Virtual Veil

Flickr Second Life slideshow

2009-08-18T00:33:00.004-06:00

Did you know my real life alter ego has a flickr gallery?

The earlier photos in this set reach all the way back to 2004, before high res textures, music, waves, weather, flexi-prims, and a host of other awesome features appeared. So some look a bit chunky.

Tarsha rocks out about Second Life

2009-07-24T23:32:00.004-06:00

A real life band, Tarsha, rocking out on the subject of paradise in Second Life.

Can't say this is the worst tribute I've ever heard. A bit catchy, even. I'm sure it will cause a spike in signups.

Waiting for The Guild

2009-04-05T16:19:00.016-06:00

So I thought I'd get a jump on the action by showing up THREE hours early to Copper Robots interview with three of the members of "The Guild." Read up on the event at Massively, and get your avatar down here! Seats are filling FAST.

Rissa Moonstone has created avatars for them that combine aspects of their Guild characters with their real features, such as Zaboo...
Three hours early, and there's already 12 people camping here....

I'll be taking photos and hopefully capturing all the chat, that is, if the SIM doesn't go down. I expect a mad rush around 5pm. Updates below as they come in....

Update - 3:59 PM, SL time: There's a Ustream Channel if you want to watch us live!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/w2wguild

We're still two hours out...

Update - 4:11 pm SL time: Just learned this will all occur in voice chat. I couldn't imagine trying to do an interview like this in text chat. That means anyone watching on Ustream will hear the actors' actual voices, not just typing sounds. YAY!

Update - 5:05 pm SL time: Still an hour away from start. There are now a few superheroes and fairies here as well. I have switched to Pirate garb in homage to the Guild's visit to the Renaissance Fair yesterday.

Update - 5:29 SL time: The interviewer is here. Soundcheck done. Ent arrives. Excitement builds!

Update - 5:41 SL time: Zaboo arrives! Technical difficulties with scripts ensue.

Update - 5:50 SL time: Felicia arrives and can't see anyone. The Ustream just went live.

Update - 6:15 SL time: Finally, all their glorious textures have rezzed.

Update - 7:18 SL time: They have derezzed! They stuck around to answer many questions from the audience, and despite the sound problems, told of many cool projects and plans down the road. I do hope they come back and explore SL some more.

Anachronista Studio on Wayland

2009-03-22T17:50:00.001-06:00

This photo is a shot of the inside of my apartment/studio on the island of *Wayland in Second Life. It's named after my other alter ego, Anachronista. You can see some of my 'real life' art and maps for sale in the background. Come visit and buy a copy of your favorite! There's all kinds of free stuff laying around too. Pick up the free Second Life Explorers' Compass on my fireplace mantle, and you'll find many of my favorite landmarks inside.

*Teleport link here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wayland/173/131/28 (this link will drop you downstairs in the main gallery, where you can buy unique nostalgic motorcycle art)

World Builder by Bruce Banit

2009-03-04T12:07:00.006-07:00

This was apparently shot in one day, then after two years of post-production to create the effects, it is finally available! The first thing I thought when watching, was how similar the building tools are to Second Life. Even the unfinished objects are all grey. It's a fast nine minutes, and you may shed a tear or two at the end.

"A strange man builds a world using holographic tools for the woman he loves..."

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

The Bogon Flux

2009-02-23T20:46:00.005-07:00

The Bogon Flux is a spontaneous virtual architecture/performance art construction. It rebuilds and destroys itself over and over again.

It's gritty, grungy and almost steampunkish. Sometimes very random objects end up built into the series of tunnels and rooms.

There is a comfy couch with a great view. Make sure to explore the televisions and other objects laying around on the beach if you go. Find the tip jar and help keep this experience alive and well in SL!

And, creepy things stare back at you. All in all, a great experience.

Teleport to The Bogon Flux via SLurl

Virtual Blues

2008-12-04T22:53:00.005-07:00

I've been sitting here in awe of the blues musician Von Johin, who plays every Thursday night from 8 - 10 pm at Mama's on Rasta Ventures Sim.

Seriously. Awe.

But due to some bug (which I suspect has to do with the latest patch) I cannot access my $Linden balance to tip him during his performance. Best I can do right now is spread the word about him, so more come and listen next week!

Lively is, ironicly, about to die.

2008-11-19T23:07:00.003-07:00

Googles attempt at a virtual environment, Lively, will close up shop by 2009. Not surprising.

I admit it. I tried it. After 'customizing' my avatar ( and I use that term loosely), I even made a room and tried to furnish it. I visited some popular places and occasionally talked to adults. Mostly, it was "Wanna cyber?" or "R U rly girl?"

Compared to Second Life, Lively was like a huge step backwards, so, I will not miss it when it goes poof soon.

But what I will miss are many beautiful openspace SIMs in Second Life, disappearing due to the land hike. The Virtual World as we know it is changing, just like the real one.

Die like Marat

2008-11-02T11:05:00.004-07:00

I'm still catching up on some cool developments in virtual art history. I mean, how have I missed seeing this for the year it's been available?

Apparently there's already quite a lot of SL'ers who have experienced the interactive virtual art that places the avatar as the subject of "Death of Marat" by Jacques-Louis David.

Here's me:

Teleport to Dreamworld SE 27,94,30 to see it for yourself!

Postcards from Second Life

2008-11-02T10:50:00.002-07:00

Here's a gallery I've been working on during my absence from blogging:

A six month absence

2008-11-02T10:25:00.002-07:00

Finally, finally, something was done about that crappy video card. The poor old thing couldn't handle SL anymore and went all kaleidoscopic within seconds of logging in.

Thankfully, I was not completely cut off from the internet or Second Life. The backup connection (an old Windows POS) was a shared computer, and liveblogging around others is only occasionally comfortable for me, hence the lack of such bloggings.

There has been much change in SL since last I wrote, though, and not all of it is good, sadly. The recent land rate hike has sent frustrated members scurrying about protesting, complaining and seeking other options. Like Openlife.

I would go and sign up just for the name you want and come back in a year, though. That'll give them some time to work the bugs out.

Speaking of working the bugs out, I need to log into SL and set up my preferences for the new graphics card...so see you in world if you're online.

Stress + poor time management = escapism

2008-04-20T13:28:00.006-06:00

As my human body ages, I notice that time passes ever more quickly for me. It seems I spend more and more of my time working, and less of my time creating or relaxing.

I have visited Second Life and World of Warcraft many, many times in the last month or so, and berate myself constantly for it, as it is simple escapism from work stress (especially Warcraft).

Well, due to some rearranging of priorities in 'real life', I should be more free to express myself soon. The big work deadlines are nearly done, and with that comes an extra day off every week to attend to other things.

Interestingly, someone at my day job has decided to experiment with advertising our real life product in Second Life. Being the only person in the company with any experience at all in virtual marketing, I of course raised my hand to help monitor our progress and shape the brand.

So that gives me a real, legitimate reason to rez. And a reason to focus my creativity again on this blog. Please stay tuned....

Bless me Lindens for I have sinned

2008-03-02T12:22:00.011-07:00

For too long have I wandered your creation without at least making an attempt to spread the good word. It has been nearly a month since my last writings of the paradise that is Second Life.

I am feeling guilty. For penance I download and install the latest SL client update. The new Mac system is surprisingly fast - I was expecting another 20 minute ordeal. Super quick and I'm in. There's a couple of interface changes to get used to, but nothing problematic.

I shall absolve myself with one of my favorite pastimes: digging through people's profiles. Never know what interesting stuff you might find.

Todays' foray into an unknown SIM starts with a mention in someone's profile that a place called "Tableau" is beautiful. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, though, so that's a pretty general recommendation. I like texture rich realistic environments, with great lighting, weather, scripts and sounds. Where walking around in first person point of view with headphones on gets disorienting. I seek the Holy Grail of virtual realism. For this reason alone, someday I'm getting VR goggles. But I digress...

Oh, what the hell. I've got a while before real life forces itself upon me again, so I search out the region, teleport, and await rez.

As the objects load around me I realize the person who made that comment was right, if you happen to be in the right state of mind. Like if you've picked and eaten the magic mushrooms that grow about the place. The colors, man! It's a psychedelic swamp, complete with a giant crocodile.

Flipping the streaming music on sure helps the effect. It's voodoo lounge, it's 60's jungle, it's jazzy and swank. I imagine myself with a martini, it's THAT kind of music. I'm suddenly thirsty, and wait......that crocodile......it has a sign on it...

It's a cafe. Inside a crocodile. The entrance is it's gaping mouth, straight down the throat. This is all suddenly familiar....am I in a cartoon?

I decided I should start taking photos, just because I knew words would not describe what I saw.

Nor do these photos do justice to the uncomfortable feeling I got while walking into the mouth of a crocodile, but once inside, the atmosphere of the place overwhelmed me with the sheer sparkly pinkness of it all.

Oh God. The colors! What you can't see is the animations on all these lights.

This is verging on Disney-like hallucinations. I'm expecting Madame Medusa to walk in any minute...

There's that drink I was looking for. Ok, so it's been sitting around a while, but it still looks fresh, right? Mmmmm....fruity!

I take a quick ride on one of the swings, but am soon compelled to wander in search of other interesting places in Tableau. Gotta remember my original intention here. Focus.

Back outside and down the hill is a cemetery, where the above-ground crypts are painted garish neon colors. and a glowing green fog creeps along the dark ground.

Oooh look, mushrooms!

This is like the graveyard for dead clowns or something. Hmmm....the green fog seems to be coming out of that grave...

I don't really want to look, but I can't stop myself. I head towards the grave and suddenly the ground drops out from under me.

Trap. Damn.

Everything goes black for a second.

Ok, so now I'm in a confessional with a polar bear. What WAS in that drink?

You don't suppose the Lindens heard me back there when I was talking about sinning do you?

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but man, they have logs of everything you do!

Um. Right. I'll just get out of the confessional now.

Ah, this is an underground crypt-turned trip pad. Again with the blinky light effects. The furniture is in disarray, but there is at least one safe place to sit.

Man, I'm overwhelmed.

A riot of color in one corner draws my attention. It is a shrine covered in flickering candles.

Apparently it is a shrine for dead jazz musicians. I wonder if this whole place gets crowded with the ghosts from the cemetery above on nights this guy decides to put on a show for the undead.

Makes me wonder how anything without lips could play the saxophone, actually.

A karaoke kit lies in wait on the stage. It will not be ME that steps up. Probably another trap to teleport me to an even more disorienting place anyway.

No thanks. With all the dead around, I'm starting to feel creeped out, like I'm being watched. I'm going to have to climb out of here, as there does not appear to be a door anywhere.

Thankfully there is a shaft above the confessional for me to make my escape.

I wander to a nearby house seeking....what? A feeling of security and normalcy I guess...

And of course it's totally haunted. Did you just see that? I swear there was a guy standing there for a second....

I'm outta here!!

The next place I find is a voodoo shack. Complete with shrunken heads, chickens and all manner of mojo arts.

It is surrounded by the most colorful flowers and trees I've ever seen. God I hope this drink wears off soon. My eyes hurt.

I see a cluster of houses in the distance, and head for one of the bridges out of the swamps that I've been running around in for what seems like hours now.

Just off the bridge I turned to read the sign and saw this.

See??!! I told you there were ghosts. I've even managed to get this one to hold still for a photo.

Ahhh, some civilization. I must appear confused, lost or inebriated, for the first thing asked of me by one of the locals is if I'm alright.

Indeed, I am for now, the hallucinations seem to have slowed. At least for everything except that purple polka-dotted house back there.

Maybe I do need to sit down.

I find a tiny cafe where I can collect myself with a hot cup of coffee. Wow, that was some crazy stuff. How long have I been here? My head hurts.

Oh, man. Real life is calling. What a long strange trip it's been, but it's time to log off.

I press "Quit" and everything starts to fade, but the jazzy, trippy music seems to hang on, still playing, long after the user interface has disappeared.

My conclusion?
That. Was. Awesome. I want to do it again. Tableau is my new SL drug.

Rebirth

2008-02-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

Migration of data complete. System upgrade successful. Hello, MAC.

SL client installed. Welcome screen. Password?

...

Ah, yes. I remember now. Teleporting to last known location...Sculpty Earth

I spend a few moments to tweak preferences, searching for any differences between this and my prior operating system.

I examine my surroundings. First thing I notice are richer textures and much faster load times than the last time I was here, back when I was accessing SL on a much older, slower system.

Wow, this is going to be a whole new world for me...

Virtual Reality in 3-D: Coming Soon!

2008-01-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

The genius of Johnny Lee. This amazes me.

If you think game addiction is bad now, if this is the future, the human race is doomed to die off. No one will ever leave their homes to breed.

Virtual encounters could be the 'norm' someday if this type of technology gains root. With the current rate that technology progresses, in 10 years this could be commonplace! This could be the birth of the metaverse for real. What virtual wonders await?

Hey Linden Lab? Give this guy Johnny Lee a job!!

Casablanca: Frankly my Dear....

2008-01-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

I'm in first-person mode as I walk among the vibrant stalls of the souk. The sounds of bustling crowds, camels and cart wheels weave an aural tapestry that tricks the ears for a moment, but I see no camels or even shopkeepers in this mysterious SIM, Casablanca.

I am standing in the middle of Virtual Morocco. I can almost smell the piles of spices in the stall next to me as I consider: should I get a henna tattoo? Why not? I splurge the L$75 and get some nice sleeves.

I wander the market for a while, taking photos while a few seagulls circle and cry overhead. Away from the center of the market, the crowd noise is lessened, and I swear I can hear the ocean...

A paved walkway leads to a fabulous waterside patio where I sit a bit to enjoy a hot cup of mint tea. More gulls wheel around the small bay, and the peacefulness is wonderful.

I manage to pull myself away from the relaxation and continue with my exploration of the city. I find my way into a fragrant maze of residential alleys, where the ancient walls are half painted blue. This could be 1,000 years ago if not for the occasional satellite dish.

Down what I thought was going to be a dead-end, I came to the entrance of a swanky club through which I found my way into the hookah cafe....

cough, cough

...and then the beautiful gardens where I scandalously dipped my feet in the fountain to cool them off.

The Mosque nearby is so enormous, these photos do not do this place justice. The textures here are pretty rich, and even after 10 minutes of waiting, there are still grey slabs where I know there should be mosaic-encrusted walls and pillars. Sadly, I need a better computer to be able to get the most out of SL now.

Beautiful arches! Worth the wait!

I find my way back to the souk. This portion is seemingly made of drapes, trellis and tents, the stalls filled with baskets, rugs and lamps. It feels close and stuffy. I can't even tell what direction I'm facing, and there's that little bit of me that is clastrophobic starting to complain.

And there in the storefront of a rug merchant sleeps a cat, like all cats can, without a care in the world. As if all were safe and sound in this place of sand and noise.

I walk out into open market and find myself staring at the mystery meat that lies sizzling on the grill of the market food vendor.

Meow?

The reality of the place sinks in a bit more. I wonder if maybe that cat shouldn't sleep so deeply here.

Immanion

2007-12-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Begin transmission>>>

I teleport back into the SIM I found by chance yesterday. The crashing waves and seagulls at the port lull me into thinking I could really be standing on the shores of the white and gleaming Wraeththu city: Immanion.

A small jellyfish bobs near the dock, and I wonder if it would sting to touch it, such is the illusion I am experiencing with SL lately.

Yesterday I found this place, and was amazed to find that not only are there fans of Storm Constantine's work here in SL, but they have built the capitol city from the book! The Hara here are open and hospitable, even though I'm not of their race. They were happy to show me around and ask my opinion on the place: Did it live up to my imaginings of Immanion?

Truth be told, I'm re-reading the book after 10 years, and haven't gotten to that part yet. I'm certain now that seeing it in virtual reality, it will color my thoughts when I consume those pages.

Casual observers, unaware of the rich storyline, might assume this place to be inhabited by crossdressers and transsexuals, or gay men that would rather be a woman, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

The Har are more than human, combining traits of both male and female in one person into a hermaphrodidic magical being. They can be 'incepted', that is, created into Har, or they can be born of them. They are beautiful, androgynous and wild. No wonder so many are attracted to this lifestyle.

I inquire about rentals, but I'm not sure they accept non-Har into thier beautiful city of white turrets, towers and arches. I am referred to one of the creators for more information. They are open to humans, as long as we are "Har-friendly", and not here to create drama or problems. Such is the rule on many SIMS in SL. Maybe I shall rent a space here for a time, and watch while this city emerges from the minds of the fans.

As I sit, blogging, in the Har club Sanctuary, I am overwhelmed by happiness for those who have found an outlet in Second Life for their love of this author's work. I shall enjoy seeing the rise of Immanion, and the dreams that shall become of it.

Nexus Prime; the city of the future

2007-12-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

December 21, 11:31 pm.

I have recently freed up some space on my computer and un-installed a couple huge programs.

Somehow, my password was cleared from the login screen, but after a few panicked attempts, wondering if somehow, someone hacked my account...

I rez.

There is always the moment of wonder; where will I be when I arrive? Where did I log out (or crash?)

Gibson.

Gibson used to take almost 20 minutes to fully load but now, Nexus Prime, the cyberpunk city of the future, flickers fast into view, all dark, dirty and gleaming at the same time...

This place has been here since I began, over three years ago...I start to wander, feeling nostalgic.

One false step off the edge of a walkway and I've fallen into the Warren of shuttered buildings, girders, and graffiti. Lucky I'm quick to hit the 'fly' command, or that might have hurt.

I rise up out of the undercity, find a public terminal, and jack in.

I am transported to a black room with odd white lighting. Apparently a club called the Black Sun, and I am the only patron.

Binary numbers cascade down the nearest wall. I touch the stream of numbers and a notecard pops up in my HUD, detailing the locations in Nexus Prime. More notes follow concerning the few simple rules if one wishes to roleplay on this server. They all basically boil down to: don't be a jerk.

Then comes the note about the Tyrell Corporation, which states: "the Tyrell Corporation was the third user-made group in Second Life, and is currently the oldest surviving group. It has developed, razed, and redeveloped the Nexus Prime cityscape since March 2003."

Something that is older than me! A rare treat.

I explore the Black Sun and find the bar droid, and get a beer.

Then the lag monster slows my connection to a crawl. I stagger towards the exit and click the exit teleport. I am caught in the corner of the server for a moment while I am rerouted to the teleport location. I spin in place a few times and my hair flies up around me.

Suddenly, I am back in the Warrens, standing in front of the public terminal.

Not ten feet away, a person falls from the sky and lands in a heap on the cracked concrete.

Weren't watching their step, I suppose.

Space Collective

2007-12-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have much to say about the future. Especially about how virtual reality is going to shape the evolution of the human race. I hope the Space Collective site isn't just a big puff of marketing dust...

UPDATE> I have received an invite and created a profile. To the Future!!