What would you like to see done in SL?

I wouldn't mind scripting more emergent behavior. I have a project or two on the back burner that just needs a few tweaks... preferrably before halloween...

I also wouldn't mind more villainy in-world. Where's the plots to blot out the sun? Where's the evil undead attacks? Where's the club hostage scenarios? Where are the badguys with the handlebar mustaches, putting damsels in distress on the Second Life Railroad?

LF

LOL!

Evil Villain: And now, if you'd be so kind... right click this rope bundle prim and choose 'sit'.
Victim: Okies *lies on railway track*
Evil Villain: bwahaha! behold my evilness!
<train comes chugging along, bearing down on our hapless heroine>
Victim: *hits 'stand up'*
Evil Villain: Drat! Foiled again!

Personally, I think we should have a Fried Eggy contest, that would be fun. And we could eat him when we were done.

That would be kinda cool, which actually leads to a question. Are there any areas in SL that are more or less devoted to role playing?

And please don't say the entire grid.

You know eggy, a group I'm in tried something like this ( /invalid_link.html ) but it got hijacked by people telling us we were trying to scam them. However the offer still stands! And to make it seem like we are not scamming you, I will give you all my money if we decide it is a project worth supporting (currently this is L$10,395, and I will garuntee that it will not be less). If you want, you can have all my money after your done too.

Also, I apologize for hijaking this thread back towards it's original purpose.


bbc

edit for some, but not all, spelling

I would like to see you all do this.

The TV business has been good to me. It has been a learning experience, a creative experience, and most importantly a profitable experience.
After selling various forms of TV and Video content to SL residents for a year and a half I am retiring from the business I developed and pushing an industry into being.
Here, today, I will give you all the info you could need to create and sell your own TV's and Video. Good luck and I hope some of you are succesful in pushing the limits of the medium to ever greater heights. Without further words, lets get to it.

What you need.

1. You need a callable script that will play animated textures of various length and speed. This script is provided.

2. You need a program that will automatically allign images into a grid otherwise it will take alot of time to lay out your animated texture in photoshop. I use ImageMagick. I think you can download it here - http://imagemagick.sourceforge.net/

3. You need an image converter. I use photoshop.

4. For video conversion I use flash, although it's not required to make animated textures, I'll be using it in the following example.

5. You need two prims. 1 to act as the TV and display your video and the 2nd to act as the button that tells the 1st prim what to display.

The animated texture.

Animated textures are what you need to display video in the world of SL. Animated textures are a grid of smaller images that when played quickly on a prim appear to be video. You can make animated textures out of almost any type of modern computer video format including mpeg, mpg, avi, wmv, etc. Animated textures work best in SL if the image grid consists of even numbers. 2x2, 2x4, 2x8, 4x4, 8x8, and 8x16 are all good examples. Currently the fewer number of individual image frames you have the better. SL suffers a performance hit when large data size animated textures are running nearby, so think of your neighbors when making your animated textures.

How to make an animated texture from video.

Create a file folder in your main directory. Example - c:\video

Once you have your video clip selected I recomend using macromedia flash MX or newer to edit your video. First, open flash and import your video by choosing FILE - IMPORT - IMPORT TO STAGE. Once you have your video in flash you can adjust you flash document to match the size of video you have or the desired video output you want to display. Next select FILE - EXPORT - EXPORT MOVIE. Export the movie to your c:\video file as "test.jpg". Now close your current work in Flash. Now open a new Flash document and size it to the size of the video you just exported. Now, select FILE - IMPORT - IMPORT TO STAGE and select the file c:\video. When you open that file in your Flash Import window you will see a series of images in that window all named test001.jpg, test002.jpg, test003.jpg, test004.jpg, etc depending on how long your clip is. Now select the first test001.jpg. Flash will ask you if you want to import the entire series. Click "YES" and the images will be layed out in your workspace one after another. At this point you can now more accurately delete frames to get the exact number you want. You could also add bars, titles, etc at this point. When you have an even number of frames and are satisfied with the edit you have then you are ready to export again. Select FILE - EXPORT - EXPORT MOVIE and name this movie "final.jpg". Now in your file named "c:\video" you will hopefully have an even number of images named final001.jpg, final002.jpg, final003.jpg, final004.jpg, etc. Now you can move on to the next part of creating your animated texture.

How to make an animated texture from still images.

If you use the previous example of making an animated texture from video you will already have a file named c:\video. If not, please create one now and place the even number of images you want to use in your animated texture within this file. Now for XP users you need to open a command prompt. Go to START - RUN. You will get an open window with a prompt for a command. Type "cmd", and click "ok". You will now get a command prompt, at this prompt type "cd\" and hit enter. Then type "cd\video" and hit enter. At this point you should have already installed ImageMagick, if so type at the command prompt "montage".

Now you are ready to convert your images into a grid or animated texture. ImageMagick is capable of doing alot of things but for our needs here we will only use one basic command. This is an example - "montage -geometry 640x480 -tile 4x8 video*.* video.jpg"

The 640x480 is telling the program the size of the images being used. This can be changed to work with your project.

The 4x8 is telling the program how many frames across and down you want your animated texture. In this case we have 4 across by 8 down for a total of 32 frames. This can be changed to fit your project.

video is the name of the image series you want to convert. As long as your series is numbered like the example above then the program will select your images for conversion.

video.jpg is the name of the output image that you will get after conversion.

After you have the command set for your need, enter it at the prompt and press enter. After ImageMagick coverts your image just look in your c:\video file and you will find it there. You now have an animated texture. With a little practice you will be able to convert your clips to animation in no time. I recomend loading your animated texture image into a program like photoshop and sizing it down and optimizing it, but thats entirely up to you.

How to display callable animated textures in SL.

After you are happy with your animated texture image log onto SL. Upload the image like you would any other and it will now be in your inventory.

Now create a prim in SL that matches the dimensions of your original animated texture images. Name it for this example "r1". This prim will be your TV.
In the TV drop the following script:

list args;
string cmd;
string obj;
integer x=1;
integer y=1;
integer tag=0;
default
{
state_entry()
{
llWhisper(, "";
llListen(000000,"","","";
}

touch_start(integer total_number)
{
llWhisper(, "";
}
listen(integer channel, string name, key id, string message)
{
args=llParseString2List(message, [" "],[":"]);
obj=llList2String(args,0);
cmd=llList2String(args,1);
args=llDeleteSubList(args,0,1);
if (obj==llGetObjectName() || obj=="P0" || obj=="A"
{
if(cmd=="lock"
{
tag=0;
}
if(cmd=="unlock"
{
tag=1;
}
if (tag==0)
{
if (llList2Key(args,0) != llGetOwner())
{
cmd="do nothing";
}
else
{
args=llDeleteSubList(args,0,0);
}
}

if(cmd=="trans"
{
llSetTexture("",4);
}
if(cmd=="logo"
{
x=1;
y=1;
llSetTexture("",ALL_SIDES);
llScaleTexture(1,1,-1);
llOffsetTexture(1,1,-1);

}
if(cmd=="offset"
{
integer face=llList2Integer(args,2);
if (face==0)
{
face=4;
}
llOffsetTexture(llList2Float(args,0),llList2Float(args,1),face);
}
if(cmd=="scale"
{
integer face=llList2Integer(args,2);
if(face == 0)
{
face=4;
}

llScaleTexture(llList2Float(args,0),llList2Float(args,1),face);
}
if(cmd=="tex"
{
integer face=llList2Integer(args,3);
if (face==0)
{
face=4;
}
x=llList2Integer(args,1);
y=llList2Integer(args,2);
if (x==0 || y==0)
{
x=1;
y=1;
}
llSetTexture(llList2String(args,0),face);
llScaleTexture(1 / (float)x,1 / (float)y,face);
}
if (cmd=="font"
{
x=40;
y=8;
llSetTexture("",4);
llScaleTexture(1 / (float)x,1 / (float)y,4);
}
if (cmd=="color"
{
float r=llList2Float(args,0);
float g=llList2Float(args,1);
float b=llList2Float(args,2);
integer face=llList2Integer(args,3);
if (face==0)
{
face=4;
}
llSay(0,(string)<r,g,b>;
llSetColor(<r,g,b>,face);
}
if (cmd=="reset"
{
llResetScript();
llSetTextureAnim(FALSE,4,40,8,0,1,1);
}
if (cmd=="frame"
{
float f=llList2Float(args,0);
llSetTextureAnim(ANIM_ON,4,40,8,f,1,1);
}
if (cmd=="anim"
{
float start=llList2Float(args,0);
float length=llList2Float(args,1);
float fps=llList2Float(args,2);
integer loop=llList2Integer(args,3);
integer face=llList2Integer(args,4);
if (face==0)
{
face=4;
}
if (llList2Integer(args,3) ==1)
{
llSetTextureAnim(ANIM_ON|LOOP,face,x,y,start,length,fps);
}
else
{
llSetTextureAnim(ANIM_ON,face,x,y,start,length,fps);
}
}


}
}
}

The above script can be modified in various ways to do many different things. As it is it will display whatever texture it is told to on the prim it is in. It will listen for the channel you set. Be sure to set your own channel towards the top of the script where it says llListen(0000000,"","","";

Now you need to make your playback button. This button will speak the command to play your animated texture on the TV. Start by creating a prim. In that prim put the following script:

key owner;
default
{
state_entry()
{
owner=llGetOwner();
}
on_rez(integer i)
{
owner=llGetOwner();
}
touch_start(integer total_number)
{
llWhisper(000000, "r1 tex "+(string)owner+" 339e5236-4ef4-0ee7-a4ba-a9d7215cd9e0 8 8 -1";
llWhisper(000000, "r1 anim "+(string)owner+" 1 64 8 1 -1";
}
}


The above script will tell the TV what to play, how to play, and how fast. The first thing you need to edit it this line:
llWhisper(000000, "R1 tex "+(string)owner+" 64960f0a-3fde-854d-a37f-cb2ee103f599 8 8 -1";
You need to edit this long number "339e5236-4ef4-0ee7-a4ba-a9d7215cd9e0". That number is a UUID. Every texture in SL is assigned a UUID. By entering a UUID there, the TV will know to play that texture when this object is clicked. To get the UUID of your texture simply find it in your inventory and right click on it. Select COPY UUID. Then paste the number in place of the example UUID. Make sure you leave the intended space after you paste in the UUID, otherwise your TV may not function correctly.

Next you need to edit this line:
llWhisper(000000, "r1 anim "+(string)owner+" 1 64 8 1 -1";
This part of the line needs to be edited: owner+" 1 64 8 1 -1";
The first 1 tells us that we are going to play frame 1. The 64 tells us we are going to play 64 frames on this particular texture. 8 tells us the texture will play at about 8 frames per second. The next 1 will tell the TV to loop the animated texture, a 0 instead of a 1 will tell the TV play the texture only one time through. The -1 tells the TV to play the texture on all sides of the object.

If you are patient and follow the instructions and have some previous scripting experience you should be up and running in no time. I expect to see a whole new industry come alive here in SL and I can't wait. I'm sure many of you will upgrade this concept and develop many additions that we will all love. I can't wait. Till then I am glad to retire from this SL "job" and move onto other adventures. Good luck in your creations and enjoy yourselves.

My store, Video Emporium will be up and running for a few days more and after that it will be a memory. If you need a place to get ideas on how to implement your scripts please feel free to stop by and check out the TV's and vids in the store. Everything is still for sale and will be till close. Close will mark the end of thousands of vids sold to SL residents and I expect that number will be surpased many times now that you all know the way. Finally!

LOL no need to apologise BBC =)
My idea is sort of like yours in reverse.
Remember when philip posted in his blog that he would like to see golf done in SL?
We could post our own ideas, set up a bounty, and then any random noob with the necessary skills could make a name for himself and a lot of money to boot.
Feel free to steal this idea if you want... after the gratuitous destruction of this thread I no longer feel like sponsoring anything

We can persist, Eggy... we must! And if this threads burns, we will build another! For these are positive ideas which will have an impact on us at large if they manifest themselves. It will take time and energy and many other things, but after the wonders I have already seen, I look forward to more.

Rewards do matter. I could be politically correct (or whatever they're calling it in 2004) and sidestep the power of the Linden $ and big neon lights, but uh... I don't relate to that BS, so yes, they do matter. If there's going to be a cause, there'd better be an effect. And if that effect includes, in addition to other things, rewarding the creativity of blossoming innovators here -- just like how cash prizes and grants and awards do IRL -- then YAY. I'm all for honoring such achievements publically. I may be confused sometimes and overlook the obvious, but I know to talk loudly and proudly about the stuff I enjoy and want other SLers to see it. Even if I get lost on the way.

There are brilliant people here who have expressed to me that they are beaten down and discouraged because of sour experiences... left feeling thankless and empty-handed. This makes me sad.

I feel it is dangerous to believe in any singular solution, as none exists. It is a process vs. stagnation that must have certain parameters laid down, yet be fluid at the same time and evolving as SL continues to expand and grow. If it seems like a contradiction, that's because it is. But I know one thing for sure: when I see something I really like, I say something like "OMG!!! WHAT A TRIP!!!" and let that person know I vouch my support for their creativity.

There is a famous poster from yesteryear I am accustomed with, and have looked at many times. A contemporary variation looks like this:

Funny scary did I mention funny as hell. Perhaps you need a little "me time" does wonders for the mind body and soul Kris

Cath

Eggy your thread is a great idea made the little squeaky wheels in my head start turning LOL

Cath

Eggy - in the spirit of this thread, I posted on the Bloody Mary thread that I would be willing to donate L$ if that was a need of theirs to continue their work.

This idea kinda sprung from the arrangement of microphones at the last town hall. There was like 20-30 of em in like a half star kinda shape which made me think if it was a big X rather than a star it woulda almost been a treasure hunt in finding the meeting... well I've been thinking... it hurt a little but oh well... (and please tell me if this has been done before) But what about having a worldwide scavenger hunt? Get a group of ppl together that want to run it... they find some fairly unique... maybe obscure places in SL. Contact the owners of those builds to ask permission to use it as part of a scavenger hunt and ask them if they have plans on drastically changing the look of it anytime soon. If not, take a snapshot of it and keep going... get like 40-50 of these snapshots saved and make the entire set free to copy in SL or post them on a webpage or something. Then have a race to see who(or which team) can find the coordinates of each of the builds in the pictures first. I don't have the time or knowledge of the world really to pull such a thing off but think it would be cool to see it done.

-Meiyo

Well its good to know that there is an interest in contributing L$ to reward innovation.
But what would you like to see?
Something I've been wanting to do is extend XyText.
If we could made it use 3-letter combinations instead of 2-letter combinations, you could fit a more useful amount of text on all existing XyText screens.
Namely, you could get it up to the standard 80x25 terminal resolution.
The programming isnt hard. It's more a matter of generating the textures and uploading them, and getting their keys -- slave labor
But it does take a fair bit of money to upload everything, and I am clueless WRT photoshop scripting. I dont even have photoshop. Maybe we could get Xylor to send us the photoshop scripts that he used to generate 2-letter combinations, and extend it to generate all 3 letter combinations?
After we have 80x25 resolution, we can make TELNET
Imagine, telnetting to a linux box to play NETHACK!
Or playing MUDs inside SL. Or even going to IRC.
You could even browse webpages with lynx lol!
So, any takers? Money is not a problem.

Scavenger hunts are cool. Char linden used to run some about a year ago.

She stopped when people kept cheating.

How did people cheat? We can get around it, probably. I should talk to char.

AGREED Azrazael. Glad to hear someone else feels the same.

As for what I'd like to see done in SL... I would like to see complimentary alcoholic beverages served on all flights originating from Abbotts Aerodrome.

Yeah, I like the fond memories... but if multiple rewards are applied, that would be "a best of both (or more) worlds" situation. The fuse must be lit for the rocket to go further!!

You're right about the alky bevs. They'd come in handy during sim crossing crashes