Confusion from a 'not so newbie'

Okay I've been reading the forums for many months now, and occasionally posting my 2L opinion on hot topics.

But now I have a questions I"m hoping someone can answer for me.

I hear everyone talking about Continents named this and that, but for the life of me I can't find them on the map. I pull up the big map and drag it around and never see a continent name. I see Islands, and Island names, and sims and sim names, but how do I find these continents?

I hear people referring to this region or that region and I'm curious how you know what region is what?

I'm sure its something really simple and I'll be embarrassed when you tell me but I really want to know. lol

Thanks in advance for tolerating my stupidity.
FaTeke Wottitz

"So shines a good deed in a weary world."
Willy Wonka

Hi FaTeke,

Check out this thread:

/327/07/236774/1.html

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That thread is all well and good, and the maps there are awesome, however it does not answer the OP's question. HOW did the mapmaker know the continent names in the first place?

Like FaTeke, this is something I've wondered a long while. I can't even tell from the map what is mainland and what is not. I've figured that out a bit because of familiarity with different sims, but it's not straightforward at all.

The continents were named by LL, with the exception of continent 4, which has three names listed on those maps plus the sources of those names.

You can see region names on the inworld map.

The maps in the above thread show mainland only. everything else you see on the inworld map are private islands.

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Back in the day, new contenents were released with much mystery & intrigue - using a fictional Linden avatar named Magellan Linden.

Magellan would release cryptic hints in the weeks before the release, many of which would include a continent name.

That's where many of the continent names came from - and are archived in the SL History Wiki ( http://secondlife.wikia.com/index.php/Main_Page )

Many later continent & place names are mostly unofficial, and provided by residents.

That was kinda cool back then. Sadly the virtual world idea seems so much less important to everyone now.

I only ask this because it takes forever to rezz the main map:

So, when fully zoomed out in the main map, are we seeing everything in existence? Or are we seeing the original mainland and its neighbor?

I don't recall seeing other continents in the main map.

The mainland is made up of several contiguous land masses, or 'continents'. 4, I think. Private Islands aren't included in this, but some are large enough make up their own continents.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Magellan Linden's ship fell off the edge of the world on his last voyage - which would explain why we haven't heard from him in so long.

On a few of the continents (or land masses), you can find their name by viewing an unnamed SIM, such as those called corsica_reg12 or Nautilus_4v4.

Sim = simulator = region = one square on the SL map grid. All names for the same thing, a 65,000 square meter piece of virtual real estate.

Continent names are nice for the mainland, but are largely irrelevant, since each sim has its own unique name.

I think we're up to 5 mainland continents now and they seen to be adding another new one, too..

Yes, you are seeing everything. As you zoom in, the first large contiguous blobs of land that you see rendered are the continents. There are 4 or 5 of them, in the middle-right of the map. And no, unfortunately, they are not labeled as such.

I'm not sure, but I think there is something in the map coding that prevents huge contiguous sets of islands from rendering in the same way until you zoom in further. Otherwise, I would think that Dreamland etc. would look like continents?
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Tell that to the guy who wanted a horse for a girlfriend.

When I was searching for land to buy, I had two things checked - show people and show land for sale. Then I went to maximum viewage (heh), and I "saw" the islands. Or I could tell where they were from the people. It was looking at one of those nighttime maps of earth and seeing the lights on

I don't know about others but this is what caused me the most confusion for the longest time. Which one was the "mainland"? I never understood that the "mainland" was comprised of multiple bodies.

Well, I'll be honest, I still don't really 'get' it. I understand it, I just have a hard time picturing it. Using map is fine, but when you zoom out, you lose islands. When you zoom in, you can't see everything.
It's a bit like moving into a new city (RL), you can only picture your new community - get your bearings - after living there for a while.

I suppose I'll eventually get a 'feel' for SL land, but until then, Teleport is my friend.

gov linden owned ocean servers tell you the name of a continent.

No you'u can't see everything at maximum zoom, tou can scroll Northe South east or West for quite a while with the main continents off the screen, there are all sorts of interesting company islands and min continents off the map like Brazils infohubs