Category Virtual Worlds

Dec 20 2012

Virtual World Eliminations

Greetings from the avatar Sunbeam Magic having too much fun lately hopping from grid to grid (or virtual world to virtual world) and reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends and visiting many friends.  I believe I  have eliminated three of the 12 to 15 I play occasionally. # 1) this grid every time I tp I still lose my hair *annoying* plus they want to charge 5$ for each upload.  With the majority of the os virtual worlds offering Free uploads  I can not imagine why any grid owner would implement this practice in their new world #2) the second I ‘m eliminating is due to every time I go there no one is there … no one.  I read good reports on ‘Hypergrid business magazine’ on how they are growing and were voted in the top grids,  but I haven’t found that when I visited. #3) this world offers something most new grids don’t but they too want 5$ per upload and the land prices are comparable with all the other os grids so …  anyway there are my justifications for taking those 3 off my list for my 2013  new year’s resolution.  My hubby complains he is a ‘virtual world widow’ lol as I’m always exploring or chatting or joining this contest or going to this event on line while he feels neglected.  So I am cutting my virtual world playing to half the worlds I have been exploring and joining since my ban from InWorst.  I believe this will give me more time to share some quality time with my Dude! Who btw still prefers our legacy world Second Life. 

AA & Evv Aion (131, 129, 651)

I won’t publish the name of the grids I’m eliminating in an effort not to influence others.  I believe each should make up their own minds and use their own personal criteria. I do have good friends in those worlds I’m putting at the bottom of my list to play in.  But with grid hopping as population as it seems to have become I hope we will still run into each other from time to time.   I won’t actually leave these virtual worlds as a member, I just won’t be going in on a regular basis.  That said… when I do come up my top six virtual worlds I will publish that list.  Now,  I have about two weeks left to decide which other virtual worlds will be eliminated from my list of most fun grids imho ! so I must run off and pop in a world or two today and hopefully run into some friends and some fun.    Stay tuned.

 Cyaz around the metaverse! Walk in the Sunshine!

Nov 29 2012

HOW MANY ARE TOO MANY?

Greetings! its been 3 months since my last post and as always I can’t believe that much time has passed so quickly.   I’ve been very busy in many VWz. Since my ban (Feb 2011) I believe I’ve joined at at least two dozen grids or so.  Just today I told myself and another banned friend that in the new year 2013 I’m gonna reduce my blogs down to two and my vw’z down to six or seven lol.

Its true each is a bit different in feel and atmosphere as you roam their sims and explore the marvelous visions of the creators brought to life with pixels.  What’s really amazing is how you run into old friends and make new friends everyday by visiting lots of grids.  I now consider myself a true blue (actually I’m a pink skinned fae)  ‘Gridhopper’ ! And not to toot my own horn, but open sim VW have given me the tools and indirectly the self confidence I need to be a good creator.  I love building… big builds, little builds, any builds!

Which VW’z have you joined you ask? Why let me list them…  WHAT Virtual World, Avatar Connection, Third Rock (3rg), 3dMee (by invite only), Craft, Island Oasis, Haven, Lost Paradise, Metropolis, Olantic, Science Sim, SpotOn3D, Kitely, OSgrid (in no particular order).  A few I went to and hard troubles so didn’t go back… one when I downloaded their software broke my computer and it took weeks to get it fix.  Lol Anyway those are just a few I can name off the top of my head. And I’m sure I’ll be trying out more as I hear about them. 

Virtual Worldz are the places I enjoy being when interneting! Here I am asking Santa for ‘Peace and Happiness’ for all worlds, real or virtual!  If you see me in a world, stop and say Hello! I love to chat.  Happy Gridhopping!

Jun 16 2012

June Gloom

Well… I guess I wasn’t as back as I thought I’d be.  Its been 3 weeks since I posted. Shame on me! Gonna blame it on the ‘June Gloom’ which I didn’t think I would experience since moving out to the Valley and getting away from the coast.  In my neck of the world, each June the clouds just seem to hang around blocking the sun all morning long.  Its down right depressing.  Can hardly get my day started!

Anyway, I’ve started slowly working my way back to playing VW games too. Had a great time building a street dance theme in Avatar Connection for the Diamond Jubilee celebration that England’s going wild over.  I’m proud to say I haven’t missed a contest yet since Oct when I joined.  I’ve got some new (old) friends joining me at Island Oasis and 3rd Rock seems to be growing with a couple new shops on the sim I share with London Core.  I’ve heard rumor InWorldz is up to its old tricks, with the founders causing dissension  among the natives and crowned dignitaries by once again ignoring the truth and issuing ultimatums.  Their nickname should be ‘As InWorldz Turns Soap Opera’.  Stay tuned for more.

Apr 17 2012

Blown to Smithereens

Yep… my computer exploded, died, kapoot…. its gone gone gone! AS I was “gridhopping” and exploring new worlds I saw a new one advertised called “Virtual Cities”.  I thought this is perfect for us, since we do prim cities.  I went to download the program (it redirected me to Alpha Towne, which we had been active players in a couple years ago so was really excited to see it was being revived) and then after the download and restart,  it had eaten one of my vital .dll files AND I could not even get into ‘safe mode’ to ‘restore’ to previous date.  After numerous tries and having to turn the tower off manually, now my computer won’t come on at all.   Dratz!

I  am able to use my hubby’s computer some what but it sooooooooooooooo different than mine (he has Vista, I had XP, he uses IE I use Firefox).  It just isn’t the same at all! I feel lost and isolated without my computer.  Who would of dreamed a computer would become such an important element to the quality of life in the ‘home’? I paid my bills on it, kept in touch with childhood friends, looked up receipes, searched medical info, chatted with family and of course played ‘games’ and wiled away my leisure hours having loads of fun.   Don’t know when I will get a new one.  I’m now doing jigsaw puzzles by hand, oh lordy! Anyway, to look on the bright side, when I do get a new computer the inner workings should be higher quality and with more advanced technology than my five year old custom built one.  Smiles. 

Needless to say my blog posts will be limited.  Dratz again!

Apr 13 2012

Hop on the Wave of the Grid Players Playland

After hearing for months about this wonderful amazing FREE software that gives you your own personal playland to run on your very own pc desktop we finally took the plunge.  At first we were a wee bit nervous it might be too intimidating or way over our limited techy experiences. Smiles,  it was so easy to set up and omg smooth running and quick ! and lag? what’s that? It’s virtual gone with your own private  ‘New World Studio’.  After reading ‘Hypergrid Business’ article “Free Open Sim in a Snap” by Maria Korolov we were rearing to give it a try.   We’re so new into it I don’t want to give out any misinformation but let me tell you,  if you love to build, terra, change, tweak, experiment and want to learn the ins and outs of grid and sim administration then join this new wave of growing metaverse users enjoying this great opportunity.  “Amazing” it what we keep saying each time we log into our own little world, letting our imaginations run wild with prims and pixels.

As we get to know more about how to hook up to others (via Hypergrid/Stargate) and how to allow friends in I’ll share the info. Enjoy! http://code.google.com/p/newworldstudio/wiki/QuickStart

Apr 8 2012

NEW BEGINNINGS

Easter comes around in the spring, along with new life, new flowers, and when the earth renews itself after a long, cold winter. The word Easter comes to us from the Norsemen’s Eostur, Eastar, Ostara, and Ostar, and the pagan goddess Eostre, involving the season of the growing sun and new birth. The ‘Easter’ Bunny arose originally as a symbol of fertility, since the rapid reproduction rates of the hare and rabbit can not be denied.

Starting in a NEW Virtual World is like having Spring open up to you with each new grid you try.  There will be a new avatar look, new clothing, new friends, new places to explore and new plans to make for your new self.  Some use the same avatar name in every grid they go into (if possible, the new Second Life register only allows one name now, no last names) and some may choose a new and different name for each grid. 

One constant in all grids is the FREEBIE.  Seems all new grids set out some Freebies at their welcome center or donate a full sim to setting out Freebies.  Freebies are acquired by buying the box of goodies for 0$ or by taking a free copy.  Freebies can be skins, shapes, clothing, homes, furniture, animations, scripts, landscaping just about anything made.  Another way to find Freebies is to explore shops through out the grid, many shop owners offer a free gift (freebie) set by their shop entrance and sometimes these shop freebies are the best of the best.  If the search is working in the new grid you’ve entered do a search for “Freebies” and see what pops up.

New beginnings and Freebies…. what could be more fun? Happy Easter everyone!!!

Apr 2 2012

And the FUN Continues

What’s your idea of fun when it comes to internet options? Many enjoy Facebook, keeping in touch with loved ones and friends, sharing pictures and quotes and such.  Many blog speaking their minds or just dilly dallying.  Many play games like Poker or Bejewelled or action games like shoot ’em ups and racing.  And many play Virtual Worlds.  What kind of fun do they offer you say… well, there are so many ways to have fun in VW I probably will miss a few ways but will list those I do know.

First there is ‘role play’.  Role play is where you dress and talk your avatar up in the ways of themed sim offering role playing.  You could be a dragon, a fairy, a mermaid, a cowboy or an Indian.  You could visit Berlin as it was back in the 1920’s or visit Starfleet set in the future or try Steampunk which is gaining great popularity in many virtual worlds.  In role play you create your own ‘back story’ (where you tell where you came from and what powers if any you may have and explain how you arrived) in relationship to the themed sim’s storyline.  At first its seems a bit awkward then as you get into the swing of things you can’t wait to see what may develop next.  Some sims are very strict with role playing rules and guidelines, some sims are loose and more impromtu style of role play.  It’s up to you which you decide to try and what’s more fun for you.

Second there is shoot ’em games! Want to kill some zombies??? or show your skill at archery or start or join a gang and rival other gangs? Many  virtual worlds have all the tools you’ll need including bandages when you get shot, doctors and hospitals to heal you or on the fantasy sims healing powers are built in for your special avatar and some can even bring you back from the dead.  How fun is that?

Third is racing, automobiles, motorcylces, boats, horses and even airplanes.  You can win awards like trophies, virtual monies or a creative item such as a house or new automobile etc.  You can learn to do stunts too.   Contests are held often and like any competitive sport practice makes perfect.  It’s amazing how the hours melt away as your racing for practice or in a scheduled contest.  One of the best things about this style of fun in a virtual world is meeting folks just like yourself  from all over the globe who also love the trill of a race and are interested in automobiles, motorcycles or whatever form of transportation you’ve chosen.  So if you love racing then this is for you.

Next there is surfing (my favorite). Grab a board, find a wave and jump in the virtual oceans and away you go.  Learn to do tricks like a flip, barrell, cutbacks, hang ten or off the lip.  With surfing there is a whole community who love the beach sims and have organized teams and started associations and have their own magazines and judges.  Contests are held often and usually last half a day or longer just like in real life.  Many virtual surfers also have or still surf in the real world.  At first you think, I’ll never learn to do that but many veteran surfers are willing to teach you the ropes and the right buttons to push and you’ll be amazed how real it feels as you shoot the curl on these virtual waves.  Speaking of waves, in the beginning there was just one kind… as technology progressed so did the virtual surf waves and now there are many styles to try.  Surfers love to party when they are not on the water so if you’re looking for a social community to join and love the sunshine, then try the virtual surf scene.

Safe paths

Sunbeam

Mar 31 2012

Different Types of “FUN”

Fun: adjective for good, happy

Fun means many things to different people.  Most people see fun as amusement, enjoyable, merry and entertaining.  In Virtual Worlds everyone is always commenting on your play by saying  “… as long as you’re having fun”.  Most people define fun as something that  makes you smile or giggle.  You can create your own fun or join in someone else’ fun.  The beauty of  Virtual Worlds is there is always some one making up fun things to do.  Virtual Worlds can be very social and everyone, young or old, skinny or fat, tall or short is invited to the party.  Parties in Virtual Worlds can be themed parties for holidays, birthdays (or as they say in VW ‘rezz day’ > the day you signed up to play in a VW),  or come as you are parties for no reason at all.  Parties can be held at a club, a home, a full sim or anywhere there may be more than three or four avatars gathered together.

Fun to some in Virtual Worlds mean  causing havoc and stress often referred to as ‘Drama’.  These type of people thrive on seeing others struggling to understand what the hell is going on.  They push your human emotion buttons with words and actions they would never say or do in the real world, because hey what can you do back, break their virtual bones? Not to mention they are totally ‘anonymous’, you have no idea who is behind  the avatar pulling the strings to make this avatar act the way that they are.  Most players try to avoid these types of avatars at all costs, but as everyone knows sometimes you just can’t help but step in their mess especially if you are a person of integrity, or they are such good manipulators you don’t even know you’ve been had.

One of the best things about Virtual Worlds is the music and entertainment (like poetry readings or stage plays).  Many many budding musical artists can get up on a stage and sing their hearts out for you.  They could not do this in the real world due to extreme stage fright or fear of failure.  But as an avatar they have no fear.  In their minds’ eye, it’s not really them singing or playing the music, its the avatar.

Another great party entertainer is the Disc Jockey.  In Virtual Worlds you can attend parties where the DJ is playing all your favorite songs.  You might hear a song you haven’t heard for ages or hear a new song that rocks your world.  Some DJ’s are also real life DJs.  Some have always wanted to DJ and the Virtual World has given them the opportunity to give it a go.

To me, music and fun go together like toast and jam! So if you love music, love fun and want to try something entirely different enter a Virtual World and go to a party! Don’t worry about being alone, the crowd will welcome you by name! Have FUN!

Safe paths,

Sunbeam