A tradition of SLB celebrations is that of a time capsule, wherein residents are invited to try to create a capsule that represents something significant from the year or which was inspired by the year’s theme. For example, SL4B’s capsule had flexis, SL5B’s used glow while SL6B’s capsule was a meteorite chunk for its space theme.

This year we’re sending out an open invitation to residents to propose their ideas for the SL9B time capsule. If you’re interested, here’s a summary of the guidelines:

• Keep your design relatively low-prim; some older designs reached up to 96 prims, and we need to keep things relatively modest
• Keep the size manageable; the SL3B vault was 6m cubed, and we’d like to consider that at the top end of the scale; while designs that go over this limit on one side or two won’t be disqualified, we don’t have room for  the Death Star…
• Please make sure your submission is FULL PERMS. We may have to make modifications to it  – such as adding the actual contents!
• If the capsule is designed to open, please supply a “closed” and an “open” version – no need to script it opening – we can help with that, just so long as we have versions that present the illusion of opening it
• If you wish to keep a copy of your design, please make sure you do so before passing the original over; it may not be possible to return it to you after the fact – although in a worst case, we’ll do our best
• Feel free to design your own pedestal or display case for your capsule – particularly if it is small enough to warrant a pedestal / display case of its own
• Some particle activity is OK, but again, please keep it manageable: no huge firework displays with the capsule opens or anything
• Be creative and remember that this year’s theme is “Community” if you want to go in that direction.

The closing date for submissions is midnight on the 15th June. To submit a design, or to ask any questions on the matter, please contact the Keeper of the Capsule, Will Webb. Note that previous capsules can be seen upon request for those who require a little inspiration or guidance in developing a design.

And just to help, a quick word from our spooksperson, the Prim Reaper:

Are you a blogger, or do you report on Second Life via the web, podcasts, radio or other means? Would you like to join us on the Press Preview Day for SL9B and have the chance to meet with the organisers, the builders and the exhibitors during a pre-opening tour of the sims?

If the answer is “yes” to any of the above, then please make sure you complete the SL9B Press Day application form.

The Press Day will take place on Sunday, 17th June, and three tours of the sims will be available should you wish to meet and chat with people (although you are also free to explore the sims yourself on the day).  These are scheduled for 10:00 14:00 and 18:00 SLT. If you wish to join a tour, please indicate your time preference on the form.

The closing date for applications is midnight SLT on Friday 15th June, and we look forward to seeing you at the SL9B Press Day!

SL9B will feature two special themed days during the event.

AIDS Benefit Day

Dream Seeker Estates, who donated the first 10 sims for SL9B has been a long-time supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Prior to donating the sims, Dream Seeker had been planning to run a special AIDS Benefit Campaign throughout June. Therefore, to mark their generous donation of the sims, Friday June 22nd has been designated AIDS Benefit Day at SL9B in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

A call is therefore going out to the community asking anyone interested in being involved in the AIDS Benefit Day to get in contact. An application form is available here,  and we are keen to hear from individuals and groups who are interested in:

• Holding an event
• Giving a presentation
• Taking part in a discussion about AIDS.

Please note that the closing date for AIDS Benefit Day submissions is June 9th.

Mesh Day

Wednesday 20th June has been designated Mesh Day at SL9B – a day to highlight Mesh creations and to look at the impact of mesh on the grid. Again, we are looking for people to take part in this, and a form is available for those wishing to register interest.

Three categories of activity have been envisaged for Mesh Day:

• The Mesh Builds Directory:  A listing of all builds at SL9B that feature mesh in whole or in part, which visitors to SL9B can use to find and investigate the power and magic of mesh on Mesh Day itself
• Mesh Fashion Events: Costa Rica, a part of Dream Seeker Estates, will be organising a series of fashion shows to highlight the work of mesh clothing and fashion designers – so if you are a design working in mesh, we want to hear from you!
• Mesh presentations and discussions: we invite those interested in staging a presentation on mesh or who would be interested in participating in panel discussions on mesh that will be held on Mesh Day to also use the form and get in contact with us.

If you have any ideas for other ways in which we can mark these days, please use the comments on the official blog post announcing these events to let us know.

About SL9B

SL9B is being organised by residents, for residents – there is no direct involvement from Linden Lab. Along with the festivities there will be fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, a charity supported by Dream Seeker Estates.

Related Links

• SL9B website / blog
• SL9B Flickr Stream
• SL9B on Twitter
• SL9B on this blog

(Click here to see the slideshow full screen)

Buidling is now underway on the central SL9B sims, and exhibits are starting to take shape. All exhibitor notifications have been processed and e-mails sent out. Sadly, as the event was over-subscribed with 488 submissions vying for 350 parcels, not every application could be accepted – so if you have not received an e-mail, the organising team offer their apologies, but there really wasn’t the room to fit everyone.

As the official blog post states, this doesn’t stop you joining with other events being held across the grid, or from displaying your build yourself – and there will be room to advertise it and encourage people to visit via the Celebration Hub.

Also, in terms of events – the SL9B Auditorium Booking form is still available.  If you would like to use the auditorium for non-commercial group discussions or presentations about self-help, SL skills, community outreach, health, fashion, news, round tables, technology, etc – then please complete this form ASAP.

In the meantime, here’s a little slideshow, which I hope doesn’t give too much away, showing the building progress on the sims.

(Click here to see the slideshow full screen)

About SL9B

SL9B is being organised by residents, for residents – there is no direct involvement from Linden Lab. Along with the festivities there will be fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, a charity supported by Dream Seeker Estates.

Related Links

• SL9B website / blog
• SL9B Flickr Stream
• SL9B on Twitter
• SL9B on this blog

The sims for SL9B are now open for exhibitors to commence work on their builds!

Well in excess of 400 applications for spots have been received, and while e-mails confirming the success of applications are going out, it will take time for all notifications to be sent – so if you haven’t yet received an e-mail, give it a little time, the team are working through things as quickly as possible, but the volume means there will be unavoidable delays (so if you haven’t already, why not start work on your build elsewhere?).

As previously mentioned, there are a number of steps successful applicants need to take  / be aware of in order to secure their parcel and start work:

• You will need to have two free Group slots – one for the SLB Community Group, one for the SLB Exhibitor and Entertainment Group
• You must join the SLB Community Group in-world (if you haven’t already done so)
• To gain an invitation to the Exhibitor and Entertainment Group, please request the help of an Exhibitor Assistant (EA) via the SLB Community Group
•  An EA will IM you (again, there might be a slight delay in this, there is liable to be a high volume of calls being handled initially!) with your invitation to join the Exhibitor and Entertainment Group and other essentials to enable you to get to work on the sims
• Once on-site, make sure you have the Exhibitor and Entertainment Group as your active tag and everything you place out for your build must be set to the Exhibitor and Entertainment Group, or they will be returned after one minute

Key build notes (please also refer to the SL9B event policies):

• All builds should be no larger than 32×32 metres or exceed a Land Impact (prim count) of 257
• Mesh and sculpts are welcome within builds, but please keep the use of the latter to a minimum / to essentials only
• If possible, please do not use any scripts that require interacting with the region server or an external server/database for information to function
• Please try to restrict the use of physics-enabled objects and remember that no temp-on-rez prims (aka no temp rezzers) are allowed—this includes holographic rezzers or any devices that momentarily rez a temp structure. Exhibits that utilize the physics engine will be reviewed prior to opening to make sure that they will not cause problems when the regions are filled with visitors
• All builds must conform to SL “General” rating requirements
• Selling is prohibited. Free gifts, or “freebies,” are fine. Additionally, displays should have actual content, not just look like advertisements.

About SL9B

SL9B is being organised by residents, for residents – there is no direct involvement from Linden Lab. Along with the festivities there will be fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, a charity supported by Dream Seeker Estates.

Related Links

• SL9B website / blog
• SL9B Flickr Stream
• SL9B on Twitter
• SL9B on this blog