Reviews – Page 584 – Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld

I did shun the frumious Bandersnatch …

Posted on January 12, 2013May 5, 2025 by Inara Pey

I recently took the opportunity to participate in Jabba, Jabba, Jabba, the latest show offered by New Synthetic Theatre, a UK-based group lead by Alan Hudson, intending to “Exploit, explore and demonstrate the features offered by environments such as Second Life in order to create a new performance medium and to show that this can be financially viable,” with the aim of being recognised as, “a new form of commercial media, available to the entertainment industry and to education, enabling immersive , highly engaging experiences to be created.”

Think of it, perhaps, as a pop video, play or opera, in which you are both audience and cast.

The group’s first show, Ninety-Nine Percent opened in 2012. It is based on the world-wide Occupy movement and stands as the first demonstration of the application of a time-based Second Life ticketed theatrical show of this type. The show is still available at the NST’s main theatre complex in Second Life. It lasts for around 7 minutes.

Jabba, Jabba, Jabba is the second show from the NST, and is currently being featured in the SL Destination Guide as well as on the official viewer’s MOTD. It is described as, “A totally immersive experience unlike anything else in Second Life. You take part in the action, you fish for the moon, discover Xanadu or slay the manxome Jabberwocky.”

The initial set, Jabba Jabba Jabba — The initial set, Jabba, Jabba, Jabba

The show is based on three poems: The Wise Men of Gotham by Thomas Love Peacock, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s marvellous Kubla Khan, and Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky. The aim is to entertain audiences who already love the poems, by making them a part of the story told in each of them. As such, the show can be enjoyed either individually, or as a part of a group.

NST shows are somewhat unique in that they are time-based: you purchase a ticket (L$75 from the ticket office on the ground) for a given performance period (in the case of Jabba, Jabba, Jabba, shows are run every 15 minutes from the top of the hour), and the ticket then acts as a means of both delivering you to the theatre in time for the start of the performance and as the object used to animate your avatar and make you a part of the various scenes being acted-out.

The Moon: a focus of *The Wise Men of Gotham at Jabba, Jabba, Jabba*

On arrival at the theatre area, there are additional information boards and an audio track which provides you with further information – you’ll obviously need sound enabled on your viewer and Allow the media stream if you are using a viewer equipped with the Media Filter (and have it enabled), but you’ll need the stream on anyway in order to hear the poems as they are recited. Any AO you have should also be turned off to prevent it interfering with the show’s own animations.

In the caverns of *Kubla Khan, Jabba, Jabba, Jabba*

This is an immersive, rather than interactive show, so once in the theatre, there is little for you to do other than to focus your camera on yourself and then wait for the show to start – you may need to do some additional adjustment to the camera using the camera floater, but you’ll have no need to control your avatar unless you happen to be facing the wrong way at any point, in which case use the cursor keys to rotate your avatar. Don’t forget to use ESC if you find your camera ends up on the wrong side of things if you fo move it around.

The sets for the poems comprise a mix of physical builds (notably The Wise Men of Gotham), particle effects, projections and phantom objects. The poems are narrated by Catherine Barrett, accompanied by suitable soundtracks and offer an interesting interpretation of the poems which fits will with the acts which go with them. These see your avatar fish for the Moon, stand in awe at the sight of Xanadu and then hunt down the Jabberwocky.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!" - Jabba, Jabba, Jabba — “Beware the Jabberwock, my son!” – Jabba, Jabba, Jabba

If I’m honest, the show left me with mixed feelings. Both Jabberwocky and Kubla Khan are poems I much enjoy, and it was interesting to be made a part of each of them; however, in some respects I felt the show was perhaps a little dry and left me a little too detached from things. Truth be told, I found myself listening more to Catherine Barrett’s reading of the pieces than paying attention to what was going on in-world, particularly with these two pieces. Being unfamiliar with The Wise Men of Gotham I rather conversely found myself more focused on what was going on in the boat than on paying attention to the poem itself.

Nevertheless, this is an interesting concept, and I have a feeling that when I can, I’ll be popping into Ninety Nine Percent.

A sad farewell to an isle immortalised through alchemy

Posted on January 10, 2013April 9, 2021 by Inara Pey

Update: all of the Alchemy Imortalis regions, including the main store region, have been sold.

Alchemy and Immortalis Cyannis are the dream merchants of Second Life, and through their lifestyle store, they provide a wide range of goods and items ranging from sim landscaping kits to prefab buildings, to furnishings, apparel and jewellery to more esoteric items such as food.

As a part of their work, Alchemy and Immortalis developed four beautifully landscaped homestead regions adjoining their main store region to present a set of residential / recreational regions. These regions, which are modelled on a rustic Irish coastal theme, have given joy to many visitors, offering rutted tracks to walk, fields to roam and dramatic coastal scenery to admire, all of which fits perfectly with the overarching themes of magic and harmony which mark the couple’s work and lifestyle.

During 2012, Alchemy and Immortalis broadened their scope to offer something potentially unique in SL: short-term bed and breakfast rentals offered in cottages in one of their four homesteads, increasing the appeal of their work and lands.

Sadly, and via Ziki Questi, I discovered that Alchemy and Immortalis have decided to refocus their efforts on expanding the Alchemy Immortalis brand, and so have recently put the four homestead regions up for sale – although the store region itself will be remaining. This being the case, I decided to don my hiking boots, wrap up warm and pay a last visit to the regions to enjoy their beauty. If you’ve not already visited this emerald isle, then I would strongly suggest you do before all vanishes.

I’ve not had the good fortune to visit Ireland – as yet. I have, however spent a good deal of time exploring Northumberland and Cheshire, and well as time on the moors of Devon and Cornwall. The four sims around Alchemy Immortalis do much to remind me of each of these places – especially the rugged beauty of the Northumberland coastline. While there my not be any castle ruins lying on headlands or long sandy stretches which have played their part in many a television or film production of historical events, there is much here that reminds me of Northumberland, enabling me to feel very much at home in my explorations.

Continue reading “A sad farewell to an isle immortalised through alchemy” →

A rose misted garden in Second Life

Posted on January 8, 2013April 9, 2021 by Inara Pey

Not long ago, Honour McMillan wrote an article on the matter of griefing and potentially criminal activities in SL. I actually quoted her in my own piece on the same subject. The images she used with the article were of a place called Rosemist Isle – which I admit to having been entirely ignorant of until I read Honour’s article and found myself not only in full agreement with her thoughts, but also captivated by the images themselves. As a result, Rosemist Isle immediately went on my “must visit” list for SL destinations.

I just didn’t expect to be visiting the region quite so soon as happened to be the case.

Honour visited Rosemist Isle to calm her temper and immerse herself. After having something of a crappy weekend (partially my own fault for being a bit of a twit with things I’m not going to bore you with), I felt that anything which captivated Honour would more than likely do the same for me.

It did.

The description for the region , designed by Nila Byron for the Rosemist Management group of KJ Kiranov, Xyza Armistice and Light Kaestner, reads in part, “The sim is dedicated to the Wonderment of Life, and the pursuit of Peace and Tranquility,” which is followed by an invitation to explore and enjoy the beauty of the isle. And truth be told, there is a lot to explore and enjoy here, both when exploring on your own or with like-minded friends.

This is a place deserving of time taken to immerse yourself within it. If you are fortunate enough to be able to run your viewer in deferred mode, I strongly recommend you do, even if you leave shadows & lighting set to none. Make sure you have in-world sounds enabled as well to further enhance your experience. There is an audio stream as well, but whether you turn it on or not, I leave to you.

The region has its own windlight setting, but for the majority of snaps I took, I opted to use Annan Adored Realist Ambient, as it softened some of the glow used within the region and which, if I’m honest, I felt in places made some shots look over-exposed.

One of the things I love about Second Life is the freedom it provides to simply just be. A great deal of my time in-world is actually spent on my own, exploring places like Rosemist Isle. This is not necessarily because I’m particularly anti-social (although I am very definitely very insular); rather it is more because when exploring on my own I have the freedom to really experience a place and both escape pressures (RL or SL) and also find space to listen to myself as well as letting my imagination run free in response to whatever I discover.

Rosemist Isle is perfect for this; the woods invite one to roam and put cares off to one side, while the various places were one can sit naturally invite one to stay and simply contemplate. Which is not to say it should be experienced alone; the very nature of the region does much to also encourage companionship, be it wandering or sitting together.

The imagination can certainly take wing here: there are unicorns in the woods, a tall ship, her gun ports open, lying in the lee of the isle, and carvings of dragons abound, all of which add to the fantasy feel of the isle and suggest stories waiting to be told.

And lets face it, anywhere which features dragons is liable to get a big tick in my book!

Regular readers of these pages will know that music plays an important role in my life; it is something I have with me almost constantly, and while my tastes might be eclectic, music if often a favoured companion. Sometimes the initial impact of a region is much greater for me as a result of the music I happen to be listening / is playing on the region stream to when I opt to make a visit (although there are times when the look and feel of a place suggests suitable music to me).

When I teleported to Rosemist Isle, I happened to be listening to Passacaglia by Bear McCreary. Nothing unusual in this, as it is a piece I listen to a lot – McCreay’s work is genius. However, with Rosemist Isle, the fit seemed to be perfect for me given my mood, and I confess that rather than exploring on foot, I found myself simply sitting in an armchair and camming slowly though the region, allowing my imagination to create scenes and stories to me as I “roamed”.

Even without music – streamed or personal – Rosemist Isle offers the perfect means of calming ruffled nerves and soothing the mind of stress, as such I have no hesitation in recommending it as a destination well worth a visit. It certainly eased my mood and raised my spirit.

Crimarizon 2: the returning

Posted on January 2, 2013April 9, 2021 by Inara Pey

Update, December 2013: Crimarizon and Crimarizon 2 are both temporarily closed.

I first visited Crimarizon back in April 2012 on the recommendation of a number of friends. I’m glad I listened to them; the region is a marvellous place to explore, have fun and admire. At the time of my visit, Crimarizon 2, sitting next door, was under construction, and it duly went onto my list of Places To See once it had been completed – and I did check back a number of times. However, somewhere in 2012 I managed to let all thought of actually blogging about a return visit slip completely. So I thought it only right that for my first destination visit of 2013 to be to Crimarizon 2 itself.

As with Crimarzon, Crimarizon 2 is the work of Megan Prumier, and it continues many of the themes found in its namesake, mixing fantasy, art and photogenic locations in an eclectic, eye-catching – if not outright eye-watering – mix which is a joy to behold. There is much to see and do here.Crimarizon 2, again like its namesake, is the home of an art gallery – in this case the Benzaiten Art Gallery, featuring artwork by Ariel Brearly and Finger Scintilla. There is also exhibition space, a dance area and even a village to explore, as well forests – both good and evil – to walk through. Mountains and tall outcrops provide perches for creations by the likes of Marcus Inkpen.

This is a region which is best experienced with deferred rendering active, both lighting and shadows and ambient occlusion, which can make it a bit of a strain for some computers – but if you run with the local windlight active, you can set shadows to NONE and still appreciate the immersive appeal of the regions.

Photography is welcome in Crimarizon and Crimarizon 2, and both builds really invite one to play with windlight settings. I opted to go largely with a natural amibient lighting level, simply because the misting effect seemed to fit with the look at feel of the more elevated parts of the regions, and it helped soften the lines of the sim surrounds (which once again played havoc with my computer; I’m still no closer to understanding why this happens, only that when I’m on a region using them, performance invariably falls through the floor, and snapshots become a major pain to save).

There is no set path to follow through the region – where you wander is entirely up to up, although there are trails and paths for you to follow – but you should keep your eyes turned upwards as well as looking around you, as there is a lot going on overhead which deserves to be seen. Just be prepared to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy what you find – Crimarizon 2 will draw you into is beauty as surely as Crimarizon itself.

The fantasy elements here will appeal to a broad range of tastes; Marcus Inkpen’s builds, sitting atop chimney-like rock towers are evocative of wizards and sorcery; elsewhere is at least one building with a more elvish feel to it, together with garden areas with a distinctly Tolkien-esque elven tone. Elsewhere things are perhaps more suggestive of children’s tales, with trees and mushrooms bearing faces and looking as if they would like you to stop and talk with them.

As the Crimarizon regions adjoin one another, it is possible to pass freely between the two – and the crossing is very smooth (or was for me at least, as I shuttled back and forth between the two). Indeed, the only way of noting you have passed, or are about to pass, from one to the other – assuming you’re using the central path – is either by noting the region name change in your viewer, or when you pass under two magnificent elephants.

Caves are very much a feature here; close to the region boundary sits the Benzaiten Art Gallery in an underground cavern, while the trails leading around the region to the village on the East side run through caves and tunnels – one of which in turn leads to a dark and dead forest, complete with a mysterious inland shipwreck and, if you look around, dozens of red eyes peering out of the darkness at you…

Both are evocative regions which are well worth taking your time to explore and enjoy. For those who really like the regions and are looking for a place to live, rental properties are available within the village itself, with some additional housing located along one of the cliffs. There are even a couple of treehouses which may be available for rent, depending upon demand. Please do keep in mind that some of the houses are private occupancy when exploring the village; unrented houses have a green dot outside, those which are occupied have a red dot.

As well as hosting two popular galleries, the regions also host monthly events and parties, to which all are welcome. Details can be obtained through the Crimarizon group, which visitors can join when they arrive in either region.

Whether you are new to exploring SL or an old hand, if you’ve not visited Crimarizon, then you should be making a belated New Year’s resolution to do so – you won’t be disappointed when you go.

Where a Dark Moon offers a garden of delight

Posted on December 28, 2012April 9, 2021 by Inara Pey

Dark Moon, a Homestead region owned by Nepherses Amat, is both enchanting and something of a mystery – and well deserving of your time to explore.

The theme of the region is prone to change over time – Nepherses has no fewer than nine images of the region in its various forms, covering her time of occupancy from 2009 through to today – and each iteration brings something new and unusual to see and share.

You’ll need to set aside time when visiting, as there is much to see here, both above and below ground. The region is a fabulous mix of caves, tunnels and hidden comforts as well as a rich garden of flowers and trees and the home of a carnival and circus.

Your journey through and around the region starts at the main teleport point, and the entrance to the caves. You may want to dress appropriately, as it is a little wet ;-). While you can opt to skip the caves entirely and hop up above to the gardens (if you cheat and use fly override, that is), doing so would be a mistake, as the caves themselves are an adventure of discovery – and invite the imagination to make up adventures as you investigate them.

Wandering through the tunnels, it’s hard not to picture yourself in an Indiana Jones-esque adventure, seeking a lost treasure; or perhaps you’re involved in some great spy mystery, exploring the hidden lair of your arch-nemesis. Whatever your mood of adventure, you’ll come across many strange delights as you explore – places to dance with a loved one or sit and chat with a companion, an unlikely study complete with bookcases and deep, comfortable armchairs, works of art and more, all carefully placed to guide you along your way.

Some routes will lead you out of the caves at ground level (or near to it), offering you the chance to explore the waterfront, crossing over bridges and perhaps taking a rest amidst a small ruin. But (at least so far as I can tell), only one route will lead you up to the gardens topside, and that you’ll have to seek out for yourself, no clues here! Just be prepared for a bit of a physical climb…!

Colour is used to great effect throughout Dark Moon, and you’ll need to be running in deferred mode in order to fully appreciate it, especially when underground. Even up in the garden, once you reach it, things are best seen with lighting and shadows active to really see the care with which the region has been developed.

If the caves are a blend of adventure and discovery, then the garden above them is a mix of fantasy, colour and mystery with a splash of surrealism. Under a lowering sky – perfect for the region, so make sure you accept the windlight settings if prompted – sits a rich sea of colourful flowers and blossom-filled trees admidst which sits a carnival / circus, complete with big top and posing elephants. To reach them, you walk under carved arches around which thick vines curl, both the arches and vines creating an almost elven feel to the path beneath them.

Here sits a Ferris wheel, reached by climbing stone stairs and available to ride, standing like some kind of sentinel above the surrounding garden and the sea beyond. From it you can see the carousel, also waiting to be ridden, while between the two sits the tall form of the big top. Here, in the dimness of the tent you can dance amidst Meeroos and watched over by elephants, or make yourself a part of the Greatest Show on Earth.

It is around the big top and carousel that new stories suggest themselves and add to the mystery of the place. The ticket master as the carousel may well where clown’s paint, but not all clowns are funny, while inside the big top things seem a little run-down, as if better days have come and gone. Or perhaps it is just the artistry of the selected windlight and the overly bright eyes of the Meeroos giving wing to my imagination.

But that is what makes Dark Moon so appealing; the very fact that it does stir the imagination so and prompt one to create stories as one explores. And for those who choose to visit the region with a close friend or lover, Dark Moon is equally appealing, with the aforementioned places to dance, rides to share and nooks and places to while away the hours.

If you love exploring Second Life and/or enjoy SL photography, or simply like to find new places where you can sit for a time on your own or with a friend, then I cannot recommend Dark Moon highly enough. It is a magical garden of delight atop meandering caves of wonder. Altogether a superb visit – just please do respect the privacy of the house up in the gardens, and don’t forget the donations sign down at the main teleport point!

Farewell, Scribbled Hearts

Posted on December 26, 2012April 9, 2021 by Inara Pey

Update August 19th, 2013: Scribbled Hearts has returned to Second Life in its own region. Find out more in my review!

Ziki Questi alerted me to the fact that one of the most photogenic regions in SL will be closing its doors to visitors on December 27th.

Scribbled Hearts at Water Reserve has become a something of a place of renown among SL explorers and photographers for being a haven of peace, tranquility and beauty. It is somewhere I only recently discovered for myself late-on in 2012, and it became an instant favourite with me; a place I returned to a lot during Autumn / winter, and which I blogged about in October.

WR-27_001 — Scribbled Hearts at Water Reserve

The reason for the closure is related to one of the people behind the region, Meme, having decided to take a break from Second Life. She announced the decision in a post to her Flickr feed, which reads:

Meme's note on the closure of Scribbed Hearts — Meme’s note on the closure of Scribbled Hearts

This was followed on December 24th with a further note stating Meme has decided to take a long-term, possibly indefinite, leave of absence from SL while she deals with rl issues – news which will come as a sad blow to many who have admired her work and enjoyed Scribbled Hearts, as well as to her friends in SL.

While the note above quotes December 27th as the closing date for the region, other than the landing zone, it is in fact effectively closed as of today. Those wishing to take a last look around at Scribbled Hearts in all its winter glory can still do so for now – but the clock is ticking, and some of the builds have already gone.

Scribbled Hearts at Water Reserve in winter

I’ve loved my all-to-brief acquaintance with Scribbled Hearts, and to Meme and all who have made it so memorable to so many, all I can do is add my thanks to an already long list of admirers.

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Category: Reviews

I did shun the frumious Bandersnatch …

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A sad farewell to an isle immortalised through alchemy

A rose misted garden in Second Life

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