Tag: Exploring Second Life 2014

Small Town Green (Flickr)

The weather has been pretty lousy for many of us of late. The North American continent looks  like Antarctica decided to head north for a bit of a vacation while if Britain receives much more in the way of rain, the country will end up looking permanently wrinkled when viewed from space. However, the weekend has actually seen us with clear skies and sunshine where I live. The wind chill means it’s not exactly weather to be wandering around the garden in a sleeveless top and shorts, but the sky has been a beautiful blue and almost cloudless. This being the case, I decided to seek out what signs of early Spring might be found in Second Life.

Small Town Green (Flickr)

Actually, if I’m honest, I didn’t really look that far. I’d noticed earlier in the week that Small Town Green had  thrown off its wintry shackles, so “seeking out ” really comprised a quick teleport followed by rambling around prior to RL life again demanding my attention. One of the things that makes Small Town Green popular is that it is always evolving and changing. This makes it something of a magnet for SL photographers (and those of us who attempt to pass ourselves off as such *coughs and avoids making eye contact with her reflection*), and also for those curious to see what has changed and where.

Small Town Green (Flickr)

At the moment, spring and romance is in the air on an island that has again be transformed, but which still carries familiar motifs: the use of water, a train (this time right out in the bay), and similar. A clock tower sits on a rocky outcrop, dominating the main island, and down below is a venue for weddings. Bridges are also a part of the landscape this time around, crossing and re-crossing the river winding through the region, and also forming a link with a little offshore island complete with fairy ring and gazebo. As always, the attention to detail within the built will have the SL snapper camming around looking which is the best of many angles for a shot, while for those just wanting a place to sit and relax and spend time alone or with a friend, there are places to sit, lie, cuddle and dance waiting to be discovered. Just watch out for the lions. I’m not sure how friendly they are, and to be honest, wasn’t of a mind to find out, but they are certainly in a position to keep an eye on coming and goings.

Small Town Green (Flickr)

So even when the rain does come a-tapping on my window once more (and it will), I know there is at least one place I can go bask in the Spring sun.

Related Links

• Small town Green SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Onderon – Iziz City (click for full size)

Goizane Latzo led me to travel to Onderon (not to be confused with the region of the same name), an adult-rated Star Wars role-play area located at Tropical Paradise. I’ll say from the outset that I’m not a Star Wars fan by any stretch of the imagination, but the images Goizane captured drew me to the region out of curiosity (I actually had no idea it was directly related to Star Wars until I arrived).

People often get quite het-up over Second Life being described as a “game” and / or that Linden Lab have attempted to add capabilities to the platform which are directed towards gameplay mechanisms of one sort or another (the most obvious perhaps being pathfinding).

Onderon – the forests of Onderon (click for full size)

I’m not about to suggest SL is a game; far from it; but I would point out to those who do complain about the latter of the above two points, that however you prefer to refer to Second Life, it is an environment where a large percentage of creativity on the part of users has actually gone into trying to create immersive game-like environments. People like the MadPea team, or Timmi Allen and his team with things like Dranopia and their other games, for example and SL has always been attractive to role-players from a wide range of genres. So is it really that bad if the Lab try to provide tools which could enhance such environments?

As an immersive role-play environment, Onderon is quite skilfully executed. The arrival point is located high above the planet in at the space station Dauntless, which includes an orientation centre (reached by TP) and a shuttle bay leading down to the planet (reached by a series of passages that take the visitor through the mall space). As this is a role-play region with a specific setting , do please take the time to read the rules which can be found on the Onderon website.

Onderon – bounty hunters! (click for full size)

These will not only set-up the requirements for RP within the region, but also introduce you to the back story of the planet,  Iziz City and the undercity. If you’re there as an observer, please ensure you wear the observer tag (and please don’t metagame!). As a neutral planet, all are welcome to Onderon except Sith.

The planet exists as a couple of region-wide platforms sitting at altitude, and the ground level terrain. In these are located the jungles of Onderon, Iziz City and, down on the ground, the undercity, each providing region-wide space in which to role-play. Teleports connect the space station, jungle and city with one another, and the undercity can be reached via Iziz. Do please note the need for environmentally sealed armour, gas masks or rebreathers; the air down there is pretty blargh, so don’t say i didn’t warn you. I’ll also leave it to you to find your own way down, lest I be accused of trying to encourage you to risk your health making such a visit…

Onderon – the undercity (click for full size)

For those into Star Wars RP and with a hankering to visit other worlds (or take a break from disputes between rebels and Empire) may well find Onderon’s neutrality appealing. There’s certainly space for a lot of role-play, and even a little mystery with dark presence of the undercity. For the casual visitor – again, please reminder the rules for observers – there is also a lot to see and the environment is friendly enough that one needn’t be worried about being accosted for being OOC or anything.

All told, Onderon is an immersive and colourful place to visit, offering a lot to see and do whether you’re into Star Wars or not. Just respect the rules and be careful when waiting on a friend while in any cantina you happen into …

Onderon – Iziz City (click for full size)

More images on my Flickr pages.

Related Links

• Onderon SLurl (Rated: Adult)

Frisch Castle – click for full size

Back in late 2012 I wrote about Frisch Castle, a Norman-style set of ruins and once an  orentation spot for new users, particularly those from Germany.

The article struck a cord with many, and Frisch itself was highly regarded in SL for its historical context. At the time of writing, I noted that it was on Governor Linden land, and one worth the visit for those who hadn’t seen it before.

Now it appears to have come to an end. Frisch region, where the castle once sat, is gone, as has the castle’s entry in the Destination Guide (where it once appeared under “Castles and Ruins”). This isn’t conclusive proof that the castle has indeed vanished form Second Life – it may (perhaps) have been relocated. If anyone is aware of this being the case, please drop me a line!

Frisch Castle – click for full size

If the castle has indeed gone, that it is something of a loss. The build may not have been recent, but it did have a sense of grandeur and offered a very photogenic location and an ideal backdrop. As to when it may have been “retired” is hard to say,  my last visit was in July 2013, and I’ve not had the opportunity to return since – or take any further high resolution images 😦 . So here’s a collection of some taken between November 2012 and June 213.

RiTai Dreamland – click for full size

Goizane Latzo over at Bitacora drew my attention to RiTai Dreamland, a full region which is jointly owned by Tai – HH (Taishatai aka Tai (taisha Lemon)) and her partner Richard (dexterity00).

I’m not sure if the region forms their private home, but Tai and Richard have generously opened it to the public, and the ground level is more than worth a visit, as it is a very picturesque place which offers more than might initially be apparent to the new arrival. Taking a tropical theme as its basis, the region is oriented towards the west – all the better to appreciate SL’s beautiful sunsets – and has all the trapping of a typical location in the tropics: golden sands, tall palms, high rock faces down which waterfalls tumble; the sound of waves breaking upon the shore, a curving, lagoon-like sweep of water cutting into the island, and more…

RiTai Dreamland – click for full size

However, this is not just a tropical island. Follow the paths around it, cross the bridges over the water, and you’ll pass by a fascinating range of artwork from a number of SL artists, including Bryn Oh (who has her own place on the neighbouring RiTai East),  Sniper Seimens, Nera Ireman, Yana Inaka, Nessuno Myoo and Tai herself. Some of these sit on their own, under the shade of palms, others sit within public sun decks or out on and over the surrounding waters. But wherever they are, each of the pieces on display offers its own unique focal point as one explores the island, serving to both give pause as one wanders and to prompt one to carry on around the island to see what else might be found.

The art isn’t only down on the beach areas or on / over the water, either.  There is a tree house offering more pieces to be admired (use the teleport button at the base of the tree to make your way up to it), notably – again – from Bryn Oh. From here a wooden bridge spans the gap to the top of the waterfalls, although you may feel like you need a battered fedora and a bullwhip while crossing it! A further wood-and-rope bridge leads you to the top of the remaining cliffs, and a further view of the landscape below and the surrounding sea.

RiTai Dreamland – click for full size

Alongside of art, a love of speed and flight is very much in evidence in RiTai Dreamland. In the lagoon-like centre of the region sits a gleaming white cruiser, while one of the beachfront lounge areas sports a scale model of a Formula 1 racing car and a gleaming motorcycle. Elsewhere, a number of helicopters can be found, one of which can be flown by visitors wanting to enjoy more of a bird’s-eye view of the island and which the adventurous might want to try taking up and landing on the cliff-top helipad.

Nor is the helicopter the only activity which can be enjoyed here; those who don’t wish to walk around the island can saddle-up and ride a horse; there is also hangliding and surfing on offer as well as the infamous pirate ship Blake Pearl (not to be confused with a pirate vessel of a similar name from a certain film franchise 😉 ) to explore and even canons to fire!

RiTai Dreamland – click for full size

All-in-all, RiTai Dreamland offers a wonderfully imaginative destination which has it all: beautiful  landscaping, some excellent pieces of art and sculpture to admire, things to do and places to simply sit and unwind. There’s even Bryn’s place just across the water, but I’m leaving that for another day and another visit…

Related Links

• RiTai Dreamland SLurl (Rated: Moderate)