earth), and you’ll be offered a link to their Wikipedia page.

The upper level, reached via a ramp between the two lines of gas giants and their moons, offers a little orrery-like model of the inner planets  – Mercury, Venus, Earth (and the Moon) and Mars all orbiting around the Sun. These all appear to be to scale relative to one another (although obviously, not to the Sun!). Beyond them hang further static models of Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn, which also appear to be to scale to the inner planets. In addition, the walkway on the lower level passes through the wall of the planetarium’s sphere to a platform offering a view of the sphere itself, which is textured on the outside with an image of the Earth.

Space – a Planetarium is a neat little pocket-size guide to much of the solar system, and certainly presents a way for those not well-versed in the planets around us and their major moons to become more familiar with them, without also getting overloaded with facts and information. Yes, it does lack some of the options which might be available on a larger parcel of land, but this doesn’t in any way lessen what is offered here; rather the reverse, in fact. It shows what can be achieved on even smaller parcels with limited land capacity.

SLurl Details

• Space – a Planetarium (Rated: Moderate)

Nouvelles Aventures – click any image for full size

Nouvelles Aventures is a whimsical homestead region put together by Adalynne Celeste Reed  (AdalynneReed) with the help of Catherine Inaka and Cady Amelia Reed (CadyAmelia) and which Caitlyn and I happened across by chance whilst looking for places to visit.

Divided into four islands by two waterways, each crossed by bridges, the region is surrounded by familiar, tall off-sim mountains, their lower slopes populated by fir trees. Each of the four little islands has something of its own character, offering an interesting mix of locations and photo opportunities for visitors.

Nouvelles Aventures

The largest island, occupying the north-west corner of the region is home to the landing point and, a short walk up a dirt track from it, thatched roofed cottages, comfortably furnished inside with dusty paths linking one with the next. At least one would appear to be a family home – a pair of tree houses sit a short distance away, linked one to the other by a little rope bridge.  A little further away, on the east side of the land sits a lighthouse built in the same style as the cottages.

Just down a set of steps set into the hillside near the lighthouse sits an arched wooden bridge giving access to another of the islands. Here the land is flatter, with a little outdoor theatre sitting on the riverbank. A screen of trees separates this from a little fairground that has perhaps seen better days: the carousel is sans horses, the ground overgrown and the rides now offering amusement to  strutting peacocks and a group of little princeling chicks and their retinue. Beyond this, an events barn dominates this island, with a dance machine inside waiting for visitors.

Nouvelles Aventures

The remaining two islands offer more outdoor spots, each with whimsical touches, be it the little arched gateway on the smaller of the two, or the little chap awaiting company of others at the camp fire on the other.

This is an easy-going region – look around and you’ll find places to dance, or to sit (either on the ground or up in a tree) and little touches. It lends itself to a range of windlight environments and lots of photo opportunities. Those who do take pictures are asked to submit them to the region’s Flickr group if they would.

Nouvelles Aventures – click any image for full size

All told, a pleasing and relaxing visit.

SLurl Details

• Nouvelles Aventures (Rated: Moderate)

Dinosaurs are a fascinating subject. Kids love them, Hollywood can’t get enough of them and BBC even took us walking with them in what was a truly ground-breaking television series in 1999.  They can also be celebrated in Second Life in a variety of ways, including through what must be one of the longer running dino adventures in-world, Prehistorica: the Dawn Kingdom, Here visitors can drop-in on the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of pre-history, and as I last visited far (ish) back February 2014, I decided a return visit was long overdue.

Covering three regions (although parts of them are not apparently open to public roaming), Prehistorica offers the opportunity for people to explore ancient lands and witness the thunder lizards as they once more roam those environments – and, through the sky-borne store area – become a prehistoric beast of their own choosing, if they so wish.

It is at the store area that visitors’ journeys begin. On arrival, you’ll be given a set of region rules – which should be read carefully. From here, you can wander the store and view the offerings or grab a freebie “time travel” outfit or mesh dinosaur and proceed to the Time Machine.

This is an Experience-driven event (for the teleport portals), and once accepted, you’ll be transferred (with a bit of a sideways kick!) to the main portal hall. This offers six destinations – Jurassic Jungle, Prehistoric Plains, Cretaceous Canyon all being above ground, and Abyss Caves, Fossil Reef and Kelp Gardens under water. I’m not sure if it was just the time when I visited, but I admit to finding the three overground destinations more engaging.

It is in these that you can find various denizens of the periods such as the apatosaurus, stegosaurus and triceratops representing the herbivores  and the allosaurus, tyrannosaurus rex, its “cousin” giganotosaurus and the spinosaurus representing the carnivores.  These are all wearable dinosaurs made of mesh (and can be purchased in the sky store), brought to life via interactive bots – they’ll respond to your presence – which where they pose, move … and periodically, poop. For those who don’t fancy walking, there are also dinosaurs which can be ridden / flown – just look for the arrows over them. I did try one, a gallimimus, but found I couldn’t dismount after, and had to log in order to do so.

The models themselves are beautifully detailed, and pretty much “life-sized” when compared to human avatars. Each shows off its own range of skin colours and designs  –  some of which make the dino look like it’s either wearing war paint or has been the focus of a group of street artists (prior to them becoming lunch / a light snack in the case of the carnivores?). Each of them makes for excellent an photography subject, either alone or in human company, and for those looking for somewhere different for their photo shoots,  Prehistorica could be an interesting choice – rezzing of standalone props is permitted (5 minute auto-return).

Role-play isn’t the primary aim of the regions, although those wishing to RP are free to do so, again within the bounds of the rules set out in the region note card. The landscapes appear suited to the times they are designed to represent, and encountering the dinos can be a fun experience. I’m just a little disappointed that there was no sign of the famous short-sighted theropod, doyouthinkhesaurus!

SLurl Details

• Prehistorica: the Dawn Kingdom (Rated Moderate)