Category: Reviews

Go fly a kite

Posted on by Inara Pey

We all need a break now and then. Whether it is from the pressures of real life or Second Life, it makes no difference; we can all at times simply feel overwhelmed by things and need a place where we can go to and simply just *be*, whether on our own, or with a close friend. Somewhere away from the usual surroundings of our in-world homes or regular haunts, somewhere where we don’t actually have to “do” anything, but can simply sit and think or talk or watch the passing clouds.

Black Kite

Black Kite is one such place where we can do this. The work of Black Cloud (Theblackcloud Oh), Black Kite is a region which is breathtaking in its simplicity and deeply calming in its presentation. It is open to the public, although Black Cloud does have her home in the north-east corner of the region, so please respect her privacy when visiting.

Black Kite

The default windlight sky settings for the region, coupled with its watery nature, present a space free from the daily clutter of the world – real or virtual – but which also encompasses plenty which can both reflect one’s mood and also encourage one to relax and unwind and give flight to thought.

Black Kite

The best way to discover Black Kite is to simply wander. The water is only ankle-deep, and there are wooden walkways for those who prefer, all of which lead to / past some thing of interest. Minimalist it may appear to be, but there is a wonderful attention to detail here. There is an audio stream which can help relax the mind and also give it wing, adding to the immersive ambience of the region; but even without it, this is a place to savour.

Black Kite

This is also a place which encourages experimentation with windlight presets – which also makes it a photographer’s delight. My personal favourite settings-wise when visiting is Bryn Oh’s Mayfly (see the first photo in this article); the open nature of Black Kite just lends itself perfectly to the preset. Many other options for both sky and water work here as well, offering those with an artistic bent a huge range photographic opportunities my own efforts barely hint at.

Black Kite

If I were asked to sum-up Black Kite in a word, it would be “Tranquility”. It’s a place I’ve only recently discovered, but it is a place which touches me greatly, as so much of it does reflect feelings and moods I frequently have; whether that gives me something in common with Black Cloud Oh, I’ve no idea; but for me the reasonance is very real.

Black Kite is open to visitors, as mentioned above (and with the caveat concerning Black Cloud’s home) and photographers and machinimatographers are also welcome. However, for me the beauty of Black Kite is the sense of freedom and calmness it invokes whenever I visit; it is a place where I can both escape and find myself.

Perhaps you will as well. Perhaps, should you find the pressures of the virtual and / or real world getting to you, you’ll do as I do, and:

Black Kite

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Bitten by the (War)bug

Posted on by Inara Pey

So, it’s no secret to regulars to these pages that I’ve become somewhat hooked on SL sailing and flying. I still only have the one premium gift sail boat in my inventory – it is more than enough to keep me happy and has room enough for friends – but my collection of SL aircraft is slowly growing, with the latest addition being a Warbug.

For those unfamiliar with them, Warbugs are little egg-shaped aeroplanes with air-to-air combat capabilities which are, in a word, fun!

I first came across them by chance browsing the SL Marketplace, but it was Lindal Kidd who piqued my curiosity when she mentioned she had a Warbug airfield on her land (along with a skydiving jump zone). Created by Arduenn Schwartzman, Warbugs can be flown for fun, pleasure or air-to-air fighting, and are possibly unique in SL as they allow “full size” avatars to take to wing within a single region without risking running out of airspace – which is not to say they are unable to handle region boundaries.

The aircraft come in a variety of forms which cover everything from World War I through to spaceships (including a set of Star Wars items which could draw a frown or two from Disney…). They can be bought on the Marketplace or via the Warbugs HQ, which also offers free-to-fly variants of some of the models available via a rezzing system (the rezzing systems themselves also being available to buy).

Warbugs HQ

It was through the rezzing system that I had my first exposure to flying a Warbug – and quickly got addicted. The aerial combat aspect requires flying around using the standard controls (arrow keys for up/down, left/right) PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN for the throttle) and trying to line-up your guns on the “opposition” (the left mouse button fires your guns). Aircraft which are purchased come with a gun sight HUD, which makes the latter a little easier, but given the manoeuvrability of these little planes, not by much.

My Spitfire awaits…

The cockpit is a little cramped, but it’s cute watching your avatar fold herself / himself into it. once in, the engine starts, with suitable sounds, and then it’s open the throttle and – away you go!

Air combat can be frenetic – these little planes are highly responsive to the controls, and only have a screen in front of you, tracking the opposition can get hard – even with aids such as the Mini-map and radar tracking (cheats! :)).

Airborne!

Given that the Warbugs on offer represent various “sides” – RAF and USAAF  … Luftwaffe … Rebels … Empire… it is possible to use them for “group” combat as well as having a “free for all” (although the latter does seem to predominate around the Warbugs HQ), which can add an additional element to the flying. And you certainly know it when you’re hit! Not only are you told in chat, the Warbug spews forth black smoke as you spin towards the ground, being ejected shortly before impact, leaving you either to pick up your bruised ego and battered ‘plane and try again or  – when using a rezzer – trudging back to call-up a replacement…

I’m Hit! Mayday! Mayday!

There are various additions for the enthusiast as well – missiles can be added to some aircraft and a conversion kit means that you can try target bombing rather than blowing one another out of the sky. There are also a range of texture and conversion packs, and even a script pack which can be added to your own custom Warbug builds. Other accessories into an asteroid base for the spaceship units, planets (which can be blown up and leave disturbances in the Force), a complete WW I range of accessories, and so on.

Taking to the air in a P-38 to try my hand at target bombing

There is a website dedicated to Warbug flyers across the grid, which also tracks “aces” and scores. This also adds to the nature of the competition, as “aces” are not only tracked in terms of their point, but also their “value”. The first time you shoot down an “ace” you are awarded whatever value has been assigned to them, rather than just the 10 points usually awarded for shooting someone down. This tends to make “aces” a hunted breed for those after points…

My first Warbug

In the latter regard, I was rather surprised to find myself sitting at #17 in the “aces” list after just a couple of turns in actual combat. Scores are recorded locally by any active rezzer / windsock in operation in a region as well.

Flying with Lindal from her home region proved a lot of fun as well – and how well the Warbugs handle region crossings. Even the skyhomes and sky boxes scattered around made things a lot of fun and provided a means for nipping around obstacles and trying to get a “jump” on one another.

If you’re into flying and haven’t tried out Warbugs, I’d really encourage you to try them out. If you’re into competitive games with a difference (and some of the Warbug people are very competitive!), again, there’s a lot of fun to be had with these little ‘planes. I’ve been bapping about in them for the last few days (and am currently considering adding a Sopwith Camel and / or the Spitfire to my growing collection of aircraft).

Great fun!

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Of Sound Mind

Posted on by Inara Pey

Of Sound Mind is a collaborative piece lead by Lorin Tone which explores the nature of sound and the ways in which it can be employed to add depth to a virtual environment such as Second Life. It opened on Saturday 17th November as a part of the Linden Endowment for the Arts Full Sim Art, and features Lorin’s work along with that of other SL artists and builders such as Madcow Cosmos (who with Lorin, brought the delightful Through the Lens of Dreams to Art Screamer last year), Glyph Graves, P4ndor4 Quintessa, Meriadne Merlin, Inventor Alchemi, Marcus Parrott, Mia Anais, Judi Newall, and will feature seminars and demonstrations from these and other SL artists.

Of Sound Mind

The installation comprises a landscape  – sometimes whimsical in nature, sometimes more natural, sometimes with the obligatory spookiness (you’ll understand why I say that when you visit), and always inviting further exploration. Here one can experience and learn about the many and varied ways in which in-world sounds can by used in a virtual environment. As an aural, as well as visual experience, one obviously needs to have their sound on when exploring the region – although there is no requirement for either streaming or Voice to be enabled.

Of Sound Mind

The arrival point features a number of introductory notice boards which will deliver various notecards to you explaining some elements of the installation and introducing you to some of the artists. Similar notice boards are scattered across the region, introducing the various elements and other artists involved in the collaboration. However, the secret here is to simply explore, experience and touch.

Of Sound Mind: the mighty SLurlitzer organ

And there is a lot to explore. Each area of the installation features demonstrations of how sound can be used (musically, to emphasise visual events, to create additional ambience, and so on) and the ways in which it can be triggered (by touching, by animating an avatar, though avatar/object collision, through object/object collision, and so on). Each area is visually and imaginative presented, with Madcow Comos’ visual genius very evident throughout, as well as elements created by the other participating artists. You can walk overground and underground, dive underwater, meet a certain homicidal computer with a door problem and pick up various scripts and other items along the way – and do much more.

Of Sound Mind

There is much to see overhead as well – bumper cars (in the form of chess pieces) demonstrate the use of vehicle sounds (as well as providing further comical boings and squeaks during collisions), there is also a stunning live performance stage area. Both of these can be reached via teleporter.

Also in the sky is Lorin and Madcow’s wonderful Castle of Airs, which can be reached via tour discs, available from the ground-level welcome area. Both the sound stage and the Castle of Airs have featured in the Machinima The Joy of Music by Chantal Harvey and featuring the work of several of the artists participating in Of Sound Mind.

Of Sound Mind

The live performance area was the venue for DRUM (Divine Rhythms of Universal Music), who featured during the opening of the installation on November 17th. DRUM describe their aim being, “To bring the world to you via the power of drumming. Our aim is to have fun and to create incredible, beautiful rhythms – live.” They are possibly unique in that their performances are not pre-recorded or simply streamed: they are created directly within SL, captured and then streamed to the listening audience. Definitely worth witnessing in-world.

Of Sound Mind

Seminars and presentations on the use of sound is SL will also be a feature at Of Sound Mind – although currently, only one is currently scheduled – Lorin Tone will be discussing environmental sound effects in SL on Monday, November 19th at 12:00 noon SLT. Expect notices of additional events to appear in the Upcoming Events noticeboard at the arrivals area.

Of Sound Mind is both visually and aurally immersive and a fun. Well worth a visit.

Of Sound Mind

Of Sound Mind (LEA19) (Rated General)

Doing a Wilbur at Orville (it’s premium gift time again)

Posted on by Inara Pey

Ah well. Looks like I was wrong. Shucks!

LL have just launched their latest Premium gift today, Thursday 14th November. That something was due today wasn’t a surprise, as they’d slipped out advanced word last month by accident. However, at the time, I thought it might be something else other than the next Premium gift.

Turns out – it is, so ho-hum on my part.

I will say, with hand-on-heart, however, that I’m not actually surprised by the nature of the gift – a biplane. I say not surprised, as the prediction curve was pretty clear over the last three gifts: boat, railcar, car (dune buggy)  – so an aeroplane rounds-out the set. So what is the latest like?

Well, it looks like something out of the great days of barnstorming in the 1920s, when surplus WWI aircraft received a second lease of life. In fact, from what cursory research I did via the web, it looks like a cross between a Spad (beloved of American pilots) and the British SE5. Sort-of. Well, to me, at least.

Me and my latest premium gift

As with all premium gift vehicles, this one follows the usual standard – get in and use it, with touching it bringing up a menu to adjust things like the colour scheme, the flight sensitivity, the controls, etc. When you up in, instructions are displayed in chat, and follow the normal layout – PAGE UP/ DOWN for throttle increase / decrease, arrow keys for nose up / down, left / right (or you can use WASD and E & C for the throttle).

Seat-of-you-pants-flying

Handling-wise, and to be brutally honest, I have to admit that I found the plane something of a mess. As there is no HUD, decreasing or increasing the throttle produces a spew of channel spam in the viewer’s chat console, which is both annoying and distracting. Further, and while this may be down to the fact I use my own camera defaults (although I don’t know why if so, as I use the same defaults to fly my other aircraft), I found it impossible to achieve stable, level flight in this plane even with the throttle reasonably set: I was either constantly climbing or descending (generally the latter – it’s as if the plane is terribly nose-heavy). Obviously, some adjustment to trim is going to be required in an old kite, but this actually grated on me in both basic and advanced sensitivity settings.

“Contact!”

The plane is a single-seater, but that doesn’t prevent friends coming along for the ride – providing they are willing to hang on. Aerobatically, the plane is OK – I threw a couple of loops and rolled it a few times, although the aforementioned habit of it constantly wanting to get back on the ground meant that it was easy to over-compensate.

“If you iz flyin liek this then yu iz doin it rong”

As with the dune buggy offering, the plane “includes” the use of a premium-only airstrip at Orville. This has been stuck on the south side of the premium sandbox group  which includes Formonsa, Amoena, and others, and which appear to have gained two additional region splitting them: Limia and Arowana. As such, there should be a lot of flying space here – but for the fact that the runway is west- east facing, with no regions either to the left or right, which makes taking off and landing something of a pain, as there is no real opportunity for a lined-up descent on the latter or decent climb-out in the former. This was reflected in the fact that on my visit, there were a number of biplanes bouncing along the region edge…

Orville: “Mind the boundary”

The lack of flying space to the east and west may also reflect the fact that there were a fair few at the strip who were not flying their new LL gift plane, but were enjoying themselves dogfighting in Warbugs (one of which I just have to get – talk about cute!). These tiny little planes had no issue with the confined space.

Warbugs at Orville!

While at Orville, I confess I took time out not to fly the new plane, but to take the Stingray out on the water once more – I tell you, I’m hooked on this vehicle!

Overall, the latest premium gift is pretty predictable; transportation appears to have been the theme for 2012’s gifts as mentioned above. It’ll be somewhat interesting to see what the theme will be for 2013. As to the biplane itself – well, like the buggy before it, it’s OK, but hardly on a par with offerings which can be had for free on the Marketplace; however, if it serves to get people who have no previously tried flying to give it a go, then it can be said to have served a decent purpose.

For my part, however, I’ll stick with my Stingray. And go get me a little Warbug. Those things look FUN!

Leaving Orville by water – taking out the Stingray. Again.

Oh, and of course, this gift comes complete with the usual “50% (on your first quarter’s payment) discount” offer. For those who are curious as to general thoughts on premium, please feel free to check out my thoughts on the matter for those considering an upgrade.

Picasso in 3D – Guernica at LEA

Posted on by Inara Pey

On Tuesday 13th November, Lizzie Gudkov and London Junkers unveiled their submission for the LEA’s Full sim Art Series.

Guernica is a vivid reproduction of Picasso’s famous work, which has been beautifully reproduced in 3D within second Life in a manner which allows one to appreciate both as it was originally painted, or physically immerse oneself in the piece.

Commenting on the installation, London says:

In 1937 Spanish painter Pablo Picasso created one of the most important icons of the 20th century when he made the Guernica.
Painted in black and white, depicting the horrors of war, it is today as solid and modern as it was when it was first shown in the 1937 International Fair in Paris. 
The intention of re-creating this masterpiece in Second Life comes from the love for the original mural itself and what it represents. After a lot of thought and experimenting with external 3D software, a decision was made, this installation would be built primarily in prims, as an exercise of the possibilities that LEA has given us. With this piece, we would like to pay homage to Picasso and let visitors learn more from it.

The original was created in response to the bombing of Guernica, a Basque Country village in northern Spain by German and Italian aircraft on 26 April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed.

The installation can be seen at LEA 6 in-world, where it is displayed full in keeping with the original. On arrival, you’ll be requested to accept the local windlight settings, which allow the mural to be presented as with the original – in black and white.

Guernica

The arrival point allows you to view the piece pretty much as Picasso originally painted it: in two dimensions. However, step down from the viewing gallery and you can become fully immersed in the image, seeing it – and the horrific outcome of the event it portrays – in a very personal way.

Guernica

It can be said that Guernica saw the final end of any romanticism of war. While much of this had already been washed away in the terrors of The Great War of 1914-1918, war before Guernica was often removed and isolated from the lives of “ordinary” people. After Guernica, this would never again be the case – as the unfolding tragedy of the Second World War would illustrate just two years later.

Guernica

The artists of this recreation recommend visitors view it via Mouselook – and I do recommend the same; while moving and flying around it might be a little harder using Mouselook, the added depth of perspective obtained more than compensates.

For those not familiar with the work or its historical context and impact, I would also recommend a little background reading as well.

Guernica will remain open at LEA6 throughout the remainder of November 2012.

Avatars and humans, together in the same space

Posted on by Inara Pey

Rowan Derryth, writing on the LEA blog, brings word of a fascinating SL / RL exhibit which is taking place through until November 25th in both Second Life and real life, and which allows avatars from the one interact with humans from the other, and vice versa.

EXTRACT / INSERT is a collaborative effort involving Second Life and the The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, England. Rowan describes the collaboration thus:

We avatars often struggle to explain our existence to those that dwell only in the physical world. But now, a new exhibit at LEA 24 helps us do what we aliens do best: INVADE!

EXTRACT / INSERT

EXTRACT/INSERT is a unique installation in both Second Life and at the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry, UK. It is a collaborative effort between internationally renowned performance artist Stelarc, lecturer and actor Joff Chafer and artist and technologist Ian Upton. With support in SL from the LEA, and in RL from the Arts Council of England, they have been able to create an environment where avatars can co-mingle with real people visiting the Herbert!

The Exhibit has already involved volunteers from across Second Life spending time at a special installation at LEA 24 where they have been able to meet and talk to visitors entering the exhibit’s “other half” at the Herbert Art Gallery in the UK. Avatars are represented in 3D in the real world exhibition space, and appear to be floating among the visitors there.

EXTRACT / INSERT

The organisers are currently looking for volunteers to participate in the exhibit this coming week. The work involves being on-hand at the LEA 24 installation, where you can meet and interact with visitors to the Herbert Art Gallery’s installation in Coventry UK – so it does mean working to UK times as the gallery is open between 02:00 and 08:00 SLT (10:00 and 16:00 UK) Monday through Saturday and 04:00 to 08:00 SLT (12:00 midday to 16:00 UK) Sundays.

If you would like to volunteer and chat with Herbert visitors, you need to:

  • Be using an SL viewer capable of displaying shared media
  • Use Voice to interact with visitors at the Herbert Art Gallery – text chat and avatars names are not visible to visitors there
  • Have a suitable avatar appearance to meet the requirements of a “General”-rated audience which includes children

Creativity is welcome with avatars – there is no need to restrict yourself to a conventional human form, so long as your avatar isn’t too large (as it will be appearing life-sized at the art gallery) and dress and behaviour are in keeping with the General rating.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ian Pahute or Joff Fassnacht in-world in order for you to be added to the exhibit’s access list.

If you are in the UK, and wish to visit the real life half of the exhibit, you can find details on how to get to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on their website – booking for the exhibit is not required, and visitors are invited to “drop in” for a tour with the Gallery’s guides.

The Herbert Art Gallery’s side of the exhibit will remain open until November 25th, 2012.

UK-based performance artist Stelarc was present at the Herbert his last week, where he logged into SL from the gallery and gave a performance entitled “Involuntary and Improvised Arm”.

Related Links

 Images courtesy Rowan Derryth / Linden Endowment for the Arts