A Look Back, A Look Ahead

I would love to list all the wonderful places i have seen in SL, but since the compulsory viewer upgrade a few months back everything is grey, unless i stay put for at least an hour in one spot and click on every single prim that eventually rezzes for me, if i see it at all. I had to get friends to take pics of my venues (plug: Pixel Hill http://slurl.com/secondlife/Strayling/234/46/54 ) as i was decorating them for the holidays as i couldnt see what it was looking like with the grey everywhere

I've not bothered checking out all the winter sims this year, which is a shame as i usually love them, but grey snow just doesnt do it for me, lol! SL Dec 06 worked a lot better for me than it does Dec 08

Anyhoo, on that note, good to see M taking an interest and can i have a bear too please?

Happy New Year everyone

I've seen a lot of amazing things in Second Life but I have to say, what's stuck out most of all in my mind, is the wondrous cyberpunk dystopia that is the Sector 7 sim. It's utterly fantastic and gorgeous and everyone should go there and buy up the many adorable tiny robot avatars on sale.

I'm not sure who this "Joshua Nightshade" is who owns the sim but if his work is anything to go by, he has to be a dashingly handsome individual with outstanding charisma and charm.

For me, one of the most gratifying things about having created Snapzilla, which is now nearly four years old, is that it is a day by day visual history of Second Life since early 2005. The nearly 320,000 images on it have been viewed a staggering 45 million times combined. It has shown how Second Life has grown and evolved over time, and captured so many things that no longer exist except in photos, along with an incredible amount of memories for people from their Second Lives. That is unbelievably satisfying and rewarding.

Take a look back at some of the early snapshots in Best Of Snapzilla, all the way through to today - there are so many great moments captured in them:

http://www.sluniverse.com/pics/BestOfSnapzilla.aspx

Admittedly, I spend much more time doing stuff for Second Life than actually in it these days, but it still fascinates me after all this time, which is definitely something special since I get bored easily. I may get frustrated from time to time, but deep down I love Second Life still and am glad to be here.

If you are looking for wonderful places to see in SL, most of the pictures on Snapzilla have a teleport link on them - it's a great way to explore.

Oh, oh. I was reading to slow. Now I missed out on the bears.
Can I get one tomorrow, too?

I know many people have stated how ugly and messed up mainland was and is, but for me, the highlight and what lured me into the addictive world of second life is the mainland. The weird objects, the annoying ads, the 16sqm lots, the horrible ban lines, sims getting peppered with watermelons and penis shaped objects, the old sims, the first land that were available to newbies where they gathered to determine what they can do with their 512sqm for 512L$, and just gaining a role in SL in mainland is what I love about second life. I've been in SL for just over 2 years now and my role keeps evolving. I wonder what the next 2 years will bring me in second life.

Just a question M, since you still have not released the new script limits for Homesteads, will you delay the price increase until one month after the limits have been released? Or are Homestead owners going to get screwed again?

Considering Linden Lab' track record for wanting to "hear" what I, or any other Customer thinks, I won't waste my time listing here the fine SL items I like.

I would like to ask a question, not that any of the Linden Lab employees can seem to answer it, but here goes, "What exactly is Linden Lab' definition of 'Transparent and Open' Communication"?

This phrased, coined by your own Senior Vice President Robin Harper over two years ago, seems to mean something different to the Community then to you, and I would like to clear this up.

So, let's see just how close you are "listening" this time.

Prove it.

Provide the numbers, not the rhetoric. Oh wait, I'm sorry, Linden Lab never provides numbers, just talks talks talks.

Thankoo f'r the opportunity, Catherine and M!

The other day I started to go through my Second Life snapshots of the last year. Almost 2000 photos since I did a big fireworks show on January 1st, 2008.

I won't say this was an easy year. I had a long-time, fairly stable RP experience go very bad in 2008. My stores have had to scrape by a bit. I've had to deal with difficult neighbors, griefers, "vigilantes," and a perv or two. I had to deal with the drama over SL5B and the more recent "skin flap." I dun tink I'll miss 2008.

But let's focus on the positive.

For one, we have seen the grid move to Havok 4, and the viewer has gained Windlight and Dazzle. Each of the above has improved my SL experience. A new Apple I gained in March helped, too.

*Events*

I enjoyed being a part of the SL Day of Remembrance, and constructing the Memorial Garden. The memory I'll always take from this was from before we opened, though, dancing "Tiptoe Through The Tulips with my inworld Brother, Phaylen Fairchild, and Poid Malkovich and cracking each other up on voice chat.

I was glad to eventually play a part at SL5B in spite of all that happened, and infinitely proud of the kid avvie community for creating the amazing alternate event, Kids5B. I like to think this helped a lot of people see what we're really all about in SL. Loki Eliot's Childhood Dreams dome (gone, but a walkthrough exists on YouTube) was a clear highlight from the event.

Burning Life was amazing to me. It was great to get a spot, and great to see some of what happened there. Madcow Cosmos' Blurtophone were a big highlight for me, especially when a bunch of us jammed on those for an hour or two in my build, with various lighting effects, fireworks and a lot of dancing. Loved Dizzy Banjo's work (well, he and a few others) here too. I was also glad to take part in the lamplighting ceremony as well as the burning of both the man and the temple. Awesome.

Then Winterfaire. An honor to see Livingtree included amongst the showcase, especially after all the work we did on the sim. Also nice to be a part of the Holiday Marketplace, even if my little space in Dasher remains largely untrod but for a few hardy souls who wonder just what is out on the edge of the bay. Also, I'm proud to note that I managed to win the SL Trivia thing n I-World island *and* managed to snowbazooka 50 - count 'em - 50 Lindens. My favorite memory from Winterfaire, though? The group of tinies that came upon by Dasher build, and sang Raglan Shire carols to me and my inworld sister. That is a memory that is going to last a very long time.

Beyond the big events, I was glad to be a part of a number art shows for my photography, including shows at Cannery Rezzable (RIP), Second Arts (Yay, Bay City Visions show!), and the photography shows in Grignano. I also have had a blast in Lummerland on Sunday afternoons, attending Show and Tell.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Camp HardKnock, put on somewhat seasonally by Jill Caldera and Gattz Gilman. You'll never see it written up in anything official, but it truly is one of the best experiences in Second Life, and shows a skid of kid avvies that is the opposite of what the Sky News' types would have you believe. It's an astounding mix of inworld play (this is why I'm really good with a snowball), education (building classes are held throughout camp, and I've always learned something while there), and just plain heart.

*Places*

The United Sailing Sims, starting from sailor's Cove, awakened my interest in sailing in Second Life. And while I don't use their sims for my sailing (I prefer sailing around the Lost Forest of Kharunvel, the Gulf of Lauren, or ANWR), they were definitely an inspiration for me.

Privateer Space was amazing. It turned the sim concept on its head, providing layer upon layer of places to explore and play in a well-done sci-fi setting. It is a shame that events caused this place to disappear from the grid.

Bay City, even with -- and in spite of -- its faults, is shaping itself into a great little city. I'm glad to be a land owner there. Still dun understand why the playground doesn't work, though.

Kings Rezzable's tunnel of light is such an amazing use of glaw. That it came so quick on the release of it, all things considered, make it even more amazing. Love this little dark ride.

Avaria. Not new this year, but completely reworked. As beautiful as ever.

The Refuge and the expansion, The Husk, Radio, as well as The Quiet. Wow. Beautiful in their simplicity. Amazing works by AM Radio. Sad to hear about the eventual demise of The Quiet, though.

Happy Mood. Jes pretty!

The Corn Field and LindenWorld Lobby. Well, it was neat to actually get to visit these fabled places. Same with visiting 945 Battery St., but that's not a sim.

Ruce2. Great recreation of Rutgers University

7 Days Magical Bakery. Finally, a corporate sim done jes about right!

Aggro. An island that did mega-sculpties right, and also introduced a beautiful dragon avvie to the grid.

the underwater mole build near the Degrande sim is wonderful. I look foward to seeing more like it.

Livingtree. I say this not because I have a big hand in the shaping of this sim so much as it has been a wonder to see our virtual place change and grow in these 12 months.

I hope to see more in 2009. I hope to see less issues like what happened at SL5B, and more good experiences like Burning Life (horray for Dusty's "maturity policy!). I hope to continue to be a part of the SL community, and see it continue to grow and mature.



YES! Please please please may I have a bear?

I'd also love the asset server to find my Adam Linden, but I'm not gonna hold my breath.



If you have an Everett, then you have one I dun got. Actually, there's a few. Not many, though!

Mari

A faster PC definately helps things, and isn't necessarily the answer to lag, but at least you don't have to look at the world in C64 graphics mode and lag is better than crashing your PC because it can't handle the graphics it's being asked to perform.

2008, a year with *very* mixed emotions about SL. On the good side:

- stability got lots better (even in the light of the trouble in the last few days)

- Kids5B was a great experience of people coming together to stand up for what they believe

- great places like Tunnel of Light, Privateer Space, Alhambra and many many more to visit

- the Milk 'N Kookies Holiday Fundraiser - the SL Kid Avatar Community collected money to help giving kids from poor RL families a nice christmas (285 pounds of food, toys and toiletries plus a $350 check for the New Jersey Community Food Bank)

and many more things.


The bad side?

- great places dying because of the Open Space policy and pricing debacle

- taking away support for once supported (and very up-to-date) hardware, telling people "almost nobody uses it anyways", making a $100+ investment that was just bought for SL useless that was especially usefull for estate owners and managers (Logitech G15 Keyboard - not supported anymore in the new viewer)

- an amok running g-team that shoots first, without thinking and without even checking things already on file, with a total lack of common sense

- SL turning into a more and more bigot and puritan place, where showing a kids skin is a bannable offense.

In general what SL/LL is missing is the decision makers actually thinking about planned decisions and trying to figure out what will come out of these decisions. With the Open Space debacle (from introducing the new policy in march to backstabbing your customers in october), banning kid avatars from participating in SL5B (a later overturned decision) and other things, 2008 was a prime example for a year of things going totally wrong and totally different from what LL thought the reaction of the residents (your paying customers!) would be.

You hire new staff? Great. Can I apply? I'd like the job of "the guy who checks planned decisions before they become public, freaks out, kicks some butts and makes all better". I even have a cool Linden name for that position: DamageControl Linden.

For the sake of all of us, both LL and us residents, I'll hope that 2009 will be better than 2008.

Happy new year!

I'd like to compliment the concierge support team. They are there 24/7, they know what they are talking about. They are accomodating and friendly. Of course they don't have a magic fix to all problems, however they certainly listen to reason and are not limited to reading from a script which is unlike your typical 24/7 support from most companies. I just want to say I appreciate it.

I own a SIM, and I know high quality server space can be rented for about 80 dollars a month, but I don't mind spending the 300 a month for it because the difference is what I am willing to pay for the ideas I get.

The lag can be frustrating at times, but just like anything I have learned to work with it (I went to best buy and put down 150 bucks for a nvidia 9800 card, which of course now has had the effect of saving my pennies for a computer that can run it).

I enjoy the work I put into SL. It has not been easy in the least, but I now have friends from all over the world that I would never have met. I truly love the voice feature, the other night a great friend from Russia was singing to me--> where are you gonna find that?

I'd like to say, keep the faith M Linden, and I for one appreciate the effort at vision at Linden Labs.

oh,, my favorite place is Sadie's Village & Mall - Love in, Sadie (127, 125, 24) --> Shameless plug for my Sim ~ sorry

Please read... very good stuff, also for the noobs amongst us

http://gwynethllewelyn.net/2008/08/29/no-more-limits/

Happy new year and best wishes to all of you

Ami

My top Pic is Sweethearts jazz
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sweethearts/197/148/24

Gotta love self promotion. But i am there most of the time.
P.S 90% of this thread is off topic

how about turning the whole thing around and stating what WE dont like?Its a way longer List then what I like.I miss alot of support from LL and also its a shame that many great openspace places close to the end of the year .Those Places created with alot of efford and love for other Resisdents to enjoy.Wasnt that the way OS was supposed to be used?

Stays for me to say.thank you Naimen Broome for the few months of pleasure enjoying Las Islas.

Nice was the downtime last night without warning.....as always.
I also enjoy the Lag that sweeps me off my Feet ,or should I say freezes me?

oh well, lets have a nice 2009 and pray to Linden God everyday that things dont get worse.

Best Wishes to all Pompeja

Its sure it will grow? so far I saw lot of ppl fleeing for their massive sim abandonement to other places like other open simulators like SL clones or instead to other games / platforms that offer better things for same price better graphics etc....or becouse now many abandoned openspaces there are more free servers for new mainland or "official sims"Hope for the good tough....




When I first entered SL the first experience was traumatic couse I couldnt find a nce place where to go and see , now that the new politics have rised tiers by 66% most of the nice places based on OS made by residents have been deleted and areabout to be .that will make experience harder to find nice places in SL to visit.





What I d like ot see stuff ?
Stuff like olymerging prims? dynamic shadows? better havoking? ragdoll system? normal mapping? ambien Occlusion?mesh importing? sculpt collision surfaces? flexible sculpts? multiple texturing and shading for terrain? bettter rise lower tool ?decal painting on surfaces?save and make visible settings on non client basis? enlarg the size of lands? increase the details of terrain ? make better lods? introduce DDs format ad mipmapping system?

Looking forward to a good 2009. SL has been good to me in 2008 - give or take one or two hiccups - partly blameable on my computer.

Of course, we all want improved reliabilty and stability, that's true of any online service we use, not just Second Life.

But what grabs the mind is new features. To me, dynamic shadows would be the biggest single step forward in SL, as long as it doesn't impair PC performance and are automatically disabled on comps that can't cope, in the way that WindLight skies and reflections are already.

Another small improvement would be an ability to create flexible links between prims.

There really wasn't, and if you think there was you really don't get it. Your company should be ashamed of themselves over what happened there.

Now I'll let others talk about the positives as it's much more interesting, but stop the spin please.

I logged in last Saturday only to see one of my favorite Sims, Cu Mara on the screen. It turns out that there are 3 screen shots from Cu Mara. I want to thank LL, and Torley in particular. It was very flattering.

What about this article about patents on virtual worlds ?

"Worlds.com and General Patent Select IP Law Firm Lerner David to Enforce Worlds’ Patents"

looks like worlds.com is seeking for extra income !

wildcat

Oh I forgot .....

Happy new 2009 ....

I have had more fun than anywhere else in SL riding around the course that a guy named Farley Crabgrass created in a place called South Haven. They have people there to help you get going and they are really nice. The racing isn't even laggy - unless SL is going nuts naturally. There are number of videos of the seal racing on youtube but i like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uErgX0AEmGQ

Thank you

Thank you Naiman. Happy New Year to all!

Very cool Dale. Thanks for sharing!

Dynamic shadows would indeed be a compelling feature. We've looked at them and considered them. At this point, I am not yet sure that they'll be on the roadmap for '09, but as we get it nailed down we'll do a post on what to expect. Thank you for your post Conifer. PS I like your avatar name!